Why the health reform law is important: New numbers on rising health costs

Health care costs for a family of four covered by workplace health insurance will exceed $20,000 for the first time ever in 2012, according to a new study released by Millman, a firm that consults with companies on employee benefits. At $20,728, this figure amounts to a $1,335 increase from last year.

Millman’s report found that a family of four will pay $5,114 in premiums for a preferred provider organization plan, a common type of health insurance, along with $3,470 in out-of-pocket costs like co-payments for doctor visits and prescription drugs. The remainder of the expenses will be paid by employers, though money spent on health care and other fringe benefits is money not spent on higher wages.

These findings are troubling for children and their families. It is compounded by the fact that nearly 50 million Americans had no health insurance as of the 2010 census. All this while more families are going without medical care they need for their children because of cost, employees are being asked to pay a greater share of the burden for their family’s health care costs, and more employers are dropping health coverage altogether in light of the increased costs.

In light of these findings, it is even more important for the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the health reform law. Health reform provides families with many cost-limiting provisions that are only beginning to take effect, and the health reform law ensures that nearly every American is enrolled in health coverage later this decade.

More education updates from around the country

Last week we gave you updates on education policy in Michigan and South Carolina. This week our member organizations in Colorado and New Jersey report on slow but steady progress on winning support for greater investments in early education, starting with Colorado:

“This year, Colorado’s state legislators spent time discussing the role of early childhood learning and education, particularly as it relates to state funding. While no legislation was passed relating directly to funding early learning and development before kindergarten there were ongoing debates around when supports for early learning should begin. Conversations, often facilitated by the Colorado Children’s Campaign, aimed to target supports for Colorado’s youngest and most vulnerable populations.

We were able to pass legislation targeted to strengthening Colorado student’s proficiency in reading at the end of third grade and had champions in both parties repeatedly supporting early learning and education as well as early identification of reading issues. Through this bill, Colorado increased its overall investment in full-day kindergarten. Additionally, the School Finance Partnership — a bipartisan group comprised of education leaders, education reform advocates, elected officials, and business leaders tasked with examining the School Finance Act and considering options and alternatives, and presenting recommendations for an innovative overhaul to the state’s system of funding public schools — gave strong support to investing in half-day preschool for at-risk 3-year-olds, half-day preschool for all 4-year-olds, and full-day preschool for at-risk 4-year-olds.”

Our New Jersey member organization has been hard at work as well:
“Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) is busy working to strengthen our state’s early learning continuum. After briefing Rep. Rush Holt’s staff and Rep. Donald Payne about the importance of a federal investment in preschool expansion, ACNJ’s recent efforts have focused on ensuring adequate state funding to reduce the child care waiting list, which has experienced a 21% reduction in funding since FY 2010 and a 250% increase in the number of children waiting for care; expanding preschool for all low-income 3- and 4- year olds; and restoring $3 million for the school breakfast program.”

Reckless cuts to kids pass House

Last week the House went through with its reckless plan to slash children’s programs. In a vote of 218-199, it passed a budget that would dismantle much of the safety net, dealing massive blows to food stamps, Medicaid and other programs that low-income families depend on.

We detail the cut and the reasoning behind them in the latest Speaking Out! newsletter:

“We’ve detailed the severe cuts repeatedly in this newsletter, but now that the bill has passed it’s important to really think about what the House has endorsed. It has called for an unprecedented dismantling of the safety net, largely to protect defense spending and tax cuts for millionaires.

The House passed $36 billion in cuts to food stamps, meaning 2 million Americans would lose food assistance. We’re particularly concerned about these cuts because children are half of all food stamp recipients. That means around 22 million children would see reduced or eliminated benefits. And since getting food stamps also enrolls kids in things like free and reduced-price lunch, some 280,000 children stand to lose that, too.”

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