Exchange Board certifies 2026 health and dental plans
On Sept. 11, the bipartisan Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board certified 86 health and nine dental plans which will be offered on for plan year 2026, and available to customers to purchase through the open enrollment period starting on Nov. 1.
“Steep rate increases this year reflect ongoing health care inflation and market uncertainty related to major federal policy changes,” said Ingrid Ulrey, CEO of the Exchange. “And marketplace customers across the country risk further harm if Congress does not extend the enhanced premium tax credits by Sept. 30.”
In the face of these harmful federal actions, our state is working to reduce painfully high prices through Cascade Care Savings state premium assistance, and through a premium alignment program designed to maximize federal tax credits and help customers identify the highest value plans for them.
Customer impacts will vary based on income range:
- Lowest-income customers (with incomes up to $31,300/year) who are now in Silver plans may find the best value by switching to a Gold plan for next year.
- Middle income range customers (with incomes between $31,300 – $62,600/year) who are in Silver plans for 2025 will see better value and lower premiums in Gold plans next year.
- Higher income customers (with incomes above $62,600/year) will lose all tax credits if Congress does not act; they will experience steep price increases and will see the lowest premiums in Bronze plans next year.
Actual price points vary based on age, geography and family size. The recommended action for everyone is to log in to to shop and compare, review the recommended plans and if in need assistance, call the Customer Support Center or ask to be connected to an in-person assister in your community.
Through this period of uncertainty and instability at the federal level and deep cuts to Medicaid and marketplace coverage, Washington State Health Benefit Exchange remains committed to our mission to radically improving the way Washingtonians secure health coverage. We are here for you.
Average 21% rate increase approved for Washington’s 2026 Exchange health insurance market
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Twelve health insurers have been approved to sell individual health plans in Washington’s Exchange in 2026. Wellpoint Washington is new to the individual health insurance market and will sell Exchange plans in Grays Harbor and King counties.
Insurers requested a 21.2% rate change, and 21% was found to be actuarially justified. The plans and their rates will be reviewed for certification by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board at its Thursday, Sept. 11, meeting.
“Another year of increased premiums will be hard to hear for the thousands of Washingtonians who buy their own health coverage,” Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer said. “But, when the insurers prove they need a rate change, we’re required by state law to accept it. And this year insurers pointed to ongoing uncertainty coming from the federal government and the surging costs of health care.”
The individual health insurance market is where people shop for a health plan if they do not get coverage from their employer, are self-employed, or are early retirees. Small employers also rely on this market to make coverage available to their workers.
Last year, nearly 300,000 Washingtonians bought individual health plans through Washington’s Exchange, , and 75% qualified for federal premium tax credits.
with coverage from Washington’s Exchange qualified for help through the federally financed Enhanced Premium Tax Credits this year. These credits, which helped decrease enrollees’ average annual premium costs by $1,330, will expire at the end of the year if Congress fails to act. to renew them before they expire.
According to the Exchange, if the credits are not extended. 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.
“We know from experience that when premiums become less affordable, younger and healthier people drop coverage and those who need care find a way to keep it,” added Kuderer. “This cycle is hard for the system to bear and even harder for consumers to endure. The state Legislature is considering options to increase the affordability of health care, but it’s more urgent than ever that we start seriously moving towards universal coverage. We cannot afford to wait.”
Health insurers listed several factors impacting their rate requests this year, including:
Uncertainty about whether the federal government will extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits that are set to expire;
- Rising health care and prescription drug costs;
- Increases in the number of people using services;
- Hospital consolidation; and
- Higher rates paid to health care facilities and providers.
Approved health insurance plans and rates for the 2026 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 | 964 | 15.1% | Pending |
| BridgeSpan Health Company | On Exchange | 376 | 18.4% | 10.0% |
| Community Health Plan of Washington | On Exchange | 34,463 | 27.6% | 21.1% |
| Coordinated Care Corporation | On Exchange | 107,649 | 22% | 26.9% |
| Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest | Both | 7,000 | 11.4% | 6.1% |
| Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington | Both | 40,266 | 19.2% | 9.8% |
| LifeWise Health Plan of Washington | On Exchange | 23,346 | 14.4% | 12.1% |
| Molina Healthcare of Washington, Inc. | On Exchange | 43,346 | 24.6% | 28.3% |
| Premera Blue Cross | On Exchange | 9,460 | 18.8% | 14.7% |
| Providence Health Plan | Off Exchange | 254 | 10.6% | Pending |
| Regence BlueShield | Both | 21,878 | 9.6% | 9.7% |
| Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon | Both | 10,029 | 24.9% | 23.3% |
| UnitedHealthcare of Oregon, Inc. | Both | 6,180 | 37.3% | 38.0% |
| Wellpoint Washington, Inc. | Both | New | New | New |
| Total | 304,374 | 21.2% | 21% |
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) reviews the benefits provided by an insurer’s individual health plan and the proposed rate changes to ensure they are reasonable in relation to the benefits they are providing. State law requires the OIC to accept a change if the company proves it is actuarially justified.