Article: Health costs rising at fast clip; In Minnesota, premiums for private health insurance jumped 7.6% last year, a study found. And out-of-pocket costs were up 15%.(BUSINESS)

Byline: Maura Lerner; Staff Writer

Minnesotans who have private health insurance saw their premiums rise 7.6 percent last year, according to a report by the Minnesota Department of Health.

At the same time, they faced a 15 percent jump in out-of-pocket expenses, as employers continued to shift health costs back to employees, the report found.

Released Thursday, the report said that individuals paid an average of $562 in deductibles and copayments in 2006, up from $489 the year before.

"I think everybody's seen their copays increase," said Julie Brunner, executive director of the Minnesota Council of Health Plans. But she said that it's part of an effort by ...

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