To sufficiently cover all participants, premiums must keep pace with the rising cost of healthcare. Fast fact: the average increase in healthcare costs is often significantly higher than the average inflation rate in Canada. For instance, inflation rates in 2018 for health insurance plans ranged from 5% to 15%.
So, premiums go up, but if you didn't have insurance, for example, you would also have paid more each year for your care. Basically, it's the cost of the entire healthcare system that increases over time.