“Report: Health care costs to rise 9 pct in 2010″ when later they admit this:

“Actual cost increases for this year and last were not available.”

In other words, “Boy oh boy .. we gotta great handle on what’s gonna happen; but .. we ain’t got a clue what DID happen!” Whatha!?!?!?

And how foolish is this:

“Costs will rise in part because workers worried about losing their jobs are using their health care more while they still have it, the firm said in the report released to The Associated Press.”

I can hear the watercooler chatter now .. “Yeah, Bob .. I’m going in for that appendectomy next week.” “Gee .. I didn’t know you weren’t feeling well.” “Oh .. I’m feeling fine; but I might get laid off so I’m gonna get ‘er done now.” .. or Betty tellin us she’s going in for hip replacement on Tuesday .. “You know those hips don’t last forever and I might not have healthcare when I need them replaced!”

Mr Murphy, AP Business Writer .. you’re an idiot. A useful one possibly; but still an idiot.

If you decide to go to the ballpark 10 times this year instead of 5 times, your ballpark costs will increase, won’t they?

The price of a ticket may be the same as last year, but you spend more. Since it’s your decision to spend more money, you would be disingenuous to say that ballpark costs doubled. Or rather, STUPID, not disingeuous.

Average medical costs increased from May 2008 to May 2009 by 3.2%. Here’s the government data:

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpid0905.pdf

But showing that data wouldn’t forward the Universal Health Scare agenda, would it?