Americans paying more for health insurance, receiving less

The Washington Post reports today:

"In the past four years, Americans have spent an ever-growing portion of their paychecks on health care and for the most part gotten less for their money, forcing millions into the ranks of the uninsured or personal bankruptcy, according to government figures and several independent assessments...

'The cost of family health insurance is rapidly approaching the gross earnings of a full-time minimum-wage worker,' said Drew Altman, president and chief executive of the [Kaiser Family Foundation]...

From 2001 to 2004, the proportion of workers receiving health coverage through an employer fell from 65 percent to 61 percent, according to the latest Kaiser data. That decline translated into 5 million fewer jobs providing health benefits, with the sharpest drop in small businesses.

For full report, click here.