Colorado bosses paying more for less healthcare

The cost of employer-provided healthcare benefits in Colorado jumped 13.7% this year, the biggest rise since 2004, according to a survey by the Lockton Benefit Group. Part of the health insurance rate hike is being passed on to employees, the report showed. Almost 39% of companies in the survey have policies with deductibles of $500 or more, compared with the national average of $300. "Each year, the cost-shifting gets worse and worse," said Bill Lindsey, president of the Lockton Group in Denver, referring to higher premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket payments being passed through to employees.