Heads-Up: Major Health Insurance Rate Hikes Coming to Indiana & Ohio

Rising Premiums in the ACA Marketplace

If you're enrolled in an ACA health plan in Indiana or Ohio—or exploring options for 2026—get ready for some stark increases.

Indiana

• The Indiana Department of Insurance reports that the average requested rate increase for individual Marketplace plans is 20.5%, primarily driven by the expected expiration of enhanced premium subsidies under the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act Medical Mutual+10Signal Cleveland+10Reddit+10Health System Tracker+5Indiana Government+5ACA Signups+5.

• After review, the approved average increase for 2026 individual Marketplace coverage is 26.3% Indiana Government.

• In some filings, insurers like Anthem initially requested near 19%, later revised to 21.3% Reddit+6Indiana Government+6Health System Tracker+6.

Indiana is looking at a significant jump—more than one in five customers could see their premiums rise by 20–26% next year.

Ohio

• State-level official data for 2026 is scarce, but national analysis and recent filings indicate similar upward pressure.

• Across the U.S., ACA Marketplace insurers are seeking a median rate increase of ~18%, the steepest rise since 2018 StretchDollar+1Reddit+3Health System Tracker+3CHIRblog+3.

• More starkly, KFF projects that, if enhanced subsidies expire, net premiums could climb by 75% on average Medical Mutual+15Health Policy Institute of Ohio+15StretchDollar+15.

• Multiple Ohio insurers cite rising medical and drug costs—as high as 5.3% and 6.9% respectively—as key drivers WISH-TV+3Signal Cleveland+3Medical Mutual+3.

Bottom line: Ohioans enrolled in ACA plans may see sharp premium increases—some scenarios point to cost hikes of 50–75% when loss of subsidy effects are included.

Why Are Rates Climbing So Fast?

Several converging factors are fueling this price surge:

• Shrinking Subsidies: Enhanced tax credits introduced during the COVID era are slated to expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress renews them Ohio Capital JournalAnthem+1.

• Rising Healthcare Costs: Higher prices for medical services, drugs, and labor are pushing insurer costs upward Health System Tracker.

• Policy Changes & Verification Rules: Stricter enrollment and subsidy verifications may push healthier individuals out of the market, increasing premiums for remaining members ocsea.org+13Signal Cleveland+13StretchDollar+13.

• Industry Realignment: National trends suggest insurers are exploring off‑exchange alternatives or exiting the marketplace altogether—Aetna plans to withdraw from the ACA market in 2026 StretchDollar+1.

What This Means for Consumers

• Families, self-employed individuals, small businesses, and contractors could soon face sharply higher monthly costs—even with subsidies.

• With both premiums and deductibles rising, financial planning for healthcare has never been more critical.

• Act now: Explore financial assistance, compare on- vs. off-exchange options, and review whether new or alternative plan types could offer better value.

Bottom Line: Expect a steep turn in health insurance affordability in Indiana (20–26% hikes) and Ohio (potentially double or more when subsidies lapse). If you rely on ACA coverage, now's the time to review your options.