Jul 9, 2026
Health insurance rates for people who utilize the Affordable Care Act are poised for another big jump in 2027, if insurers get their way.
Several insurance companies that take part in Obamacare are seeking double digit increases for the second year in a row, with some looking to boost rates by 25% or more.
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This follows many double-digit increases in 2026. And the numbers add up. Cenene, for instance, is asking for a 28% increase in Washington state after receiving a 35% boost this year. If approved, that means members in that state would be paying nearly 73% more than they did two years prior beginning in January.
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“It is a stunning jump,” Cynthia Cox, senior vice president at KFF, a health-research nonprofit, told The Wall Street Journal.
On average, ACA Marketplace insurers are asking for a median premium increase of roughly 14%, according to The Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
Two years of increases
The final rate increases won’t be determined until later this year. But if insurers’ proposals are met, it could drive more people away from the ACA, particularly after last year’s reduction in federal subsidies. That leaves a smaller pool of enrollees, who are often costlier to cover.
If the rate of proposed increases holds, the typical premium for ACA enrollees would have increased by one-third over a two-year period.
“This is the second consecutive year of double-digit premium hikes,” wrote the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. “Last year’s median nationwide proposed rate change was 18%, and the median finalized rate change was 20%. While this proposed rate change is lower than last year, it represents the second-highest requested rate change since 2018, as premium growth had been relatively flat in this market for several years.”
Rising healthcare costs and inflation are two of the drivers for the higher rates, along with increased use of GLP-1s and an increased severity of claims.
To date, 77 ACA Marketplace insurers have distributed their proposed rate changes for 2027. None proposed keeping rates steady, while 10 asked for an increase of 25% or more.
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States with publicly available proposed rates so far are Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Washington.
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Where are the biggest increases likely coming?
Centene’s proposed 28% hikes in Washington and New York are among the largest of the bunch. Moda Health Plan wants to boost rates in Oregon by 25%. And Blue Cross Blue Shield is seeking a 15% rise in Illinois (following a 28% bump in 2026).
All proposed increases must be reviewed by regulators, who will finalize the 2027 rates in late summer. Those finalized rates could be significantly different from the proposed increases.
Adding to the pain for people who utilize the ACA is the dwindling pool of insurance companies that offer Obamacare policies. Next year will be the last one that Cigna Group sells plans in the marketplace and Aetna dropped out in 2026.
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Chris Morris is a veteran journalist with more than 35 years of experience at many of the internet's biggest news outlets. In addition to his activities as a writer, reporter and editor, Chris is also a frequent panel moderator and speaker at major conferences, including CES and South by Southwest.
