NEW YORK (AP)  Get ready for another hike in copays and deductibles.

A survey out Thursday from the Mercer consulting firm found that 59% of companies intend to keep down rising health care costs in 2009 by raising workers' deductibles, copays or out-of-pocket spending limits.

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On average, health care costs will go up by an estimated 5.7% next year for both workers and their employers, the study found. That follows this year's 5.7% hike and a 6.1% jump in 2007.

The growth of health care costs has hovered around 6% since 2005, according to Mercer. While that's down from the double-digit growth in previous years, it's still moving at a faster clip than inflation or workers wages.

"It's not something to cheer about, especially since costs are getting passed on to employees," said Blaine Bos, author of the survey.

The results were preliminary findings, with about half of the 3,000 large companies surveyed reporting. Preliminary findings for the annual survey have historically been in line with final results.

Between 2003 and 2007, the average deductible for an individual grew to $400 from $250. For a family, it rose to $1,500 from $1,000, according to Mercer.

Deductibles are the amount workers pay for medical care out of pocket. Once workers spend that amount, they begin sharing costs with employers, with the company covering an average of 80%.

Health plans are trying to rein in costs by offering choices such as disease management plans and incentives for greater use of prescription drugs, said Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans, a trade association representing nearly 1,300 insurers.

"But there's certainly still more work to be done," Zirkelbach said.

The Mercer survey also found 47% of companies are encouraging enrollment in plans with lower premiums and higher deductibles.

Additionally, the survey found 19% of employers will start offering a consumer-directed health plan. These are high-deductible plans with employee-controlled spending accounts. They encourage employees to consider costs when by letting them save account money they don't spend for future needs.

Last year, 12% of all employers said they were "very likely" to implement such a plan by 2009.

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