Sen. Gordon’s Letter to the Department of Insurance Concerning Proposed Health Insurance Rate Increases

July 30th, 2025
Re: Opposition to 2026 Health Insurance Rate Hikes

Dear Commissioners,

As both a physician and a State Senator representing northeastern Connecticut, I am writing to express my strong concern about the proposed 2026 health insurance rate increases currently under review by the Department. These increases—averaging 17.8% for individual plans and 13.1% for small group plans—will place an additional financial burden on hard-working people and their families, seniors, job- creating small businesses, and non-profit organizations across our state, all of whom already are dealing with unsustainable high cost of living and working in Connecticut.. The following companies have submitted requests for significant rate increases:

Individual Market:
• Anthem Health Plans – 14.2% average increase (range: 6.4% to 22.8%)
• CTCare Benefits Inc. – 21.7% average increase (range: 4.7% to 26.7%)
• ConnectiCare Insurance Co. Inc. – 26.1% average increase (range: 5.9% to 28.6%)
• CTCare Inc. (off-exchange) – 5.9% average increase (range: -0.9% to 6.7%)

Small Group Market:
• Anthem Health Plans – 13.2% average increase (range: 7% to 16.6%)
• Oxford Health Plans (CT) Inc. – 12.8% average increase (range: 10.4% to 14.7%)
• Oxford Health Insurance Inc. – 12.9% average increase (range: 11.6% to 20.4%)
• UnitedHealthcare Insurance Co. – 13.1% average increase (range: 9.2% to 16.3%)

These increases could further reduce access to care by pricing people out of health insurance. Many of my constituents already struggle to afford health coverage, and these rate hikes will only deepen that affordability crisis. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jeff Gordon, M.D.
State Senator, 35th District