The steep increase in rates is particularly unwelcome at a time when the economy is still sputtering and unemployment continues to hover at about 9 percent. Many businesses cite the high cost of coverage as a factor in their decision not to hire, and health insurance has become increasingly unaffordable for more Americans. Over all, the cost of family coverage has about doubled since 2001, when premiums averaged $7,061, compared with a 34 percent gain in wages over the same period.

How much the new federal health care law pushed by President Obama is affecting insurance rates remains a point of debate, with some analysts suggesting that insurers have raised prices in anticipation of new rules that would, in 2012, require them to justify any increase of more than 10 percent.

In addition to increases caused by insurers getting ahead of potential costs, some of the law's provisions that are already in effect -- like coverage for adult children up to 26 years of age and prevention services like mammogram screening -- have contributed to higher expenses for some employers.

The Kaiser survey includes both big and small companies using employer-sponsored coverage representing about 60 percent of all insured Americans of working age. The annual growth in premiums, according to the survey, had slowed in recent years to 5 percent, rising just 3 percent in 2010, in part due to the lingering effects of the recession. After years of double-digit increases, the moderation was a welcome relief.

Eoin Treacy's view In a capitalist structure where vast price inefficiencies exist, it is only a matter of time before entrepreneurs exploit the arbitrage. In the USA's medical sector, government intervention, the high cost of entry, the legal profession and inertia have created a virtual monopoly for private health insurers and hospitals. For those seeking to benefit from the USA's extraordinarily high cost of medical cover, the answer has been medical tourism.

Thailand and Singapore have been leaders in medical tourism promotion. This article from the Economic Times of India, dated September 25th, highlights the growth aspirations of the sector in that country. This article from the Health-Tourism.com highlights the growth of the sector over the last decade. In Latin America Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama all offer growth potential. A friend recently saved almost €20000 in dental work by going to Hungary for a week rather than having the work completed in Ireland.

I'm sure the Collective would appreciate additional input from knowledgeable subscribers on some of the best ways to invest in this sector.

Singapore listed Raffles Medical trended consistently from late 2008 until late last year. It lost momentum, has fallen below the MA and retested the lower side of the yearlong range this week. A sustained move above S$2.25 would be required to begin to suggest demand is returning to dominance beyond the short term.

Thailand listed Bumrungrad Hospital failed to hold the breakout from the six-month range two weeks ago, but found at least short-term support in the region of the 200-day MA. A sustained move below THB35 would be required to question medium-term scope for additional higher to lateral ranging. Bangkok Dusit Medical Services was quite overextended relative to the 200-day MA when it encountered resistance near THB70 last week. It bounced impressively from the 200-day MA this week and a sustained move below THB55 would be required to question the consistency of the overall uptrend.