A new study found that health care premiums have risen three times as fast as wages, with lower wage workers affected the most. The study did find that the rise in premiums seems to be slowing, dropping from a 9% increase in 2011 to a 4% in 2012 for family coverage and an 8% to a 4% increase for individuals. However, that is still higher than wage growth, which was about 2% in 2012, along with a 2% increase in inflation. Over the last decade, premiums for family coverage have increased 100%. While the new health care law is expected to have an effect on premiums, its main provisions do not take effect until 2014.
See "Health-care premiums rise three times faster than wages", Tony Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, September 11, 2012