Below are comments received regarding Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa
Please reconsider an increase- my plan is getting to be ridiculous high and is the only one without a high deductible. It leaves few options for independent individuals needing insurance.
My name is Marilyn T. Rockwell City, Calhoun County, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold premium. Mine was increased or almost $400 because we had a retirement plan from my husband that affected our income last year. I don't feel it's fair that I should have to pay those premiums all the time since we, it was a one time thing and I can't afford the increases anymore. I'm only me paying on that and I just feel that another increase is just more than I can handle. Thank you.
I strongly oppose the proposed 5% premium increase by Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa. Wellmark reported approximately $28.1 million in net income last year, to me that makes it difficult to justify placing yet another financial burden on my family and all other Iowa families using Wellmark. For many of us, another premium increase doesn't simply mean paying a little more, it means being priced out of health insurance altogether. At some point, increasing premiums becomes counterproductive. If I can no longer afford my health insurance, Wellmark doesnt receive any of my money. Keeping coverage affordable should be a priority, because pricing people out of the market helps no one. I urge the Iowa Insurance Division to reject this proposed increase and encourage Wellmark to focus on maintaining affordable coverage for the Iowans it serves.
Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc had a net profit of over $40 million in 2025. Their cash on hand increase by $2 million. The average increase for 2026 was 12.6%. The average increase for 2025 was 9.3%. The average increase for 2024 was 5.3%. That's an average increase of 27.2% in three years. I do not believe Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., should increase our premiums another 5%. The tax law passed in 2025 has saved the company millions in taxes as well. Wellmark has been steadily increasing maximum out of pocket costs, deductibles, as well as removing copay for a number of services, which in effect increases the out-of-pocket costs for ACA individual insurance policies. If we have to "tighten our belts" Wellmark should as well!
A rate increase is passing the buck to the consumers who are beholden to these subpar plans. Thanks for offering us public comment, we may all protest but we know the outcome already.
This is the 2nd time this year I've been horrified by Wellmark insurance. They already changed all policies to exclude any services provided or testing required occuring in a dr office/urgent care. It no longer applies to copay but is excluded until you meet your deductible. If is my understanding from a previous complaint that this change was for all policies. For those of us paying 25% of our income to premiums(and that is a high deductible policy), and then a simple walk in clinic visit for a respiratory infection costs $400. I promise you I can't afford to go to the dr for anything simple. Thank God I no longer have children on this insurance because as a parent knowing that a visit for a cold might cost $400 out of pocket vs. feeling awful that my child is sick and I can't afford to do anything about it is heartbreaking. This insurance is now just a major medical benefit, that costs $1K per month. The amounts they have saved from every Iowan now needing to meet a high deductible before insurance pays anything - they certainly should not be asking for a premium increase as well!
I put a lot of effort into maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which includes investing a significant amount of money in healthy food, exercise, and mental/spiritual health. I am 58 years old and rarely go to the Doctor for illness. I see my Doctor once a year for my annual Wellness exam. I think it unfair to "subsidize" unhealthy individuals through EVER increasing health insurance premiums, and EVER shrinking health coverage, and therefore I oppose any increases in the health insurance premiums or any other cost increases associated with my health insurance plan.
I am not for the proposed increase on the premium rate for Wellmark insurance. Last year, an increase was given to users and along with health insurance, home owners', automotive, and property taxes also increased. This means the cost of living went up, with no increase in wages. It is known that people will drop health insurance before all the others due to cost vs income. This only means sicker patients at the hospitals, which will drive up health care costs, so if health insurance can be kept at a lower premium, then more people can afford it, which means more preventative/maintenance instead of very sick appointments.
I am writing to submit a public comment regarding the proposed increase in health insurance premium rates.
I understand that healthcare costs can change over time, but I am deeply concerned about yet another increase in premiums when health insurance is already becoming unaffordable for many individuals and families.
For many households, health insurance is one of the largest monthly expenses. Despite paying thousands of dollars each year in premiums, many people are also responsible for high deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket costs before their insurance provides meaningful coverage. Increasing premiums even further places an even greater financial burden on families who are already working hard to make ends meet.
These increases are especially difficult to justify when many policyholders have seen little improvement in coverage or access to care. People should not have to choose between maintaining health insurance and meeting other essential financial obligations.
I respectfully ask that you carefully consider the impact these proposed rate increases will have on consumers and scrutinize whether they are truly necessary and reasonable. Affordable health insurance is essential, and continued premium increases only make it more difficult for families, retirees, and small business owners to obtain and maintain the coverage they need.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Sincerely a concerned Iowan,
Ruth
Please make sure the Insurance Commissioner denies any and all premium increase requests, specifically Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa's request. Health insurance stopped being affordable for many Iowans long ago. Any cost increase separates more Iowans from insurance which actually meets their needs.
When Wellmark ends 2025 with a $3.17 billion dollar surplus balance, I do not see their need to increase member rates. The stock market is expected to continue performing strongly, so investment income will be up, and Wellmark can use the market to their financial advantage, not their members. It doesn't look good when the government is getting a break while the rest of us are forced to cover the difference. This does not only impact me, personally, as a member, but many of my clients as well. Wellmark can do what the rest of America does: live in a more fiscally responsible manner. The average American earns $67k/year. Wellmark's CEO makes, on average, $895k/year, and that doesn't include bonuses, incentives or benefits. Maybe your CEO needs to take a pay cut if company performance requires rates increases.
I do not feel there should be a rate increase. I am self employed with a retired spouse and a child. I am currently covering all cost for medical and dental through my business. I already pay a high amount for insurance and if the rate increase occurs it will cause me to make some hard decisions. Insurance companies can already pick and choose what they will and will not cover so to increase their "profit margin" would be insane. You will be bleeding the working class of Iowa to poverty.
I already am struggling to afford healthcare in the country after my premiums increased about 1,000% this year, from 0 - 108 a month. I've heard this from dozens of friends, and some showing an even greater increase. Choosing to increase it even more is only showcasing the greed of these companies and it's no surprise that Iowa has some of the worst healthcare and highest cancer rates in the country, but please keep making it harder for people to live while major corporations walk away with even greater profits
I strongly oppose the premium hikes; it is ridiculous for one of the most profitable industries in the U.S. to complain about losses.
Please DO NOT increase rates! If you do, I will not be able to afford any insurance.
I am extremely against this rate increase. As it is, in order to afford ANY insurance I have to pay out a 15,000 deductible. So, I pay you a premium, yet pay out of pocket for everything. Does that even make sense? I am currently walking on broken bones in my feet because I can't afford an MRI. My doctor is begging me to get it done. But I live and work in pain because you always charge more but make real help in Healthcare out of reach for the average person. Quit paying the office people so much and pay the doctors that actually HELP people. You should be ashamed at your greed.
