Morning CheckUp: November 17, 2011

Insurers threaten 1,100 jobs: “Four health insurers led by Cigna Corp. have asked the Obama administration to exempt medical plans they sell to Americans overseas from the 2010 health law, saying a denial may imperil about 1,100 U.S. jobs.” [Bloomberg]

Survey finds slower rise in benefit costs: “Though the cost of employee health benefits continues to rise, this year’s increase is lower than 2010′s and will continue to slow in 2012, according to survey results from Mercer. The latest edition of the consultant firm’s annual health plan survey showed overall health benefit costs grew by 6.1% in 2011, compared with 6.9% in 2010. Officials forecast a 5.7% rate of increase in 2012.” [Modern Healthcare]

Ron Paul lays out health care vision: “[Government] medical care has always been done in the name of humanitarianism,” Paul said. But “the market is the only compassionate system,” because it delivers the most goods and services to the most people possible.” [Kaiser Health News]

Emergency room closures hit minorities hardest: “California hospitals that serve large numbers of blacks and Medicaid patients, who often rely on ERs the most, run a higher risk of closing the emergency deparment, according to an analysis just published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.” [NPR]

Huckabee to host abortion forum: “Eight presidential candidates have been invited to speak about abortion at a forum that 2008 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will host next month in Iowa.” [Politico]

Health reform in 2012: “If former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and President Obama face off in the 2012 presidential campaign, America will witness the singular spectacle of two candidates getting very little love — and plenty of hate — for the same signature achievement: reforming health care.” [Washington Post]