News For: Oschners health CareHealth-care costs to rise in '09 Get ready to add ''health care'' to the list of things that probably will cost you more next year. A national survey released Wednesday reveals that 40 percent of companies say they're ''very likely'' or ''somewhat likely'' to increase the amount employees pay for their health insurance in 2009. Protesters target health care Providers of medical insurance are more concerned about dollars than people, claims a coalition of labor and other organizations that wants the federal government to take a bigger role in health care financing. Ex-surgeon general: Attitude change needed for health care The United States has the best doctors, the best nurses, the best hospitals, cutting edge technology and medical research, but the country must undergo an ���attitudinal change��� if it wants to deliver quality, preventive health care to its residents, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders said Wednesday. Universal Health Care Supporters Rally ELMIRA -- Advocates for universal health care are asking New York lawmakers in Washington, "Whose side are you on?" The group Citizen Action of New York held a rally in front of the Excellus Blue Cross-Blue Shield office in Elmira Wednesday. QF���s Sidra a shot in the arm for regional health care system By Bonnie James QATAR Foundation���s upcoming $7.9bn Sidra Medical and Research Center, described as the Middle East���s first North American style facility of its kind, will offer scholarships to promote careers in health care. AMA president urges broadened health care WASHINGTON -- The Buffalo physician who heads the American Medical Association came to the capital Tuesday to reignite the debate on universal health care at a time of great sickness in the American economy. Study notes health care disparities in Minnesota Minnesota medical groups are providing better quality care to patients with private health insurance than those covered through public programs, according to a report released Wednesday. Aetna Makes Health Care Cost Information Available to More Members with the Expansion of Aetna's Industry-Leading ... Americans are taking on more financial responsibility for their health care and, as a result, need access to a robust suite of tools and information in order to make informed decisions. To support and encourage members to be informed health care consumers, Aetna NYSE:AET today announced the expansion of its health care transparency initiatives to additional markets including Connecticut; ... Rising health care costs hitting Iowans hard Health insurance premiums in Iowa rose nearly four times as fast as wages from 2000 to 2007, according to a new report.Affordability of health insurance is diminishing rapidly in Iowa, according to the data from Families USA, a national organization for health care consumers.Average family health insurance premiums both the employee and employer share climbed 72.6 percent, or $4,707, to ... Health care costs take bigger bite from paychecks Many workers get less from plans WASHINGTON ��� Premiums for job-based health insurance are up 5 percent in 2008 and have more than doubled since 1999, a growth rate that far outpaces inflation and the increase in workers' wages over the same period, according to an annual survey of employers. |

