US Health Insurers Raise Premiums for 2026 Citing Trump Tariffs, Subsidy Cuts

Health insurers in the United States are notifying states that President Donald Trump's tariffs on pharmaceuticals and medical products are contributing to significant premium increases for individual and small group health plans in 2026. For example, Independent Health Benefits Corporation plans to raise premiums by 38.4% for individual market enrollees, attributing approximately 3% of the increase directly to tariff-related cost hikes. UnitedHealthcare of Oregon also links nearly 3% of its planned 19.8% premium increase to tariff uncertainty. These tariff-driven cost increases come amid congressional debates on cutting Medicaid and ending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, creating a 'perfect storm' of factors pushing prices higher. Consumers like Josefina Muralles, who rely on subsidized ACA coverage, face steep premium hikes as pandemic-era enhanced subsidies are set to expire, which could more than double premiums for some. Insurers and experts warn there is little precedent to accurately project the full impact of tariffs on healthcare costs, adding to the uncertainty faced by enrollees.