Attorney General Neronha objects to proposed increases to 2027 statewide healthcare insurance rates

Published on Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today the filing of objections with the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) in response to requests to increase health insurance premium rates in 2027 filed by both health insurers in the individual market. Altogether, these requests would impact more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders enrolled in individual insurance plans.

Attorney General Neronha filed a post-hearing brief objecting to the proposed rate increase of 22% requested by Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (NHPRI) and a public comment letter that objected to a proposed rate increase of 9.8% by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI), pursuant to his statutory authority to protect and advocate for Rhode Islanders. These filings urge OHIC to protect Rhode Islanders from paying more than their fair share for health insurance by rejecting the proposed rate increases. The need for such protection is paramount given the affordability crisis faced by individuals and families throughout the state and the nation.

"The rate review process does not occur in a vacuum; health insurance rates are a major factor contributing to Rhode Islanders' struggles to stay afloat financially," said Attorney General Neronha. "While insurers continue to report multimillion dollar financial surpluses, residents of our state have not been so lucky. Year after year these health insurers seek excessive increases, all while households face growing out-of-pocket costs and barriers to accessing health care. Rhode Islanders deserve a real plan to ensure premiums are affordable, as is required by law."

"This year's filings once again highlight the shortcomings inherent in the OHIC rate review process, shortcomings - even failures - that the Commissioner himself was compelled to admit before the Senate Finance Committee earlier year. He deserves credit for that candor. My Office has repeatedly raised concerns about insurers profiting off the backs of Rhode Islanders who are required by law to maintain health insurance. As federal cuts to health care are exacerbating the problem, we need to increase the accessibility of coverage, not restrict it. We must fix what is broken by seriously considering structural change to health care in our state. In the meantime, we will continue to advocate against these excessive rate increases."

The Attorney General is directed by statute to represent the interests of consumers in insurance rate proceedings. A public hearing is required when an insurer in the individual market proposes to raise rates more than 10%. This year, the Office advocated on behalf of consumers in these hearings, introducing testimony and reports by an expert health economist which demonstrate the potential negative consumer impacts of granting the rate requests and offered ways to reduce the requested rates. The Attorney General's expert witness also spoke to the finances of both payors, components of the filings that could be reduced to lower the overall rate, and the impact of broader economic trends on the rates.

Some of the major affordability concerns raised by Attorney General Neronha stem from federal changes that took effect at the end of 2025. Last year, Congress failed to extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits available to consumers in the individual market. This led to a spike in premium costs and mass disenrollment from the individual market in Rhode Island. To bridge the gap in lost financial assistance, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed the Rhode Island Market Place Affordability Program ("RIMAP") during the 2026 session. RIMAP creates state-based subsidies for consumers making under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, alleviating some, but not all, of the coverage losses from federal subsidy cuts. The Attorney General's expert testified that while this program may reduce the requested rates in the short term, it is vital that any negative impact on consumers from federal cuts be mitigated by denying the insurers' exorbitant rate requests.

From the Briefings

NHPRI:

• For the second year in a row, NHPRI has requested to increase rates over 20% with no plan to limit consumer cost growth.
• If approved, the rate increase will result in a benchmark plan (i.e. the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in the rating area, which serves as the reference point for calculating tax credits) that is estimated to cost over $7,000 per year.
• The Attorney General's expert testified that NHPRI's rate filing failed to adequately fund its primary care spending obligations under applicable regulations.

BCBSRI

• BCBSRI has requested a 9% increase for plan year 2027. This increase follows last year's approved increase of 22%.
• Last year's rate increase contributed to BCBSRI's $54 million in additional revenue over and above the prior year. The Attorney General's expert commented that BCBSRI is on track to generate an estimated $50 million profit from its individual market for plan year 2026.
• As in past years, BCBSRI did not demonstrate that it has adopted different pricing strategies designed to enhance the affordability of rates.

For more information and to review the briefings, please visit our website .

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