An annual survey released by Mercer Human Resource Consulting found that the growth rate in health cost to employers slowed significantly this year. The slowing rate can be attributed to employers shifting more costs onto workers and changing the kinds of plans they offer. The overall growth in health care costs remains a significant concern.
See "Growth Rate in Health Cost to Employers Slowed in '04", Reed Abelson, The New York Times, November 21, 2004