State Releases 2026 Pennie Rates, Urges Congress to Act on Subsidies

Congress can help thousands of Pennsylvanians who need to purchase health plans on individual marketplace

October 15, 2025

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department released the final rates for 2026 health insurance on the Pennie marketplace.

As part of its rate announcement, the department emphasized the need for Congress to extend enhanced premium tax credits that make coverage more affordable for Pennsylvanians.

Here’s what you need to know:

• By the numbers:  The average aggregate weighted rate increase for individual plans will be 21.5 percent, but these increases will vary significantly across plan type, region, and other factors.
  • The small group average increase will be 12.7 percent.
• HAP advocacy:  HAP and Pennsylvania hospitals have been calling on Congress to extend enhanced premium tax credits that support access to care.
  • "We urge you to protect affordable coverage for Pennsylvanians by preserving enhanced premium tax credits. These actions are vital to prevent further uncompensated care burdens that put care at risk for entire communities, protect our most vulnerable residents, and maintain the health and competitiveness of our commonwealth," HAP noted in a letter to the Pennsylvania delegation.
• Impact of tax credits:  These tax credits reduce the cost of coverage by thousands of dollars annually.
  • The Insurance Department would be able to immediately reduce rates by 3–5 percent with the extension of this premium support, officials said.
• Key dates:  Open Enrollment beings November 1. Pennsylvanians have until December 15 to select coverage that starts on January 1, 2026.
• Quotable:  “Now, more than ever, we encourage consumers to shop when Open Enrollment begins this November,” said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys.

Additional information about the rate announcement is available online.