Last updated: September 22, 2026
Washington Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer has approved an average 22.2% rate increase for 2027 individual health plans, down only slightly from the 22.4% insurers requested. The decision affects about 281,000 people who buy their own coverage, a group that includes a large share of the state’s sole proprietors, freelancers and small-business owners who don’t get insurance through an employer.
The short answer
If you buy your own health insurance in Washington, expect your 2027 premium to rise by about 22% on average. Depending on your carrier, the approved increase ranges from 6.7% to 30.5%. The enhanced federal premium tax credits have expired, so shopping at open enrollment and recalculating your subsidy is more important this year than it has been in years.
What happened
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) announced the approvals on September 9, 2026. Twelve insurers will sell individual plans in 2027, down from fourteen in 2026. Providence Health Plan is leaving the market, and Asuris Northwest’s off-Exchange filing (14.9% requested) was still pending when the OIC announced the decision.
The OIC says enrollment already fell about 13% in 2026 to nearly 250,000 people. That is the largest drop since 2012. KIRO 7 reported that this is the state’s largest increase in almost a decade.
Approved 2027 rates by carrier
| Carrier | 2026 enrollees | Requested | Approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Health Plan of WA | 36,854 | 24.5% | 30.5% |
| Coordinated Care | 97,979 | 27.8% | 25.2% |
| Premera Blue Cross | 9,639 | 24.0% | 25.1% |
| Molina Healthcare | 30,845 | 25.8% | 24.4% |
| UnitedHealthcare (OR) | 6,759 | 26.4% | 24.3% |
| LifeWise Health Plan | 25,628 | 21.3% | 22.5% |
| Regence Blue Cross (OR) | 8,336 | 17.4% | 18.4% |
| Kaiser WA | 40,341 | 14.0% | 14.1% |
| Wellpoint WA | 269 | 13.7% | 13.8% |
| BridgeSpan Health | 209 | 12.7% | 11.1% |
| Kaiser NW | 8,180 | 9.5% | 10.0% |
| Regence BlueShield | 16,016 | 8.6% | 6.7% |
Source: Washington OIC, September 9, 2026.
The OIC approved a higher increase than requested for several carriers. The biggest gap was at Community Health Plan of Washington, which asked for 24.5% and was approved for 30.5%.
Why it matters
According to the OIC’s actuarial staff, four things are driving the increase:
- Providers are charging more for services and drugs.
- Members are using more care, and more of it is expensive care.
- Healthier people are leaving the market, which raises the average cost of the people who stay.
- The enhanced premium tax credits have expired. The OIC says those credits had cut the average annual premium by $1,330.
The third and fourth drivers make each other worse. Higher prices push healthy people out of the market, and each healthy person who leaves raises the average cost for everyone still in it.
“This is, unfortunately, a reflection of the increasing cost of care.” — Patty Kuderer, Washington Insurance Commissioner
Washington is also well above the national figure. The national median proposed increase for 2027 is 15%, so Washington’s self-employed buyers are paying more than their peers in most other states.
What this means for self-employed owners and small businesses
- Don’t auto-renew. Rates range from 6.7% to 30.5%, so staying with your current carrier could cost you much more than switching. Compare plans on Washington Healthplanfinder during open enrollment.
- Update your income projection. Premium tax credits are based on projected household income. For a sole proprietor, that is net Schedule C profit, not gross revenue. If you underestimate income, you may have to repay part of the credit at tax time. If you overestimate it, you pay too much every month.
- Plan for the deduction. The self-employed health insurance deduction lets eligible owners deduct premiums above the line. With 2027 premiums higher, that deduction gets bigger. Record premiums in their own account in your books so the number is easy to find at tax time.
- Put the increase in your 2027 budget now. A 22% increase on a $700 monthly premium adds about $1,850 a year. Include it in your owner’s draw and cash-flow plan rather than finding out in January.
- If you have employees, compare the options. The OIC’s decision covers the individual market. Small-group plans and an ICHRA (an individual coverage HRA, where the employer reimburses employees’ individual premiums) are priced differently, so it’s worth comparing them before the plan year.
FAQ
How much are Washington health insurance rates going up in 2027?
The average approved increase for 2027 individual-market plans is 22.2%. Individual carriers range from 6.7% (Regence BlueShield) to 30.5% (Community Health Plan of Washington).
Who is affected?
About 281,000 Washington residents who buy individual coverage on or off the Exchange. That includes many self-employed people and people whose employers don’t offer insurance.
The OIC cites higher provider and drug prices, more use of care, healthier people leaving the market, and the expiration of the enhanced federal premium tax credits.
Is this the same as small-group rates?
No. This decision covers the individual market only. Employer small-group plans are filed and reviewed separately.
Eligible self-employed people can generally deduct premiums through the self-employed health insurance deduction. There are limits, including net profit and whether you were eligible for an employer plan, so check with your tax preparer.
The bottom line
A 22.2% average increase is really a range from 6.7% to 30.5%, and your carrier decides where you land. Use open enrollment to compare plans, update your income estimate, and add the new premium to your 2027 budget before the first bill comes.
