Health premiums causing less pain; Medical insurance costs still climbing, but pace slows, at last

Employees likely will feel some badly needed relief next year from skyrocketing health insurance costs. After years of getting socked by double-digit increases, Chicago-area workers in 2012 should see premiums rise, on a percentage basis, in the mid-single-digit range, consultants and health insurance executives say. The state's largest health insurer, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois, actually is handing out reductions to some customers and small increases to others...