How much does small group health insurance cost in Tennessee in 2027?

For one employee age 40 in the Nashville area, filed 2027 rates run from $376 to $1,161 a month. The median Silver plan is $658. Your cost depends on employee ages, your business location and your contribution.

Which carriers sell small group health insurance in Tennessee?

3 carriers filed 2027 small group rates in Tennessee. The largest by number of plans are BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare of the River Valley and UnitedHealthcare.

How much are small group rates going up in Tennessee for 2027?

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance approved average increases of +10.6% to +16.9% by carrier.

How are small group health insurance premiums set?

Each employee's premium is set by age and by the rating area of your main business location. Carriers can't price a group by its employees' health.

Can an owner-only Tennessee business buy small-group coverage?

Usually not. Small group needs at least one employee who isn't an owner or spouse. Owner-only businesses usually look at individual plans or an ICHRA instead.

Are Tennessee's 2027 small-group rates final?

Yes. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance approved each carrier's 2027 small-group filing on September 1, 2026, at the average it filed.

Is SHOP available in Tennessee for 2027?

No carrier filed SHOP medical plans in Tennessee for 2027. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee says it no longer offers SHOP plans, and UnitedHealthcare's plans are off-exchange. That makes the small business tax credit hard to claim.

Do Tennessee small-group plans charge more for tobacco?

Not in 2027. Federal rules would allow it, but none of the three carriers uses a tobacco factor.

Tennessee · Small group · 2027 rates

Tennessee Small Group Health Insurance: 2027 Plans and Rates

Updated October 8, 2026

Carriers filed 2027 small group rates with the state, effective January 1, 2027.

Tennessee has 3 small group carriers and 327 plan designs for 2027. Your price depends on your employees' ages and your business location.

Prices are going up for 2027. Tennessee approved average increases of about 11% to 17%. Compare again before you renew.

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What's changing for Tennessee small group health insurance in 2027?

Average approved 2027 changes by carrier range from +10.6% to +16.9%. Approved by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Your group's change also depends on employee ages.
Carriers filed 48 plan designs that are new for 2027, alongside plans that renew.
Carriers marked 176 current plan IDs as terminated for 2027. Groups on those plans are moved to a replacement at renewal.
Every carrier that sold small-group plans in 2026 filed 2027 rates.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance approved all three 2027 small-group filings on September 1, 2026, at the averages the carriers filed.
UnitedHealthcare's 2027 increases (about 16.7% to 16.9%) are measured from January 2026. From the July 2026 rates, the January 2027 step is about 8.5%.
None of the three Tennessee carriers charges a tobacco rate for 2027.
A 2026 Tennessee law (Public Chapter 931) helps employees whose group coverage ends. They can keep it for the rest of that month plus three more months by paying the full premium.

Nashville skyline with the Batman Building reflected in the Cumberland River under a clear blue sky

How much does small group health insurance cost per employee in Tennessee?

Monthly premium for one employee age 40, Nashville area (Area 4: Cheatham, Davidson, Montgomery and 6 more), rates effective January 1, 2027, before the employer contribution.
Metal	Plans offered here	Lowest	Median	Highest
Bronze	Plans offered here54	Lowest$376	Median$573	Highest$686
Silver	Plans offered here120	Lowest$435	Median$658	Highest$805
Gold	Plans offered here121	Lowest$517	Median$780	Highest$1,055
Platinum	Plans offered here40	Lowest$640	Median$909	Highest$1,161

How employee age changes small group premiums

Median monthly premium per employee by age, Nashville area. Small-group premiums are set per employee by age, so a younger team pays less for the same plan.
Metal	Age 21	Age 30	Age 40	Age 50	Age 60	Age 64+
Silver	Age 21$515	Age 30$584	Age 40$658	Age 50$919	Age 60$1,397	Age 64+$1,544
Gold	Age 21$610	Age 30$693	Age 40$780	Age 50$1,090	Age 60$1,656	Age 64+$1,831

Which carriers offer small group health plans in Tennessee?

Plan designs counted by plan name. Approved change is the carrier's average as decided by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
Carrier	Plan designs	Plan types	Rating areas	From, age 40, Nashville	Approved 2027 change
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee	Plan designs226	Plan typesPPO	Rating areas8 of 8	From, age 40, Nashville$376	Approved 2027 change+10.6%
UnitedHealthcare of the River Valley	Plan designs72	Plan typesEPO, POS	Rating areas8 of 8	From, age 40, Nashville$598	Approved 2027 change+16.9%
UnitedHealthcare	Plan designs29	Plan typesPOS, PPO	Rating areas8 of 8	From, age 40, Nashville$635	Approved 2027 change+16.7%

