Premiums still outpacing inflation
Premiums for family health coverage through employers rose 9 percent this year to more than $15,000, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust.
The organizations found that 31 percent of covered workers are in health plans that charge a deductible of at least $1,000 for many procedures.
Kaiser also estimated that employers added 2.3 million young adults to their parents”™ family health insurance policies, the result of a federal health reform provision that allows individuals up to age 26 to be covered as dependents on their parents”™ plan.
Connecticut had a similar law in place prior to the enactment of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Breast cancer study released
Several Fairfield County municipalities are among those with the highest incidences of breast cancer in Connecticut, according to a study released this month by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Connecticut.
Danbury, Bridgeport, Stamford and Trumbull had relatively high incidences of late-stage diagnoses of breast cancer, the organization found. Anne Morris, executive director of Komen Connecticut, said the inclusion of some wealthy suburbs like West Hartford and others among the highest incidence rates of breast cancer came as a surprise.
Connecticut has the second-highest incidence of breast cancer in the U.S.
Yale-New Haven adds another hospital
In a transaction valued at $160 million, Yale-New Haven Hospital reached a formal agreement to acquire the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven, which has just over 400 beds.
Yale-New Haven, which also controls Bridgeport Hospital and Greenwich Hospital, first revealed the deal last March and must obtain the blessing of regulators and the Catholic Church to complete the merger.
Spa relocates in Darien
Lanphier Salon and Day Spa reportedly is relocating within Darien to 20 West Ave., where it is taking 8,000 square feet of space.
The spa is at Goodwives Shopping Plaza in Darien. The company told the Stamford Advocate it employs more than 50 people.
