'With ACA premiums expected to rise in 2026, Blue Cross Blue Shield employees should compare marketplace and employer-related options early, model net costs with and without current subsidies, and coordinate with HR and a qualified tax professional for decisions suited to their situation.' — Patrick Ray, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement.

'With ACA marketplace premiums expected to climb in 2026, Blue Cross Blue Shield employees should compare employer and marketplace options early, estimate net costs under both current and lapsed subsidy scenarios, and coordinate with HR and a qualified tax professional to align coverage with their budget.' — Michael Corgiat, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement.

• In this article we will discuss:

  1. The expected premium increases for ACA marketplace plans in 2026 and their potential impact on Blue Cross Blue Shield employees and retirees.

  2. The major national insurers and states with the largest requested rate hikes.

  3. The primary economic, legislative, and industry factors driving these increases.

  In 2026, health insurance rates for plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace are  expected  to surge, with several insurers requesting increases exceeding 60%. ¹  For Blue Cross Blue Shield employees and retirees using ACA coverage, this could mean a substantial rise in health care costs. State insurance filings and industry publications point to higher medical expenses, the potential end of enhanced federal premium subsidies, and significant rate-hike proposals from major insurers as key drivers of the increase.

  According to KFF’s analyses, the vast majority of marketplace enrollees receive premium tax credits, and if the enhanced credits expire after 2026, average out-of-pocket premium payments for subsidized enrollees could rise by more than 75% in 2026. ¹  As of January 2026, 24.2 million people selected 2026 marketplace coverage, ²  and about 93% of marketplace enrollees rely on premium tax credits. ³  KFF also reports that requested premium increases for 2026 are the largest in years, with most proposals falling between roughly 12% and 27% and a median of 18% across reviewed filings. ⁴

  Top 10 States With the Largest Requested Premium Increases for 2026:

  • New York:  UnitedHealthcare requesting up to  +66.4%  (individual market).

  • Arkansas:  QualChoice  +54.4% , Ambetter (Celtic)  +42.5% , statewide average  +36.1% .

  • Colorado:  Western Slope  ~+38.8% ; statewide average  +28.4% . Rocky Mountain HMO  +36.4% , Cigna  +29.4% , Anthem  +33.6% , Kaiser  +15.3% .

  • Florida:  Molina  ~+41% , Florida Blue  +27% , Centene Venture  +18.73%

  • Maine:  Anthem (revised)  +24.8% ; statewide weighted average  +25.9% .

  • Washington:   14  insurers; requested average  +21.2% .

  • Vermont:  BCBS Vermont  +23.3% . 

  • Maryland:  Requested statewide average  +17.1%  (individual market).

  • Illinois:  BCBS Illinois  +27% . 

  • Texas:  BCBS Texas  +21% .

  Recent Company News: Blue Cross Blue Shield
  
  Blue Cross Blue Shield has been navigating several significant operational and legal developments that could have implications for its member organizations and their employees. Most notably, the company is moving forward with distributing $2.6 billion in class action settlement checks, representing one of the largest healthcare antitrust settlements in recent years. On the operational front, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan successfully negotiated a new long-term contract with Michigan Medicine after their previous six-year agreement was set to expire on June 30, ensuring continued in-network coverage for members and avoiding potential disruption to healthcare access. Meanwhile, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas secured a favorable legal outcome when a federal court dismissed its lawsuit against HaloMD with prejudice. The former Blue Cross Blue Shield headquarters site in Eagan has also been in the news, with the property being sold for $11.65 million to Solventum, the healthcare spin-off from 3M, which plans to use it as a future hub. For employees and retirement plan participants across various Blue Cross Blue Shield entities, these developments signal both challenges and stability: the massive settlement reflects past legal vulnerabilities, while the successful contract negotiations and strategic real estate transactions demonstrate ongoing business continuity and operational resilience that should support long-term benefit obligations.
  
  Source: Currents API / Google News

Major National Insurers and Their 2026 Requests:

• UnitedHealthcare (UnitedHealth Group):  Up to  +66.4%  in New York.

• Elevance Health (Anthem BCBS):   +33.6%  in Colorado;  +24.8%  in Maine. 

• Kaiser Permanente:   +15.3%  in Colorado (individual market). 

