Four Connecticut-based health insurers have filed for premium rate increases from nearly 13% to 23% in 2027, according to the Connecticut Insurance Department. There are five filings made by four health insurers for plans that currently cover approximately 220,000 people (157,000 individual and 63,000 small group).
“These filings reflect a broader challenge facing Connecticut’s healthcare system,” Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Josh Hershman. “Connecticut families are under increasing pressure from rising healthcare costs, and the current trajectory is unsustainable.”
Anthem Health Plans and ConnectiCare Benefits Inc. (CBI) have filed rates for both individual and small group plans that will be marketed on and off Access Health CT, the state-sponsored health insurance exchange. ConnectiCare Insurance Company Inc. (CICI) filed individual rates for OFF the exchange and UnitedHealthcare filed small group rates OFF the exchange.
This year there is a decrease in the number of rate filings because UnitedHealthcare and ConnectiCare have each notified the state of planned internal insurer consolidations. Both companies will remain active in Connecticut’s health insurance market, and consumers will continue to have coverage options available from these companies for the 2027 plan year. Consumers affected by these changes will receive information from their insurer prior to renewal explaining any impacts and available coverage options.
The 2027 rate proposals for the individual and small group market are on average lower than last year for individual and higher than last year for small group:
- The proposed average individual rate request is a 16.2% increase, ranging from –3.4% to 25.2% by plan. This compares to 23.3% percent request for 2026.
- The proposed average small group rate request is a 17.8% increase, ranging from 11% to 23.3% by plan. This compares to 13.1% average request for 2026.
Specifically, Anthem has filed for a 12.8% rate increase for individual and 17.4% rate increase for small group. ConnectiCare Benefits filed for a 22.7% increase for individual. UnitedHealthcare filed for a 18.9% increase for small group.
According to the insurance department, insurance carriers listed the following reasons for the proposed increases:
- Trend: Trend is a factor that accounts for rising health care costs, including the cost of prescription drugs and the increased demand for medical services.
- Experience: Experience adjustment necessary to reflect deteriorating experience from the prior rating period to the current rating period.
- Expiration of the Enhanced federal subsidies (Individual only): Adjustment needed to experience year to reflect the increased morbidity with a market contraction as more healthy lives will lapse with significant increases in premium.
The state insurance department will conduct actuarial reviews on each filing to determine if they are justified and will either approve, reject or modify the request. The minimum 30-day public comment period on all filings began June 5. Comments can be filed online through the link that accompanies every filing or can be delivered to CID at P.O. 816, Hartford, CT 06142-0816.
The department expects to make final rulings on the proposals in early September. Open enrollment for the 2027 coverage year is expected to begin on Nov. 1, 2026.
