Employers across the country are paying more for health insurance and are trying to transfer at least part of the additional cost to their employees by rising the percentage of the premiums the latter have to pay. Nearly 60 percent of companies surveyed by Mercer consulting firm acknowledged they plan to make their employees bear the brunt of the ever-increasing insurance cost.

Companies said they would soon raise deductibles, co-payments, the share of premiums that employees pay, or out-of-pocket spending limits, in order to dampen the financial effect of increased insurance premiums. Between 2003 and 2007, the average deductible for an individual person grew from $250 to $400, while for the average American family, it rose from $1,000 to $1,500.

Meanwhile, a recent study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed the number of Americans without health insurance decreased in 2007 for the very first time since President Bush took office. The study showed that 45.7 million Americans lacked health insurance. The census’ findings contradicted forecasts made by health care specialists who were expecting the number of uninsured residents to increase on long-term erosion of private, employment-based coverage.

The decrease in the number of people without health insurance was attributed to the programs of government-sponsored health insurance, such as Medicaid, or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. On the other hand, the private health insurance has become more and more expensive and other reports showed that as the health care costs continue to grow, fewer employees are able to offer insurance benefits.