As health care reform becomes a key focus of the Obama administration, the media has been flooded with reports on the rising costs of health care insurance.

As health care reform becomes a key focus of the Obama administration, the media has been flooded with reports on the rising costs of health care insurance. A recent issue ofBusiness Weekcontained the following statistics: Since 1999, consumer prices have risen 34 percent, wages have risen 29 percent, and health insurance premiums in employer-based health plans have risen a whopping 119 percent.

That figure is startling, but even more so since employees have paid an increasing share of the burden and many fees for primary care providers have been relatively flat. In many cases, employers are complaining that health care costs are breaking them, employees are paying more for less coverage, and primary care providers are leaving the field because they feel they can’t earn a living. The system doesn’t appear to be working well for anyone, with the possible exception of the insurance companies and their lobbyists.

As a business owner, how do you feel about the state of the health care insurance industry? Is providing insurance for your workers an increasingly difficult burden for your business? If so, let your congressman or senator know about your concerns. Maybe this is one of those instances where government can do some real good.