(by Peter Van Bruggen)

Recent researched has shown health premiums increase speed to be fivefold higher than workers’ salaries in the U.S.

Premium increases rose 11.2% this year against 13.9% of 2003. Still, it is five times much as compared both with inflation and worker income, it said.

"We should expect the ranks of the uninsured to tick up, a million here and a million there. If trends continue the share of Americans who have employer-sponsored health coverage will fall," said Drew Altman, president of the non-partisan health research group.

Health inflation is mainly driven by the workers spend more money on prescription drugs, doctor visits and hospital stays as well as by consumers’ wish to be in touch with the for expensive new medical technologies, specialists say.