Insurance costs vary widely by city

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- A new U.S. government database comparing health insurance costs finds significant variations depending on geographic locations.

HealthNewsDigest.com reports families in Seattle pay an average $3,299 annually, compared to $1,851 for New Yorkers, but average premiums for family coverage in New York were $11,244, compared with $8,521 in Riverside, Calif. Boston workers paid the most for individual coverage, an average of $867, compared with $449 for those living in Riverside. Premiums for individual coverage were highest in San Francisco -- $4,185 -- compared with $3,012 in Riverside.

"We already know that the quality of health care can vary significantly according to geography," said Carolyn M. Clancy, director of the Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

"These new data highlight local cost variations and may help employers make annual benefit plan decisions."