uPPo Newsroom

2027 Premiums Are Climbing — And Small Group Is No Escape Hatch

ACA Marketplace insurers requested a median premium increase of about 15% for 2027 in Peterson–KFF’s review of 276 insurers across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Broker Confidence in ICHRA Holds Steady, New Survey Finds

Brokers continue to see employer interest in ICHRA, now promoted federally as CHOICE Arrangements, but interest is not the same as unconditional support.

Discounted VIP ACA WAY Access

uPPo’s ACA WAY announcement offered agents access to a discounted VIP experience at the 2026 conference.

ICHRA Has a New Name: Say Hello to CHOICE

CMS and the Small Business Administration introduced the CHOICE Arrangement name on September 3, 2026.

New Rules at the Point of Enrollment — Effective for OEP 2027

CMS’s Enhanced Direct Enrollment requirements add consumer identity-proofing and agent-authorization checks ahead of the 2027 open enrollment period.

States Are Putting Real Money Behind CHOICE

State incentives are giving some small employers another reason to evaluate a CHOICE Arrangement.

500,000+ ICHRA Lives and Growing

ICHRA-covered lives exceeded 500,000 at the beginning of 2026, according to the HRA Council’s annual growth report.

Broker Cheat Sheet

A useful CHOICE comparison starts with the funding model.

CHOICE Is Here. Are you?

The uPPo Broker Roadshow brought CHOICE education, carrier discussions, platform demonstrations, and networking to agents in local markets.

ICHRA CHOICE Tax Credits Expand

State tax incentives can change the cost comparison for a small employer considering CHOICE, but the programs do not share one national eligibility rule.

Strategic Insights & Market Trends

Rising renewal costs are encouraging employers to review how they fund health benefits, not just which group plan they buy.

Upcoming Events

uPPo’s September event schedule connected a national ACA conference with local broker education in Texas and Arizona.