Putting a Price on Health

While the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration wrangle over the details of healthcare reform, the costs of health insurance keep rising. We wonder:

In ten years from now, what will be the annual average cost of a U.S. family's health insurance premium?

A) $13,000
B) $19,000
C) $24,000
D) $31,000

The correct answer is D. According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, the average employer-provided family health insurance policy will cost about $31,000 in 2019.

This forecast is based on the assumption that premiums continue to increase by 8.7% per year — which is the average rise over the last ten years.

Today, the average employer-provided family health insurance policy costs a little over $13,000. Thus, the cost could increase by 130% over the next decade.

However, if premiums increase by just 6.1%, the average over the last five years, the cost by 2019 would be less, at about $24,000.

The Marketplace Globalist Quiz is produced by Marketplace and The Globalist — and researched by The Globalist's Mike McCarthy.

The text of this Marketplace Globalist Quiz may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of The Globalist. Copyright © 2009 The Globalist.