FIRMS TRY TO TRIM HEALTH-CARE COSTS

Employers are asking their workers to increase their share of premium payments to keep employee health-care costs under control, according to a survey by Business & Legal Reports Inc.

In 1987, 89 percent of employers paid at least two-thirds of their workers' health insurance premiums, with fully 51 percent of them picking up the entire tab. In 1991, the numbers had dropped to 75 percent and 40 percent respectively.