ST. PAUL (WJON News) -- Minnesotans who buy health insurance on the individual market will see a sharp increase in premiums next year. The Minnesota Department of Commerce announced Wednesday that rates for 2026 will rise an average of 21.5% for individual plans and 14.2% for small group plans. Without that financial backstop, insurers estimated individual market rates would have surged by 69%. The reinsurance program helps cover high-cost claims, keeping premiums more stable for everyone. Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold says“We extended a reinsurance program that offsets high-cost claims and stabilizes premiums in the individual market.