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Rhode Island Health Insurance Consumer Guide
This guide is designed to help you understand your Rhode Island health insurance options and the financial assistance that might be available to you and your family in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island has an individual health insurance mandate, which means residents who do not have health insurance in Rhode Island may be subject to a state tax penalty. Rhode Island also created a reinsurance program that took effect in 2020, helping to keep pre-subsidy health insurance premiums lower than they would otherwise be.1
Rhode Island created its own state-run health insurance exchange – HealthSource RI. Rhode Island residents can use this platform to shop for individual and family health insurance offered by two private health insurance carriers.
HealthSource RI is also among the state-run exchanges that offer small group health insurance for small businesses, and Rhode Island’s exchange also allows eligible applicants to enroll in Rhode Island Medicaid.
Explore our other comprehensive guides to coverage in Rhode Island
Dental coverage in Rhode Island
In 2023, two insurers offers stand-alone individual/family dental coverage through the health insurance Marketplace in Rhode Island. Our Rhode Island dental insurance guide explains the coverage options that may be available to you.
Rhode Island’s Medicaid program
Rhode Island expanded Medicaid under the ACA, and nearly 372,000 Rhode Island residents were covered by Medicaid and CHIP as of early 2023.2
Medicare coverage options and enrollment in Rhode Island
As of 2023, more than 235,000 people in Rhode Island were enrolled in Medicare.3 Read our overview of Medicare enrollment, including Hawaii’s rules on Medigap plans.
Short-term health coverage in Rhode Island
Rhode Island does not prohibit the sale of short-term health insurance, but the state’s regulations are strict enough that no insurers currently choose to market short-term coverage in Rhode Island.
Frequently asked questions about health insurance in Rhode Island
Who can buy Marketplace health insurance in Rhode Island?
In order to sign up for health insurance through the Rhode Island Health Insurance Marketplace (HealthSource RI), you must:4
- Be lawfully present in the United States and live in Rhode Island
- Not be incarcerated
- Not be enrolled in Medicare
So most Rhode Island residents can enroll in coverage through the exchange. But eligibility for financial assistance is a bigger question for most people, and there are a few additional eligibility rules for HealthSource RI subsidies. To qualify for income-based Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) or cost-sharing reductions (CSR), you must:
- Not be eligible to enroll in an affordable employer-sponsored health plan. If you can enroll in an employer’s health plan and aren’t sure if it’s considered affordable, you can use our Employer Health Plan Affordability Calculator to see if you might qualify for premium subsidies to offset the cost of a plan obtained through HealthSource RI.
- Not be eligible for Rhode Island Medicaid or CHIP, or for premium-free Medicare Part A.5
- File a joint tax return if you’re married.6 (with very limited exceptions)7
- Not be able to be claimed by someone else as a tax dependent.6
Beyond those basic parameters, qualifying for subsidies through HealthSource RI will depend on your household’s income compared with the cost of the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area – which will depend on your age. (In most states it also depends on location, but Rhode Island is all one rating area, so premiums do not vary by zip code).8
When can I enroll in an ACA-compliant plan in Rhode Island?
The open enrollment period for health insurance in Rhode Island runs from November 1 through January 31. Enrollments need to be completed by December 31 in order to have coverage effective January 1.9 (Note that the enrollment dates are subject to change in future years.)
Outside of the open enrollment window, you may still be eligible to enroll or make a plan change if you experience a qualifying life event, such as giving birth or losing other health coverage. And some people can enroll year-round even without a specific qualifying life event.
Rhode Island is one of several states where pregnancy counts as a qualifying life event, allowing an uninsured person to enroll in health coverage as soon as they find out they’re pregnant (in most states, the birth of a baby is a qualifying event, but pregnancy is not). This took effect in Rhode Island in 2023, due to legislation the state enacted the year before10
Enrollment in Rhode Island Medicaid and CHIP is available year-round for eligible residents.
How do I enroll in a Rhode Island Marketplace plan?
To enroll in ACA Marketplace/exchange health insurance in Rhode Island, you can:
- Visit HealthSource RI, which is the state’s health insurance exchange (Marketplace). It will allow you to compare available health plans, determine whether you’re eligible for financial assistance, and enroll in a health plan.
- Enroll in a health insurance plan through HealthSource RI with the help of an insurance broker, Navigator, or certified application counselor. There is no charge to have assistance with the plan selection and enrollment process.
