Every year, health insurance carriers that participate in New York’s Marketplace, New York State of Health, submit requests to the Department of Financial Services (DFS) on what they would like to charge for health insurance premiums the following year. See below for template language and instructions for submitting a comment on the proposed 2027 premium increases.

Starting five days after the proposed rates are released, consumers have 30 days to submit comments. DFS considers consumer comments to determine the approved premium changes (typically increases) each insurer is allowed. This process, known as prior approval or rate review, is an opportunity for the State to keep premiums affordable for New Yorkers.

This year, New York’s individual market insurance carriers have asked the Department of Financial Services to allow them to increase premiums by an average of 21% in 2027. This increase would force New Yorkers to pay an average of $2,065 more annually, or $172 more monthly, in premiums. HCFANY hopes the State continues its trend of reducing carrier premium increase requests. For the past three years, the State has approved premium increases of 14% in 2024, 13% in 2025, and 7% in 2026.

Up until July 17th, consumers can make their voices heard by weighing in on the prior approval process.  

Depending on the carrier, premiums could increase by 1% to 52% in 2027, limiting New Yorkers’ ability to spend on other essentials like groceries, transportation, or housing. Below is a table showing the breakdown by carrier.

Make your voice heard: submit a public comment before July 17th, 2026, sharing how steep premium increases would affect your budget or loved ones. Below are the steps and an example script to submit a public comment online.

  • Go to https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/web/prior-approval/submit-a-comment.
  • Select the following in the drop-down boxes. This information can be found on your insurance card or plan letter notice.
    • The type of plan you have
    • Insurance company
    • Whether you are on an Individual or group policy
  • Fill in your First Name, Last Name, and Contact Information (select one of three options: Email, Address, or Phone number)
  • Write a Comment (Use the example script below if you need help!)
    • Comments can be very short and direct. Every comment helps demonstrate that another member will be harmed if the Department approves the carrier’s current request.

“[insert your carrier’s name] is asking for a [insert from table] % premium increase, which means an annual premium increase of [insert from table]. I cannot afford this. Back-to-back increases in premiums are absurd.

I need health insurance to [insert a reason why you need health care, like affording your prescription drugs, needing to access preventative care, or certain medical services].

At this price, I will be forced to give up [insert reason, such as childcare, groceries, or housing] or forgo health coverage. I urge you to curb these increases and consider how this will impact my family and me.”

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Look out for HCFANY’s comments on each carrier’s rate application in the coming weeks.  

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 ____.”  

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 ____.”