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Washington Open Enrollment Nov. 1: Seattle Residents Face 22.2% Average 2027 Health Insurance Increase
SEATTLE — Open enrollment for 2027 health insurance begins Sunday, Nov. 1, giving Washington residents an opportunity to compare plans, review premiums and determine whether they qualify for financial
By Jenna Hartley · 2026-11-02T03:06:06.942Z
SEATTLE — Open enrollment for 2027 health insurance begins Sunday, Nov. 1, giving Washington residents an opportunity to compare plans, review premiums and determine whether they qualify for financial assistance.
Washington residents can enroll through Washington Healthplanfinder , the state's official health insurance exchange. Open enrollment runs from Nov. 1, 2026, through Jan. 15, 2027 .
Consumers who select a plan by Dec. 31, 2026 , can have coverage begin Jan. 1, 2027. Residents who select or change a plan from Jan. 1 through Jan. 15 will generally have coverage begin Feb. 1.
Washington health insurance rates rise 22.2% Washington's Office of the Insurance Commissioner approved an average 22.2% rate increase for health insurance plans sold through the state's Exchange for 2027.
Insurers had requested an average increase of 22.4% before regulators completed their review.
State insurance regulators said several factors contributed to the higher premiums, including increasing hospital and prescription drug costs, greater use of health care services and changes in the population remaining in the individual insurance market.
Actual increases vary considerably by insurance company.
Approved average changes for 2027 Exchange plans include:
Community Health Plan of Washington: 30.5% Coordinated Care: 25.2% Premera Blue Cross: 25.1% Molina Healthcare of Washington: 24.4% UnitedHealthcare of Oregon: 24.3% LifeWise Health Plan of Washington: 22.5% Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon: 18.4% Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington: 14.1% Wellpoint Washington: 13.8% BridgeSpan Health: 11.1% Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest: 10% Regence BlueShield: 6.7% Those figures represent carrier averages and do not mean every customer will see the same percentage increase.
Actual premiums depend on the plan selected, age, geographic area and eligibility for financial assistance.
12 insurers approved for Washington Exchange Twelve insurers were approved to sell individual health insurance plans through Washington's Exchange for 2027.
Companies offering Exchange coverage include insurers such as Premera Blue Cross, Molina Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare, Regence, Coordinated Care and Community Health Plan of Washington .
Plan availability varies by county, making ZIP code specific comparisons important for residents in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Vancouver and communities across Washington.
Providence Health Plan, which covered 254 individual market customers in 2026, will not offer individual coverage in Washington for 2027.
Nearly 250,000 residents bought Exchange coverage Nearly 250,000 Washington residents purchased individual health insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder in 2026 , according to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
Enrollment was down about 13% from the previous year , the largest decline since 2012. State regulators said the expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits contributed to the reduction.
Those enhanced tax credits had previously reduced enrollees' average annual premium costs by about $1,330 , according to the state.
What Washington residents should check Seattle area residents and consumers statewide should compare more than the monthly health insurance premium when selecting coverage.
Consumers should review:
Monthly premiums Deductibles Co pays and coinsurance Maximum out of pocket costs Prescription drug coverage Doctor and hospital networks Eligibility for federal premium assistance Eligibility for Cascade Care Savings Washington residents should also update their expected 2027 income and household information , because those details can affect eligibility for financial help.
Washington Healthplanfinder warns that customers who do not confirm or update their information may not be automatically reenrolled with financial assistance for 2027 .
Cascade Care remains an important option Washington's Cascade Care plans are standardized health plans designed to make benefits and costs easier to compare.
About 90% of Exchange customers were enrolled in a Cascade Care plan in 2026 , up from 79% the previous year.
The state also offers Cascade Care Savings , which provides additional premium assistance for eligible households with incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.
Enrollment deadlines matter Washington residents who want coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2027 , should select a plan by Dec. 31, 2026 .
Open enrollment continues through Jan. 15, 2027 . Plan selections made between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15 generally begin Feb. 1.
After Jan. 15, most residents need a qualifying life event to enroll in or change individual health insurance coverage through a Special Enrollment Period.
Qualifying events can include losing health coverage, getting married, having or adopting a child, moving to an area where existing coverage is unavailable or losing COBRA coverage.
Washington residents can compare 2027 health and dental plans, determine potential financial assistance and enroll through Washington Healthplanfinder .