I am writing to respectfully oppose the proposed 6% base rate increase for my individual health insurance policy with Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. I have maintained continuous health insurance coverage for many years, and it seems that my premiums increase nearly every year. While I understand that healthcare costs have risen over time, these annual increases continue to place a greater financial burden on responsible policyholders. I have worked hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking and drug use, and make conscious choices to take care of my health. I believe individuals who invest in preventive health and healthy living should be recognized rather than continually facing higher premiums. In my opinion, our current health insurance system does not adequately distinguish between individuals who consistently make healthy lifestyle choices and those whose health risks may be influenced by preventable behaviors. While I recognize that not all medical conditions are preventable and that many people develop illnesses through no fault of their own, I believe there should be greater consideration given to encouraging personal responsibility for health whenever possible. Other forms of insurance, such as life insurance, often consider an individual’s health history and lifestyle when determining premiums. I believe it is reasonable to explore whether health insurance could better reward those who demonstrate long-term healthy behaviors and participation in preventive care. Such an approach could encourage healthier lifestyles while helping to control healthcare costs over time. I respectfully ask the Iowa Insurance Division to carefully scrutinize this proposed rate increase and require clear justification that it is necessary and reasonable. Consumers who faithfully pay their premiums and actively work to stay healthy deserve thoughtful consideration before additional costs are imposed upon them. Thank you for your time and for considering my comments regarding this proposed rate increase.
My name is Heather K. I live in Spencer Iowa, calling about the proposed increase in base premium rates. I have Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa through the marketplace. I feel increasing the premium with this going to public hearing, does propose a financial burden for me. I'm on a fixed income. I'm trying to carry insurance on my own and for my daughter, and I just feel that our health care just continues to climb, and I totally understand why, but we have got to have a break for the working middle class, which I am, and I work two jobs the way it is, and I know it's important to have health insurance because I am in the health care field. I just feel we are owed a break, somewhere along the lines. Our health care is just so overpriced the way it is and for medications. If you have any other concerns or need to reach out to me, my telephone number is **********. Thank you.
I am a long time member of Wellmark, I would like to voice my concern about another premium increase. I already pay more than $1000 per month for premium and have a high deductible plan. Wellmark already made a significant change this year in no longer allowing in office proceedures/testing to go toward copay. I visited a walk in clinic this year for a respriratory infection, paid the visit copay, they had to fun some blood tests and imaging in order to diagnose. After the visit I learned that that testing no longer applied toward deductible so I had to pay out of pocket for the entire testing and owed more than $500. In total with prescription I paid $613 for an infection. I won't be doing that again. This insurance has already become more of a major medical policy with a cost of more than 10% of what I make a year, a premium increase would make it ineffective AND unaffordable.
Jean S…West Des Moines, Iowa, Polk County. I got this notice, but it's ripped up and I had to piece it together and I'm not sure why my mail is ripped up and then sent to me, and then I have to piece it together. I guess that's my question 1st of all, and then NO, of course I don't want to increase. I'm disabled. So, why would I want to pay more? You already increased it three times on me. This is ridiculous. Pretty soon I won't use health insurance at all, and you won't be able to force me to use health insurance if you're gonna continue this ****.
Yeah, my name is John M., and I've got insurance through Wellmark, my health insurance. When I started off over a year ago, I was at $248. They gave me an increase last year. My premium went to $298 and now they're saying another 5 %, which will put me about $315, which is a pretty good increase for the last two and a half years. I don't understand why all of a sudden I've gotta get hit with all these increases, but, I don't think it's fair at all to go from $248 to end up at $315 in two years. That's my concern. I hope you guys can do something about it. Thank you. Bye bye.
I am writing as a Wellmark member from Shelby County to ask that you carefully review Wellmark's request for a 10.5% premium increase.
My husband and I work hard, own a small business, and pay significant health insurance premiums. Like many Iowa families, we have seen the cost of nearly everything increase over the past several years. Health insurance premiums continue to rise while deductibles and out-of-pocket costs remain high.
What is especially frustrating is that, even while paying these increasing premiums, we have experienced denials for physician-prescribed medications and have had to spend considerable time appealing decisions. It is difficult to understand paying more each year while receiving less certainty that medically recommended treatments will be covered.
I recognize that health care costs change over time, but I respectfully ask that your office thoroughly review Wellmark's request and require strong evidence that this increase is truly necessary. Iowa families, farmers, retirees, and small business owners are already carrying a tremendous financial burden.
Please approve only the minimum increase that is justified after careful review.
Thank you for considering the concerns of Iowa consumers.
Because I am/was income eligible, in 2025, thanks to the subsidy tax credit, Wellmark received over $5000 in health premiums in my name. I did not have any medical claims in 2025. Where did that $$ get spent? In 2026, Wellmark has received over $6000 in premiums in my name from the government, and over $60 in premiums directly from me. I have had 2 claims, both of which resulted in outlays by Wellmark of less than $600 to physicians, radiologists, and physical therapists. In comparison, I have paid co-pays and deductibles over $350 out of my own pocket. Of the premiums received this year by Wellmark in excess of $13,500, they have paid out less than $600 to my physician and other medical care providers. It is only August, so I may have to see the doctor during cold&flu season. My question is, does all that remaining premium $$ held by Wellmark accrue interest for any future medical claims I may have? Whatever my "rating class" I am OPPOSED to any Base Premium Rate Increase because of the aforementioned facts I have related. I already pay premiums and out of pocket, I can't afford a higher premium, and I am a relatively healthy, non-risk taking individual. I support a National Healthcare plan for all.
I am writing to oppose the premium rate increase. We are already paying more since the tax subsidies have expired. Rate increases for 2025 was 8%, 2026 12.6% and now the proposal is 5.4%. So that would be 26% from 2025-2027, so 25% higher premium rates. The cost of living rate during that same time period is only 4.8%. With increased costs in groceries, gas and other costs people are going to avoid getting medical care to save money. Then they will get sicker and ultimately costs will be higher. We know that the cost of healthcare has gone up proportionally with the number of administrators. CEOs of insurance companies are making up to $40 million a year. While we don't know what the Wellmark CEO salary is as it's a private company, I'm sure it also multi millions. There is no reason CEO's should be making millions more while the insured are going bankrupt. I think Wellmark needs to share its budget and salaries so we can know precisely where this money is going. If they want us to pay more premiums, then high level administrators should not get raises and should even take pay cuts.
I respectfully request the increase as requested by Wellmark be denied. As a self-employed individual, I already pay over $1000 per month for my premium for a high deductible plan for a family of 3. Our deductible is $15,000 with an out of pocket max of $20,000. So I would incur at least $44,000 between premiums and medical bills to fully receive the benefits of my plan. We selected Wellmark because our doctor was in network. This increase, if approved, will certainly make me reconsider our insurance coverage next year - and I think that may be the choice of many other Wellmark insureds based on the comments I have seen. Please deny the request. We already have inflated insurance premiums. Wellmark and many other companies need to find a solution that doesn’t continue to burden their insureds.
