Open enrollment for 2027 coverage through HealthSource RI, the state's health insurance marketplace, began Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31. This year it comes with a new state program meant to bring premiums down.
The Rhode Island Marketplace Affordability Program, known as RIMAP, is expected to help more than 20,000 current and former customers starting in January, according to HealthSource RI2. For many people the state help will stack on top of federal tax credits. It applies to eligible silver plans bought through the exchange.
The program follows a difficult year. After enhanced federal tax credits expired at the end of 2025, average monthly premiums on the exchange more than doubled, from $109 to $220, and about 10,000 people dropped coverage during the last enrollment period, Rhode Island Current reported3. Many who stayed switched to bronze plans with lower premiums and much higher deductibles.
State lawmakers approved $19.5 million for the new discounts. About 30,000 people are expected to sign up or reenroll this cycle, and officials say many could see premiums fall, the Current reported1 this week.
HealthSource RI recommends enrolling and paying by Dec. 23 to have an insurance card in hand by Jan. 1. The exchange has an online calculator to check eligibility, and free one-on-one help is available through its contact center at 1-855-840-4774 or by dialing 211.
People who dropped a bronze plan for cost reasons last year may want to recheck silver plan prices with the new discount applied, since deductibles on bronze plans can make routine care expensive.
