Shapiro Administration Receives Proposed 2027 Health Insurance Rates; Plans to Carefully Examine Companies’ Proposals and Reject Excessive, Inadequate, or Unfairly[...]

Harrisburg, PA - Today, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) announced the 2027 rate changes requested by insurance companies currently operating in Pennsylvania's individual and small group markets. For Plan Year 2027, Pennsylvania health insurers in the individual market (for people who buy their own insurance) and small group market (for small businesses) requested rate increases that when weighted for enrollment averaged 17.1% and 11.5%, respectively.

"These rates are higher than we'd hoped and reflect continued rising costs across the healthcare environment," said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys. "PID's team will be closely examining each filing to ensure rates are reasonable and justified and not charging any more than necessary to deliver promised benefits."

Insurance companies offering individual and small group health insurance plans are required to file proposed rates with PID for review and approval before plans can be sold to consumers, serving as an important consumer protection. PID conducts a comprehensive review to determine whether each requested rate change is justified, ensuring they are not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. The proposed rates reflect the expected claims and operational costs for the upcoming year. The premiums consumers are charged will be based on the rates that are approved after PID's review. 

Rate filings for 2027 were submitted to PID on May 15, 2026. Proposed rate changes vary by plan and region and are subject to change as the department conducts its review and objections process. Final approved rates will be made public in the fall.

Public comment on rate requests and filings will be accepted through August 22, 2026, and can be emailed to [email protected].

2027 Proposed Rate Changes in the Individual Market:

• Ambetter Health of Pennsylvania Inc: Average rate increase request: 40.90% (rating areas 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9);
• Capital Advantage Assurance Company: Average rate increase request: 18.32% (rating areas 6,7 and 9);
• Geisinger Health Plan: Average rate increase request: 10.46 (rating areas 2,3,5,6,7 and 9);
• Geisinger Quality Options: Average rate increase request: 12.95% (rating areas 2,3,5,6,7 and 9)
• Health Partners Plans Inc: Average rate increase request: 15.90% (rating areas 3,6 and 8);
• Highmark Benefits Group: Average rate increase request: 21.40% (rating areas 3 and 8);
• Highmark Inc: Average rate increase request: 16.16% (rating areas 1,2,4,5,6,7, and 9);
• Keystone Health Plan Central: Average rate increase request: 33.83% (rating areas 6,7 and 9);
• Keystone Health Plan East: Average rate increase request 14.68% (rating areas 8);
• Oscar Health Plan of PA: Average rate increase request: 15.39% (rating areas 3,6,7 and 9);
• Partners Insurance Company Inc: Average rate increase request: 20.51% (rating areas 3,6, and 8);
• QCC Insurance Company: Average rate increase request: 19.88% (rating areas 8);
• UPMC Health Network Inc: Average rate increase request: 12.03% (rating areas 1,2,3,4,5,and 9); and
• UPMC Health Plan Inc: Average rate increase request: 15.82% (rating areas 1 and 5).
  

Note: Ambetter's rate increase reflects both a silver-to-silver plan average increase of 23.44%, and an additional bronze-to-silver plan increase of 17.46% as the company will no longer offer bronze plans. Pennsylvanians with discontinued Ambetter bronze plans will have access to bronze plans from other companies.

2027 Proposed Rate Changes in the Small Group Market:

• Capital Advantage Assurance Company: Average rate increase request: 16.11% (rating areas 6,7 and 9);
• Geisinger Health Plan: Average rate increase request: 3.74% (rating areas 2,3,5,6,7 and 9);
• Geisinger Quality Options: Average rate increase request: 4.05% (rating areas 2,3,5,6,7 and 9);
• Highmark Benefits Group: Average rate increase request: 16.99% (rating areas 6,7 and 9);
• Highmark Care Benefits: Average rate increase request: 19.95% (rating area 3);
• Highmark Coverage Advantage: Average rate increase request: 14.63% (rating areas 1,2,4,5, and 6);
• Highmark Senior Health Company: Average rate increase request: 14.32% (rating area 8);
• Highmark Inc: Average rate increase request: 15.57% (rating areas 1,2,4,5,6,7 and 9);
• Independence Assurance Company: Average rate increase request: 8.95% (rating area 8);
• Keystone Health Plan Central: Average rate increase request: 20.93% (rating areas 6,7 and 9);
• Keystone Health Plan East/AmeriHealth HMO Inc: Average rate increase request: 6.48% (rating area 8);
• UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company: Average rate increase request: 33.57% (rating areas 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9);
• UnitedHealthcare of PA: Average rate increase request: 8.00% (rating 1,2,3,4 and 5);
• UPMC Health Benefits: Average rate increase request: 12.39% (rating areas 1 and 5);
• UPMC Health Network Inc: Average rate increase request: 11.32% (rating area 1,2,4, and 5); and
• UPMC Health Plan Inc. Average rate increase request: 15.54% (rating areas 1,2,4 and 5).

Note: UnitedHealthcare of PA's rate increase reflects an annual rate adjustment and mapping of small group plans that will transition from Gold and Silver plans to Bronze plans.

Pennie's Open Enrollment period is the best time to enroll in individual and family health coverage for 2027. Outside of Open Enrollment, only individuals with life changes, such as losing coverage from Medicaid and family events, can enroll in qualified health plans through Pennie.

Visit PID's website for more details about the ACA Rate Filings.

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