Health care cost affordability

Why does health care cost so much? 

Two factors drive health care costs: the type and number of services people use and the price they pay. 

In the last decade, health insurance rates have increased by double digits. In 2022, we released a report showing health care costs in Washington state's commercial health insurance market increased by 13%, nearly twice the inflation rate from 2016 to 2019. A 2022 survey of 1,300 Washingtonians (www.healthcarevaluehub.org) found that nearly two-thirds had rationed medication, delayed or skipped needed care, or spent all their savings on care or prescriptions. More than 81% worried about affording health care in the future. 

What we're doing about health care affordability

In response to these issues, the state Legislature asked us and the Attorney General's Office to review options for improving affordability. We delivered our first report in December 2023 and our final report on Aug. 1, 2024. The data and analysis are meant to help policymakers make health care more affordable. 

Read the 2024 Final Affordability Report

We worked with Health Management Associates to create our final report. It includes actuarial and economic analysis of five policy options that could make health care more affordable in Washington state. 

Read the 2023 Preliminary Report 

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler and Attorney General Bob Ferguson sent the Legislature our first report on Washington's health care system. It explores recent changes in the health care market and ways to improve affordability. Policymakers used the report's findings to review several policy options.

See the health care costs and claims data behind our policy options 

In the first part of our work on health care affordability, Onpoint Health Data helped review our state's health care services and prices.

Onpoint used data about claims from the Washington State All Payer Claims Database (WA-APCD) to create a dashboard of trends in health care costs. The WA-APCD shows what is increasing health care costs and helps inform policy decisions. It includes claims from more than 50 commercial health insurers, Medicaid and Medicare.

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Kumuha ng tulong sa insurance sa Tagalog

Sa sandaling kausap na namin kayo sa telepono, mangyaring maghintay habang tinatawag namin ang isang interpreter para tumulong, na hindi ninyo babayaran.

Mayroon kaming kawani ng mga eksperto sa insurance na makakatulong sa inyong maunawaan ang inyong mga karapatan sa insurance, kabilang ang mga apela sa insurance sa kalusugan at ang inyong proteksyon sa biglaang medikal na pagsingil.

Masasagot namin ang inyong mga tanong tungkol sa lahat ng uri ng insurance, kabilang ang:

  • Mga annuity at insurance sa buhay
  • Insurance sa sasakyan
  • Insurance sa negosyo at pananagutan
  • Insurance sa kapansanan
  • Insurance sa kalusugan
  • Insurance ng mga may-ari ng bahay
  • Medicare
  • Iba pang uri ng insurance

Matutulungan din namin kayong mapatunayan kung ang isang ahente, ahensya, o kumpanya ng insurance ay awtorisadong magbenta ng insurance sa estado ng Washington.

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