Community Checkup 2026 Is Here. See What’s Behind 8% Rise in Washington State Health Care Costs.
The Washington Health Alliance just released Community Checkup 2026, and while the report’s findings are difficult to ignore, they also show tremendous opportunities for collaboration to improve health care affordability, quality and access.
Dig into the 2026 Community Checkup Results | Read the Full Community Checkup Report
Washington employers faced an 8% increase in commercial health care costs in 2024. That number is significant, but understanding what’s behind it is where the opportunity lies. The Community Checkup draws on more than 4 million covered lives across Washington state to show exactly where costs are moving and why, giving employers and WHA members the information they need to act.
What’s Driving Washington State Health Care Costs
The 8% increase breaks down into two primary drivers. The allowed cost per unit of service jumped 10.4% year-over-year, meaning procedures, visits, and services cost more than they did the year before. Utilization ticked up 1.8%, with people using more services across most care settings.
It is worth close attention that pharmacy costs stand out as the sharpest pressure point. Prescription drug spending rose nearly 20% year-over-year, driven by more claims and higher costs per claim. For employers managing benefits, pharmacy deserves close scrutiny. Smarter purchasing decisions here can make a real difference. Reach out and we can discuss this more!
Per-member-per-month costs rose from $478.76 in 2023 to $516.93 in 2024. This increase helps underscore why data-driven benefits strategy matters more than ever.
The Quality Opportunity Employers Shouldn’t Miss
Washington state fell below the national 50th percentile on nearly three-quarters of commercial quality measures among the Washington State Common Measure Set. That gap between spend and performance represents real opportunity for employers and WHA members choosing where to direct their efforts.
The Community Checkup’s Quality Composite Score pairs quality with Total Cost of Care, giving purchasers a cleaner lens on value, not just price. The top performers prove the bar is reachable.
What Comes Next
The Washington Health Alliance brings together more than 105 health care partners to tackle these challenges, working across employers, health plans, providers, and community leaders to address drug pricing, per-unit costs, and care shifting toward higher-cost settings.
The full Community Checkup 2026 data is available at WACommunityCheckup.org. See where you and your partners stand and bring your questions to the table.