Average 22.2% rate increase approved for Washington’s 2027 Exchange health insurance market

September 09, 2026 OLYMPIA, Wash. — Thirteen health insurers have been approved to sell individual health plans in Washington’s Exchange in 2027. Insurance companies requested a 22.4% rate change, and 22.2% was found to be actuarially justified. Health insurers base their rate changes, in part, on what they expect to happen to their costs in the future — including how many people they expect to cover, their age and their health status, and how much they expect the costs of health care services to increase. The uptick in 2027 is due mainly to an increase in the basic costs of health care and more robust health care needs among the people covered by individual health plans. The Insurance Commissioner is required by law to approve rate increases when insurance companies can prove the change is justified. “This is, unfortunately, a reflection of the increasing cost of care,” Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer said. “Families shouldn’t experience sticker shock every year when shopping for health insurance, but these pressures are likely to continue without changes that slow health care spending, improve affordability and keep more people covered.” Kuderer’s actuarial staff identified four main factors driving the increase, based on companies’ rate filings: Healthcare organizations are charging more for services and prescription drugs. Members are using more healthcare services and shifting towards higher-cost services. People who have left, or are expected to leave, the market tend to be healthier than those who keep their coverage. This leads to higher average health care needs. The expiration of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits makes coverage less affordable, which prompts healthier people — those less likely to need health services — to drop their coverage. Losing these members raises the average costs of covering those who stay. The plans and their rates will be reviewed for certification by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board at its Thursday, Sept. 10 meeting . People who don’t receive health coverage through their employer shop for a health plan on the individual health insurance market. This also includes self-employed people and early retirees. Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees also rely on the Exchange to provide health coverage for their workers. Fourteen insurers offered individual plans for 2026. Providence Health Plan, which covered 254 enrollees, will not offer coverage in 2027. Asuris Northwest Health, which requested a 14.9% increase, only offers its plans outside of the Exchange. Its rate has yet to be approved. Nearly 250,000 Washington residents bought individual health plans through Washington’s Exchange, wahealthplanfinder.org , in 2026 — 13% fewer than a year before. It was the largest drop in enrollment since 2012, due in part to Congress’ failure to extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits late last year. Those credits had helped cut enrollees’ average annual premium costs by $1,330. Approved health insurance plans and rates for the 2027 Exchange market Company name Sold on Exchange, off Exchange, or both Number of people impacted Requested average rate change Approved average rate change Asuris Northwest Health Off Exchange 789 14.9% Pending BridgeSpan Health Company On Exchange 209 12.7% 11.1% Community Health Plan of Washington On Exchange 36,854 24.5% 30.5% Coordinated Care Corporation On Exchange 97,979 27.8% 25.2% Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest Both 8,180 9.5% 10.0% Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington Both 40,341 14.0% 14.1% LifeWise Health Plan of Washington On Exchange 25,628 21.3% 22.5% Molina Healthcare of Washington, Inc. On Exchange 30,845 25.8% 24.4% Premera Blue Cross On Exchange 9,639 24.0% 25.1% Regence BlueShield Both 16,016 8.6% 6.7% Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon Both 8,336 17.4% 18.4% UnitedHealthcare of Oregon, Inc. Both 6,759 26.4% 24.3% Wellpoint Washington, Inc. Both 269 13.7% 13.8% Total 281,055 22.4% 22.2% Approved health insurers and their plans by county (PDF 243.58KB) How health insurance rates affect your premium Search health insurance rate changes and see our decisions