State approves 22.2% average rate increase for 2027 Washington exchange health plans

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — According to the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), regulators approved an average rate increase of 22.2% for individual health insurance plans to be sold on the state exchange for 2027.

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.
– Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (September 9, 2026)

Insurers initially requested an average increase of 22.4% across the exchange market. According to the OIC, 12 insurers received approval to sell individual health plans on the exchange in 2027, covering 281,055 people statewide. This follows last year’s 21.0% rate change.

According to the OIC, the approved 2027 individual market plans, participation, and rate changes include the following.

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%

Bold type identifies the 3 carriers serving Whatcom County. Source: Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

According to the OIC, 4 factors produced the higher rate requirements.

healthcare organizations increased charges for services and prescription drugs
members increased utilization of services and shifted to higher-cost care
departing market participants created an enrollees pool with higher average medical needs
the expiration of federal Enhanced Premium Tax Credits reduced plan affordability, leading healthier members to drop coverage

Individual plan enrollment on the exchange fell by 13% in 2026 to about 250,000 residents following the expiration of the federal tax credits. The credits previously reduced annual premium costs by an average of $1,330 per enrollee.

According to the OIC, Providence Health Plan covered 254 enrollees in 2026 and will not offer individual coverage in 2027. Asuris Northwest Health sells plans only outside the exchange and its requested 14.9% rate increase is pending review.