I am writing to express my opposition to Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa’s proposed 5% increase in base premium rates for 2027. Health insurance premiums have risen steadily over the past several years, while wage and income growth for many Iowa families has failed to keep pace. A 5% increase may appear modest on paper, but for working families, retirees living on fixed incomes, small business owners, and individuals purchasing coverage on their own, another increase represents a significant financial burden. As health insurance becomes less affordable, many Iowans will be forced to make difficult choices. Some will drop coverage altogether because they can no longer afford the premiums. Others will keep their insurance but delay or forgo necessary medical care due to higher overall health care costs. Preventive services, prescription medications, and routine physician visits are often the first expenses people cut when health care becomes unaffordable. These decisions can lead to worsening health conditions, higher long-term medical costs, and increased uncompensated care throughout Iowa’s health care system. Affordability is essential to maintaining a healthy and insured population. Continued premium increases risk shrinking the number of insured Iowans and undermining the purpose of health insurance—to provide accessible, affordable care when it is needed. I also encourage the Division to carefully examine whether this proposed increase is fully justified by actual medical cost trends and administrative expenses. Consumers deserve transparency regarding the factors driving premium increases and assurance that every reasonable effort has been made to control costs before those costs are passed on to policyholders. Many Iowa households continue to face higher costs for housing, food, utilities, child care, and other everyday necessities. Adding another health insurance premium increase compounds these financial pressures and places quality health coverage further out of reach for many families. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Iowa Insurance Division to reject or substantially reduce Wellmark’s proposed 5% premium rate increase for 2027 unless the company clearly demonstrates that the increase is necessary, reasonable, and in the best interests of Iowa consumers. Thank you for considering my comments and for your commitment to protecting Iowa consumers by ensuring that health insurance remains both fair and affordable.
We do not want an increase in healthcare premiums just to satisfy your corporate greed. Because of cuts we have already seen an increase of 100-300% in premium costs this past year.
A 5% increase is unfair and unreasonable. The monthly rate is already nearly a quarter of my monthly paycheck and the cost of co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance means that I always have health related debts to pay for my daughter's autoimmune disease treatments. Going without insurance is not an option for her, and it's unacceptable that the rates continue to increase so much every year. That monthly rate should be being used as a savings account toward our bills, not just disappearing into the ether never to be seen again.
No, I do not think that increase is, should be possible. We are debating whether we need to pay for insurance or pay for food. This is absolutely ridiculous. This increase needs to stop every year.
I am writing as a concerned policyholder to respectfully urge your office to reject, or at a minimum, carefully scrutinize any proposed increase in health insurance premiums.
Health insurance is essential, yet it is becoming increasingly difficult for individuals and families to afford. Countless households across the state are struggling with the rising costs of EVERYTHING. Our son was recently in the ER for a minor injury, requiring stitches. We were in the hospital for close to 45 minutes. Our bill was almost $1500; our Wellmark BC/BS only paid for a small portion, leaving us with a balance of over $900. This is not feasible when we are paying thousands of dollars a year for our premiums for our family of 4- premiums that have continued to rise every year! Do we keep our kids in a bubble because insurance companies continue to make this harder and harder on the consumers? Many families are living paycheck to paycheck, and some are forced to make impossible choices between paying for healthcare and feeding their family. We, as a family, are contemplating dropping our health insurance and using an HSA with emergency insurance only as a means to help our financial situation in this economy. And we are all healthy!
At the same time, many consumers see reports of large health insurance companies generating substantial wealth and significant profits. At the cost of who? This creates a growing perception that while working families continue to bear the increasing financial burdens, insurers continue to thrive. Before any additional costs are passed on to policyholders, I urge your office to ensure that insurers have fully demonstrated that a rate increase is truly necessary and that every reasonable effort has been made to control administrative costs and improve efficiency. What is going to happen when we can no longer afford this? Is it too much to ask Wellmark to absorb this 6.6% "medical trend" increase?
Many policyholders have already experienced increasing deductibles (we had to do this when we renewed just to lower our premiums a little bit), copayments, and out-of-pocket expenses while continuing to pay higher premiums year after year. And WE ARE HEALTHY PEOPLE WHO ONLY SEE A PHYSICIAN TO HAVE YEARLY PHYSICALS! Consumers should not be expected to shoulder yet another increase.
I respectfully ask your office to hold insurers to the highest standard of accountability during the rate review process. Please require any insurer seeking a premium increase to provide detailed financial justification and demonstrate why this increase is fair to the consumers who depend on affordable coverage.
Excessive premium increases can force families to reduce coverage (we just had this discussion in our home), postpone necessary medical care, or drop coverage altogether. Your office has an important responsibility to protect consumers from unnecessary rate increases, and I respectfully ask that you exercise that authority with the interests of Iowa families in the forefront.
Thank you for your service and your commitment to protecting consumers. I appreciate your consideration of our comments and respectfully ask that you deny any proposed increase that cannot clearly be justified.
I'm writing to stop the Wellmark price increase as of right now with interest rates that are high food prices that are through the roof water bill and gas and electric bill are higher I thinks it's wrong to increase increase our premiums for any reason. Right now I have insurance with Wellmark through the affordable health care program. I can barely afford that. $200 a month taken out for taxes and $251 bill from Wellmark and my insurance isn't all that great! The price of everything is high. I am slowly depleting my fund with bills, vehicle insurance which has also increased, food prices and gas prices are through the roof. As I said I am depleting my funds. If I can't afford it due to the increase am I going to have to start donating my organs? I'm not kidding. This needs to stop!
I am already paying $900 per month as a 64-year-old female with no prescription drug costs and no significant ongoing health conditions.
- What evidence shows that a 5% increase is necessary?
- Has the insurer demonstrated that it is providing adequate access to specialists throughout Iowa?
- How does the state ensure consumers receive value for the premiums they are already paying?
- What steps has the insurer taken to control costs other than increasing premiums?
I used to work in insurance, cut out the commissions to agents or reduce the amount they are receiving.
- I believe my premium is already high relative to the benefits I receive.
- I needed an oral surgeon to evaluate and remove oral lesions; my dentist referred me to an oral surgeon in in Ankeny because that was the nearest practical provider.
- The insurer denied the claim, stating that the closest in-network oral surgeon was in Fort Dodge, about two hours away. You can argue that requiring a four-hour round trip for specialty care is not reasonable or accessible. It cost me 1700.00 dollars. I wrote a complaint to the company in March and it is still under review. I want them to justify why I would go to Fort Dodge when I live in Altoona Iowa.
- If the insurer's network does not provide reasonable geographic access to specialists, consumers should not bear the financial burden.
- Before approving a premium increase, the state should examine whether the insurer is meeting its obligations to provide adequate provider networks and meaningful access to covered services.
- Consumers should not be asked to pay higher premiums while experiencing claim denials and limited access to specialist.
I think the insurance companies are only in to make a profit. Wellmark is not a great company to have ones' insurance through. Please really weigh out the facts, Consumers are suffering. thank you
I am a hard working agriculture worker with not much money. I cannot afford a health insurance premium increase! Everything else is going down and the premium is going up. I guess our family will be going without. Nothing new your big business is getting richer and we suffer! I hope you people rot in hell for what you’re doing!!!
Yeah, this is Trent W…from West Branch, Iowa, Cedar County is the county I live in. I have [Wellmark] Blue Cross Blue Shield. I paid $240.63 a month. That's way too much. It's beyond my means. So if you raise it again, I'm gonna have to find somebody different. Somebody a lot cheaper because I can hardly afford my bills the way it is. My medication went up. This increase has gotta stop, bye.
