The people of New Hampshire are facing unprecedented economic challenges — no one has been spared from rising grocery bills, increased rent and utility costs, and even higher car insurance premiums.
Combined with rising health care costs in the Granite State, families are faced with tough decisions. Many are delaying or skipping care because of cost concerns — a trend that impacts community health, workforce productivity and our local economy. It is time to address the health care affordability challenge head on.
Why health care costs keep climbing
The first step in addressing the health care affordability crisis in New Hampshire is to recognize why it is happening. Many factors are driving increases in health care costs:
• Aging population. Nearly one in five New Hampshire residents is age 65 or older, one of the highest proportions in New England, and older adults often need more complex and costly care.
• Chronic conditions. Rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease remain stubbornly high and continue to drive up costs.
• Drug costs. Prices of existing drugs are increasing faster than inflation, and new specialty drugs are launching at record-high prices.
• Provider consolidation. When hospitals and health systems merge, competition decreases and prices rise.
• Fraud, waste and abuse. The complexity of our health care system makes it easier for inefficiencies to drive up spending.
• Legislation. New federal and state mandates continue to add layers of cost to the system each year.
As we have seen across New Hampshire, an aging population and rising chronic disease prevalence threaten to make health care even less affordable in the years ahead.
Who can make a difference
Addressing the many contributors to health care affordability requires everyone in the system to take part: insurers, hospitals and health systems, health care providers, pharmaceutical companies, lawmakers and individuals.
Health care providers must increasingly focus on value, not volume, leaning into value-based care models that reward positive outcomes rather than the number of services delivered.
Lawmakers must consider the cumulative impact of new legislation on costs. Individuals can play a role, too, by using available tools and resources to make informed decisions about their care and coverage.
How we’re making health care more affordable
At Anthem, affordability is central to improving health outcomes and driving New Hampshire’s economic resilience. Rising health care costs ripple through businesses and communities, affecting productivity and long-term well-being. That is why we are committed to solutions that go beyond traditional cost-control measures.
Here are just a few ways we are addressing affordability across New Hampshire:
• Helping seniors manage complex care needs to avoid unnecessary hospital stays.
• Offering disease-management programs that help members control chronic conditions.
• Negotiating lower prices for prescription drugs, especially high-cost specialty medications.
• Paying providers based on the quality of care they deliver, not the quantity.
• Rewarding members through programs like SmartShopper, which helps them compare prices and save money.
• Using AI to identify potentially fraudulent activity and improper claims.
• Advocating for policies at both the state and federal levels that promote affordability and access.
• Partnering locally with providers and community organizations to improve affordability, access and health equity across the state.
Our strategy blends proven tools with innovative thinking: expanding access to high-quality care, simplifying benefits, preventing fraud and waste, and addressing the full spectrum of health: physical, behavioral and social drivers.
Looking ahead
Historically, health plans focused primarily on paying for care and controlling costs. Today, we know that most factors influencing health occur outside medical settings. Housing stability, nutrition, behavioral health and other social drivers play a critical role, and overlooking them only drives costs higher.
By working together across the health care ecosystem, we can build a more affordable, accessible and effective health care system for every family in New Hampshire.
Learn more about our efforts at anthem.com/affordabilityinnewhampshire.
Maria Proulx is president at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire.
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