(Image Source: Info Barrel)

BY MILA MIMICA

ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS

A survey of health insurance providers reveals health care premiums have increased more than 100 percent in the past 10 years.

ABC catches us up.

“The average cost of family coverage through a plan at work and now soared to more than $15,000, jumping 9% from last year. The Kaiser survey finds that over the past ten years, health insurance premiums are up 113% while wages have increased only 34%.”

America’s Health Insurance Providers released a statement Tuesday explaining the reasons behind the increase.

“Changes in the covered population have resulted in a risk pool that is older … Combined with a reduction in the number of early retirees, many employers are facing a workforce that is older and has higher health care costs.”

And with a still struggling economy -- NBC’s John Yang suggests -- higher premiums are hurting the job market.

“Employers say rising insurance costs forced them to choose between providing good benefits and hiring new workers or giving raises.”

So unaffordable, that many Americans have gone to unhealthy extremes in order to save money on health care. MSNBC has more.

“There’s a new consumer report survey out and it found that 48 percent of prescription drug users are putting off doctor visits or declining tests to help manage health care costs. Many of those surveyed admitted to taking expired medications or even skipping a dose to make their drug supplies last.”

The survey also revealed 2.3 million Americans under the age of 26 have been added to their parents’ health care plans. That -- made possible by President Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act.

Still - the premium jump isn’t welcome news to the Obama administration, which is fighting off critics who say the president’s overhaul prompted insurance companies to raise rates.

Ultimately, The New York Times says...

“The steep increase in rates is particularly unwelcome at a time when the economy is still sputtering and unemployment continues to hover at about 9 percent. … How much the new federal health care law pushed by President Obama is affecting insurance rates remains a point of debate...”