Health care costs grow 6% in '11

Florida business owners expect health benefits for their employees to cost them 8% more in 2012 if they do not alter coverage levels, according to a survey of 100 companies with 10 or more workers.

In 2011, health benefit costs increased 5.7%, to roughly $9,000 per worker, according to the National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans conducted by Mercer, a risk-management consultant firm. Florida's costs were below the national average of roughly $10,000 per worker, Mercer says.

In anticipation of next year's cost hike, employers say they will make changes to coverage levels and health care vendors, targeting a cost increase of 4.4%, rather than the 8% increase they would experience with no changes.

In addition, 57% of employers say they will share some portion of the greater costs with staff by increasing deductibles, copays, or through some other similar means.