The cost of health insurance premiums has grown at nearly double the rate of hospital prices in the last decade, according to a report from the American Hospital Association.
Citing data from the Kaiser Family Foundation and Bureau of Labor Statistics, the AHA said hospital prices increased an average of 2 percent annually from 2010 to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, health insurance premiums have increased 4.4 percent per year on average over the same period.
Annual premiums for a family of four reached $21,342 in 2020, with workers on average paying $5,588 toward the cost of their coverage, according to the foundation.
The AHA also broke down other key reasons health spending is growing, including increased use of healthcare and increased intensity of services.
Read the full report here.