Premiums for employer health insurance in California jumped 170% over the last decade, more than five times the 32% increase in the state's inflation rate. That escalation in premiums has taken a toll on employers' willingness to offer health benefits, according to an annual survey by the California HealthCare Foundation. The report found that 60% of California firms offered health benefits last year, down from 73% three years ago. As costs keep climbing, many businesses are asking workers to contribute more toward their health insurance or accept fewer benefits.
