Rising employer premiums threaten health coverage in Washington state, AARP finds

Across Washington state, employers' rising healthcare costs are threatening thousands of workers with the loss of any employer health coverage. More than a quarter of Washington businesses say they will drop their health-insurance policies if costs go up 15% more, according to an AARP survey. If 2007's national average 6.1% increase in employer premiums holds, that day will arrive in little more than two years. Two-thirds of the employers surveyed said that if current trends continue, they plan to pass along higher costs by upping employees' share of premiums, deductibles or co-payments in the next three years.