Utahns have experienced a range of affordability burdens, including health insurance, medical services, and medical bills. In fact, 69% of Utahns experienced at least one healthcare cost burden, and 86% are worried about the cost of future health care.
This report is a primer of healthcare costs for Utahns. It looks at the ways these costs burden Utahns, the drivers of these costs, and the federal changes that impact Utahns.
Key Findings
- Healthcare costs remain a widespread burden: Nearly 7 in 10 Utahns experienced at least one healthcare cost burden, and more than 8 in 10 worry about affording care in the future – even though most are insured.
- Insurance does not guarantee affordability: High premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing have led many insured Utahns to delay or forgo care, while uninsured Utahns face even greater barriers to accessing medical services.
- Federal policy changes may raise costs for families and employers: The loss of Marketplace subsidies and new limits on Medicaid funding are likely to increase the uninsured rate and intensify cost shifting, contributing to higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs in the private market.
