The Minnesota Department of Commerce on Wednesday announced the anticipated increase in health insurance rates for 2026 — a driving factor in the federal government shutdown that began at midnight.

Under the new rates, Minnesotans covered through the individual market — Affordable Care Act plans accessed through the state’s health insurance marketplace — will see an average rate increase of 22% and those in small group plans will see a 14% increase. The increases are due to both rising health care costs and the expiration of enhanced tax credits under the ACA, officials with the Department of Commerce said Wednesday.

Roughly 200,000 Minnesotans are enrolled in the small group market, while 163,000 are enrolled in the individual market, according to 2024 data from the state Department of

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