“Even though the decline is good news, most health plan sponsors still find 8% to 9% cost increases unsustainable,” said Harvey Sobel, a principal at Buck Consultants, a benefits consulting firm that surveyed 126 insurers and health plan administrators nationwide.
The report also found that costs for preferred-provider organization, or PPO, plans are expected to rise 8.7% this year, down from 9% last year.
HMO plans are expected to increase 8.6%, down just slightly from the previous year, according to Buck Consultants.
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