- Division of Insurance
Division of Insurance Public Information Session Regarding Merged Market Health Insurance Rates for CY2026
5/29/2025
Division of Insurance
In accordance with the provisions of 211 CMR 66.08(3)(e), the Division of Insurance (Division) has scheduled a virtual Public Information Session that will begin at 9:00 A.M. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, for health insurance carriers (carriers) to present their proposed merged market health insurance rates for 2026. Those interested in attending the Public Information Session may click at this link: Join the meeting now to attend virtually, or they may join by calling 1-857-327-9245, with meeting code of 503 331 859#
Earlier this month, carriers submitted their proposed 2026 premium rates for coverage to be offered to individuals and small businesses with up to 50 eligible employees (the “Merged Market”). All rate filings will be reviewed by the Division for compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory standards. Rate filings are subject to disapproval if the Division finds that rates are not reasonable in relation to health plan benefits, or if they are excessive or inadequate or use rating factors that are discriminatory or not actuarially sound. There are additional requirements including, but not limited to, the fact that :proposed rates will be presumptively disapproved if: (i) they include an administrative expense loading component increase greater than the New England Medical CPI, (ii) the carrier's reported contribution to surplus exceeds 1.9 percent, or (iii) the aggregate MLR is less than 88 percent.
The Division makes summary information about these rate filings available for viewing online at 2026 HEALTH INSURANCE RATES . The following insurance carriers have submitted merged market rate filings for coverage effective beginning January 1, 2026:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Inc.
Boston Medical Center Health Plan, Inc. (d/b/a WellSense Health Plan)
Fallon Community Health Plan, Inc.
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc.
Health New England, Inc.
Mass General Brigham Health Plan, Inc.
Tufts Health Public Plans, Inc.
UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company
The Division will begin by allowing interested parties to provide comments. Comments will be taken first from elected officials, then from those who have notified the Division of their intent to comment, followed by those who have not signed up in advance to comment. In order to accommodate the number of people who may wish to comment in this Public Information Session, public comments will be limited to 5 minutes per person.
After the public comments, each carrier will make a 10-15 minute presentation and respond to questions posed by Division staff.
Anyone wishing to speak at the virtual session should sign up no later than Friday, June 13, 2025 by e-mailing Rebecca Butler at rebecca.butler@mass.gov and Kevin Beagan at kevin.beagan@mass.gov with their name, as well as any affiliation that the speaker would like identified.
In addition, written comments will be accepted by the Division through 5 P.M. on Friday, June 27, 2025. All such comments should also be sent to the attention of Rebecca Butler at rebecca.butler@mass.gov and Kevin Beagan at kevin.beagan@mass.gov. All submitted written comments will be posted to the Division’s website.
