Study: Many Iowans’ Health Insurance Premiums Fell in Recent Years
A new report says the cost of employer-sponsored health insurance premiums fell slightly for Iowa individuals and families from 2023 to 2024 — even as premium costs rose nationally.
The report comes from the State Health Access Data Assistance Center, known as SHADAC, based at the University of Minnesota.
Research fellow Andrea Stewart says Iowa also saw a drop in the share of workers enrolled in high-deductible employer plans. She says about 52 percent of Iowans were in high-deductible plans in 2024, down from 62 percent in 2023. Stewart notes Iowa has typically had higher enrollment in these plans than many other states.
While the percentage declined, Stewart says deductibles themselves have been creeping upward. She says the average family deductible in Iowa has again topped the $4,000 mark — something she says has happened repeatedly in recent years and can be a major cost for insured families.
The report also notes Iowa was one of 33 states in 2024 where more than half of workers with employer coverage were enrolled in high-deductible plans.
