Michigan's Group Insurance Premiums Rise, Now Highest in the US

It's as if Michigan workers didn't have enough to worry aboutResidents of Michigan have been battling a sluggish state economy for a few years now. Auto workers are trying to dodge layoffs and forced early retirements, and young college graduates are struggling to find their first jobs.

Families USA, a health care research group, released a report that showed group health insurance rates are increasing more so than wages at the nations' fastest rate. From 2000 to 2007, wages only increased by 4.6 percent, while employer sponsored plans health insurance rates went up by 78.2 percent.

An article in the Detroit Free Press wrote that Michigan workers are paying more than their employers, proportionately. The amount employers paid for health insurance rose by 63.3 percent from 2000-20007. Within the same time frame, the amount employees paid for the same coverage rose by an astonishing 170.6 percent, states the Free Press article.

State Representative, John Dingell, says,"[T]he whole system is being stretched. [This report is] another cause to look at the impending collapse of the whole health care system." The question is being posed as to what type of health insurance reform Michigan residents would choose. They may have already made their choice, it seems.

Michigan was thought to be a battleground in the present election. John McCain has since announced that he will be pulling his campaign from Michigan, due to decreasing numbers in polls that last few weeks. That pretty much cedes Michigan to Barack Obama.