Benefits inflation: annual change in average total health benefits' costs.

Benefits Inflation

Annual change in average total health benefits' costs


1994         $3,644
1995         $3,653
1996         $3,703
1997         $3,594
1998         $3,817
1999         $4,097
2000         $4,430
2001         $4,924
2002 (est.)  $5,549

Note: Date before 1999 for active and retired employees; for 1999-2002
for active employees only.

Source: Mercer/Foster Higgins National Survey of Employer-Sponsored
Health Plans

Note: Table made from bar graph