My name is Elizabeth and I live in Burlington, Iowa. I am a consumer of Wellmark's health insurance, and my current monthly bill is $832.73. This policy is just for myself, a relatively healthy 60+ woman. I work part time to pay for this insurance plan and most months, I just cover it without having to use money from a savings account. The proposed 5% hike in rates will definitely place an even steeper burden on my finances. I would ask that any consideration on the part of the state of Iowa to grant a 5% increase in rates include a request for proof from Wellmark about any other measures they could employ rather than rate increases. For example, has Wellmark considered a freeze on any corporate-level bonuses, a freeze on Wellmark employee salary increases or a moratorium on shareholder dividends? As millions of Americans struggle to keep "affordable healthcare", I don't believe that Wellmark as a company should enjoy salary increases or bonuses when the people paying into their system haven't received any cost of living increases or relief from inflation. I understand why Wellmark wants more money, the cost of everything is going up. But I would ask that the state recognize the fact that MY expenses have also risen AND that I have to make sacrifices to continue to pay Wellmark. I just want to make sure that Wellmark has also made some sacrifices. I do not feel this is an unreasonable expectation, and I would certainly expect the state of Iowa to speak on behalf of their residents.
While public feedback on the rate filing naturally focuses on premium affordability, regulators must recognize that premiums are a lagging indicator of a deeper structural crisis: the unchecked pricing leverage of a highly consolidated provider market.
Under federal Medical Loss Ratio laws, health insurers are mandated to spend 80% to 85% of premium dollars directly on medical claims. Therefore, commercial premium spikes are a direct mathematical reflection of skyrocketing provider-driven inflation across the state of Iowa.
If the Iowa Insurance Division wishes to protect consumers from ongoing premium volatility, it must address the core supplier-side drivers of these increases and the systemic risk they pose to market stability:
Unchecked Regional Provider Consolidation: Aggressive horizontal and vertical consolidation has systematically dismantled free-market competition in Iowa. Recent regulatory approvals of mega-mergers (such as: University of Iowa Health Care absorbing Mercy Iowa City, and MercyOne acquiring Genesis Health System) have created massive regional monopolies and duopolies. These conglomerate systems leverage their dominant market share during contract negotiations to dictate double-digit rate hikes to health plans, leaving insurers with little to no leverage to negotiate lower costs for consumers.
Exploitation of the "Facility Fee": This consolidation has accelerated a highly inflationary billing practices where large health systems absorb independent physician clinics and reclassify standard outpatient care under a Hospital Outpatient Department designation. Because Iowa law fails to cap or restrict provider-based billing, a patient visiting the exact same building for the exact same service is suddenly hit with massive, arbitrary "hospital facility fee" Additionally, historical rigidity within Iowa’s Certificate of Need framework has protected dominant systems from lower-cost, independent freestanding alternatives, trapping consumers in these high-cost health systems.
The Systematic Squeeze on Rural Networks and Mental Health: While dominant health systems secure high commercial reimbursement tiers through aggressive contracting, Iowa’s independent and behavioral health providers are severely squeezed by stagnant residual rates. Iowa consistently ranks near the bottom of the nation in psychiatric bed availability and mental health workforce retention. When independent mental health practices are forced into insolvency or a cash-only model by this market imbalance, it decimates local care in rural communities. This forces patients in crisis into high-cost hospital emergency rooms for basic stabilization, drastically driving up the total cost of care for the entire commercial risk pool.
The Downstream Effects - Carrier Market Exits and Diminishing Choice: When underlying provider costs drive premiums past the threshold of consumer affordability, it triggers an unsustainable market dynamic. Persistent rate increases combined with justified member dissatisfaction create an environment where health insurance carriers can no longer maintain a viable, stable risk pool. Left with no structural leverage to control costs, carriers will inevitably choose to exit the Iowa market entirely to limit financial exposure. We are already seeing the immediate consequences of this destabilization with Medica’s announced exit from Iowa's ACA individual marketplace for 2027. If this trajectory continues, Iowans will face a severely diminished landscape with fewer insurance choices, destroying competitive pressure among payers and granting consolidated hospital conglomerates absolute monopoly power over healthcare access.
An Actionable Regulatory Path Forward:
The IID is not powerless to act against these anticompetitive supply-side pressures. Under Iowa Administrative Code rule 191-34.6 ("Participating hospital contracts"), the Insurance Commissioner possesses explicit authority to review and approve participating hospital contract prototypes, mandating that they must be "fair, reasonable, and in the public interest" and include "control mechanisms on unnecessary utilization."
The IID should immediately deploy this authority to reject any hospital contract prototype containing anticompetitive "all-or-nothing" clauses (which force health plans to include every high-cost facility in a system's footprint) or "anti-steering/anti-tiering" restrictions (which legally block insurers from financially rewarding patients who choose lower-cost, independent providers).
Capping premium growth without curbing provider pricing power is mathematically impossible. The IID must look past the symptom (PREMIUMS) And actively regulate the anti-competitive contracting practices of dominant health systems to restore true economic balance and choice to Iowa's healthcare market.
Iowa Starting Line (YouTube.com/shorts/AAw8ZsXtQxM) provides broader local context on how funding shifts and structural strains are currently squeezing local clinics and emergency care systems across Iowa.
My name is Olivia and I live in Des Moines, Iowa. I have the Wellmark Health plan of Iowa. I am college educated and have a steady job making $40,000 a year. I work hard to budget and save money but I am living paycheck to paycheck in part because of the outrageous cost of health insurance. I currently pay over $400 for health expenses monthly, including my premium and prescriptions. That is nearly a third of a paycheck. If I get two paychecks a month, that’s nearly a sixth of my income on just the premium and prescriptions that I have to take to stay healthy. Raising my premium, especially by a proposed 5%, would have an impact on my already tight budget. I have already avoided necessary appointments to save money, and I must continue to do so. A high deductible and ridiculous premiums forces me to consider if it might be smarter to forgo health insurance altogether. If my experience well above the poverty line is already this difficult, what about the Iowans who may not have steady employment, or those who do not have resources like a supportive family? I am highly concerned that raising premiums will leave more Iowans behind and directly lead to worse health outcomes for the state. The purpose of insurance should be to make sure people can afford healthcare, and not for companies to turn a profit. Affordability is already such a huge barrier to care, and increasing rates can only cause harm.
I paid insurance for myself and my son in 2025 - $1,111 per month. In 2026 I'm paying $1,259 per month. And now Wellmark wants another increase! I can't afford it. Life is getting more and more expensive in Iowa. Iowa government is not protecting us against farmers poisoning the farmlands and food supplies, and Iowa Government is not protecting us when we get sick. Isn't it time to start protecting Americans? Isn't it time to stop increasing medical insurances premiums, co-payments, deductibles? Please - do not increase our medical insurance premiums.
I am paying over $900 per month for a high deductible plan. I recently had a minor procedure and had to pay over $3000 out of pocket. The high cost of medical insurance is putting a strain on my retirement income. Enough is enough.
