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Rising health insurance costs in Maine:
What you should know
Health insurance premiums in Maine will rise in 2026 due to nationwide health care cost increases, new federal policy changes and shifts in the insurance market. We’re here to explain the changes and answer your questions.
View our BOI Forum PresentationWe're your neighbors
From Kittery to Fort Kent, we live and work here too.
As Maine's only local nonprofit, Members are the only people we answer to. We take your concerns seriously and use your feedback to guide our decisions.
$0 payouts to shareholders
We don’t take in billions or pay out to shareholders.
Premiums go directly to care and benefits, not to Wall Street. We share our financials in our Annual Report because you deserve to know where your money goes.
Every dollar has a purpose
We reinvest in benefits that support our Members.
We hear you, we see you and we're working hard to close the gap on accessing the care you need. Our goal is to make every dollar you spend on premiums go further.
We're here to help
Health insurance premiums are going up across Maine — and the nation — because health care costs are rising faster than ever. New, treatments for conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease are saving lives, but do cost more. More people are living with chronic illnesses and need ongoing care. Delayed care during the COVID-19 pandemic is also catching up, creating added demand on already strained resources.
Two major factors directly affect what you pay. First, unless Congress acts, enhanced premium tax credits will expire at the end of 2025, which means many Members will have to pay a larger share of their premium out of pocket. Second, the merging of individual/family and small business insurance markets dilutes state reimbursements to insurers for the highest claims, leading an increase in premiums to cover the associated higher claims costs,
We’re cutting costs where we can without cutting access to care. That includes offering $25 lab tests, $75 X-rays and $5 copays for many common generic medications. We're expanding virtual urgent care and virtual primary care programs with an emphasis on preventive care. We’ve also reduced our own administrative expenses to help protect our Members from even higher costs.
Use preventive care services to catch issues early, choose generic medications whenever possible, take advantage of virtual care options, understand how your benefits help save on out-of-pocket costs on services and prescriptions, and always see in-network providers to get the most from your benefits. These steps can help lower your out-of-pocket expenses.
We’re here to help. Click here to send us your questions