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[Biowatch]

>>Rising Health Costs Cut Into Wages
Higher Fees Squeeze Employers, Workers

By Michael A. Fletcher
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 24, 2008; Page A01

Recent history has not been kind to working-class Americans, who were down on the economy long before the word recession was uttered.

The main reason: spiraling health-care costs have been whacking away at their wages. Even though workers are producing more, inflation-adjusted median family income has dipped 2.6 percent -- or nearly $1,000 annually since 2000.

Employees and employers are getting squeezed by the price of health care. The struggle to control health costs is viewed as crucial to improving wages and living standards for working Americans. Employers are paying more for health care and other benefits, leaving less money for pay increases. Benefits now devour 30.2 percent of employers' compensation costs, with the remaining money going to wages, the Labor Department reported this month. That is up from 27.4 percent in 2000.

"The way health-care costs have soared is unbelievable," said Katherine Taylor, a vice president for Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union....<<

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/23/AR2008032301770.html