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Community Info Health News
 How To Reach Us: St. Louis Front Page Community News P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 http://www.slfp.com Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com  |
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Health Care Cost Continue to Rise S. LOUIS, MO (BUSINESS WIRE) Oct 20, 2002 - Employers and employees should prepare for more bad news on the health care front. According to global outsourcing and consulting firm Hewitt Associates, U.S. companies are expected to be hit again with double- digit health care cost hikes in 2003, marking the highest increase since the early 1990s. Hewitt is projecting a 15.4 percent average increase for 2003 and this comes after last year's rate hike of 13.7 percent. Some companies will continue to absorb the majority of next year's increase, but many are increasing employees' share of health care premiums. According to Hewitt data, the average employee contribution for 2003 will be 19 percent for their own coverage and 24 percent for dependent coverage. "Unless there is a fundamental change in the way health care is delivered, costs will double in the next five years," said Jack Bruner, national health care practice leader, Hewitt Associates. "This is a major concern for senior management as it impacts the bottom line of companies across the country." Cost Increases by Plan Type On average, Hewitt forecasts that companies will receive 2003 cost increases of 15 percent for preferred provider organizations (PPOs), point-of-service (POS) plans and traditional indemnity plans, and 16 percent for health maintenance organization plans (HMOs). That means from 2002 to 2003, the average cost per person for most major companies will increase from $5,157 to $5,982 for HMOs; $5,545 to $6,367 for PPOs; $5,639 to $6,485 for POS plans; and $6,304 to $7,249 for indemnity plans, according to Hewitt's database of more than 2,000 health plans in 139 U.S. markets, including 300 major employers and more than 16 million health plan participants. Cost Increases Across Major Metropolitan Areas Double-digit rate hikes will affect nearly every major U.S. metropolitan area next year, after most experienced significant increases in 2002. Hewitt's 2002 data reveals that the following cities recorded the highest rate increases: 14.8 percent in Atlanta, 13.7 percent in Denver, 13.6 percent in Dallas/Fort Worth, 13.5 percent in Boston, 13.4 percent in Detroit, 13 percent in Cincinnati, 12.9 percent in the Tampa Bay area, and 12.8 percent in San Francisco. Employer Reaction to Rate Increases How are organizations reacting to the rate hikes? In addition to passing along part of the increase to their employees, Hewitt finds that companies also are doing the following:
 Hopeful Wishes Teddy Donations to Help Breast Cancer Foundation S. LOUIS, MO (BUSINESS WIRE) Oct 13, 2002 - Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) stores have announced they are partnering with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to support the Foundation's missionto eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. During October, $1 from the sale of each Hopeful Wishes Teddy benefits the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. In September 2001, Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) launched this special bear to help support breast cancer awareness, research and community outreach programs across the country. The teddy bear was an immediate success among Build-A-Bear Workshop Guests. It quickly sold out by the end of October with a demand by Guests to bring it back again. Hopeful Wishes Teddy has continued as an item on the Build-A-Bear Workshop web site since October 2001. In a statement, Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop founder and Chief Executive Bear said, "One of our goals as a company is to support causes that affect families and children wherever and whenever we can. Our commitment to breast cancer awareness and education began in the hearts of our own Build-A-Bear Workshop family members who have been touched by the disease either personally or through family and friends. Hopeful Wishes Teddy was actually inspired by one of our own Associates who battled this disease and it is our way to do something special to honor her and others like her. We are very pleased to be able to participate this year with the Komen Foundation, an organization that has a great reputation and has helped so many in their battle with breast cancer." This is one of many charitable causes that Build-A-Bear Workshop has supported since the company's inception in l997. Build-A-Bear Workshop works with many other organizations including World Wildlife Fund, The Humane Society of the United States, and a national literacy organization called First Book. Build-A-Bear Workshop also works with many local charities that benefit schools and children's charities throughout the country. Americans Underestimate the Consequences of Allergies Says Survey CHICAGO, (PRNewswire) September 2, 2002 - Ninety-four percent of allergy sufferers report in a recent survey that their quality of life, often including their work productivity, sleep, concentration, and even their sex lives, is affected by their allergies. However, despite this, only 50 percent of allergy sufferers consider the disease to be a serious medical condition and nearly two-thirds (64 percent) did not see an allergist or other doctor the last time their symptoms acted up. This fall, about 50 million Americans will suffer from allergic symptoms. Seasonal allergies are caused by pollens or mold spores, and year-round allergies are caused by indoor allergens. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), sufferers often confuse allergy symptoms with the common cold because the conditions may mimic each other. In fact, of those sufferers surveyed, 41 percent thought they had a cold or virus when they first began suffering with allergies. Indicators of a cold include a stuffy nose, sneezing, sore scratchy throat, fatigue and sometimes a fever. Some of the signs of seasonal allergies can include watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, congestion or itchy throat. Because these symptoms are easy to confuse, the ACAAI notes that it is imperative to involve an allergist or personal physician when any of these symptoms linger. In response, the ACAAI sponsor of the survey, has issued a call to action for allergy sufferers to take their condition seriously and seek the advice of an allergist or personal physician to mitigate symptoms and feel good again. "Allergies and their symptoms not only cause quality of life consequences such as fatigue, impaired work performance and general malaise, but also, insufficiently treated allergies often lead to serious conditions such as sinus or ear infections, asthma and sleep problems," said Dr. Bobby Lanier, president of ACAAI. "What people need to know is that there is no need to suffer the health and quality of life consequences of allergies, and they should seek the help of a medical expert." Archived Stories: American Heart Association Launches Program to Help Women Improve Their Health Health Officials Issue Hot Weather Tips Use of Internet for Health Care Information Increases, Says Harris Interactive Poll West Nile Virus Underlines Threat From Mosquito-Borne Diseases McDonnell Foundation Awards Grants for Research Linking Brain and Behavior St. Louis Ranks 24th in Spring Allergy Cities St. Louis is Ranked Ninth Fattest City Kids Not as Healthy and Fit as They Could Be Asthma Is A Growing Concern in St. Louis More Americans Change Their Eating Habits Due to Heath and Nutrition Concerns TFTC Challenges Comfrey Products Promoted via Internet What's the Difference Between Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke? Think Sparklers Are Safe? Think Again, Says SLUCare Opthalmologist Four-day Local Pollen Forecast Desktop Tool Helps Allergy Suffers Electronic Meal and Health Management Tool  The SLFP.com - Community Info is presented in conjunction with the St. Louis Front Page and Southwest Illinois News. The sites are owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan St. Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group . |
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