🏥 DOI · KFF · CHIA Data

Massachusetts Healthcare & Insurance

Premiums, rate increases, and spending — MA vs. the nation

Avg Family Premium
$28,151
+14.7% above US average
2026 Rate Increases
~9.9%
3× the rate of inflation
Per-Capita Spending
$13,319
+30.7% above national avg
THCE Growth
8.6%
vs 3.6% benchmark (+139%)
Healthcare Cost Crisis
Massachusetts has the highest healthcare costs in the nation by nearly every measure
⚠️ Premium Gap
MA families pay $3,611 MORE per year than the national average
$28,151 (MA) vs $24,540 (US) — Kaiser Family Foundation 2024
⚠️ Healthcare Spending
MA spends $3,128 MORE per person than the national average
$13,319 (MA) vs $10,191 (US) — CMS State Health Expenditure Accounts 2020
Family Premiums: MA vs. National
Annual employer-sponsored family coverage
Premium Growth vs. Wage Growth
2021–2023 cumulative change
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Premiums are growing 25% faster than wages. From 2021-2023, MA premiums rose 12.1% while wages grew only 9.7%. The average MA family now spends over $28,000/year on health insurance — before any deductibles or co-pays.
Premium Comparison
Massachusetts vs. national employer-sponsored family premiums
MA Family Premium (2024)
$28,151
Monthly Cost
$2,346
Employee Share (~28%)
$7,882
US Family Premium (2024)
$24,540
Monthly Cost
$2,045
Employee Share
$6,296
MA Premium Gap
+$3,611
% Above National
+14.7%
Rank
#1 Highest
Premium Trend: MA vs. US
Annual family premiums, 2020–2024
Employee Out-of-Pocket Share
What workers actually pay annually
2026 Approved Rate Increases
MA Division of Insurance approved increases — most are 3× the inflation rate
⚠️ Average Approved Increase
~9.9% — while inflation is ~3%
MA Division of Insurance filings, effective 2026
2026 Rate Increases by Carrier
Approved increases — red = above 10%
Rate Increases vs. Inflation
Healthcare premiums far outpace general inflation
CarrierApproved Increasevs. Inflation (3%)Impact on $28K Premium
Blue Cross Blue Shield11.2%3.7× inflation+$3,154
Harvard Pilgrim10.8%3.6× inflation+$3,042
Tufts Health Plan10.5%3.5× inflation+$2,958
Fallon Health9.2%3.1× inflation+$2,590
Health New England8.4%2.8× inflation+$2,365
AllWays Health Partners8.1%2.7× inflation+$2,280
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A family paying $28,151 today can expect to pay $30,900+ in 2026 based on average approved increases. That's nearly $2,800 more per year — roughly $233/month — with no improvement in coverage.
Healthcare Spending
Per-capita and total health care expenditures — MA consistently #1
Per-Capita Spending: MA vs. US
CMS State Health Expenditure Accounts
THCE Growth vs. Benchmark
Total Health Care Expenditure growth rate — CHIA 2023
⚠️ THCE Exceeded Benchmark by 139%
8.6% actual growth vs. 3.6% benchmark
CHIA Annual Report 2025 — Massachusetts consistently exceeds its own cost containment targets
Healthcare Affordability
Who is most impacted by Massachusetts' healthcare costs
Affordability Issues by Race/Ethnicity
% reporting difficulty affording healthcare — CHIA
Premium as % of Median Income
Family premium burden on MA median household income
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58.2% of Hispanic/Latino residents report difficulty affording healthcare — compared to 39.2% of white residents. Despite Massachusetts having near-universal coverage, cost barriers remain severe for communities of color.
Premium as % of Median Income
27.6%
Median HH Income
$101,800
Family Premium
$28,151
National Premium Burden
24.2%
Median HH Income
$80,610
Family Premium
$24,540
Despite Higher Incomes
MA Worse
Income Advantage
+$21K
But Premium Gap
+$3,611

Sources: MA Division of Insurance · Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) EHBS 2024 · CHIA Annual Report 2025 · CMS State Health Expenditure Accounts

Updated February 2026 · Massachusetts Health Insurance Data