Rate Trends & Market Reality

Calm, sourced facts about where Massachusetts health insurance rates are heading, and what Massachusetts employers are actually experiencing today.

2027 Proposed Rates — Pending DOI Review

What insurers have proposed, not what's been decided

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance (DOI) is reviewing proposed 2027 merged-market rate filings covering the combined individual and small-group markets. These are proposed figures — the DOI's review is expected to culminate in a final decision in August 2026, and approved rates may differ from what's shown below.

12.9%
Proposed average increase across 697,848 renewing enrollees, merged individual + small-group market
CarrierProposed 2027 IncreaseRenewing Enrollees
BCBS Massachusetts15.3%166,384
Boston Medical Center Health Plan, Inc. d/b/a WellSense Health Plan11.9%140,089
Tufts (Public Plans)11.8%160,566
UnitedHealthcare14.2%19,829
Mass General Brigham Health Plan13.5%78,878
Harvard Pilgrim6.7%79,318
Health New England11.1%23,143
Fallon25.7%29,641

Source: Massachusetts Division of Insurance, 2027 merged-market rate filings, mass.gov/info-details/2027-health-insurance-rates. These figures are proposed rates only, subject to change; the DOI's final decision is expected in August 2026.

CHIA 2024 Massachusetts Employer Survey

What Massachusetts employers are experiencing today

The Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) published its 2024 Massachusetts Employer Survey in December 2024. Five figures matter most for employer planning:

67%
of Massachusetts firms offered health insurance (66% among small firms, 94% among large firms)
$789 vs. $746
average monthly single-coverage premium in Massachusetts vs. nationally
24% vs. 15%
average employee contribution toward that premium in Massachusetts ($188/month) vs. nationally ($114/month)
71% / 56%
of firms offering insurance offered at least one HDHP; 56% offered HDHPs exclusively
23%
of firms reported increasing member cost-sharing in the prior 12 months to control costs

Source: CHIA, "2024 Massachusetts Employer Survey," published December 2024.