Rate increases for 2027 Health insurance

So many states blatantly price-fixing. It begs the question: is any of it NOT political?

If you're looking for stable health insurance prices, the ACA market is not the place to be. 

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/5-states-finalize-2027-aca-rates/

9 states finalize 2027 ACA rates

Elizabeth Casolo    |    September 15th, 2026

ACA insurers requested a median rate increase of 15% for 2027, according to a Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker analysis. However, some states are pushing back — while others are abiding by those requests — as they finalize increases.

The set rates precede open enrollment, beginning Nov. 1.

Here are nine updates to know:

The Connecticut Insurance Department allowed an average increase of 11.3% in the individual and 15.1% in the small group markets, down from the original requests of 16.2% and 17.8%, respectively, according to a Sept. 11 announcement.

Washington state’s insurance commissioner approved a 22.2% average rate increase for 2027, slightly lower than the requested average of 22.4%, according to a Sept. 9 announcement.

The New York State Department of Financial Services approved rate bumps Sept. 4. While insurers requested average increases of 23.7% in the small group and 20.6% in the individual markets, the state cut those increases to 8% and 6%, respectively. New York has roughly 860,000 residents enrolled across individual and small group plans.

The Delaware Department of Insurance released final rates Sept. 4. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield requested a 20.2% increase, and the state approved an average increase of 17.2%. AmeriHealth Caritas requested a 13.9% bump, and the state moved forward with an average 13.94% increase. Centene’s Ambetter will exit the state’s ACA market in 2027.

On Sept. 1, the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance said it approved individual market rates for 2027, with an average increase of 24.4%.

Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation approved an average 21.6% increase for the individual market and 15.5% increase for the small group market, according to an Aug. 18 news release. While the 15.5% increase was down from insurers’ proposed 17% increase for 2027, the individual rate boost was up from insurers’ requested average of 17.5%.

Vermont’s Green Mountain Care Board approved individual rate increases of 2.2% and 3.9% for BCBS Vermont and MVP Health Plan, respectively. The insurers requested 6.5% and 7.8% rate increases for the individual market. For small group rates, BCBS Vermont and MVP Health Plan requested 4.5% and 9.1% increases, ultimately securing 1.2% and 6.2% boosts for 2027, respectively. The state shared the finalized rates, affecting more than 67,000 residents, Aug. 18.

The Maine Bureau of Insurance published finalized rate increases Aug. 14. The bureau green-lit average rate increases of 14.8% and 13.5% for the individual and small employer markets, respectively. Insurers had sought increases of 16.8% for individuals and 15.7% for small employers.

Massachusetts approved a 10.8% weighted average base rate change for 2027.

Editor’s note: This article was posted Sept. 8 and updated Sept. 15.

Follow the money: today's Eric Bricker video enlightens this context significantly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snN9uXaanjc

He publishes a Cliff's Notes version with each video.

Healthcare Company StockMarket Gains from the ACA until 2026.

HCA Healthcare up 1,000%. UnitedHealth Group up 1,200%. Eli Lilly and Company up 3,200%. S&P 500 up only 540%.

Ironically, healthcare is the largest industry in America with $5.7T in spending in 2025 and yet most organizations in healthcare 'cry poor.' They say they need more money. They say that $5.7T is not enough.

So that begs the question... Who has the money in healthcare?

One way to answer that question is to evaluate the stock prices of publicly traded healthcare companies. Overtime, a stock's price is a good reflection of the profitability of a company.

Soooo.... since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in March of 2010, which healthcare stocks have increased the most compared to the 538% increase in the S&P 500?

Insurance Brokers: Arthur J. Gallagher up 916%
Hospitals: HCA up 991%
Insurance Carriers: UnitedHealth Group up 1,190%
Pharmaceutical Companies: Eli Lilly up 3,175%
Medical Device Companies: Intuitive Surgical up 785%
Medical Distributors: McKesson up 1,174%
Life Sciences Equipment: Thermo Fisher up 943%

Implication: Jeff Bezos once said, "Your profit is my opportunity." All of these giants in their respective market segments are succeeding in the setting of patients NOT succeeding.

All giants can be toppled and for the sake of patients... maybe these need to be.

Sources at AHealthcareZ YouTube Channel.

And the deal is made. Was there ever any doubt Michigan's governor would perpetuate the inflationary healthcare trend?

