Rhode Island Health Care Premiums Among Highest in Nation

Rhode Island has some of the highest commercial healthcare premiums paid by families and employers in the country, reports Providence Now. The findings, from a Rhode Island Business Group on Health report, indicate that, between 2012 and 2022, health insurance premium costs in the state increased from 23 percent to 28 percent of median household income, leading to the state having the 13th most expensive premiums in the nation. Notably, medical claims and pharmaceutical costs represent nearly 88 percent of insurers’ expenses, highlighting the need for collaborative strategies to align health care stakeholders and contain costs. The report calls on the state to focus on reducing hospital costs, which account for a significant portion of medical expenses covered by premiums.