A national survey has shown that health care costs paid by companies and their workers have risen 11.2 percent this year. As a result, fewer workers are receiving health care coverage. According to the Census Bureau the nation's total number of uninsured people rose by 1.4 million in 2003. Small businesses are having an especially difficult time dealing with rising costs.
See "Cost of Insuring Workers' Health Increases 11.2%", The New York Times, September 9, 2004