Employers step up fight against health costs - Boston Business Journal:

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Health insurers say employer demand for new plan optionasis rising. Meanwhile, health insurance brokers say an increasingh number of companies want out of theif old insurance plans before their contractas areeven up. “Employers are coming to me and saying, ‘j can’t wait, I can’ty afford it, I need you to get this down 20percen now,’ ” said Mike McKenna, ownet of the Southborough-based broker group .
It’xs easy to see why: Currenty cost increases for companies renewing the same plan as last year are up betweehn 9 percent and 12 percent atthe state’s four largest according to officials at , Harvard Pilgrim Health Plan, Tufts Health Plan and Fallon Community Health Plan. In addition, Blue Cross Blue Shiel is reporting cost increases of 13 percent to 15 percentf for the individual and smalpgroup market, which includea small businesses.