The cost of private medical insurance for small businesses may increase according to a health insurer.

The insurer, Groupma Healthcare, health insurance firms are more likely to implement higher costs to their medical insurance deals.

Spokesperson Francois-Xavier Boisseau of Groupma said: "There now appears to be the possibility of the market responding to correct adverse profitability with some potential for small price increases in 2009 - something that is long overdue.

We have taken a very sensible and disciplined approach to our healthcare business over recent years and have concentrated on enhancing the bottom line rather than trying to grow in unfavourable market conditions.

Our portfolio is now responding to our efforts and against the background of the first signs from our competitors that prices in the SME sector may be moving up, we are in a better position to compete more effectively."

Meanwhile, thousands of Americans are losing their health insurance every day, according to a report.

The recent report by liberal think tank Centre for American Progress’ Action Fund, stated that there is a rapid growth in number of Americans without health insurance stating that as many as 14,000 Americans could be losing their health cover every day.

The report said that an estimation of 46 million Americans did not have health insurance before the recession and that four million losing their health insurance since the recession began.