Oregon health insurers preview 2026 premium increases for individuals, small businesses

Oregonians who buy their own health insurance or get coverage through a small-business employer could see their premiums go up next year — some by quite a bit.

Oregon health insurers are proposing premium hikes for 2026 health plans, with average increases nearing 10% for individuals and more than 11% for small businesses. Companies say their requested rate hikes reflect growing financial pressure across the health care system, driven by inflation, federal tariff uncertainty over prescription drugs and medical equipment and increased medical spending.

For people who purchase insurance on the individual market — about 161,000 Oregonians — the average proposed rate hike is 9.7%. That’s a bit higher than what insurers requested on average last year.

Six companies have filed to raise prices, with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest asking for the biggest jump: nearly 13% on average. If approved, that would affect more than 33,000 people, according to filings with the state. For a 40-year-old in Portland on a Kaiser silver plan, the monthly premium could rise from $486 to $518.

On the other end, PacificSource Health Plans is proposing the smallest average increase at 3.9% in the individual market, which would impact around 14,000 customers. Someone with a PacificSource silver plan could expect to pay about $20 more a month — bringing their premium to $593.

Other proposed rate increases in the individual market include an average 12.6% for BridgeSpan Health Company, 12.4% for Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, 9.2% for Moda Health Plan, Inc. and 8.1% for Providence Health Plan.

Small businesses are in a similar boat. Around 142,000 Oregonians get their coverage through the small group market, which serves companies with 50 or fewer employees. While employers often contribute a portion of the monthly premium, the overall costs are still expected to rise. Here, eight insurers are proposing an average net increase of 11.5% — a slight dip from last year’s 12.3%.

Providence Health Plan is again asking for the largest hike — 21.5% — which would affect more than 38,000 workers and their families. According to the state, a 40-year-old enrolled in a Providence silver plan through their job in Portland could see their monthly premium go from $467 to $598. Depending on the employer’s contribution, the amount actually paid by the employee could vary.

PacificSource is asking for the smallest increase in this market too — just over 5% — which would raise premiums to about $502 a month per employee.

These rate hikes aren’t a done deal. Over the next two months, Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation will dig into the filings to decide whether the increases are fair and necessary.

Plans offered by large employers aren’t typically purchased on health insurance marketplaces, and rate changes aren’t subject to state review.

The state agency will also hold two public meetings — one from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on June 20, and another from 12 to 3 p.m. on July 18 — where insurers will explain their requests and hear feedback from consumers. Anyone can also submit comments online through June 20 at oregonhealthrates.org.

Andrew Stolfi, the state’s insurance commissioner, said the proposed increases are being driven by a mix of economic pressures, more people seeking health care and recent actions by the federal government that has led to uncertainty for insurers. Still, he said Oregonians continue to have options and that programs like the state’s reinsurance system are helping to keep premiums lower than they otherwise might be.

Final decisions on the rates are expected in August.

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