By Bill Raack, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – A new report released today shows health care premiums rising faster than earnings in Missouri.
The report by Families USA says health care premiums rose by 61% in Missouri, three times faster than earnings, over the last six years.
Families USA is a Washington-based non profit group that promotes universal health care.
Executive Director Ron Pollack says the portion of premiums paid by workers rose by more than 100%, while an employers' portion increased 51%.
"Missourians are paying much larger portions of their paychecks on health care and health care is becoming less and less affordable," Pollack said. "If this troubling trend continues, the health care affordability crisis will get much worse."
Pollack attributes the increase in premiums to rising health care costs and a growing number of uninsured Missourians.