Final WA Health Insurance Rates Underscore Need to Extend Obamacare Subsidies

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on the final 2026 rates for health coverage on the Washington Healthplanfinder, showing an average 21% increase from this year.

"One of the biggest concerns I hear from Washington families is how fast health care costs are rising. The final 2026 health coverage premiums on the Washington Healthplanfinder will stretch family budgets even further than they already are. At the same time, President Trump and Republicans in Congress are letting insurance bills spike even higher by allowing enhanced Obamacare insurance subsidies to expire.

"Higher rates and expiring subsidies combined will result in the average WA family that receives the subsidies paying 65% more for coverage next year, making coverage unaffordable for many. An estimated 80,000 Washingtonians are expected to drop coverage as a result. We cannot let thousands of Washington families fall off Trump's coverage cliff. Congress must protect working families by extending these insurance subsidies and prevent this needless price hike."

Background

• The average Washingtonian saves $1,330 a year because of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies.
• Over 216,000 people in Washington currently receive them.
• 80,000 are expected to drop their coverage because of the premium increases starting in January.
• In August, DelBene hosted an event highlighting the harm of letting the subsidies expire.
• DelBene is a cosponsor of the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act, which makes the enhanced subsidies permanent.