Graphic of the week: Dashboard data shows healthcare costs straining Ohioans

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One of the key findings from HPIO’s recently released  2026 Health Value Dashboard is rising healthcare costs strain Ohioans, employers and the healthcare system. Employer contributions to health insurance have risen by 28% since 2015, while employee contributions have gone up by 53%. At the same time, one in four Ohioans report difficulty paying for their usual household expenses, as illustrated above.
 
“Healthcare costs are rising, leaving Ohioans with less room in their budgets and increasing financial pressure on businesses,” according to the Dashboard. “Higher healthcare costs can make it harder for people to access care and for employers to offer affordable health insurance. Rising costs also strain health systems, leading to, for example, reduced services or closed hospitals in rural areas.”
 
The Health Value Dashboard is a collection of tools and resources using more than 100 data metrics to compare Ohio’s performance to other states and D.C. on measures of population health, healthcare spending and the factors that influence health. It also includes disaggregated data for Ohio populations with barriers to health.
 
The Dashboard’s primary purpose is to highlight Ohio’s strengths and challenges and spark questions that catalyze data-driven policy development that improves health, health equity and the value of healthcare spending in Ohio.
 
HPIO will be hosting a webinar from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, to review key findings from the Dashboard, highlight trends across major drivers of health and examine disparities affecting Ohioans with the greatest needs. Participants will also learn about opportunities for Ohio leaders to advance policies that have the power to strengthen access to resources, reduce barriers and improve health value in Ohio.