SOLUTIONS

We are fighting for solutions to lower health care costs for the people of Washington State.

Our Approach

There isn’t one solution to fixing our health care system.
That’s why we need a multi-pronged approach.

Tackle Unfair Prices

Slow Corporate Influence and Improve Transparency

Stop Harsh Medical Debt Practices

Policies We Are Supporting

Explore our priorities below or download Fair Health Prices Washington’s 2026 Policy Priorities fact sheet [PDF].

Tackle Unfair Prices

Insurance premiums are rising at an uncontrolled rate. Individuals and small businesses have faced double-digit premium increases for years. Insurers have no incentive to curb the medical and drug price hikes driving this trend. We can help stabilize our market and buffer against federal uncertainty with proven interventions:

• SB 5953 / HB 2283 will moderate premium increases with a higher medical loss ratio, requiring insurers to spend 90% of premiums on care while limiting profit and administrative overhead to 10%, rather than today’s lower 85%/15% ratio.
• HB 2564 / SB 6210 will bring stability to the individual insurance market, allowing the Health Benefit Exchange to set more rigorous standards for insurers and serve as a prudent steward of state and federal premium assistance dollars.

Slow Corporate Influence and Improve Transparency

Corporate health systems and private equity investors are buying up local providers. This consolidation increases health prices by over 20%, without improving quality. In the coming years, federal cuts will push even more independent providers into acquisition or closing their doors. We can protect patients with safeguards:

• SB 5387 / HB 1675 will codify Corporate Practice of Medicine protections to ensure patient health decisions remain in the hands of clinicians, rather than profit-seeking outside investors.
• HB 2548 / SB 6208 will enhance oversight of private equity acquisitions, allowing the Attorney General to review proposed transactions for antitrust concerns.

Stop Harsh Medical Debt Practices

Medical debt is ruining credit and driving families into bankruptcy. A 2025 survey of Washingtonians revealed that over 1/3 faced serious hardship due to medical bills, forcing them to choose between their health and basic needs like food, heat, and housing. One in five had current medical bills they couldn’t pay. We can prevent Washingtonians from facing financial ruin due to needed medical care:

• SB 5993 eliminates new interest accrual on medical debt, protecting families from falling deeper into escalating debt for needed care, while ensuring providers still get paid for the initial bill.
• SB 6105 protects more wages from garnishment due to medical debt, allowing Washingtonians to keep ~$1,000 in weekly wages for basic needs, compared to today’s standard, where predatory debt collectors can take all but ~$600 in weekly wages. Raising this limit helps ensure families can afford basic needs.

 We asked Washingtonians
“What’s the one thing you would change about health care?” 
Here’s what they said:

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“I would change how pricey it is and try to see ways to make it more affordable.”

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“The cost, because it has put a lot of people in debt.”

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“Make it cheaper because not a lot of people can afford good health care.”

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“Lower premiums to make health care more affordable.”

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“I would change the overall affordability because it is almost impossible for the average family to pay for doctor visits, copays and prescriptions.”

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“The cost. It is too expensive and inaccessible for many people.

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“I would reduce the costs.”

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“Make it more affordable for the people of Washington.”