Behind the numbers: Medical cost trends for 2010

Even after the US economy recorded its worst contraction in a quarter-century in late 2008 and early 2009, medical costs continued to grow. The perplexing contrast of health spending growing amid a deflated general economy will present employers with unique challenges for their 2010 healthcare benefits strategies.

Key findings from the report include:

• Growth in medical costs for 2010 is expected to be 9 percent, slightly lower than in previous years
• The recession and the prospect of health reform will help temper medical costs, impacting the pricing
• As the recession pounded corporate profits in early 2009, employers surveyed said they were ready to push more of the costs of health insurance to their workers in 2010 while expecting more responsibility from workers for managing their personal health
• Although health reform will have a major impact on the industry, its effect on medical costs likely will not be felt until 2011 or later