My name is Deborah...I'm from Earlville Iowa. I am against this raise in the rates. I have the Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, and I have a hard time being…and then when I go to the hospital, I have such a high deductible that I can't afford to get things done. So, my take on this is please do not increase the base rate because that will increase everything else. A lot of people are worse off than me, and this would really hurt. Thank you for your time. Goodbye.
I am writing to respectfully ask that you carefully review Wellmark's request for a 10.5% premium increase.
My wife and I are members of Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa. As a lifelong Iowan, small business owner, and Wellmark policyholder, I understand that health care costs change over time. However, families and small businesses across Iowa are already facing rising costs in nearly every aspect of life. Another substantial increase in health insurance premiums places an even greater burden on those of us who are working hard to provide coverage for ourselves and our families.
What makes these increases especially difficult is that many policyholders continue to experience challenges obtaining coverage for treatments and medications that their physicians believe are medically necessary. My family has experienced firsthand the frustration of appealing coverage decisions while continuing to pay increasing premiums year after year. It is discouraging to pay more while feeling uncertain whether recommended care will be covered when it is needed.
As a small business owner, I also see the impact that rising insurance costs have on businesses that want to provide quality benefits while remaining financially responsible. Every increase forces difficult decisions for employers and families alike.
I respectfully ask that your office thoroughly evaluate Wellmark's filing and require clear evidence that a 10.5% increase is truly justified. Iowa consumers deserve transparency and confidence that any rate increase approved is no greater than necessary.
Thank you for your service to the people of Iowa and for taking the time to consider the concerns of policyholders like me.
I am writing as a Wellmark policyholder covered under my family's health insurance plan and as someone preparing to be married this coming January. As I prepare for this next chapter of life, I am becoming increasingly aware of the financial responsibilities that come with starting a family. Health insurance is one of the largest and most important expenses young couples face, and another premium increase only adds to that burden.
I understand that insurance companies must respond to changing health care costs, but I also believe consumers deserve confidence that any increase is fully justified. Families should not have to worry about paying more each year while still facing uncertainty about whether medically necessary treatments will be covered.
Please carefully review Wellmark's request and approve only the increase that is supported by the evidence.
Thank you for considering my comments.
I am currently a student at Iowa State University and am covered under my family's Wellmark health insurance policy. As I prepare to begin my career after college, I know that affordable health insurance will become an important part of my financial future. Young adults entering the workforce already face rising costs for housing, transportation, and everyday living expenses. Continued increases in health insurance premiums make that transition even more challenging.
I appreciate that health care costs are complex, but I respectfully ask that your office ensure any premium increase is carefully reviewed and no larger than necessary. Iowa's young adults deserve the opportunity to begin their careers without facing unnecessary financial burdens.
Thank you for taking the concerns of Iowa families into consideration.
I am writing as a young Iowa adult and Wellmark policyholder covered under my family's health insurance plan. As my wife and I begin building our future together, the affordability of health insurance is something we think about often. Like many young couples, we are working hard to establish ourselves financially while planning for the future. Rising health insurance premiums make those goals more difficult to achieve.
While I understand that health care costs change over time, I hope any premium increase is approved only after careful review and only if it is truly necessary. My family has also experienced the frustration of dealing with coverage decisions for physician-recommended treatments while continuing to pay increasing premiums. Those experiences make it difficult to understand why another significant increase is being requested.
I respectfully ask that your office carefully examine Wellmark's request and ensure that Iowa consumers are receiving fair value for the premiums they pay.
Thank you for your time and your service to the people of Iowa.
I recently graduated from college and am preparing to become a self-employed entrepreneur in Iowa. I am currently covered under my family's Wellmark health insurance policy, but I know I will soon be responsible for purchasing my own health insurance. As someone preparing to start a business, every expense matters. Health insurance is essential, but it also represents one of the largest costs many self-employed individuals face. Significant premium increases make it more difficult for young entrepreneurs to invest in their businesses while maintaining quality health coverage.
I understand that insurance companies must remain financially sound, but I respectfully ask that your office carefully evaluate Wellmark's request and approve only the increase that is truly necessary. Affordable health insurance helps encourage young Iowans to stay in our state, build businesses, and contribute to our communities.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.
The base premium is high enough, cut your base not mine!
Thank you for taking the time to read this. While I understand costs have gone up the amount of increase that I have incurred during my time has been 635% and now you are proposing another 10.5%. The proposal is also over three times the normal cost of living increases that we are seeing in my area. This is not sustainable, I have literally went from being able to provide to wondering how we are going to be able to keep paying for medical insurance. I also understand that the insurance industry is a business and that they need to make money but when I reading reports of billion dollar profits per quarter I have to ask when is enough, enough? Mind you this is just what is actually being reported and this is after they have either paid or fought paying any claims. Also it would be nice for insurance companies to explore more alternative options for different treatments as the ones offered to us here in the states are not the best. There are more natural and holistic options that work better than just taking another pill, chemo, or radiation as a treatment option but yet because they work insurance companies will not cover the treatment for it. We need the higher ups at the insurance companies to stop looking at their wallets and instead have a heart for people and actually making them better.
Please do not increase medical insurance premiums. Us regular families are already so strapped and paying for basic medical insurance shouldn’t be a luxury.
Iowans are already struggling to make ends meet. Raising health insurance prices only increase the likelihood that less Iowans will be able afford it and increase Iowa’s health crisis as they won’t have as much access to preventative care. Do not raise the base premium rate.
I strongly oppose the 5% premium rate increase. I’m already paying over $800 a month for premiums and it is shocking to me that I don’t have a co-pay for approved providers for physical therapy, etc. The wasted funds in the health insurance industry need to be closely examined. It is not appropriate for the administration to be receiving high salaries and bonuses when the consumers are not receiving coverage for medical care. This is just basic common sense.
I am writing to strongly oppose Wellmark’s proposed average 5% base premium rate increase.
Our family currently pays $1,682 per month for our Wellmark health insurance. This is already an extremely high amount that strains our budget significantly. A 5% increase would add about $84 per month (over $1,000 per year), raising our monthly premium to approximately $1,766. This additional cost would add additional financial burden on our family and many other families like us.
Compounding the problem, our coverage was already changed this year with fewer services applying to copays. This shift has increased our overall out-of-pocket costs even before any rate increase. We are now paying more in premiums and more when we actually need care, while the value of our plan has decreased.
Health insurance is becoming increasingly unsustainable for many Iowa families. We urge the Iowa Insurance Division to deny or meaningfully reduce this requested rate increase.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide public comment. Please consider the real impact this increase would have on hardworking families like ours when making your decision.