How can I find affordable health insurance in Rhode Island?
When you enroll in a Rhode Island health insurance plan through HealthSource RI, you may be eligible for financial assistance that reduces the monthly cost of your coverage (premium subsidies), and possibly also your out-of-pocket expenses (cost-sharing reductions, or CSR). These federal subsidy programs were created by the Affordable Care Act, and eligibility depends on your income and circumstances.
Income-based subsidies (APTC) are available to lower the amount you pay for your HealthSource RI coverage each month. Eighty-four percent of HealthSource RI enrollees were receiving premium subsidies as of early 2023. The subsidies covered an average of $427/month, and reduced the average enrollee’s premium to about $111 /month.11
If your household doesn’t earn more than 250% of the federal poverty level, you’ll also be eligible for federal cost-sharing reductions (CSR) as long as you enroll in a Silver-level plan through HealthSource RI. CSR subsidies will reduce your deductible and other out-of-pocket expenses, making it more affordable for you to receive health care. Nearly a third of HealthSource RI enrollees were receiving CSR benefits as of early 2023.11
Rhode Island lawmakers have introduced legislation in 2024 that would create additional state-funded premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions.12 Several other states already offer state-funded subsidies in addition to the federal subsidies that are available nationwide.
Depending on your income and circumstances, you may be able to enroll in free or low-cost health coverage through Rhode Island Medicaid or CHIP. Learn more about whether you might be eligible for these programs.
On the other hand, if you’re being disenrolled from Rhode Island Medicaid during the “unwinding” of the pandemic-era continuous coverage rule, you may find that you’re eligible to receive at least two months of premium-free coverage through HealthSource RI. For people in this situation with household income up to 250% of the poverty level, Rhode Island is covering the after-APTC portion of premiums for the first two months. And if your income doesn’t exceed 200% of the poverty level, HealthSource RI will automatically enroll you in a health plan when your Medicaid ends13 (you’ll still have the option to select a different plan).
How many insurers offer Marketplace coverage in Rhode Island?
Two insurers offer health plans through HealthSource RI.14
Are Marketplace health insurance premiums increasing in Rhode Island?
For 2024, the following average rate changes were approved for the insurers that offer individual/family coverage through HealthSource RI, amounting to an overall average increase of 5.9%15
Rhode Island’s ACA Marketplace Plan 2024 Approved Rate Increases by Insurance Company |
|
---|---|
Issuer | Percent Increase |
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) | 7.7% |
Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (NHPRI) | 4.4% |
Source: Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner16
Average rate changes apply to full-price rates, and most enrollees do not pay full price: Eighty-four percent of the people enrolled in private plans through HealthSource RI were receiving premium subsidies in 202311
If the cost of your coverage is increasing for the coming year, you may want to consider some of the other plans that are available through HealthSource RI. You may find an alternative that better fits your budget and still meets your coverage needs.
For perspective, here’s how average full-price Rhode Island health insurance premiums have changed over the years:
- 2015: Increase of about 4%17
- 2016: Average increase of 6.5%18
- 2017: Average increase of 1.3%19
- 2018: Average increase of 21.7%20
- 2019: Average increase of 8.1%21
- 2020: Average decrease of 0.5%22 (reinsurance and individual mandate took effect)
- 2021: Average increase of 4.2%23
- 2022: Average increase of 2.1%24
- 2023: Average increase of 6.1%25
How many people are insured through Rhode Island’s Marketplace?
32,659 people had enrolled in 2024 coverage through HealthSource RI by January 13, 2024.26 At that point, there were still more than two weeks remaining in Rhode Island’s open enrollment period, which continued through January 31.
The chart below shows historical enrollment through HealthSource RI, which has always hovered between about 28,000 and 35,000 people. Although nationwide Marketplace enrollment has increased sharply since 2021,27 that has not been the case in Rhode Island.
Source: 2014,28 2015,29 2016,30 2017,31 2018,32 2019,33 2020,34 2021,35 2022,36 202337
What health insurance resources are available to Rhode Island residents?
HealthSource RI
The state-run Marketplace/exchange in Rhode Island. Provides health insurance options for individuals, families, and small businesses, as well as financial assistance for individuals and families based on household income.
Rhode Island Insurance Division
Regulates the insurance industry in Rhode Island, and addresses consumers’ questions and complaints related to insurance.
