Rate Trends & Market Reality
Calm, sourced facts about where Rhode Island health insurance rates are heading — and what that means for your renewal.
2027 Requested Rates — Pending OHIC Review
What insurers have asked for, not what's been approved
On June 15, 2026, the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) announced that 2027 commercial health insurance rates had been submitted for review. These are requested figures — OHIC's final decision is expected in mid-September 2026, and approved rates may differ from what's shown below.
| Market | 2027 Requested (this filing) | 2026 Requested (prior year, for comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | 20.1% | 23.8% |
| Small group | 8.7% | 22.0% |
| Large group | 15.5% | 24.1% |
Two insurers filed 2027 individual-market rates: BCBSRI and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (NHPRI). Five insurers filed 2027 large-group rates: BCBSRI, UnitedHealthcare, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England/HPHC Insurance Company (HPIC), Aetna, and Cigna.
Self-funded employer groups are not subject to these requested increases. Self-funded employers account for approximately 65% of Rhode Islanders with employer-sponsored coverage, per OHIC. See Blue Funding for how a level-funded structure relates to this.
Source: OHIC, "2027 Requested Commercial Health Insurance Rates Have Been Submitted to OHIC for Review," Cranston, R.I., June 15, 2026. These figures are requested rates only, pending OHIC review; final decisions are expected mid-September 2026 and may differ from the figures above.
2026 Approved Rates — Final, for Comparison
What actually happened last year
For context, here is what OHIC approved for the 2026 plan year — already final, and a useful benchmark for how requested figures can move before approval.
Rhode Islanders saved an estimated $59.3 million in 2026 compared to what commercial insurers originally requested, and OHIC rejected all insurer administrative cost increases for 2026.
Source: OHIC, "2026 Rate Review Process Press Release – Approved Rates," Cranston, R.I., September 15, 2025.
Other Cost Pressures to Watch
It isn't only base rates moving
New State Insurance Fee
A new annual state insurance fee of $50 per person ($200 for a family of four) took effect in January 2026, added on top of requested rates by legislative requirement — a separate line item from the carrier rate increases above.
Expiring Federal Premium Tax Credits
Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) are set to expire. Without a Congressional extension, HealthSource RI premiums could rise by roughly 85% (about $1,250 per household per year) on top of the rate increases discussed above — a factor most relevant to individual-market and marketplace coverage.
Source: WPRI reporting on OHIC's 2026 approved-rates release, September 16, 2025.
What this means for your renewal
Rate pressure is real, but the 2027 figures above are requested, not final — OHIC's decision is expected mid-September 2026. The right response is to review your options early and compare realistically, not to react to a headline number. Results vary by group; this is exactly what a local review is for.