Health insurance costs surge in Brazoria County cities From the cover
National annual costs per person for health care
2005
2025
The cause
+166.63%
+ 286.06%
+154.94%
+233.56%
+69.62%
Health insurance premium costs have risen nationwide—and Pearland, Friendswood and Manvel have been no exception. Residents and employers alike are seeing higher costs each year. From 2022 to 2026, the average monthly cost for an individual enrolled in a standard mid-tier ACA marketplace plan—known as a silver plan— increased by 63% in Brazoria County and by more than 76% in Galveston County, according to PlainHealthPlan data, which provides an ACA premiums database on county levels. O cials with the Texas Department of Insurance, or TDI, said multiple factors drive up premium health insurance costs. “When premiums increase, it’s primarily driven by underlying health care costs and insurer experience, not by the state setting rates,” TDI spokesperson Mistie Hinote said. “Insurers most commonly cite rising medical costs, increased use of health care services and higher prescription drug spending as key drivers of premium increases.” From 2005 to 2025, inpatient facility care costs have risen by over 166%, according to data from the Milliman Medical Index, a global consulting rm that analyzes health care costs for families in the U.S. covered by employer-sponsored health plans. Other common needs, such as prescriptions, have risen by over 233%, data from Milliman shows. Milliman attributes a large bulk of the increase to higher prescription drug spending, expanded outpatient facility care and the growing use of new medical treatments.
$11,541
$0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 $12,000
$9,876
$7,173
$5,954
$4,527
$3,704
$1,858
$1,785
$339 $575
Inpatient facility care
Outpatient facility care
Pharmacy
Other
Professional services
SOURCE: MILLIMAN COMMUNITY IMPACT
Change in employer and employee cost sharing While employees are paying more through payroll contributions, they are paying a smaller portion out of pocket at the point of care, according to national data from the Milliman Medical Index.
“[Health insurance] needs to be totally revamped. The di erence between not having insurance and having insurance is the bills that you get are di erent. When they realize you get insurance, you get charged more.”
Employee out-of-pocket Employee contribution Employer contribution
18%
15%
2025
2005
27%
21%
SHANNON SIMECECK, PEARLAND RESIDENT
58%
61%
SOURCE: MILLIMAN COMMUNITY IMPACT
Percentage of insurance types throughout the area
NOTE: DATA IS BASED ON 5 YEAR ACS ESTIMATES, WHICH COMBINE FIVE YEARS OF SURVEY RESPONSES FOR EACH COUNTY.
Medicaid Veteran a airs coverage
Subsidized marketplace coverage
Employer-based health insurance Direct-purchase health insurance Tricare/military health coverage
Medicare coverage
0.22%
1.77%
2.13%
Brazoria 70.26% Galveston 69.73%
9.17%
9.87%
8.7%
As health care costs increase, employee contribution rates have risen faster than contribution rates for employers.
6.95%
9.51%
12.45%
0.47%
0.89%
2.32%
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU COMMUNITY IMPACT
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