Maryland Health Insurance Rates Could Rise 13.7% in 2027 as Insurers File Steep Increases

The affordability crisis in US health insurance shows no signs of abating, with Maryland becoming the latest state to signal steep premium increases for 2027. Under a proposal now under regulatory review, Maryland health insurers have filed for average rate increases of approximately 13.7% for 2027, according to reporting in late June 2026. The proposed increases reflect the continued upward pressure on health insurance costs driven by rising medical costs, utilization trends, and the lingering effects of the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies.

The Maryland filings are part of a broader national pattern. Early 2027 insurance rate filings across multiple states show that premiums will be rising again next year, according to analysis from the Georgetown Center on Health Insurance Reforms. This continuation of increases compounds the strain already felt by consumers in 2026, when average ACA marketplace premium payments rose 58% following the lapse of enhanced subsidies, contributing to roughly five million people dropping their coverage.

The rate-setting process in Maryland and other states involves insurers submitting proposed rates to state insurance regulators, who review them for justification before approval. The substantial proposed increases reflect insurers' assessment of a riskier insured population — as healthier individuals drop coverage amid rising costs, the remaining risk pool becomes more expensive to insure, prompting further premium increases in a dynamic that some experts warn could approach a 'death spiral' in the individual market.

The broader healthcare affordability picture is challenging. A separate survey found that three-quarters of Midwestern homeowners are concerned about rising home insurance premiums, illustrating that cost pressures span insurance lines. For health coverage specifically, many middle-income families now spend at least a tenth of their income on health insurance. The continued rate increases come amid elevated overall inflation — with US CPI at a three-year high of 4.2% in May — and are expected to feature prominently in the 2026 midterm election debate over healthcare costs and policy. Consumers facing these increases are encouraged to compare plans carefully during open enrollment and explore whether they qualify for any remaining subsidies.