The Midwesterner is all over it.

https://www.themidwesterner.news/2026/10/gretchen-whitmer-admin-approves-14-2-health-insurance-rate-hike-for-2027/

Gretchen Whitmer admin approves 14.2% health insurance rate hike for 2027

Statewide average rate will also spike 9.6% for small business plans

Victor Skinner   |   October 30, 2026

More than 800,000 Michiganders will face significantly higher health insurance premiums next year under rates approved by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration.

The majority will face a double-digit percentage hike, with a statewide average rate hike of 14.2% for individual policies and 9.6% for small business plans, according to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.

The rate hikes continue a trend of rapidly rising health insurance costs in Michigan, which jumped 20.2% for individual policies, and 11.1% for small businesses, in 2025, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Health insurance rates in Michigan are approved through DIFS, which reviews requests from insurers, public comment, and financial details before deciding whether premiums are reasonable and comply with state and federal law.

DIFS published initial requests from insurance companies and approved rates in a report on Wednesday.

Approved rates for the individual market include an 11.9% hike for 113,640 Michiganders insured by Blue Care Network of Michigan, and an 11.2% hike for 138,048 who use Priority Health.

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan is approved for a 25.2% rate hike, while it’s 24% for Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, 22.4% for Molina Healthcare, 15.7% for McLaren Health Plan Community, 14.1% for Alliance Health and Life Insurance, 12.8% for Blue Cross Blue Shield Mutual, 12.6% for Health Alliance, and 11.9% for Oscar Insurance.

With small business plans with fewer than 51 employees, DIFS approved rates of 10.7% for 133,899 Michiganders with Blue Care Network, 7% for 133,192 on Blue Cross Blue Shield Mutual, and 11.6% for 87,423 on Priority health. Others include an 11.6% hike for Alliance Health and Life Insurance, 11.6% for Health Alliance Plan, 10.7% for Priority Health Insurance Company, 14.5%for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, and 14.8% for UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company.

Bill Tuthill, VP of Individual Business for Blue Cross, pointed to an anticipated 10% increase in the cost of medical care and prescription drugs next year as a driver for the rate hikes.

“Helping Michigan families access high-quality, affordable health coverage remains out top priority,” he said in a statement cited by the Free Press. “Our rates reflect the expected cost of caring for our members in 2027, which has increased as additional medical and prescription drug data has become available this year.”

It was a similar response from UnitedHealthcare.

“Our requested rates reflect significant year-over-year increases in medical costs, driven by higher hospital prices, increased utilization and rising specialty drug costs,” the company wrote in a statement. “We remain committed to working with state regulators to ensure rates are fair, reflect the true cost of care and maintain market stability.”

The rate hikes come amid a campaign to unseat Republican state House incumbents led by a lobbying group tied to the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

Michigan Citizens for Better Health, which bills itself as a coalition supporting healthcare access, recently increased its reserved political ad spending from about $600,000 across two state House districts to roughly $2.5 million targeting seven districts, according to data obtained by The Midwesterner.

In June, House Republicans unveiled a four-bill healthcare cost reduction package that would create a hospital pricing board, limit hospital prices and price increases, restrict hospital consolidation, and prohibit certain large hospital systems from requiring physicians to sign non-compete agreements. The legislation from House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Twp., would also require nonprofit hospitals to reduce prices by 10%.

“Proposed legislation that would create a state government hospital cost review board would decimate access to care across the state, especially in rural communities where hospitals already operate on thin margins,” the Michigan Health & Hospital Association’s legislative action center alleges.

“Provisions of the proposal would upend Michigan hospital budgets, immediately driving many towards closure. New taxes on healthcare investments are unnecessary and could stifle innovation,” according to the association.

MHHA also opposes federal changes to Medicaid under the 2025 budget reconciliation law, arguing the legislation will reduce funding available to Michigan hospitals. The association estimates the law will cost Michigan hospitals more than $6 billion in Medicaid funding over 10 years.

Tax records show MCBH received $1.15 million from the MHHA last year, according to CauseIQ.

The most recent tax records available for MCBH, a 501(c)4 nonprofit, show it’s total revenue for 2024 was $1.23 million, ProPublica reported.

MCBH highlights more than a dozen legislative “champions” on its site, which are nearly all Democrats, with the exceptions of state Sens. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, and Roger Hauck, R-Mount Pleasant.