The Office of Health Care Affordability looking into the challenges of expensive healthcare in Monterey County

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION-TV): Many families and essential workers here on the Central Cost think healthcare is way too expensive in Monterey County.

The Office of Health Care Affordability held a meeting Wednesday morning in Seaside to address health care challenges. Covered California said the Santa Cruz and the Monterey County areas have averaged higher rate increases than any other regions throughout the state between 2015 to 2025.

"I feel like we all struggle with our healthcare needs and prices. We struggle with premiums, costs and we struggle with accessibility," said Jennifer Vila, Special Education teacher at Rancho San Juan High School.

Vila, as well as other teachers, hospitality and carpenter workers said they demand affordable health care. The Health Care Cost Institute said that the Salinas metropolitan area, including Monterey, had the highest inpatient prices and the second-highest outpatient hospital prices of any metropolitan areas analyzed nationwide in 2021.

"We shouldn't worry about health, it's something that should be the last thing in our minds. And to pay for our health? It's too much to ask for," said Estevan Rodriguez, Bartender at Monterey Beach Hotel.

Local hospitals in the Salinas and Monterey area ask why the cost of healthcare is so expensive. Montage Health says they're doing a couple of things to reduce the costs.

"First, we are embarking on a community affordability initiative; a complex, multidisciplinary process that will take several years to fully implement," said Mindy Maschmeyer, Director and Marketing & Communications with Montage Health. "We are targeting $50 million in cost reductions over the next 24 months, which will allow us to lower our expenses and return those dollars to the community via lower rates."

Maschmeyer also said:

"We have reached an agreement with the largest hospitality employer on the peninsula to ensure that their employees--largely housekeepers, servers, groundskeepers and maintenance staff--can access our services at in-network rates. We have made the same offer to unite here and they are considering our proposal."

Montage Health also said their healthcare price increase was at 5% in 2023, and for 2024, it was 4%. But some people say that it's still not enough.

"I'm in the same situation," said Vila. "I'm still a single mother, so, I don't know why prices increased that much."

Salinas Valley Health is also looking for ways to reduce healthcare costs.

"We participated in a call this week with leadership at the California Health and Human Services Agency, and look forward to ongoing conversations with the Office of Health Care Affordability, our patients and our community partners on these healthcare concerns," said Dr. Allen Radner, Salinas Valley Health President and CEO. "Our organization is and will remain focused on exceptional quality, access for all and solutions to the high cost of care."

The Health Care Cost Institute says California's healthcare premiums and deductibles are consistent with national trends from 2013-2022.

Nationally, premiums increased by 37% whereas in California, premiums increased by 33%.