New York’s individual market premiums might increase by up to 13 percent in 2026, forcing consumers to pay an extra $1,291 more annually. New York’s twelve individual market carriers are requesting increases ranging from one percent by Emblem to a staggering 38 percent by Independent Health. These requests far surpass requests from carriers in other states.

In our comments, HCFANY breaks down why DFS should curb each carrier’s specific rate requests to protect patients from another unaffordable increase in health care costs. Find your carrier in the list below: 

New York’s individual market insurance carriers have asked the Department of Financial Services to allow them to increase premiums by an average of 13% in 2026. This increase would force New Yorkers to pay an average of $1,291 more annually, or $108 monthly, in premiums.   

For the next 30 days, starting June 2nd, consumers can make their voices heard by weighing in on the prior approval process.  

For the past two years, the State has approved a steep premium increase of 13% in 2025 and 12% in 2024. Another 13% would make health care access even more difficult to reach for many New Yorkers. This percentage increase is greater than wage growth in New York in 2024, as wages have only grown from .4% to 4.6% across the State, depending on the county.  

Based on your carrier, premiums could increase between 1% and 38% in 2026, inhibiting New Yorkers’ ability to spend on other essentials like groceries, transportation, or housing. It is critical that the State hears from consumers to ensure that health insurance companies are not making health care even more unaffordable.  

Make your voice heard: submit a public comment before July 1, 2025, sharing how steep premium increases would impact your budget or loved ones.  

Tell the State how more expensive premiums would impact you by leaving a public comment here by Tuesday, July 1. Share a statement or story on your health care needs and affordability concerns you have, or use the following sample for guidance:  

“My plan, (insert carrier name), has asked for a (insert from table below) % premium increase. This would increase my annual premiums by (insert from table below). I already struggle to afford health insurance, and that increase would require me to sacrifice ____.”  

HCFANY is thankful to have the opportunity to testify at the 2025 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Health. Our fully detailed written comments are here. The Executive Budget includes many proposals to help protect and enhance New Yorker’s access to affordable health coverage. However, the current federal landscape on health care access is uncertain, as proposed cuts to federal health programs could cost the State $10 billion to maintain health coverage for New Yorkers (Learn how these federal threats affect New Yorkers statewide and by Congressional District here).  

The Managed Care Organization (MCO) tax revenue provides an opportunity for the State to ensure New Yorkers have access to and can afford health care. HCFANY urges the Legislature to consider alternatives to the distribution of $1.4 billion of this tax revenue, which currently does not include direct support for patients.  

HCFANY recommends:  

  1. Expanding subsidies for Child Health Plus to eliminate premium cliffs and align coverage start dates to the first day of the month of application.  

This would help ensure that middle-income families can afford their children’s health insurance. Once families surpass the 400% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) income threshold, their children’s annual insurance premiums increase by around $3,000 per child. Additionally, the State should follow similar rules as Medicaid and the Essential Plan for CHP coverage start dates. 

  1. Addressing New York’s expensive health care system.  

New York is ranked second in the nation for the most health care spending per person, and HCFANY proposes three solutions to remedy this: 

  1. Implement an independent New York Office of Health Care Affordability, like the model created in California.  
  1. Include provisions of the Fair Pricing Act (S705|A2140) to ensure consumers and payers are charged a fair reimbursement rate for routine medical services, regardless of where the patient gets care.  
  1. Improve patient outcomes and reduce inequities by including the provision of the Primary Care Investment Act (S1634|A1915A).  
  1. Creating a principal reserve or a rainy-day fund to ensure New Yorker’s access to care is protected from the threats of federal cuts.  

This funding could help keep lawfully present immigrants enrolled in Medicaid covered if the federal government cuts access to health insurance for this population.  

  1. Increasing funding for consumer assistance programs like Navigators and the Community Health Advocates (CHA) program.  

These are only a few initiatives that HCFANY is urging the Legislature to consider, please see our full written testimony here. 

New York’s individual market insurance carriers plan to increase premiums by an average of 17% in 2025. This month, consumers have the opportunity to weigh in to make our voices heard. The State already approved premium increases of over 14% on average in 2024, another 17% would make health insurance out of reach for many New Yorkers.

Depending on your carrier, premiums could increase between 9% and 51% in 2025, impacting New Yorkers’ ability to spend on necessities such as health care, groceries, and transportation. It is critical that consumer voices are heard to prevent health insurance from being even more unaffordable.

Make your voice heard: submit a public comment before June 28, 2024 sharing how steep premium increases would impact you and your loved ones. 

Tell the State how more expensive premiums would impact you by leaving a public comment here by Friday, June 28. Share a personal story on your healthcare needs and affordability concerns you have, or use the following sample for guidance: 

“My plan, (insert carrier name), has asked for a (insert from table below) % premium increase. I already struggle to afford health insurance and that increase would require me to sacrifice ____.”