It was just a couple of weeks ago that the official (if preliminary) 2026 ACA individual market rate filings for Wyoming insurance carriers went live on the federal rate review website.
I published a writeup about these just 3 days ago; unlike some states, Wyoming was pretty easy to break out as they only have three carriers on the indy market, all of which also made their current enrollment data easy to find.
The landscape isn't pretty: BCBS is seeking average rate increases of 20.7%; UHC wants 29.1%, and Mountain Health Co-Op, which has around 9,600 enrollees, was asking for a whopping 32% average premium hike.
Keep in mind that Wyoming already has among the most expensive individual market policies in the country, with premiums averaging over $1,000/month.
Wyoming has ~46,000 residents enrolled in ACA exchange plans, 95% of whom are currently subsidized. They also have an unknown number of off-exchange enrollees (likely only a few thousand at most). Combined, that's around 8% of their total population.
(Note, however, that the official actuarial rate filings for the 3 carriers offering coverage in the Wyoming individual market only report a combined total of around 39,000 enrollees as of spring 2025, or 6.6% of the total population).
Alaska has around ~28,000 residents enrolled in ACA exchange plans, 88% of whom are currently subsidized. They also have an unknown number of off-exchange enrollees in ACA-compliant individual market policies. Overall, including net attrition, I estimate their total enrollment both on & off exchange to be perhaps ~27,000 or so.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming (BCBSWY) has offered comprehensive and fully insured coverage to members in the Individual ACA market since 2014. BCBSWY is filing a rate increase for 2026 products. All plans will be offered statewide; plans with be offered either on or off the Federally Facilitated Marketplace in Wyoming.
(Moda has heavily redacted their actuarial memo and isn't providing the number of current enrollees)
The average rate change is X.XX% as shown on Worksheet 2 of the URRT. The proposed rate Proposed Rate Increase change varies by product and plan, and the proposed rates vary by plan, age, geographic area, and tobacco use. The average rate change was calculated by comparing the weighted average premium for members on current plans and rates to the weighted average premium for members on renewal plans and rates.
A summary of the major components and their contribution to the rate change is provided in the table below.
(unfortunately, CareSource WV's actuarial memo is heavily redacted)
Highmark BCBS WV:
Highmark West Virgina (“Highmark WV”) is requesting an average ACA individual market rate increase of 17.0%, ranging from 15.2% to 23.3%. Products submitted with this filing will have effective dates from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026. This rate change is projected to affect 28,179 members.
Historical Financial Experience:
Highmark WV incurred an underwriting gain in its ACA individual market programs in 2024.
Change in Medical Service Costs:
The projected average cost of medical care for the projected population is expected to increase. The increase will emerge in utilization and average cost per service and is spread across all types of services.
Scope, Range, and Best Estimate of the Rate Increase
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) is filing new rates to be effective January 1, 2026, for its Individual ACA metallic coverage. As measured in the Unified Rate Review Template (URRT), the range of rate increases for these plans is 12.3% to 51.5%.
...Changes in allowable rating factors, such as age, geographical area, or tobacco use, may also impact the premium amount for the coverage.
There are currently 128,181 members on Individual Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans that may be affected by these proposed rates.
(Unfortunately, BCBSND's actuarial memo is heavily redacted, so I don't know their current enrollment. I've had to make an educated guess on that; see below.)
Arizona has around 423,000 residents enrolled in ACA exchange plans, 88% of whom are currently subsidized. I estimate they also have perhaps another ~8,000 unsubsidized off-exchange enrollees.
Overall preliminary rate changes via SERFF database, state insurance dept. website and/or the federal Rate Review database.
Aetna Life Insurance Co:
(Aetna/CVS is dropping out of the individual market in all states; I estimate they have around 35,000 enrollees in Kansas who will have to find a different carrier for 2026)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (BCBSKC) is requesting an average rate change of -6.1% for 2025 individual rates as compared to 2023 individual rates and calculated by the URRT. The changes vary by plan, with a minimum rate change of -10.8% and a maximum rate increase of 1.8%.
Table 2.1 summarizes proposed rate increases effective January 1, 2026, and displays significant factors driving the proposed rate increases. Note that this rate buildup is illustrative of changes occurring from 2025 to 2026, and is therefore not reflective of factors displayed in Worksheet 1, Section II of the URRT, which pertains to changes from the experience period (2024) to the projection period (2026). Factors found in The URRT are discussed in later sections.
