"Benefit consultants and brokers are reporting that medical trend rates are continuing to fall - to the 7% to 8% range - while health plans are reporting that their actual costs are trending as low as 5.5% to 6.5%."
That's the lead in an article I wrote that was published in this month's issue of Employee Benefit Adviser.
In it, I reviewed the third quarter HMO earnings reports and compared them to the trend rates employers are paying for their health plan renewals.
You can also access the entire article at: www.employeebenefitadviser.com/article.cfm?articleid=4711&pg=