I am against the rate increase proposal. It is obvious as an individual on the plan itself would be against paying more in premiums, but it would work against your favor in the long run. I currently do not qualify for subsidies and pay the entire amount for my insurance through the healthcare.gov marketplace. Also this year, the rates increased, so my montly payment tripled. I was conflicted whether to have health insurance, or just eliminate it altogether so I can catch up on other bills that are piling up. Instead, I stuplidly agreed to pay the monthly price for their "cheapest" insurance possible. I now avoid going to the doctor and have discontinued my therapy sessions because I cannot afford it. Even the copays are extensively high, and forget about emergency care, they barely even cover that. If the rates are to increase anymore, I will simply cancel to reduce the stress this has already caused me. It already isn't working for me, I'm not seeing the point of insurance if I can't afford my healthcare because of the very thing that is supposed to help me afford it??? Maybe when I cancel I can afford to go back to my regular doctor visits. I would hate for anyone else to be in this situation if they had a condition that needed regular clinic visits, tests, and prescriptions. What a nightmare this is.
I am writing in opposition to the proposed 5% increase in premium requested by Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa. While many others have made good points regarding the current profits and reserves of Wellmark, I am more concerned with Wellmark's refusal to cover things that one would expect insurance to cover.
Specifically, my wife was denied coverage for radiation services, following breast cancer surgery in 2025/2026. This is despite her physician/surgeon referring her to the ONLY treatment center with capacity (which Wellmark stipulates us to have chosen out of network coverage).
If an insurance company is not held responsible for actually paying for the very things they are intended to be there for, why should the public/consumer be responsible for ever increasing premiums?
We can all agree our system is broken, and I request that Iowa Insurance Commission take a stand against the continued fleecing of consumers that is taking place with ongoing increased cost and decreased services provided.
The proposed premium rate hike of 5% is outrageous and should not be approved. My reasons are:
There should be a regulatory agency limiting profits to health insurance companies. Health insurance is a basic necessary need for human wellbeing. A Medicare for all program would be much more advantageous to our country.
Huge profits funneled to CEOs are out of control and need to be properly regulated. Working Americans need to be adequately covered so that they do not go into bankruptcy from their healthcare.
A recent investigation found that hospitals are: a) the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Jason Smith, posted out that hospitals received $90 billion in 340B discounts, with little evidence that any of it has been reinvested in patient care., . b) the number of hospitals claiming "rural" status to access 340B benefits skyrocketed from 2 hospitals in 2017 to 425 by 2023. Large urban hospitals are exploiting loopholes to claim both rural and urban status, hoarding benefits meant for truly rural communities., c) Regulations need to be put in place now to ensure discounts are going to benefit patients and not CEOs.
I hope the Commissioner of Insurance will do the right thing for the people.
I hope and pray the Iowa Insurance Commissioner denies this proposal for an increase. People, including myself are having enough trouble paying insurance premiums as it is.
My name is Lori, I'm calling from Ankeny, Iowa. I have a Wellmark HMO plan, and I'm on the Affordable Care Act, and I do not want rates to go up. I'm sure nobody does. I mean, people can't afford their insurance. Why would we want rates to go up? Oh, what else is there to say? Thank you.
I would just like to give my opinion on a possible rate increase. My social security is currently $1546 per month, my Wellmark is currently $548.49 per month, already up $200 from the previous year. Which is already more than I can afford for a single plan. Please help out all the seniors who have worked so hard to retire and are struggling financially.
This is Anissa in regards to the proposed increase in the Walmart blue Cross blue Shield of Iowa for the 6.6 % increase, and we oppose it, and I have the letter in front of me. We are already paying between my spouse and I, $43000 a year before we ever go to the dr. $43000 just to have insurance and that is wrong. So please do not increase it again. Thank you.
I am writing to express my concern regarding the escalating cost of private health insurance premiums through Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield over the past decade. As an Iowa consumer, I believe the pace of premium increases has significantly outstripped the rate of general inflation, placing an unsustainable financial burden on individuals and families who purchase coverage without employer assistance.
Over the last ten years, the cost of housing, groceries, utilities, and other necessities has increased steadily due to inflation. However, my health insurance premiums have risen at a much faster rate. Each year I have faced higher monthly premiums while also seeing increases in deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums. As a result, I am paying substantially more for coverage while assuming a greater share of my own healthcare costs.
When the rates first began escalating, there was a “notice” at the bottom of our premium rate increase letter stating it was due to the ACA’s individual mandate. However, when the individual mandate when away, our rates did not drop, rather continued to rise steadily. Rarely do we ever meet our deductible and if we do, it is in November or December except on the rare occasion of an injury or unexpected surgery (i.e. broken ankle or sinus surgery). Because we are self employed and have private insurance, our out of pocket often exceeds $25,000 before insurance kicks in.
The Iowa Insurance Division's published rate review history shows that Wellmark and other carriers have requested and received multiple premium increases over the years, including several increases well above the state's public hearing threshold. This pattern raises important questions about affordability and whether existing oversight adequately protects Iowa consumers.
I respectfully request that your office:
- Review the cumulative impact of individual health insurance premium increases over the past decade compared with inflation and wage growth.
- Evaluate whether current rate review procedures sufficiently protect consumers from excessive premium growth.
- Advocate for greater transparency regarding the factors driving premium increases.
- Consider policy recommendations that improve affordability for Iowans purchasing coverage in the individual market.
Health insurance should provide financial security, not become a growing financial hardship for the very people it is intended to protect. Many Iowans who do not qualify for significant subsidies are struggling to keep coverage because premiums continue to rise faster than household budgets.
I appreciate your attention to this issue and would welcome any information regarding ongoing efforts to address the affordability of private health insurance in Iowa. Thank you for your service to Iowa consumers, and I look forward to your response.
I do not support allowing Wellmark to implement the increases laid out in the letter I received. While I can certainly understand that their costs may be increasing, I see little to no evidence that they are shouldering none but a small amount of this. Instead, I would challenge them to look for ways to improve delivery of their services to absorb the cost increases.
For most businesses, when they see prices go up they face a choice whether or not to pass them on or adjust their business practices to counter them. When they do choose to increase prices, we as consumers have a decision whether or not to accept this or to take our business elsewhere.
With health insurance, this is not so easily done and I feel that to some extent we are a captive audience. If there were multiple options to consider I would say they can go for it and we'll vote with our feet, but such is not the case. Additionally, while I haven't waded through all of their financials, they appear to have a strong cash flow and are quite generous in the compensation of their leadership team so before they just pass on cost increases, they need to streamline their own business.
I do not support allowing Wellmark to implement the increases laid out in the letter I received. While I can certainly understand that their costs may be increasing, I see little to no evidence that they are shouldering none but a small amount of this. Instead, I would challenge them to look for ways to improve delivery of their services to absorb the cost increases.
The cost of health insurance is already a significant financial burden, and I am currently struggling to keep up with my medical bills. Given these financial challenges, I do not believe an additional increase in premiums is reasonable.
What has made this especially frustrating is that, despite paying substantial premiums, I have experienced more denials of medically necessary prescriptions and specialist referrals this year than at any other time. It is difficult to justify paying more for coverage while receiving fewer approved benefits and facing additional barriers to accessing necessary medical care.
I ask that you reconsider this proposed premium increase and take into account the financial impact it has on members who are already paying significant healthcare costs while encountering increasing coverage denials.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I appreciate your attention to this matter and hope you will carefully review this decision.