Rhode Island Health Center Association
Navigator and Certified Application Counselor services to help people enroll in coverage through HealthSourceRI. Can provide assistance with private plan enrollment and Medicaid/CHIP enrollment, as well as information on applicable financial assistance available to offset costs in private plans.
Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging, Medicare Counseling
The state health insurance assistance program for Medicare beneficiaries; can provide information, assistance, and counseling related to enrollment, eligibility, and claims.
Louise Norris is an individual health insurance broker who has been writing about health insurance and health reform since 2006. She has written dozens of opinions and educational pieces about the Affordable Care Act for healthinsurance.org.
Footnotes
- ”Rhode Island: State Innovation Waiver under section 1332 of the PPACA” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. August 2019 ⤶
- “April 2023 Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment Data Highlights” CMS.gov, Accessed September 2023 ⤶
- "Medicare Monthly Enrollment" CMS.gov, April 2023 ⤶
- “Eligibility Appeals System for ACA Programs” Rhode Island Health Benefits Exchange ⤶
- ”Medicare and the Marketplace, Master FAQ” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Accessed November 2023. ⤶
- Premium Tax Credit — The Basics. Internal Revenue Service. Accessed MONTH. ⤶ ⤶
- Updates to frequently asked questions about the Premium Tax Credit. Internal Revenue Service. February 2024. ⤶
- “Market Rating Reforms State Specific Geographic Rating Areas” CMS.gov, Accessed September 2023 ⤶
- “Open Enrollment” HealthSource RI ⤶
- ”Rhode Island House Bill 7454 and Rhode Island Senate Bill 2548” BillTrack50. Enacted 2022 ⤶
- “2023 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files”CMS.gov, March 2023 ⤶ ⤶ ⤶
- ”Rhode Island S2345” BillTrack50. Introduced February 12, 2024. ⤶
- “Transitioning from Medicaid to a Qualified Health Plan” HealthSource RI ⤶
- ”2024 Individual Market Plans & Benefits” HealthSource RI. Accessed December 1, 2023. ⤶
- “2024 Commercial Health Insurance Rates Have Been Approved with Modifications” Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner. Accessed December 1, 2023 ⤶
- “2024 Commercial Health Insurance Rates Have Been Approved with Modifications” Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner. Accessed December 1, 2023. ⤶
- ”OHIC Approves Commercial Health Insurance Rates for 2015” Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner. July 2014 ⤶
- ”Rhode Island: Approved 2016 Rate Increase: 6.5% Weighted Avg” ACA Signups. August 2015 ⤶
- ”Rhode Island: Insurance Commissioner *Approves* Avg. Indy Market Rate Hike Of 1.3%” ACA Signups. August 2016 ⤶
- ”Rhode Island: 21.7% Avg Rate Hikes; Over Half Caused By CSR Sabotage” ACA Signups. October 2017 ⤶
- ”Rhode Island: APPROVED 2019 #ACA Rate Hikes: 8.1% (Only Minor #ACASabotage Impact This Time)” ACA Signups. September 2018 ⤶
- ”Rhode Island: *Approved* Unsubsidized 2020 ACA Premiums: 0.5% *Lower* Thanks To Reinsurance/Mandate Penalty” ACA Signups. September 2019 ⤶
- ”2021 Rate Changes” ACA Signups. October 2020 ⤶
- ”2022 Rate Changes” ACA Signups. October 2021 ⤶
- ”Rhode Island: Final Avg. 2023 Unsubsidized #ACA Rate Changes: +6.1% (Down From +8.0%)” ACA Signups. October 2022 ⤶
- ”Marketplace 2024 Open Enrollment Period Report: Final National Snapshot” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. January 2024. ⤶
- ”Another Year of Record ACA Marketplace Signups, Driven in Part by Medicaid Unwinding and Enhanced Subsidies” KFF. January 24, 2024. ⤶
- “ASPE Issue Brief (2014)” ASPE, 2015 ⤶
- “Health Insurance Marketplaces 2015 Open Enrollment Period: March Enrollment Report”, HHS.gov, 2015 ⤶
- “HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES 2016 OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD: FINAL ENROLLMENT REPORT” HHS.gov, 2016 ⤶
- “2017 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2017 ⤶
- “2018 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2018 ⤶
- “2019 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2019 ⤶
- “2020 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2020 ⤶
- “2021 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2021 ⤶
- “2022 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2022 ⤶
- “Health Insurance Marketplaces 2023 Open Enrollment Report” CMS.gov, 2023 ⤶