Health care burden on Hawaii families is growing

Families USA has released a new report that reveals a "disheartening trend" in Hawaii: Over the last eight years, Hawaii's working families have seen their health care costs go up faster than their earnings.

According to the report released on Nov. 25, "As a result, the cost of health insurance premiums now imposes a greater burden on family budgets than ever before." If the trend continues, "More and more families will inevitably join the ranks of the uninsured and underinsured and residents of Hawaii will face diminishing economic and health security."

"This crisis will only worsen until there is leadership in Washington, D.C. and in the states that takes decisive and meaningful action to make health care truly affordable and accessible to all," the report said. Among key findings for Hawaii from 2000 to 2007:

• Health insurance premiums for working families increased 65.4 percent in eight years.
• The average annual premium for family health coverage (employer and worker share combined), rose from $6,047 to $10,001.
• The employer's portion of annual premiums for family health coverage rose to $7,371 from $4,735 while the worker's share rose to $2,630 from $1,311.
• The average annual premium for individual health coverage (employee and worker share combined) rose to $3,765 from $2,366.
• Median earnings of Hawaii's workers from 2000 to 2007 increased from $26,180 to $31,252, or 19.4 percent.
• Health insurance premiums for Hawaii families rose 3.4 times faster than median earnings.