The cost of employer-sponsored health insurance in Oregon has soared to unprecedented heights, intensifying the financial burden on families already grappling with rising healthcare expenses. According to the latest report from the State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota, the average annual premium for family coverage in 2024 surged to $24,688, while individual coverage reached $8,400 per employee. Both figures represent record highs for the state since tracking began in 2002.
Experts suggest these numbers are indicative of a wider national trend, as the burden of escalating healthcare costs increasingly falls upon employees. Across the United States, average family premiums for employer-sponsored insurance rose to $24,540 in 2024, marking a 2.5% increase over the previous year, while individual coverage climbed 3.7% to $8,486. Oregon, however, experienced steeper increases — 8.3% for family plans and 5.3% for individual plans — though still below the extreme rises witnessed in states such as Delaware, where family premiums leapt nearly 26% to almost $28,000.
Approximately 1.8 million Oregonians, around half of the state’s population, rely on employer-provided coverage, which remains the most prevalent form of health insurance nationwide. Elizabeth Lukanen, director of the Minnesota centre, stresses that while employer-sponsored insurance continues to provide a cornerstone of coverage, it is “becoming increasingly unaffordable for both employers and employees.” She emphasises that any policy measures aiming to address the nation’s growing healthcare affordability crisis must prioritise employer-sponsored plans.
Driving the premium increases are rising hospital charges, escalating prescription drug costs, and growing demand for medical services, according to Andrea Stewart, a research fellow at the centre. Deductibles — the out-of-pocket costs that employees must pay before insurance coverage begins — have risen even more sharply. In Oregon, the average family deductible reached nearly $4,000, while individual plans approached $2,000. This trend reflects a shift towards high-deductible health plans, which may offer lower monthly premiums but expose employees to significant financial risk in the event of medical emergencies.
Stewart notes that over half of American workers with employer-sponsored insurance are now enrolled in high-deductible plans, with Oregon slightly below the national average. “Lower premiums may appear appealing,” she warns, “but they come with real financial exposure. Emergencies can leave families owing thousands, often forcing delays in care.” A recent Oregon Health Authority survey found that 15% of residents postponed medical treatment, and roughly 12% exhausted most or all of their savings on medical bills.
These findings underline that even in relatively well-performing states, the rising cost of employer health insurance is straining household budgets, impacting wages, and undermining long-term financial security, leaving families increasingly vulnerable in the face of unforeseen medical emergencies.