Rising health care costs are pushing more Oregonians to make a difficult choice: delay medical care or go without it entirely.
That’s the key takeaway from a pair of new reports released by the Oregon Health Authority, which found that health care costs in the state are growing faster than the state’s economy. Even with nearly everyone insured, a growing number of residents say they simply can’t afford to use their coverage.
Last year, about 15% of Oregonians said they put off or skipped medical care due to cost,
one report found.
In the southwest region of the state, it’s even worse — roughly 1 in 5 residents avoided care, with dental visits being the most commonly delayed statewide.
Health officials warned that delaying treatment can lead to serious complications. “Medical conditions or injuries when left untreated can become life-threatening,” the state report noted.
Portland-area residents can’t find doctors, and they say it’s only getting worse
Patients are beginning to feel the effects of problems experts have been raising for years.
The report shows that 97% of Oregonians had health insurance last year, but 11% were still unable to pay their medical bills. For many, high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs remain a barrier to care. The average employer-sponsored premium for an individual cost $7,962 in 2023 — nearly 4% of the state’s median household income, the state reported.
Oregon households now spend more on health care than on any other category, including housing and utilities. In 2023, the average Oregonian spent $9,255 on health-related expenses, including what was paid out-of-pocket and by employers.
Meanwhile, total health care expenditures in the state rose 5.2% between 2022 and 2023 — well above Oregon’s 3.4% cost growth target. Spending went up across the board: Medicaid rose 9%, Medicare 7.8%, and commercial insurance 6.4%.
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recent state health care cost growth report
found that medical spending per person in Oregon jumped 5.2% between 2022 and 2023. That’s well above the state’s target of 3.4% annual growth — the biggest overshoot since the state started tracking this data back in 2018, according to officials.
State officials say rising prices for services and prescription drugs are the main drivers of the cost increases. Some growth in Medicaid spending was attributed to intentional policy decisions, such as increased reimbursement rates for behavioral health services and temporary support for hospitals hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oregon’s health care costs aren’t rising as fast as in some other states — Utah saw a 6.6% jump, Connecticut hit 7.8%, Massachusetts reached 8.6%, and Delaware topped the list at 9.1%. But state health officials say that Oregon is still at a turning point, and unchecked increases could jeopardize access and affordability for many.
To address affordability, the Oregon Health Policy Board — a citizen-led body that oversees the Oregon Health Authority — is launching two new committees focused on controlling costs. The board will appoint new members at a
June 10 meeting
, which will include a public hearing where community members can share their experiences. Written comments can be sent to
HealthCare.CostTarget@oha.oregon.gov
.
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More Oregonians are skipping medical care because of costs, state health officials find
More Oregonians are skipping medical care because of costs, state health officials find
More Oregonians are skipping medical care because of costs, state health officials find