National Business Group on Health Survey: 2015 Large Group Renewals to Average 6.5%

This is from Chad Terhune at the L.A. Times:

Large employers expect their healthcare costs to jump 5% next year, and nearly a third of businesses will offer only higher-deductible plans to workers, a new survey shows.

The annual report released Wednesday by the National Business Group on Health provides a good barometer of what employees at big companies can expect when health plan enrollment opens this fall.

Overall, large employers estimate their health-benefit costs will rise by an average of 6.5% in 2015.

But they anticipate holding increases to 5% after making changes to their coverage, such as shifting more medical costs to workers and expanding the use of high-deductible policies. Employers reported a similar 5% increase for 2014. ...

The nonprofit group represents nearly 400 large U.S. employers that provide health coverage to more than 50 million workers, retirees and dependents. ...

On average, employees will be responsible for 20% of the total health premium in 2015 and slightly more, 23%, for family coverage. ...