Healthcare Affordability Blues

Dear Friend,

This week, The New York Times reported that, since Congress allowed Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire, millions of Americans are going without health insurance. These are small business owners, independent contractors, or unemployed people who are not eligible for Medicare coverage. The Congressional Budget Office projects there are 27 million people who are uninsured, and cuts in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill will bring that total to about 40 million people.

For those who get coverage through their work, their costs are rising, too. Annual family premiums rose 6% in 2025, following 7% increases in each of the two previous years. The average family premium cost is nearly $27,000, with an employer paying about $20,000 and an employee paying nearly $7,000 out of their paycheck toward their premiums. Those figures do not include co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, or other fees that patients may need to pay in addition to the premiums already paid.

Healthcare costs are straining the finances of millions of families.

Where is your money going? Well, here’s one place: Modern Healthcare recently reported the average CEO compensation for the top nine publicly traded health insurance companies in 2025. These health insurance CEOs averaged $16.9 million in annual compensation last year. UnitedHealth Group Chair and CEO Stephen Hemsley took home $60.9 million.

What can you do? Speak up about what you are experiencing! Your voice is important to policymakers and me as we develop future concepts. I have been working hard to bring legislation to help. Here’s how you can speak up.

If you have concerns about the cost of your prescriptions, you can share those at an in-person forum this Tuesday, May 5th, from 5-6:30 pm at the Salem Public Library. The Oregon Prescription Drug Affordability Board is traveling the state and wants to hear from you.  https://dfr.oregon.gov/pdab/Pages/index.aspx.

If you have concerns about healthcare access and consolidation, you can submit comments to the Oregon Health Care Market Oversight program (HCMO). They are currently reviewing the proposed merger between Salem Health and Santiam Hospital. There is still time to make your voice heard. https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/HP/Pages/079-SalemHealth-Santiam.aspx 

In September, the Universal Health Plan Governing Board will present its findings to the Senate Healthcare Committee regarding a plan to cover all Oregonians, with cost, quality, and access in mind. You can also submit public comment to them, and learn more about their work here: https://www.oregon.gov/uhpgb/pages/index.aspx.

You can submit comments about any issues related to cost, coverage, and access to the Oregon Health Policy Board. More information about how to sign up to speak or to provide written comments here: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPB/Pages/index.aspx.

It is important to note that much of what affects healthcare costs depends on Congress. So please also share your feedback with our federal Congressional delegation, most of whom are fighting for affordability.

And I’m always glad to hear from you as well. In the interim, I am convening a work group of insurers and hospitals to discuss challenges in negotiating agreements that are affordable for their patients. If you, a family member, or a friend wants to share your experience navigating access to care when your local hospital doesn’t accept your insurance plan, please consider sending an email to my legislative office. My e-mail is Sen.DebPatterson@oregonlegislature.gov.

Wishing you all a Happy May Day! Let’s work together to make quality healthcare something that every Oregonian – whether an employer or an employee – can afford and find!

Warmly,
Deb