While health care costs are projected to increase at a lower rate in 2012 compared to 2011, the average cost per employee will surpass the$10,000mark for the first time next year, according toAon Hewitt, the global human resource consulting and outsourcing business ofAonCorporation.

According toAon Hewitt's analysis, the 2012 averagehealth care premiumrate increase will be 7.0 percent, which is slightly lower than the 7.5 percent mark in 2011, and on par with the 6.9 percent increase in 2010. However, the average total health care premium per employee for large companies is projected to be$10,475in 2012, up from$9,792in 2011, and$9,111in 2010. The amount employees will be asked to contribute toward this premium cost in 2012 is$2,306(or 22 percent of the total health care premium), compared to$2,084in 2011 (or 21.3 percent of the total health care premium), and$1,952in 2010 (or 21.4 percent of the total health care premium). Meanwhile, average employeeout-of-pocket costs, such as copayments, coinsurance and deductibles, are expected to be$2,275in 2012, compared to$2,007in 2011, and$1,691in 2010.

According toAon Hewitt, a number of factors are driving the projected increase in health care cost for 2012. Employers continue to experience an increase in the quantity and cost of catastrophic claims, as slower levels ofhiringhave resulted in slightly older workforces who are more prone to costly medical conditions. In addition, generally poorer health – leading to increases in costly conditions such as diabetes and heart disease – make it difficult for employers to deploy tactics that drive short-term cost savings. As a result, employers continue to ask employees to absorb increases through a combination of out-of-pocket cost and increased payroll contributions.

"In what continues to be an uncertain economic environment, organizations cannot afford health care costs growing at 7 percent each year," saidJohn Zern, executive vice president and the Americas Practice Director for Health & Benefits withAon Hewitt. "While health care reform continues to represent potential systemic change in a few years, employers will continue to shift cost to employees in order to keep company costs to a manageable level."

Cost by Plan Type

On average,Aon Hewittforecasts that companies will realize 2012 cost increases of 7.8 percent for health maintenance organization plans (HMOs), 6.6 percent for preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and 6.6 percent for point-of-service (POS). That means from 2011 to 2012, the average cost per person for major companies is estimated to increase from$10,344to$11,151for HMOs,$9,417 to $10,038for PPOs and$10,375 to $11,059for POS plans.

*Projections

Costs are plan costs (premium or budget rate) on a per employee basis. They include employee contributions, but not their out-of-pocket costs (i.e., co-payments, coinsurance).

"HMO trend continues to be a cause of concern for employers," saidTim Nimmer,Aon Hewitt's chief health care actuary. "While HMOs have higher premium costs, they offer lower out-of-pocket costs that employees value. If HMO trend continues to outpace PPO and POS trends, employers will be forced to discontinue current HMO contribution levels or eliminate HMO offerings altogether."

2011 Cost Increases by Major Metropolitan Area

In 2011, major U.S. markets that experienced rate increases higher than the national average includedOrlando(11.1 percent),New York City(9.5 percent),Orange County(9.1 percent),Houston(8.9 percent),Boston(8.6 percent) andLos Angeles(8.5 percent). Conversely,Detroit(5.8 percent),Atlanta(6.6 percent),Minneapolis/St. Paul(7.2 percent) andSan Francisco/Oakland/San Jose(7.2 percent) experienced lower-than-average rate increases in 2011.

Employer Action to Mitigate Trend

Against this backdrop, employers are focused on both short- and longer-term trend mitigation, while awaiting further regulations related to health care reform.

"In addition to sharing costs with employees, organizations are implementing more aggressive strategies to incent participants to understand, and manage, their health," saidJim Winkler, Large Market Segment leader of the Health & Benefits Practice withAon Hewitt. "Some employers are adopting the mindset that says, 'if you are going to spend a lot of house money, you need to play by house rules,' including completing a health-risk questionnaire, participating in prevention and wellness plans, and better managing chronic conditions."