• Centene Corporation (Ambetter/Celtic):   +42.5%  in Arkansas;  +18.73%  in Florida.

• Cigna Healthcare:   +29.4%  in Colorado. 

• Molina Healthcare:   ~41%  in Florida.

• HCSC (BCBS IL, TX):   +27%  in Illinois;  +21%  in Texas. 

• GuideWell (Florida Blue):   +27%  in Florida. 

• CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield:  Maryland requested statewide average  +17.1% .

• CVS Health/Aetna:  Withdrawing ACA marketplace plans in  17 states  in 2026, affecting  ~1 million  members.

Key Factors Driving the Increases:

• Loss of Enhanced Premium Subsidies:  The American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act extended ACA subsidies through 2026. Without renewal, subsidized enrollees could see sharp increases in monthly premiums beginning in 2026 (KFF estimates more than a 75% jump in average out-of-pocket premiums for subsidized enrollees if the enhancements lapse). ¹

• Medical Cost Inflation:  Leading consultancies report elevated medical cost trends heading into 2026—about 7.5% in the individual market and 8.5% in the group market ⁵ —driven by hospital/physician services and prescription drugs.

• Regulatory Shifts:  Market rules and state laws have influenced filings. For example, analysts note federal policy changes (e.g., the Marketplace Integrity rule) as a factor cited in filings, adding operational uncertainty for vertically integrated insurers/PBMs.

While industry headlines highlight historic premium increases affecting insurers across the board, Blue Cross Blue Shield employees have a critical advantage in their corner: an active defined benefit pension plan that provides retirement income based on factors such as years of service and compensation history. According to publicly available information, Blue Cross Blue Shield maintains this valuable pension benefit, offering employees a measure of financial stability as they plan for retirement. Because the specifics of your pension formula, vesting schedule, and benefit eligibility depend on your individual employment history and plan documents, we encourage you to review your Summary Plan Description (SPD) or speak with Blue Cross Blue Shield's HR or benefits team for the most current details.

However, while a defined benefit pension offers valuable income security, Blue Cross Blue Shield does not appear to offer a formal retiree healthcare program, making healthcare coverage planning an important consideration if you retire before age 65. For employees retiring before Medicare eligibility, this gap requires careful attention to bridge coverage options such as COBRA, private insurance, or a spouse's plan. Successfully integrating your Blue Cross Blue Shield pension with your other income sources, while addressing the retiree healthcare gap, is essential to building a comprehensive retirement income plan that covers both living expenses and medical needs.

Sources:

1. KFF, Health System Tracker. ' How much and why ACA Marketplace premiums are going up in 2026 ,' by J. Ortaliza, M. McGough, K. Vu, I. Telesford, S. Rakshit, E. Wager, L. Cotter, C. Cox. 6 Aug. 2026. 

2. CMS.gov. ' Over 24 Million Consumers Selected Affordable Health Coverage in ACA Marketplace for 2026 .' 17 Jan. 2026.

3. The Commonwealth Fund. ' Proposed Rule Will Make Consumers Pay More for Health Insurance and Care in ACA Marketplaces ,' by Sara Collins. 7 May 2026.

4. Fierce Healthcare. ' KFF Analysis finds a median ACA premium hike of 18% for 2026 ,' by Paige Minemyer. 8 Aug. 2026.

5. PwC Health Research Institute.  Medical Cost Trend: Behind the Numbers 2026 .  PwC , 16 July 2026,  https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/library/behind-the-numbers.html .

Other reources:

1. New York State Department of Financial Services. “Summary of 2026 Requested Rate Actions.”  DFS Portal , 2 June 2026,  https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/web/prior-approval/ind-and-sg-medical/summary-of-2026-requested-rate-actions .

2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Marketplace Integrity and Affordability  (Final Rule). 18 June 2026, PDF,  https://www.cms.gov/files/document/cms-9884-f-2026-pi-rule-master-5cr-062025.pdf .

3. Minemyer, Paige. “Aetna to Exit the ACA Exchanges in 2026.”  Fierce Healthcare , 1 May 2026,  https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/aetna-exit-aca-exchanges-2026 .
Pages/Sections referenced:  Article body noting ~1 million exchange members and the 2026 exit (single web page; n. pag.).