LINCOLN CITY — Lincoln County residents who buy their own health insurance will have three carriers to choose from in 2027 even as proposed rates rise and two insurers exit the individual market, state officials announced this week.

BridgeSpan Health Company, Moda Health Plan Inc. and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon will offer plans in Lincoln County. Three carriers — Moda, BridgeSpan and Regence — will sell individual coverage statewide. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest is offering plans in 11 counties but not Lincoln County. Providence and PacificSource are leaving the individual market after this year.

Companies requested weighted average increases of 17.5 percent in the individual market and 17 percent in the small group market. Those figures exceed last year’s approved averages of 9.7 percent and 11.5 percent. Requested changes ranged from 11.7 percent for BridgeSpan to 25 percent for Moda in the individual market.

The Oregon Reinsurance Program lowered the proposed 2027 rates by an average of 9.7 percent, the ninth straight year it has reduced increases for consumers. The program offsets high-cost claims and receives continued state funding plus a pending federal renewal request.

Enrollment in Oregon’s individual market fell from roughly 161,000 in 2025 to about 140,000 in 2026, according to state regulators. Small group enrollment dropped from about 142,000 to 134,000 over the same period. The Division of Financial Regulation said the filings reflected several pressures, including the expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits, generalized federal policy uncertainty, potential tariff impacts on pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, and general inflation.

Oregon Insurance Commissioner TK Keen said consumers face challenging times with expiring tax credits, rising rates nationwide and two carriers leaving the state market. “With the losses of Providence and PacificSource in the individual market, there are fewer options, but there are still three options in every Oregon county to choose from, and the Oregon Reinsurance Program continues to stabilize the market and keep rates lower than they would be by almost 10 percent next year,” Keen said.

The Division of Financial Regulation will review the filings for reasonableness before approving final rates in September. A virtual public meeting is set for 2 p.m. Monday, July 13. Comments are due by July 13 to [email protected]. Details on watching the meeting will appear later at oregonhealthrates.org.

Lincoln County families and small businesses can review the proposed rates and county coverage chart on the DFR website and submit comments during the open period.