2027 Rate Changes - Louisiana: +17.3% indy; +11.9% sm. group

Before I begin, it's important to note that ACA exchange enrollment has plummeted in Louisiana since Congressional Republicans allowed the enhanced federal subsidies to expire at the end of last year.

Initial signups during the 2026 Open Enrollment Period were actually up slightly vs. OEP 2025...but actual effectuated enrollment was 2.3% lower as of January...and then fell off a cliff in February, with enrollment dropping a stunning 26% vs. a year earlier. That's over 69,000 Louisianans who were priced out of coverage in just the first two months of the year:

Here's what this looks like visually, with both 2025 and 2019 (the last pre-COVID year, which didn't include the enhanced subsidies) included for comparison:

Looking ahead to 2027, the preliminary rate filings for both the individual and small group markets have been published by the Louisiana Insurance Department. Unfortunately the actual filing forms aren't available yet on either the LA DOI site or the SERFF Database, and the summaries provided by the LA DOI don't include much detail, but they do at least include the two critical data points for every carrier: Average requested 2027 rate change...and current (as of spring 2026) covered lives:

Overall, the six carriers offering individual market policies next year are asking for a weighted average increase of 17.3%.

Meanwhile, Louisiana's small group market carriers are asking for an 11.9% average bump to their 2027 premiums: