Speaking of Cover the Uninsured Week—now a word from its sponsors...

Family premiums have risen 10 times faster than income in recent years—30 percent versus 3 percent—, according to a new analysis of government data from 2001 to 2005 released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The study by University of Minnesota researchers shows that workers aren't paying a bigger share of the premiums if insurance is offered on the job, but the dollar amount increased a lot. (This particular study didn't look at cost-sharing, higher deductibles, co-pays etc, just the cost of the insurance policy itself.)

Nationally, the average cost of family coverage increased nearly $2,500, from $8,281 in 2001 to $10,728 in 2005. Workers paid about a fourth of that cost, but while that proportion held steady, the dollar amount increased $664, from $1,921 in 2001 to $2,585 in 2005. Meanwhile, the median income of people who hold family health insurance policies increased just $1,250 during the same period, from $40,818 in 2001 to $42,068 in 2005.

"This study makes plain what every working parent knows—that providing insurance coverage takes a bigger bite from the family budget every year," said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, head of the foundation.

Other findings:

• Fewer employees are working in private-sector jobs that offer insurance.
  Nationally, 4.1 million fewer people worked in private-sector jobs that offered health insurance in 2005 than in 2001.
• Fewer private-sector businesses offer coverage.
  The number of private-sector employers nationwide who offered health insurance benefits to their employees fell by 30,000 from 2001 to 2005.
• Fewer people have private health insurance coverage.
  Americans with private health insurance fell nearly 2.4 million, or 6 percent, from 2001 to 2005.

The bottom line, as Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey said, is that these numbers explain why the ranks of the uninsured will keep rising "unless our nation's leaders act to reform our health care system." So maybe next year, when Cover the Uninsured Week rolls around, we'll be doing something about it.