Why it matters

As Oregonians continue to face scams, fraud, and economic pressures, many express frustration with insurance practices, such as increasing premiums without clear explanations, and especially when no claims have been previously filed. 

What we found

• 67% of respondents identified "holding insurance companies accountable could help prevent unfair or unnecessary rate increases" in their top three selections, making it the most widely shared response for this question.
• 28% of respondents chose "holding insurance companies accountable could help prevent unfair or unnecessary rate increases" as their top choice for statements most aligned with their views on insurance.
• The second closest aligned statement (65%) in respondents’ top three was: “Insurance companies will raise rates no matter what, so they should still be held accountable like any other business.”.
  • Among Oregonians who said they would not be able to pay a $400 emergency expense or would need to borrow money to do so, nearly three in four (73%) ranked insurance industry accountability, regardless of rising rates, among the top three statements most aligned with their views.
• Fewer than 20% of respondents chose “current laws or regulatory systems already provide enough protections for consumers” as one of the top three statements most aligned with their views.
  • 5% chose this statement as closest to their point of view. 

When asked to share additional thoughts on insurers or insurance rates, some Oregonians linked problems to broader economic issues, while others expressed a general lack of trust in the industry. 

“Yes, I believe insurance companies need to be more transparent about how they set rates and should be held accountable for excessive increases. Rising premiums are becoming unaffordable for many people, especially those on fixed incomes, and more regulation is needed to ensure fairness and accessibility.”

-Woman, 44-54, Multnomah County, White

“Insurance rates are rising, but consumers need fair protections to avoid being unfairly overcharged. Balance is key.”

-Man, 30-44, Deschutes County, Hispanic or Latino/a/x, White

“I've had rate increased for no reason. It's very frustrating.” 

--Woman, 55-64, Umatilla County, White

The bottom line

Oregonians are concerned about insurance industry practices and the rising cost of insurance products. Research from both 2025 and our 2024 survey shows strong public support for better insurance oversight, increased transparency, and consumer protections on par with other consumer industries.