North Dakota regulators have approved 2027 health insurance premium increases at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Medica and Sanford Health Plan, and people who want coverage to start Jan. 1 have to choose a plan by Dec. 15. Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread announced the approved rates, which in the individual market average 19.00 percent at Blue Cross Blue Shield, 13.27 percent at Medica and 7.03 percent at Sanford.
Those are averages, and the range inside each insurer is wide. Godfread said each consumer’s change will land near the average approved amount for their insurer, which means the plan a person already holds is the first thing to look up. A household that renews by default in December can find a bill that is double digits higher in January.
Stay ahead of government payment news: Miss an enrollment or claim deadline and the money can be gone. Join the Retirement Money Brief and we’ll send you our 2026 Government Check Reality Tracker as a welcome gift.
Get the Brief + the check tracker →
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
How much more will each insurer charge in 2027?
In the individual market, which is where people who buy their own coverage shop, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota asked for 21.40 percent and was approved for an average of 19.00 percent, with individual plans ranging from 14.20 percent to 23.10 percent. Medica asked for 17.01 percent and was approved for 13.27 percent, with a range from a 0.25 percent decrease to a 25.72 percent increase. Sanford was approved for the 7.03 percent it requested, with a range of 1.52 percent to 10.95 percent.
The small group market, covering employers who buy for their workers, saw approved averages of 9.50 percent at Blue Cross Blue Shield, 17.49 percent at Medica and 18.34 percent at Sanford. Medica had requested 18.96 percent. UnitedHealthcare, which sells only small group coverage in the state, was approved at 11.28 percent, according to the department.
The department’s release does not give an overall statewide average. Local reporting on the rates, including coverage from Valley News Live, lists the same insurer-by-insurer figures.
The spread between insurers is the useful number for individual shoppers. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s average of 19.00 percent is nearly 12 percentage points above Sanford’s 7.03 percent, so two households with similar plans could see very different January bills. The department’s table shows ranges inside each insurer too, so the exact plan matters more than the company name. Anyone enrolling should check the specific 2027 price rather than assume the average.
What did the commissioner say is driving the increases?
Godfread attributed the increases primarily to rising healthcare costs. “Families and small businesses are right to be frustrated by another increase in their health insurance premiums,” he said. “At the heart of this problem is the cost of receiving health care.”
He also said premiums have to cover what insurers expect to pay out. “The unfortunate reality is that premiums must cover the expected cost of providing coverage,” he said, adding that “we cannot deliver lasting relief on insurance premiums without addressing the bills those premiums pay.” Godfread said his office reviewed insurer finances, claims costs, administrative expenses and profit margins and reduced several requested increases.
The reductions are visible in the numbers. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s individual request fell from 21.40 percent to 19.00 percent, and Medica’s from 17.01 percent to 13.27 percent. He said the affordability discussion cannot stop with the insurance company and called for scrutiny of hospital prices.
When does a North Dakotan have to pick a plan?
Open enrollment for marketplace plans runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15, the department says. To have coverage start Jan. 1, a person must enroll or change plans by Dec. 15. HealthCare.gov’s dates and deadlines page lists the same three dates: Nov. 1 as the first day, Dec. 15 as the last day to enroll or change plans for Jan. 1 coverage, and Jan. 15 as the final deadline.
The gap between the two deadlines matters. Someone who picks a plan between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15 can still enroll, but coverage will not start on Jan. 1. A person who is without coverage in the first weeks of January is exposed to every bill in that stretch.
Consumers can review and buy plans through HealthCare.gov or from a licensed agent, the department says. Questions about the rates can go to the North Dakota Insurance and Securities Department at (701) 328-2440. The department’s release does not say how many North Dakotans are enrolled, and it does not list plan counts.
What can a household do before the Dec. 15 cutoff?
The first step is to find the current plan’s name and monthly premium, then compare it with the 2027 price in the HealthCare.gov window shopping tool or with an agent. Since the average change differs by insurer, a switch between insurers can move a household’s cost in either direction. Medica’s individual range, for example, begins slightly below zero.
A second question is what else in the household budget is rising. Premiums are only one piece, and the commissioner’s point is that the underlying cost of care is what insurers are charging for. Bills for visits, prescriptions and tests are still negotiable after a plan is chosen, and a premium increase is a reason to ask about each one.
Facing a higher North Dakota premium before Dec. 15?
Premiums at Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medica and Sanford are going up, and the Dec. 15 date decides whether new coverage starts on Jan. 1. A household that only reads the renewal letter can miss both a cheaper plan and the chance to push back on the bills behind the premium.
101 Phone Scripts to Lower Your Bills includes 101 calls, word for word, for every company you pay, plus a section on medical bills covering itemized bills, financial assistance and surprise bills. It is a 23-page set of scripts, not a plan chooser.
Get the call scripts for medical bills and insurers before the January bill →
This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Warren Cohen is a finance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, covering personal finance topics including credit, banking, and beginner investing. He earned his degree in business administration from Arizona State University and began his career working in consumer finance, where he gained direct experience with lending and credit systems. He now writes for personal finance websites and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, practical content that helps readers make informed financial decisions.
