In a world of rising health care costs and, in turn, rising insurance premiums, the buck stops with patients.

The Kaiser Family Foundation, a California-based, non-profit, private foundation, and Health Research Educational Trust announced earlier this month that premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance increased almost 14 percent between spring 2002 and spring 2003.

According to the foundation, these costs are affecting employees’ premiums, raising workers’ deductibles and increasing drug co-payments. Since 2000, the annual premium has increased about 49 percent.

Steve Cunningham, associate vice president of administration and human resources, said NIU employees are paying more for health care.

Employee premiums for NIU’s standard plan, Quality Care, have increased from 22 to 33 percent, depending on salary over the last four years, Cunningham said.

Dependent care premiums have increased from 20 to 22 percent based on the number of dependents covered.

Managed care (HMO) premiums for dependents have increased from 18 to 29 percent for employees and 22 to 36 percent depending on the HMO selected, he said.

Cunningham said there was also an increase in co-payments, especially those related to the prescription drug program.

NIU employees participate in the State of Illinois-Central Management Services for health, life and dental insurance programs. NIU gives about $3.5 million to CMS to fund the employee coverage, Cunningham said.

“NIU has worked to maintain alternative managed care options for NIU employees, which offer more favorable rates,” he said.

Other local workers, including those in the health care industry, are also paying more for health care coverage.

Kishwaukee Community Hospital employees are seeing more money for coverage deducted from their paychecks.

“As the premium goes up, the share goes up,” said Sharon Emanuelson, marketing and public relations director.

Employees are also paying more for prescription drugs; $10 per co-pay if the drug is generic and $20 to $25 if it isn’t, Emanuelson said.

Kishwaukee participates in the Illinois Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance. Each employee can receive medical, vision, dental and prescription coverage.

Kishwaukee participates in the preferred-provider option, which restricts employees to visiting preselected physicians. If the employee visits a selected physician, the insurer covers 80 percent of the cost. Otherwise the insurer will pay 60 percent.

Kishwaukee also encourages employees to maintain healthy lifestyles by offering gym memberships and medical screenings.