New Hampshire Insurance Department Launches 2025 Open Enrollment Period with Nation’s Lowest ACA Premiums and New Market Entrant

CONCORD, NH (November 1, 2024) – The New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) today announces the beginning of the 2025 Open Enrollment Period for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Individual Marketplace. Open Enrollment starts Friday, November 1, 2024, and will run through Wednesday, January 15, 2025, allowing Granite Staters to secure health coverage for the upcoming year.

For 2025, New Hampshire’s Average Benchmark Premium is the lowest in the United States at $325, according to a recent analysis by KFF. This affordability is supported by the addition of WellSense Health Plan to the state’s marketplace, further expanding choice and competition.

“This enrollment period offers an essential opportunity for Granite Staters without employer-sponsored, Medicare, or Medicaid coverage to obtain individual health insurance,” said Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt. “Our individual market premiums remain the lowest in the nation, making coverage more accessible to our residents, and the arrival of WellSense Health Plan is a strong indicator of New Hampshire’s market vitality and the positive impact of recent reforms.”

The addition of WellSense reflects the success of New Hampshire’s free-market approach to health care, which has consistently delivered some of the country’s most affordable insurance options. This strategy is further validated by a recent WalletHub study, which ranked New Hampshire fifth among states with the best health care systems, based on 44 measures of cost, accessibility, and quality of outcomes. The report highlights New Hampshire’s balanced approach, demonstrating that affordable health care can still offer excellent outcomes.

New Health Plan Offerings for 2025

Five insurers – Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Matthew Thornton Health Plan, Ambetter from NH Healthy Families, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and now WellSense Health Plan – are participating in the 2025 marketplace, expanding product choices for New Hampshire residents. Each insurer brings unique plan designs, giving Granite Staters increased options and flexibility for their coverage needs. This new offering is expected to reinforce market stability and support the affordability of healthcare in the state.

The continued availability of premium subsidies through the Inflation Reduction Act also enhances affordability by maintaining the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) subsidy extensions through 2025.

“We encourage individuals to explore their health coverage options on www.healthcare.gov,” said Deputy Insurance Commissioner Keith Nyhan. “The marketplace offers a range of plans to suit various needs and budgets. For those who would like more personalized assistance, they can work with an independent insurance agent through www.trustedchoice.com or with a trained navigator by visiting acanavigator.com/nh/home or calling 1-877-211-NAVI.”

To read the full report by WalletHub, visit https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-best-health-care/23457. To read the data analysis by KFF, visit https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/state-indicator/average-marketplace-premiums-by-metal-tier.

The New Hampshire Insurance Department Can Help

The New Hampshire Insurance Department’s mission is to promote and protect the public good by ensuring the existence of a safe and competitive insurance marketplace through the development and enforcement of the insurance laws of the State of New Hampshire. Contact us with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your insurance coverage at 1‐800‐852‐ 3416 or (603) 271‐2261, or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov. For more information, visit https://insurance.nh.gov/.