Washington, D.C.— Family health care premiums rose an estimated 7.2 times faster than earnings for Ohio's workers from 2000 through 2009, according to a new report.

In that 10-year period, family health insurance premiums rose by 84.1 percent, while median earnings rose by only 11.7 percent.

The report was issued by Families USA, a nonprofit organization for health care consumers that advocates for high-quality, affordable health care. It is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Among the report's findings are:

• The average annual health insurance premium for family coverage provided through the workplace (employer and worker share of premiums combined) rose from $6,596 to $12,145.

• Between 2000 and 2009, the median earnings of Ohio's workers rose from $25,017 to $27,936.

And while the costs of premiums climbed, the coverage employees got was often reduced, offering fewer benefits and sometimes coupled with higher deductibles, copayments, and co-insurance. Other employers have cut costs by placing limits on which employees are eligible for coverage or by eliminating coverage for spouses and children of employees.

"Rising health care costs threaten the financial well-being of families in Ohio and across the nation," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. "If health care reform does

not happen soon, more and more families will be priced out of the health coverage they used to take for granted."

Medical debts were also a key contributor to families seeking bankruptcy protection.

The report found that prior to filing for bankruptcy, families attempt to balance budgets by dropping phone service, trimming food costs, and going without needed medical or dental care. But more than half of all bankruptcies are related to medical costs.

The study also noted that companies were impacted by rising costs. The percentage of U.S. companies that offered coverage to employees dropped from 69 percent to 63 percent. Small businesses were the most likely to drop coverage.

Among other findings:

• For family health coverage in Ohio, the employer's portion of annual premiums in the 2000-2009 period rose from $5,132 to $9,339 — an increase of $4,208, or 82 percent.

• For family health coverage, the worker's portion of annual premiums rose from $1,464 to $2,805 — an increase of $1,341, or 91.6 percent.

• For individual health coverage, the employer's portion of annual premiums rose from $2,064 to $3,408 — an increase of $1,343, or 65.1 percent.

• For individual health coverage, the worker's portion of annual premiums rose from $510 to $939 — an increase of $429, or 84.2 percent.

Pollack said the report illustrates the need to reform health care coverage. Without reform, "it will mean that businesses have a harder time staying competitive, and more and more families have to cope with stagnant wages and the loss of affordable health coverage."