As self employed we are forced into these horrific health plans with high deductible and out-of-pocket costs. And still, the industry “requires” more money? 5% is more than inflation. The State needs to decline this request, tell the industry to do more with less, like the rest of us. In addition, the State needs to charter a cooperative health insurance and health clinics company, run by Iowans as member-owners, like a credit union. Real competition is needed in this space asap. Current conditions are not sustainable. Only through real competition will costs be manageable. A health insurance and health clinics cooperative would help Iowa’s entrepreneurial and small business economy be the envy of the U.S.
Good day,
Thank you for allowing me to contact you with my concerns.
I currently pay $978.00 per month for my health insurance and do not qualify for any premium discounts. This amount already reflects a $50.00 monthly increase from 2024.
With another proposed $50.00 monthly increase, my premium will rise to $1,028.00 per month—more than $12,000.00 per year.
As a small business owner, this is a significant expense that comes directly out of my profits. These continual premium increases are becoming unsustainable and are making health insurance increasingly unaffordable.
While I am relatively healthy, I was also disappointed to learn that, effective January 1, 2026, physical therapy is no longer covered with a copay and instead applies toward my deductible. This change substantially increases my out-of-pocket costs for a service that can help prevent more serious health issues and higher medical expenses in the future.
I respectfully ask that you consider the financial burden these rising premiums and reduced benefits place on individuals and small business owners. Affordable, comprehensive health insurance is essential, and the current trend of increasing costs while reducing coverage is deeply concerning.
Thank you for your time.
I oppose this increase with all my heart and soul! With SO many prices increasing this is not the time for an increase. Maybe if the CEO and upper management take a 5.6% pay CUT, we can start talking. No! NO! NO!
I would like to express my concerns with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa desiring a 10.5% increase in their base premium rates. This seems incredibly excessive especially in our country and state's current economic condition. Health insurance premiums are already excessive and difficult for families, proposing this extreme increase in the base rate is simply unjustified and wrong.
Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is a mutual insurance company supposedly owned by it's policyholders, so in the best interest of this policy holder, I wholeheartedly oppose a 10.5% increase in the base premium rate.
I oppose the proposed increase in Wellmark base premium rates. Profits for health insurance providers are record-breaking, as citizens struggle to pay premiums.
I oppose the proposed 5% health insurance rate increase.
Last year, my premiums increased by 14.42%. At the same time, my copays nearly doubled, my deductible increased, and my overall coverage became more expensive to use (This was all with the same policy and family members). I am paying significantly more while receiving less.
Like many families, I have had to adjust my household budget to absorb these costs. Before asking consumers to pay even more, I urge the Division to ask whether Wellmark is making the same difficult decisions internally. Have operating costs been reduced? Have every reasonable cost-saving measure been exhausted? Or is another premium increase simply the easiest solution?
While inflation is often cited as justification, repeated insurance rate increases also contribute to the financial strain families face. Consumers should not be expected to continually shoulder higher costs without clear evidence that every other option has been been pursued first.
I respectfully ask the Division to carefully scrutinize this request and consider the cumulative burden these repeated increases place on Iowa families.
I oppose the proposed increase in base premium rates. Profits for companies providing health insurance are record-breaking, while citizens struggle to afford basic care and premiums.
Please DO NOT increase premium rates.
Enough is enough. We cannot take anymore.
Thank you in advance for your consideration in this matter.
I don't understand what they are saying about this premium. $1100 a month. What is that? I live in Cedar Rapids Iowa. And I'm with Amber to help.
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Wellmark's proposed premium rate increase.
I am a small business owner in Iowa, and I carry health insurance for just one person. Even with coverage for only one individual, the cost has become increasingly difficult to afford.
When I enrolled in my Wellmark plan in 2013, my monthly premium was $171.85. Today, before this proposed increase is even applied, my premium is $509.75 per month—an increase of nearly 197% over the past 13 years.
I understand that healthcare costs rise over time, and I recognize that insurers must account for medical inflation. However, I struggle to understand how premiums can continue to increase at this pace while so many Iowans are already struggling with the rising costs of groceries, utilities, housing, payroll, and every other aspect of daily life.
The letter I received states that this proposed increase is based primarily on a 10.3% medical trend and 0.2% administrative expenses. I respectfully ask the Iowa Insurance Division to carefully examine these assumptions and require Wellmark to clearly demonstrate why another double-digit increase is necessary.
I would also ask for greater transparency regarding how medical trend has changed over the past decade compared to the nearly 197% increase my premium has experienced. As a policyholder, it is difficult to understand whether premium increases have truly reflected the cost of healthcare or whether other factors have contributed to these dramatic increases.
Health insurance is no longer simply expensive—it is becoming unaffordable. Small business owners like me want to provide for ourselves and our families, but each year it becomes harder to justify paying more for coverage while also facing higher deductibles, higher out-of-pocket costs, and increasing financial pressure from every direction.
I respectfully ask the Iowa Insurance Division to carefully scrutinize Wellmark's proposal and ensure that any approved increase is fully justified, reasonable, and necessary. Iowa consumers deserve affordable health insurance and greater transparency regarding how premium increases are determined.
Thank you for your time and for considering my comments.
Hi, this is Lancing, Iowa elmakee County. I'm just calling to a voice that I am not in favor of the 5.4 % medical trend increase with my Wellmark health plan of Iowa. Thank you. Bye.
The first year I was able to enroll in the ACA was a blessing. My mental and physical health needs were able to be met within what my family could afford. With the recent increase and potential new increase next year I fear for those who like myself desperately need mental health and specialty health services but may not be able to afford them without an affordable health care option. The jump from last year to this year has already put a financial strain on my family and I fear that continued increase will make health care completely unaffordable for myself as well as others who have previously only been able to afford health care through ACA.
Currently, our monthly insurance premium (for two people) is $2,181.40. Our deductible is $3,500.00 and our out of pocket is $15,000.00. This equals to $44,676.80 per year, which is totally not affordable for the average person. Also, our chiropractor is not in network, so each time we both go to the chiropractor we pay $104.000 out of pocket. We are both retired and spending our retirement on health insurance yet you want to increase the rates for 2027 over 5%. We aren't rich.
I read articles about how Wellmark's priority is cost and affordability. In looking at our monthly cost, deductible, and of pocket above, how can cost and affordability be a priority when we can barely afford health insurance?
The letter we received states that Wellmark has asked for a base rate increase because of higher costs by policyholders in our rating class. What are the higher costs? It would be interesting to see what other policy holders are paying for premiums each month compared to what we are paying.
I'd suggest you'd take hard look at reducing costs for the middle class instead of increasing costs. Start pushing some of the cost off on those that are paying little to nothing for premiums.
Thank you.
I have had Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. I am asking that you would not increase rates with this new tax law that you want to put through. But would find a more affordable way for people to keep their insurance like this. I have this Medicare supplement since I started my Medicare. Every year, it is increased in the cost. My husband has also had it as well. We chose this insurance because we felt it would give us good coverage for a supplement plan. I am very disappointed that you are raising rates as they keep going up and it's going to make it very expensive to keep this supplement plan. We are fairly healthy but we do have things that we need to have addressed with our doctors. There has to be a better way to make health care insurance affordable.
