Coalition Calls For ‘Healthcare Cost Freeze’ In PA As Insurers Request Rate Increases

By Whitney Downard | Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Advocates are urging the state agency tasked with reviewing health insurer applications for rate changes to reject proposed increases for 2027 that would apply to plans purchased by individuals and small businesses. 

On average, insurers are asking for a 17.1% increase for individuals and 11.5% for small businesses, according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. 

The submissions include increases for Pennie plans available on the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace. Submitted premium increases range from single-digit growth to a 40% increase.

More than 600 Pennsylvanians signed a petition calling for a “healthcare cost freeze,” organized by the Affordable Healthcare Coalition, which is scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday to the agency’s Harrisburg office. 

“The proposed 17.1% average increase in monthly premiums for 2027 Pennie health insurance plans would place an unacceptable burden on Pennsylvania families,” said Antoinette Kraus, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, in a release. 

Pennie enrollees include gig workers, child care staff and others who don’t have access to employer-sponsored plans, she added, who “are facing double-digit premium increases while the cost of everyday necessities continues to rise.”

“If these proposed rates take effect, even more Pennsylvanians are likely to be priced out of essential health coverage and forced to make painful cuts to basic household needs,” Kraus continued. 

Coalition members include Kraus’ organization, Affordable PA, the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, Protect Our Care, Families Over Billionaires, Action Together NEPA and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania. 

Companies must file their proposed rates for review and approval. State staff determine “whether each requested rate change is justified, ensuring they are not excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory,” according to the department. 

“These rates are higher than we’d hoped and reflect continued rising costs across the healthcare environment,” said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys in a release. “PID’s team will be closely examining each filing to ensure rates are reasonable and justified and not charging any more than necessary to deliver promised benefits.”

The increases come after Pennie enrollment dropped by 160,000 Pennsylvanians following the expiration of federal subsidies that caused premiums to more than double.

Coalition members say that companies are increasing premiums even as their profits soar, noting multi-million dollar compensation for many top insurance leaders. They’ve organized a website to collect public comments, which are due by Aug. 22, 2026. 

 2027 Proposed Rate Changes in the Individual Market:

• Ambetter Health of Pennsylvania Inc: Average rate increase request: 40.90% (rating areas 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9);
• Capital Advantage Assurance Company: Average rate increase request: 18.32% (rating areas 6,7 and 9);
• Geisinger Health Plan: Average rate increase request: 10.46 (rating areas 2,3,5,6,7 and 9);
• Geisinger Quality Options: Average rate increase request: 12.95% (rating areas 2,3,5,6,7 and 9)
• Health Partners Plans Inc: Average rate increase request: 15.90% (rating areas 3,6 and 8);
• Highmark Benefits Group: Average rate increase request: 21.40% (rating areas 3 and 8);
• Highmark Inc: Average rate increase request: 16.16% (rating areas 1,2,4,5,6,7, and 9);
• Keystone Health Plan Central: Average rate increase request: 33.83% (rating areas 6,7 and 9);
• Keystone Health Plan East: Average rate increase request 14.68% (rating areas 8); 
• Oscar Health Plan of PA: Average rate increase request: 15.39% (rating areas 3,6,7 and 9);
• Partners Insurance Company Inc: Average rate increase request: 20.51% (rating areas 3,6, and 8);
• QCC Insurance Company: Average rate increase request: 19.88% (rating areas 8); and
• UPMC Health Plan Inc: Average rate increase request: 15.82% (rating areas 1 and 5).
  

Note: Ambetter’s rate increase reflects both a silver-to-silver plan average increase of 23.44%, and an additional bronze-to-silver plan increase of 17.46% as the company will no longer offer bronze plans. Pennsylvanians with discontinued Ambetter bronze plans will have access to bronze plans from other companies. 

2027 Proposed Rate Changes in the Small Group Market:

• Capital Advantage Assurance Company: Average rate increase request: 16.11% (rating areas 6,7 and 9);
• Geisinger Health Plan: Average rate increase request: 3.74% (rating areas 2,3,5,6,7 and 9);
• Geisinger Quality Options: Average rate increase request: 4.05% (rating areas 2,3,5,6,7 and 9);
• Highmark Benefits Group: Average rate increase request: 16.99% (rating areas 6,7 and 9);
• Highmark Care Benefits: Average rate increase request: 19.95% (rating area 3);
• Highmark Coverage Advantage: Average rate increase request: 14.63% (rating areas 1,2,4,5, and 6); 
• Highmark Senior Health Company: Average rate increase request: 14.32% (rating area 8);
• Highmark Inc: Average rate increase request: 15.57% (rating areas 1,2,4,5,6,7 and 9); 
• Independence Assurance Company: Average rate increase request: 8.95% (rating area 8);
• Keystone Health Plan Central: Average rate increase request: 20.93% (rating areas 6,7 and 9);
• Keystone Health Plan East/AmeriHealth HMO Inc: Average rate increase request: 6.48% (rating area 8);
• UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company: Average rate increase request: 33.57% (rating areas 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9); 
• UnitedHealthcare of PA: Average rate increase request: 8.00% (rating 1,2,3,4 and 5); 
• UPMC Health Benefits: Average rate increase request: 12.39% (rating areas 1 and 5);
• UPMC Health Network Inc: Average rate increase request: 11.32% (rating area 1,2,4, and 5); and
• UPMC Health Plan Inc. Average rate increase request: 15.54% (rating areas 1,2,4 and 5).

Note: UnitedHealthcare of PA’s rate increase reflects an annual rate adjustment and mapping of small group plans that will transition from Gold and Silver plans to Bronze plans.

Final approved numbers will be publicized in the fall. Public comment can also be emailed to ra-in-comment@pa.gov.

Pennsylvania Capital-Star is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Pennsylvania Capital-Star maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Tim Lambert for questions: info@penncapital-star.com.