Business owners find themselves in the crosshairs of increasing costs and decreasing coverage. Passing it on to employees does not solve the problem, it only moves it. Employees are unhappy because of the "take-away", and less healthy because, even with insurance, they can't afford medical care. Biz Buzz, a Hood River business journal, tells the story.

Remember those escalating health care costs? Those bills on your desk? Your premiums, deductibles, copays, exclusions, and uncovered services? But not everybody’s hurting…

The CEOs of Providence Health & Services  and ProvidenceOregon had total compensation of $6.4 million
and $4.26 million, respectively, in 2011.

Did you know  - The insurance industry is currently the only business in Oregon exempt from the Unlawful Trade Act. Proposed legislation would remove that exemption and allow the Attorney General and injured parties to sue for fraud. The exemption allows insurance companies to act with impunity and reduces their incentive to pay out claims as warranted. 35 other states do not exempt insurance companies from their state unlawful trade practices acts. The insurance lobby is fighting back hard.

Article in the NY times today:

"The Obama administration says it will require health insurance companies to report all price increases, no matter how small, to the federal government so officials can monitor the impact of the new health care law and insurers’ compliance with it...Insurers object to the requirements."

Shining a light on insurance price increases is a small but useful gain for the public. A bigger gain will be to get private insurers out of the game so that "health care" $$$ are spent on actual health care.