Senator Maria Cantwell is criticizing recently announced health insurance price spikes for families and small businesses in 2026.
According to a press release from Senator Cantwell’s office, on Wednesday, the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner announced the 2026 rate increases for Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollees in Washington.
Under the new increases, small businesses and families purchasing health care on the open market will pay an average of $1,548 more in 2026, nearly double the rate increase from 2024 to 2025.
“Many Washingtonians found out today that they will be forced to pay an average of $129 per month or $1,548 per year more next year for the same health care coverage they are already getting,” Senator Cantwell said. “These price spikes are driven largely by Congressional Republicans choosing to not extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits in their ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ The Republican Budget Bill will also trigger massive cuts to Medicaid, leaving around 300,000 Washingtonians without healthcare coverage, forcing rural hospital to close, and cutting critical addiction treatment and senior care programs. Denying Americans critical and potentially lifesaving medical treatment to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy is not only wrong, it will end up costing us a lot more in the long run.”
Open enrollment for the 2026 individual marketplace begins November 1, 2025.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
