Why you’re paying more for health insurance – and what impacts costs

Rising costs and the growing demand for health care — especially for hospital services and prescription drugs — are challenging patients, doctors, businesses, health plans, and the entire health care system. These difficulties are causing higher premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs nationwide. Many of our local health care leaders are already collaborating to make care more accessible and affordable – while helping to improve outcomes for everyone.  

But who decides what you pay? From doctors and hospitals to employers and insurers – every part of the health care system plays a role.

Rising costs continue to apply pressure to small business and we remain committed to offering support through collaboration and partnership. Value-added resources are available to help small businesses find meaningful ways to improve quality of care while managing costs for employees: www.excellusforbusiness.com.

*Sources: https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2025/04/The-Cost-of-Caring-April-2025.pdf https://www.kff.org/health-costs/health-policy-101-health-care-costs-and-affordability/?entry=table-of-contents-what-factors-contribute-to-u-s-health-care-spending https://guidehouse.com/insights/healthcare/2023/2024-health-system-digital-and-it-investments
** Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10678302/ https://academic.oup.com/ajhp/article/82/14/806/8117945
Data regarding specialty medications represents commercial claims data for the health plan from January 2024 through June 2025.
Specialty drugs treat conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.