I am writing to formally oppose the base premium rate increase requested by Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, which would raise average base rates by 5.0% for the 2027 plan year.
I understand that Wellmark attributes the bulk of this increase — 5.4 percentage points — to medical trend, offset slightly by a 0.6% decrease in government fees and taxes and a 0.2% increase in administrative expenses. However, a base rate increase is only part of the picture for policyholders like me. As the notice itself explains, individual rating factors — coverage differences, family composition, geographic location, and plan or network changes — can drive my actual premium far higher than the base rate alone, and those additional increases are not subject to the Commissioner’s review. This means Iowans are being asked to accept a rate hike without full visibility into what our real, out-of-pocket cost will be.
I ask the Commissioner to consider the following in reviewing this request:
Affordability for individual and small-market policyholders. Rural Iowans, self-employed residents, and small business owners already face limited plan choices and rising costs. A further 5% base increase, compounded by individual rating factors, places a real burden on households already stretched by inflation in housing, food, and other essentials.
Justification of the medical trend figure. I ask that the independent consultant retained by the Commissioner rigorously examine whether the 5.4% medical trend assumption is supported by Wellmark’s actual claims experience in Iowa, rather than national or projected industry averages that may overstate local cost growth.
Transparency on administrative expenses. Administrative expenses, including agent commissions and risk margin, are rising even as government fees are falling. I ask the Division to require Wellmark to itemize these administrative costs so ratepayers can understand what, specifically, is driving that increase.
Cumulative burden. This is not an isolated increase — Iowa policyholders have absorbed years of consecutive premium increases. I urge the Commissioner to weigh the cumulative impact on affordability, not just whether this single year’s request is actuarially defensible.
For these reasons, I respectfully ask the Commissioner to deny this rate increase, or at minimum to negotiate a substantially lower increase than the 5.0% requested, and to ensure that any approved increase is fully transparent to policyholders before it takes effect.
Thank you for considering my comment. I would welcome the opportunity to speak at the public hearing on August 20, 2026, if that would be helpful.
Received via Email from Sara
I'd like to submit my objection to this rate increase. The cost of living is out of control and is making healthcare insurance out of reach for millions already. An additional increase will only leave even more families uninsured and at risk of financial crisis.
I previously worked in a position where I had to deliver letters in person to people who were struggling due to medical debt. One even answered the door with an IV stand next to and connected to them. These people and families lost their homes in every instance.
We already know the effect last year's increase had on customers and that mistake should not be repeated.
I received notice of the public hearing on August 20th about a proposed premium increase. I write to you today to ask you not to allow that increase to happen. You already know insurance companies don't need more of our money — they could disperse their money wisely and not gouge Iowans in an effort to solve any budget disparities. This is unadulterated greed.
I've never written any elected official before. I've never written any appointed official before. I've never written any facet of our government. I write today because health insurance premiums are deeply meaningful to me.
I have had many health scares over my short life — I am in my early thirties. Several years in my twenties I chose not to buy health insurance because premiums are so high. Those years, when I had health scares, I couldn't go see a doctor because I couldn't afford to do so.
Now, I have enough accumulated issues that I finally bought insurance again. My plan doesn't cover much, and it's over $150 per month. That may not sound like much to you, but to me it means the difference between peace of mind and constant stress.
Please don't raise premium prices again. Please don't do this to us. Please don't do this to me.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
REGARDING THE PROPOSED 5% INCREASE BY WELLMARK FOR THE 2027 CALENDAR YEAR —
PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THIS. THESE TYPES OF DECISIONS DIRECTLY AFFECT THE CHOICES I MAKE FOR HEALTHCARE FOR MYSELF. I WORK IN HEALTH CARE AND SEE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD INSURANCE PREMIUMS OR THE COPAYS IF THEY DO HAVE INSURANCE AND IT IS JUST THE SAME FOR MYSELF. PLEASE NEGOTIATE A LOWER RATE.
I am Hanna from Fort Atkinson, IA. I recently quit my full-time job to take care of my newborn child and lost my health insurance through my workplace. Now I pay out of pocket monthly to secure health insurance for myself and my child. I’m lucky I can afford to do this, at least for now. Even so, I was distraught by the lack of affordable health insurance options and by the low quality of the plans I was eligible for.
Many Iowans already cannot afford health insurance and so go without coverage. Those who can afford it or receive it through their jobs, often find that their insurance coverage is not adequate for their health needs even at the high prices they, or their employers, pay for it. Additionally, most of the state is lacking in healthcare access and options.
Raising premium rates will only make healthcare less accessible for all Iowans. Raising rates will also not improve the quality or accessibility of healthcare for Iowans.
Insurance companies are profiting off of Iowans who are already paying for more than their insurance is worth. At the same time, we are living, and dying, through a major health crisis in our state with high rates of cancers and other diseases. Iowa needs people to live here, work here, and pay taxes here. If people are not able to afford healthcare or insurance, and their insurance companies do not actually cover their health needs, they will move elsewhere out of choice, or worse, necessity.
Thank you for your time. These decisions are not easy and have a major effect on the future of many lives in our state.
I feel the least that should be done is no rate increase. A realistic response would be to offer policies on the Marketplace that can be used nationwide. I currently cannot find any insurance options for someone under 65 who travels out of the state of Iowa for a portion of the year.
I'm self employed and feel my premiums are already very high per month. I have rate increases yearly, which is frustrating enough. Usually they range at about 4%, but now the proposal for 2027 will be 10.5%! That's ridiculous and inhumane, especially in this economy and, with the cuts to the ACA, others will have it even worse than I will. That is, ones who can still afford insurance at all. I can't wait to vote for those running for office in Iowa who oppose such increases and will work to change laws that will help the people of Iowa instead of raking them over the coals.
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This has to stop at some point. Health Insurance is out of control. I currently pay $27,000 a year for my HSA plan and then pay $8750.00 into my HSA and Wellmark only pays anything once my $8750 is gone. So I actually pay $35,750 for health insurance for Me, my Wife both 55 very healthy are on no meds not over weight , dont smoke , My 25 year old daughter and 24 year old sone both who were college athletes so they are fit and take care of them selves. My daughter is a type one diabetic with an A1C in the 6's. Very well controlled and she takes care of herself. I have looked into getting on a different plan or different company but keep getting told it wont be cheaper and we don't qualify for ACA reimbursement ( ACA is a freaking joke!! people that gave us that should go to jail!!) I essentially pay about 1/5 of my total income to these crooks and am mandated to do so by my government. These insurance companies are making money! They spend billions on advertising, naming rights to stadiums and the list goes on. THIS HAS TO STOP SOMEWHERE. THE STATE OF IOWA NEEDS TO SAY NO ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THESE CROOKS DONT NEED ANOTHER 10.5%. THEY DONT NEED 1%. OUR GOVERNMENTS JOB IS TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE THING THEY CAN NOT DO ALONE. PLEASE STEP UP AND STOP THIS INSANITY.
If this rate increase goes through I will be paying almost $40k a year for health insurance. Say that 10 time and let that sink in.
I am asking you to please say no!!!