Small group health plan prices by Tennessee region

Monthly premium for one employee age 40, rates effective January 1, 2027. A group is priced in the rating area of its main business location.
Rating area	Carriers	Lowest Bronze	Lowest Silver	Lowest Gold
Area 1: Carter, Greene, Hancock and 5 more	Carriers3	Lowest Bronze$369	Lowest Silver$427	Lowest Gold$509
Area 2: Anderson, Blount, Campbell and 13 more	Carriers3	Lowest Bronze$325	Lowest Silver$376	Lowest Gold$448
Area 3: Bledsoe, Bradley, Franklin and 8 more	Carriers3	Lowest Bronze$437	Lowest Silver$506	Lowest Gold$602
Area 4: Cheatham, Davidson, Montgomery and 6 more	Carriers3	Lowest Bronze$376	Lowest Silver$435	Lowest Gold$517
Area 5: Benton, Carroll, Chester and 13 more	Carriers3	Lowest Bronze$395	Lowest Silver$457	Lowest Gold$544
Area 6: Fayette, Haywood, Lauderdale and 2 more	Carriers3	Lowest Bronze$359	Lowest Silver$416	Lowest Gold$495
Area 7: Cannon, Clay, Cumberland and 11 more	Carriers3	Lowest Bronze$431	Lowest Silver$499	Lowest Gold$594
Area 8: Bedford, Coffee, Dickson and 13 more	Carriers3	Lowest Bronze$459	Lowest Silver$531	Lowest Gold$632

Tennessee small group rules employers ask about

Who counts as a small employer

1 to 50 employees on average last year, with at least one on the first day of the plan year.
Owner-only businesses generally don't qualify; you need at least one employee who isn't an owner or spouse.

TDCI Bulletin 15-01; Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-2203; HealthCare.gov

How premiums are set

By age (federal 3:1 curve), rating area (8 in Tennessee), plan and network.
No Tennessee carrier uses a tobacco surcharge for 2027.
Composite (averaged) premiums are allowed.
Rates step up during the year, so your start month matters.

45 CFR §147.102; CMS state rating; 2027 rate filings

When you can enroll

Any month if you meet participation and contribution rules.
Miss those rules and you can still enroll November 15 to December 15 for a January 1 start.

45 CFR §147.104

Tax credit and SHOP

The credit pays up to 50% of premiums (35% tax-exempt) for fewer than 25 FTEs, but only for SHOP coverage.
No carrier filed Tennessee SHOP medical plans for 2027, so the credit is hard to use here.

IRS Small Business Health Care Tax Credit; BCBST 2027 actuarial memo

Keeping coverage after leaving a job

A 2026 law lets employees insured 3+ months keep group coverage for the rest of the month plus 3 more, at full premium.
Not available if the whole policy ends, the employee stopped paying, or is on Medicare.

Tennessee Public Chapter 931 (2026)

Tennessee small group health insurance FAQ

For one employee age 40 in the Nashville area, filed 2027 rates run from $376 to $1,161 a month. The median Silver plan is $658. Your cost depends on employee ages, your business location and your contribution.
3 carriers filed 2027 small group rates in Tennessee. The largest by number of plans are BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare of the River Valley and UnitedHealthcare.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance approved average increases of +10.6% to +16.9% by carrier.
Each employee's premium is set by age and by the rating area of your main business location. Carriers can't price a group by its employees' health.
Usually not. Small group needs at least one employee who isn't an owner or spouse. Owner-only businesses usually look at individual plans or an ICHRA instead.
Yes. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance approved each carrier's 2027 small-group filing on September 1, 2026, at the average it filed.
No carrier filed SHOP medical plans in Tennessee for 2027. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee says it no longer offers SHOP plans, and UnitedHealthcare's plans are off-exchange. That makes the small business tax credit hard to claim.
Not in 2027. Federal rules would allow it, but none of the three carriers uses a tobacco factor.

Small group health insurance in other states

Buying for yourself or your family instead? See the Marketplace plan directory.

Where these numbers come from

Rates: each carrier's 2027 small-group Rates Table Template, filed in SERFF with the state insurance department, rates effective January 1, 2027. Plan names, metal levels and plan types: the carriers' Unified Rate Review Templates.
Approved rate changes: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance rate decisions; filed changes: ratereview.healthcare.gov, small group, plan year 2027.
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee: SERFF BCTN-134965088; actuarial memo; rate justification
UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company: SERFF UHLC-134915979; actuarial memo; rate justification
UnitedHealthcare Ins Co of River Valley: SERFF UHLC-134921153; actuarial memo; rate justification
TDCI Bulletin 15-01 (definition of small employer)
Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-2203 (definitions)
Tennessee Public Chapter 931 (2026)
HealthCare.gov: How to qualify for SHOP
45 CFR §147.104 (enrollment windows)
CMS Market Rating Reforms
CMS Tennessee geographic rating areas
IRS Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
BCBST 2027 small group actuarial memo (non-SHOP)
ratereview.healthcare.gov TN 2027 Small Group
SERFF rate filings approved 09/01/2026 (TDCI dispositions)

Reviewed by Jacob Guidi, licensed health insurance agent (NPN 19902041), Thrive Benefits Group.

Thrive Benefits Group is a licensed broker, not a carrier or government agency. Rates shown are filed 2027 rates for one employee before the employer contribution. Your group's quote depends on employee ages, location, plan choice and carrier rules. Rate changes shown were approved by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.