A new report of a statewide survey released by NoHLA and our partners in the Fair Health Prices Washington effort and United States of Care shows that high health care costs are significantly impacting many Washingtonians, with disproportionate effects on some populations. Respondents reported that: 

• 31% live in a household that has medical debt; 
• 57% have avoided seeking medical treatment or modified their use of prescriptions in the last year due to the cost; 
• 63% could not pay or would struggle to pay an unexpected $500 medical bill; and 
• 88% are concerned about the cost of their health care in the future.

The negative impact of health care costs is particularly high among some communities of color, with 75% of Black/African American respondents and 75% of Hispanic/Latino respondents reporting impacts to their physical health care, compared to 57% of White respondents. And while most people are covered by health insurance, there are still challenges: for example, 81% of those with a disability say they have difficulties affording, accessing, understanding, or using their health insurance.

You can read the press release and see related media coverage in The Seattle Times, My Edmonds News, and Public News Service.

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner also recently released a groundbreaking report that takes a deep dive into five different policy options for Washington to address those costs. NoHLA’s advocacy helped lead to the report, which includes bold ideas such as using reference pricing, global budgeting, or spending limits to manage growing affordability concerns.

The new survey shows there is strong appetite for action to address rising health care challenges: respondents rated health care affordability among their top issues for elected officials to address, with strong bipartisan support for state action.  We hope this information will be front and center in policy discussions this year.