More Job Data...

This info from WorldAtWork, when taken in tandem, doesn't look all that great...

Average annual medical premium costs increased 6% this past year: click here

Pay increases on a national level are going to be 3.9% for this year: click here

(Doesn't seem to be a very good combination...)

Here are the results of the survey on a state/province level...

TABLE 1. Average Salary Budget Increases by Major Metropolitan Area (U.S.)

	Actual 2008	Projected 2009
NATIONAL	3.9%	3.9%
Atlanta	3.8%	3.8%
Baltimore	3.8%	3.8%
Boston	3.9%	3.9%
Chicago	3.8%	3.8%
Cincinnati	3.7%	3.8%
Cleveland	3.8%	3.8%
Dallas	3.8%	3.8%
Denver	3.9%	3.9%
Detroit	3.7%	3.8%
Houston	3.9%	3.9%
Los Angeles	3.8%	3.9%
Miami	3.8%	3.8%
Minneapolis	3.7%	3.7%
New York	3.8%	3.8%
Philadelphia	3.8%	3.9%
Phoenix	3.8%	3.8%
Pittsburgh	3.7%	3.8%
Portland	3.8%	3.8%
San Diego	3.8%	3.9%
San Francisco	3.9%	3.9%
San Jose	3.8%	3.8%
Seattle	3.8%	3.8%
St. Louis	3.7%	3.8%
Tampa	3.8%	3.8%
Washington, D.C.	4.0%	3.9%

TABLE 2. Average Salary Budget Increases by State (U.S.)

	Actual 2008	Projected 2009
NATIONAL	3.9%	3.9%
Alabama	3.8%	3.8%
Alaska	3.7%	3.8%
Arizona	3.8%	3.9%
Arkansas	3.7%	3.7%
California	3.9%	3.9%
Colorado	3.9%	3.9%
Connecticut	3.9%	3.9%
Delaware	3.7%	3.8%
Florida	3.8%	3.8%
Georgia	3.8%	3.8%
Hawaii	3.8%	3.8%
Idaho	3.7%	3.8%
Illinois	3.8%	3.8%
Indiana	3.6%	3.7%
Iowa	3.8%	3.9%
Kansas	3.8%	3.8%
Kentucky	3.7%	3.8%
Louisiana	3.9%	3.9%
Maine	3.8%	3.9%
Maryland	3.8%	3.8%
Massachusetts	3.8%	3.9%
Michigan	3.7%	3.8%
Minnesota	3.7%	3.8%
Mississippi	3.8%	3.8%
Missouri	3.8%	3.8%
Montana	3.7%	3.8%
Nebraska	3.8%	3.8%
Nevada	3.8%	3.8%
New Hampshire	3.7%	3.8%
New Jersey	3.8%	3.8%
New Mexico	3.9%	3.9%
New York	3.9%	3.8%
North Carolina	3.7%	3.7%
North Dakota	3.9%	4.0%
Ohio	3.8%	3.8%
Oklahoma	3.8%	3.8%
Oregon	3.8%	3.8%
Pennsylvania	3.8%	3.9%
Rhode Island	3.7%	3.8%
South Carolina	3.7%	3.7%
South Dakota	3.8%	3.9%
Tennessee	3.7%	3.7%
Texas	3.9%	4.0%
Utah	3.8%	3.8%
Vermont	3.8%	3.8%
Virginia	3.8%	3.9%
Washington	3.8%	3.9%
Washington, D.C.	4.0%	3.9%
West Virginia	3.7%	3.8%
Wisconsin	3.8%	3.8%
Wyoming	3.9%	3.9%

TABLE 3. Average Salary Budget Increases by Major Metropolitan Area (Canada)

	Actual 2008	Projected 2009
Calgary	4.0%	3.9%
Edmonton	4.0%	3.9%
Hamilton	3.8%	3.9%
Montreal	3.6%	3.6%
Ottawa	3.8%	3.8%
Quebec	3.6%	3.5%
Toronto	3.7%	3.7%
Vancouver	3.8%	3.8%
Winnipeg	3.9%	3.8%

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

It's about 30 degrees but many miles away, in Japan, the baseball season started today. We here at Astron are made up of a few loyalties. But the majority of us root for the Yankees. So let's hope that Joe Girardi can be a good manager (had to add in the HR theme) and get the Yankees to the World Series.

So we'll go and start with the New York Times today where we have an article which says that health plans put the onus on the insured: click here

Also from the New York Times, their Home Front section talks about those determined to find a new beginning: click here

Lastly, from the Christian Science Monitor, if you're going to start an office romance, first sign a contract: click here

What I’m Hearing…Medical Tourism

Last night during my standing Monday dance lesson, my Hustle dance coach told me that a friend of his is leaving for England to have hip resurfacing surgery, a procedure that’s not common here in the States. When I asked why someone would fly so far away for medical work, he said that the procedure will cost $11,000 - $14,000 less than it would here, even with the airfare and other travel expenses.

I’d heard of medical tourism before, but I didn’t really think people did it. I was wrong.

According to a survey done by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, 11% of surveyed organizations cover medical tourism. (Keep in mind these organizations are large.) In addition, some insurance companies have begun creating policies that provide incentive to covered individuals to go abroad for treatment for some medical needs.

Is this a wise idea? Depending on the country one travels to, is this safe? Money is definitely important, and medical costs here in the US are high. However, is saving a few thousand dollars worth the risks and discomfort associated with 6+ hour plane flights to foreign lands, without one’s family, to interact with medical professionals and anesthesiologists who may not be fluent in English? Perhaps instead of “outsourcing” our medical care the insurance companies should cut down on the level of profits they enjoy at our expense.