Two newspapers on Wednesday published articles that examined recent trends related to employee health insurance. Summaries appear below.

• New York Times: The Times on Wednesday examined how fewer "old-line American companies" cover the full cost of employee health insurance premiums. The percentage of large and medium-sized companies that cover the full cost of individual employee health insurance premiums decreased from 29% in 2000 to 17% in 2004, and the percentage decreased from 11% to 6% over the same period for family coverage, according to the Hay Group, a benefits consulting company. In addition, employees who cover a share of the cost of their health insurance premiums pay a higher percentage each year. A survey conducted by the Hay Group found that in 2005 the average share of health insurance premium costs covered by employees at large and medium-sized companies likely will increase to $2,800 for families and $800 for individuals. However, a "scattering of companies with strong unions" -- such as those in the telecommunications, steel, aluminum and auto industries - and some state governments continue to cover the full cost of health insurance premiums for employees (Freudenheim, New York Times, 3/23).
  


• Wall Street Journal: The Journal on Wednesday examined how an increased number of U.S. companies have begun to reduce health benefits for retirees, a trend that likely will continue in the future. Based on the latest data from the Census Bureau and HHS, the Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates that 29% of early retirees -- employees who retired before the age of 65 -- had employer-sponsored health benefits in 2002, compared with 39% in 1997. In addition, about 13% of private employers provided health benefits for early retirees in 2002, compared with 35% in 1997, and 13% provided health benefits to retirees ages 65 and older in 2002, compared with 20% in 1997, according to EBRI. "Unless Congress acts quickly, the future for retiree health care is going to be very bleak," James Klein, president of American Benefits Council, said (Conkey, Wall Street Journal, 3/23).

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