Fewer people getting health insurance through employer

Fewer people -; 44.6 percent of all Americans -; are getting health insurance through their employer, a new Gallup poll finds. In other news, as health care costs increase, giving birth at home is becoming a more attractive option despite doctors' concerns.

Politico: Employer Insurance Declines, Survey Shows
Fewer Americans received health insurance from their employer in 2011, continuing a trend that has seen the figure decline over the past three years. According to Gallup, 44.6 percent of Americans received health insurance from an employer in 2011, compared with 45.8 percent in 2010. In 2008, 49.2 percent of Americans received their insurance from their employer. Employer-provided insurance has declined over the past year for those who worked for an employer full time (-2.5 percentage points), part time (-1 percentage point) and worked full time for themselves (-0.7 percentage points) (Mak, 2/14).

Kaiser Health News: Despite Doctors' Concerns, Home Births Are Increasing
For the vast majority of parents-to-be, giving birth involves a stay at a hospital or birthing center. But a growing minority are choosing instead to have babies at home, where, they hope, they can have a more private, low-tech experience and allow the process to unfold naturally. It doesn't hurt that in these days of rising health care costs, having a baby at home is a lot cheaper, too (Andrews, 2/14).