ICHRA savings in Minnesota
22 Minnesota counties price individual coverage below small group. Employers there save up to $1,096 per employee per year.
Last updated: August 16, 2026 · plan-year 2026, lowest-cost silver (age 50), same year both markets.
Top Minnesota counties by savings
Monthly benchmark premiums: individual vs small group, 2026 plan year.
| County | Individual /mo | Small group /mo | You save | Annual / employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota County | $536 | $628 | 14.6% | $1,096 |
| Scott County | $536 | $628 | 14.6% | $1,096 |
| Washington County | $536 | $628 | 14.6% | $1,096 |
| Carver County | $541 | $628 | 13.8% | $1,039 |
| Sherburne County | $541 | $628 | 13.8% | $1,039 |
| Wright County | $541 | $628 | 13.8% | $1,039 |
| Kanabec County | $604 | $692 | 12.6% | $1,050 |
| Chisago County | $604 | $675 | 10.5% | $853 |
| Isanti County | $604 | $675 | 10.5% | $853 |
| Anoka County | $536 | $591 | 9.2% | $654 |
| Hennepin County | $536 | $591 | 9.2% | $654 |
| Ramsey County | $536 | $591 | 9.2% | $654 |
Showing top 12 of 22 qualifying Minnesota counties. Explore them all on the interactive map.
The Minnesota picture
Minnesota deserves a straight answer: the state's reinsurance program keeps individual-market premiums low, but its small-group market is competitive too, so the spread between them stays narrow. On 2026 silver-plan data, 22 counties qualify, and the widest estimated gap — Dakota County, at about $91 per employee per month, roughly 14.6% — is one of the smaller state-leading figures in the country. No Minnesota county shows an estimated gap above $200. Insurers have filed a proposed average individual-market increase of 11.9% for 2027; that's context for planning, not part of the savings math.
A Twin Cities-area employer in Dakota County sits at the top of Minnesota's estimated range, and the other 21 qualifying counties trail from there — which means a savings-first pitch is a harder sell here than in most states. Where Minnesota employers may still find value is structural: fixing the health budget as a defined contribution and letting employees choose from a reinsurance-stabilized individual market. Companies like yours could see modest estimated savings, but the stronger argument is often cost control, not the gap itself.
Minnesota ICHRA FAQs
How much can employers save with an ICHRA in Minnesota?
Across 22 qualifying Minnesota counties, the 2026 gap between small-group and individual silver coverage averages 9% — up to $1,096 per employee per year in the strongest county. Figures are plan-year-2026 estimates (lowest-cost silver, age 50, same year both markets), not quotes.
Which Minnesota county has the biggest ICHRA savings?
Dakota County currently shows the widest 2026 spread in Minnesota: individual $536/mo vs small group $628/mo — about 14.6% ($1,096/employee/year, estimated).
Does every Minnesota county qualify for ICHRA savings?
No. Only counties where the individual market prices below small group make the list — 22 in Minnesota for plan year 2026. In other counties a savings-driven ICHRA usually is not the right move, and an analysis will say so.
Where does this Minnesota data come from?
Individual-market premiums come from the CMS Marketplace Public Use Files and small-group benchmarks from Ideon — lowest-cost silver plan, age 50, same county and same plan year (2026) on both sides.
Does Minnesota's reinsurance program make an ICHRA less attractive for my company?
It cuts both ways. Reinsurance holds down individual-market premiums, which is why Minnesota's estimated gaps are modest — Dakota County leads at about $91 per employee per month on 2026 data, and no county tops $200. But that same program makes the individual market a more stable landing spot for employees than in many states. So while an ICHRA in Minnesota rarely pencils as a pure savings play, it can work as a budget-control move backed by an unusually well-supported individual market. A county-level analysis will show whether your numbers clear the bar.
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