Oregon Health Costs Outpace Household Spending

Per-person health care spending in Oregon rose 151% over 20 years, far faster than housing or food costs.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Financial Planning

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of stacked copper discs beside a small cream pouch and a red-capped vial, evoking household money squeezed by medical costs. — Oregon residents' health care spending per person rose 151% over two decades, far outpacing a 117% increase in housing costs and a 96% rise in food prices. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Oregon health care spending per person increased 151% between 2004 and 2024, compared with a 117% rise in housing and utilities and a 96% rise in food and beverages. In 2024, one in three Oregon residents reported taking serious steps to afford medical care.

Why it matters

Rising premiums, deductibles, and co-payments leave less money for other essentials, adding financial pressure on Oregon households. The growth in costs has outpaced many other everyday expenses over the same two decades.

Average employer-sponsored family coverage premiums in Oregon reached $24,688 in 2024, a 56% increase since 2013. Nationally, 28% of adults skipped or postponed needed care in the past year because of cost, while 22% had trouble paying or could not pay medical bills.

The players

West Health-Gallup

A research partnership between the West Health Institute and Gallup that conducts national surveys on health and well-being topics.

KFF

The Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit health policy research and polling organization that tracks health care costs and affordability.

The details

Among Oregon residents surveyed, 12% borrowed money to pay for health care or medication, 8% cut back on utilities, and 6% skipped a meal to cover medical costs. Oregon's insured rate stood at 97.3% in 2024, indicating that coverage alone does not shield residents from financial strain.

2004 to 2024: Oregon per-person health care spending rose 151%.
2013 to 2024: Employer family coverage premiums rose 56%.
2024: Average Oregon family premium reached $24,688 and 97.3% of residents were insured.
2025: The West Health-Gallup survey on cost-cutting behaviors was conducted.

Financial Planning Context

Employer family premiums rising 56% between 2013 and 2024 follow the trend KFF has documented in its annual employer benefits surveys. Households budgeting for health costs now face premium growth that has outpaced general spending categories like food and housing.

Households that spend a growing share of income on premiums, deductibles, and co-payments have less room to save or invest. Building a dedicated medical expense buffer in a personal budget can help offset unexpected out-of-pocket costs.

The takeaway

Tracking health costs as a separate line in a household budget makes it easier to see how premium growth affects long-term savings goals. Reviewing plan options during open enrollment can reveal lower-cost coverage that fits a family's needs.