Get the Facts on Health Care Costs
- Eight out of ten uninsured Californians come from working families. (UCLA Center for Health Policy Research)
- Health care costs in the U.S. have doubled in the last ten years. (Kaiser Family Foundation 2008)
- 98,000 Americans die each year as a result of medical errors, more than motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer and AIDS. (Institute of Medicine, Washington DC, 2000)
- Per capita health costs are about 50% higher in the U.S. than in other developed countries, while ranking among the lowest in life expectancy and infant mortality. (Commonwealth Fund 2006)
- In the last ten years, California’s K–12 districts spent twice as much on health insurance for employees. (District reports to County Offices of Education)
- Teachers spent $348 million for the cost of health care not covered by districts in 2007-2008. (CTA)
- Health care costs to California’s classified staff members increased by 143% between 2000 and 2006 while their wages increased by 24%. (CSEA)
