Survey: Wisconsin employers pay 22 percent more than nation for health insurance

Wisconsin employers and workers pay on average 22 percent higher than the national average for health insurance, according to a new survey conducted by Mercer.

The study showed the cost of health benefits for employees in Wisconsin rose by 6.8 percent in 2009 and employers paid an average of $10,888 per employee. The national average rose by 5.5 percent, with employers paying an average of $8,945 per employee.

According to a statement from Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s health insurance costs have been higher than the national average for seven years straight.

Executive Director of CAW Robert Kraig said rising health-care costs in Wisconsin are more of a reason to push health-care reform legislation.

“Skyrocketing health insurance costs are a crushing burden on working families and a drag on the Wisconsin economy’s capacity to add desperately needed new jobs,” he said.