merged market
Coverage of merged market in the Nexus archive.
- Health insurance woes reaching ‘inflection point,’ commissioner says
Massachusetts faces significant health insurance premium hikes, with nearly 700,000 residents seeing an average 10.4% increase. Insurance Commissioner Michael Caljouw highlights the merged market's deteriorating risk pool and 'inflection point' for addressing escalating costs. Small businesses are shifting to self-insured plans, exacerbating affordability challenges as low-value care and rising family plan premiums strain the system.
- Despite some relief, small businesses still in line for double-digit health premium increases
Small businesses and individuals in Massachusetts will face a 10.4% average increase in health insurance premiums for 2027, down from insurers' initial 12.9% proposal after negotiations by the Healey administration. Fallon Community Health Plan's requested 25% increase was rejected, and the merged market—a subset covering 700,000 members—will see its second consecutive year of double-digit rate hikes.