Published On: September 28th, 2011
Rising Premiums: A survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust shows that employers’ health-insurance premiums for the average family rose 9% to $15,073 this year, while premiums for single workers rose 8%, the WSJ reports. The survey estimates only about 1.5 percentage points of the 9% increase came from the health-care overhaul law. The CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans says higher medical costs were responsible for premium increases.
Trouble Ahead for Infertile Men?: A study published in Human Reproduction finds that men without kids have a 17% higher chance of dying from heart disease than do fathers, suggesting infertility may be a warning sign of health problems ahead, Reuters reports. The study looked at 135,000 men over 50, and not all of the childless men were infertile.
More Deaths Linked to Cantaloupe: The death toll from listeria-tainted cantaloupes may have risen to 14, the Associated Press reports. If the deaths are confirmed to be tied to the fruit, it would make the food-borne disease outbreak the worse since nine people died after eating peanuts contaminated by salmonella in late 2008 and early 2009, the AP says.
No Relief: A 369-man study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds escalating doses of saw palmetto extract failed to outperform a placebo in alleviating the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland, the Los Angeles Times’ Booster Shots blog reports. By the end of the 72-week study, men who were randomly assigned to the saw palmetto were taking 960 milligrams per day.
Image: iStockphoto

Original post:
A.M. Vitals: Employers’ Health-Care Premiums Rose 9% This Year



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