Yesterday, the 2009 numbers on health care costs were released by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust (a nonprofit and nonpartisan health policy research foundation). In light of this, we felt it would be useful to look more in depth at some of these numbers, and how they underscore the urgency of our current health care debate.

-- In 2009, employer-sponsored family health insurance increased by 5% to $13, 375 despite the slowing rate of inflation.

-- Over the past decade, the annual cost of family coverage has increased by 131%

-- In the same time period, the annual cost of single coverage has increased by 120%

-- Over the past 10 years, health care costs have grown at a rate of 8.7% each year.

-- If this rate of growth continues, employer-based family health care coverage will top $30,000 a year by 2019.

I know these numbers shouldn't shock you. We've all heard President Obama speak about the skyrocketing costs of health care in America. However this is simply the black and white proof of his assertion. It is therefore clear that this legislation is not simply about the 15% of Americans who are uninsured (though we do have a moral responsibility to provide them with coverage and bear some responsibility for the 27,000 people die in America each year due to a lack of health care coverage), but it also is about fixing a fundamentally broken system.

This problem is spiraling out of control. It is costing more Americans more money every year, and it is making our businesses less competitive in the global economy. This is not acceptable and it's time to break this vicious cycle of health care cost increases before it breaks us and our broader economy.

-- Newell for Congress Campaign