Originally posted 2/4/25

West Virginia has ~67,000 residents enrolled in ACA exchange plans, 97% of whom are currently subsidized. They also have an unknown number of off-exchange enrollees (likely only a few thousand at most).

I joined Brad Friedman of The Brad Blog yesterday to discuss the ongoing battle over saving democracy & the impending expiration of the enhanced ACA premium tax credits (I show up starting about halfway into the hour-long episode).

You can listen to our discussion via various outlets:

• Direct MP3 Download
• iTunes Podcasts
• Pandora
• TuneIn
• iHeart
• Amazon

Back in July I posted my analysis of the preliminary 2026 rate filings by the 6 Arkansas insurance carriers participating in the individual market. At the time, they looked like this:

A few weeks later, however, the carriers refiled for 2026 with dramatically higher premium increase requests, like so:

Originally posted on 8/10/25

Overall preliminary rate changes via the SERFF database, Virginia Bureau of Insurance and/or the federal Rate Review database.

Aetna Health:

(Aetna/CVS is dropping out of the entire individual market nationally in response to Congressional Republicans allowing the upgraded ACA subsidies to expire):

...This letter is formal notice that Aetna Health Inc. (“AHI”) intends to exit from the Individual health insurance market in Virginia effective January 1, 2026. Subject to the Department’s review, we will mail the 180-day notices of discontinuance to covered individuals.

As of May 2025, our records show that AHI has 9,810 subscribers and 13,721 total members in Virginia.

Anthem Health Plans of VA:

Last week I urged Democrats to demand Congressional Republicans rein in the Trump Regime's out-of-control dictatorial rampage as well as going big on healthcare policy as part of the "government shutdown" battle...but that to the extent that they do make the main focus healthcare policy, at the very least to not settle for simply bumping out the enhanced ACA tax credits by a year or two:

You know I'm a pretty mainstream Democrat. I'm not demanding Medicare for All here. What I am urging on the healthcare front is for three clear demands:

Originally posted 6/03/25

This just in via the Maryland Insurance Administration:

Health Carriers Propose Affordable Care Act Premium Rates for 2026

• Anticipated loss of federal enhanced premium tax credits leads to highest individual market rate increases proposed since the start of Maryland’s reinsurance program

BALTIMORE – The Maryland Insurance Administration has received the 2026 proposed premium rates for Affordable Care Act products offered by health and dental carriers in the individual, non-Medigap and small group markets, which impact approximately 502,000 Marylanders.

Originally posted 7/18/25

Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (if IRA subsidies are extended):

Weighted Average Rate Increase: This represents the average rate increase, including modifications to prior year benefits and other pricing adjustments. The average premium increase to consumers, before reflecting changes in age is expected to be 16.3%.

The range of rate changes, before reflecting changes in age, which consumers will experience, is approximately 15.0% to 17.5%.

Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (if IRA subsidies AREN'T extended):

Weighted Average Rate Increase: This represents the average rate increase, including modifications to prior year benefits and other pricing adjustments. The average premium increase to consumers, before reflecting changes in age is expected to be 21.2%.

The range of rate changes, before reflecting changes in age, which consumers will experience, is approximately 20.1% to 22.2%.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI (if IRA subsidies are extended):

I just updated Maryland's final 2026 individual market rate change decisions here, but the post was already pretty long and they're also making a related announcement, so I decided to move the full press release into this separate entry:

Maryland Insurance Administration Approves 2026 Affordable Care Act Premium Rates

Despite increases, Maryland remains a national leader in affordable rates; new state subsidy to offset loss of enhanced federal tax credits

BALTIMORE – Maryland Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant today announced the premium rates approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration for individual and small group health insurance plans offered in the state for coverage beginning January 1, 2026.

Originally posted 12/15/24

Rhode Island has around ~42,000 residents enrolled in ACA exchange plans, 88% of whom are currently subsidized. I estimate they also have another ~3,000 unsubsidized off-exchange enrollees.

Combined, that's ~45,000 people, although assuming the national average 6.6% net enrollment attrition rate applies, current enrollment would be back down to more like 42,000 statewide.

Originally posted 8/08/25

Overall preliminary rate changes via the SERFF database, Ohio Insurance Dept. and/or the federal Rate Review database.

Aetna Health:

(Aetna/CVS is pulling out of the ACA individual market in every state; I've made an educated guess as to their current enrollees, who aren't counted as part of the weighted average as they'll have to shop around for a new carrier this fall. See below.)

Antidote Health Plan:

(Antidote's actuarial memo is heavily redacted so I don't know their current enrollment; I've had to make an educated guess. See below.)

AultCare Insurance: