Health insurance has been in the minds of many people of late. With healthcare regulation still taking place, many companies and employees are interested in how their costs match up to others.

The bi-annual South Carolina Employer Benefits Survey by Rosenfeld Einstein reveals that South Carolina's PPO plan premiums average $389 for individual plans compared to $410 nationally.

Data from the survey also reveals that those in South Carolina are taking the reins when it comes to controlling their healthcare needs. Almost half of the companies surveyed said they offered consumer-directed healthcare plans.

The large number of employers responding to the survey help provide more insight into health expense trends.

"The record participation from nearly 200 businesses representing over 52,000 employees and dozens of industries is highly significant," said Rosenfeld Einstein principal Howard Einstein. "These findings provide actionable, current information to guide future benefits planning decisions."

Nationwide, healthcare costs have consistently increased year after year. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, healthcare spending in 2008 was $7,681 per person. The rate of funds spent per resident in the U.S. is one of the highest of any industrial country, says the KFF.