Hefty Hospital Charges Have Employers Weighing Options

Employers struggling to contain the cost of health insurance for their workers are bracing for things to get even worse. Some say Medicare is partly to blame. The federal system pays a lot less than what private insurers are charged, and providers say this forces them to charge private companies more. With more baby boomers heading for Medicare coverage, that differential is expected to grow.

Dealing for Dollars: Employers need to negotiate better deals with hospital systems to ease the burden of covering their workforces, a former Health and Human Services official says.

Shop Around: A health economist also recommends ...