ICHRA savings in New Hampshire
10 New Hampshire counties price individual coverage below small group. Employers there save up to $1,880 per employee per year.
Last updated: August 16, 2026 · plan-year 2026, lowest-cost silver (age 50), same year both markets.
Top New Hampshire counties by savings
Monthly benchmark premiums: individual vs small group, 2026 plan year.
| County | Individual /mo | Small group /mo | You save | Annual / employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belknap County | $484 | $641 | 24.4% | $1,880 |
| Hillsborough County | $484 | $641 | 24.4% | $1,880 |
| Merrimack County | $484 | $641 | 24.4% | $1,880 |
| Rockingham County | $484 | $641 | 24.4% | $1,880 |
| Strafford County | $484 | $641 | 24.4% | $1,880 |
| Carroll County | $579 | $641 | 9.6% | $736 |
| Cheshire County | $579 | $641 | 9.6% | $736 |
| Coos County | $579 | $641 | 9.6% | $736 |
| Grafton County | $579 | $641 | 9.6% | $736 |
| Sullivan County | $579 | $641 | 9.6% | $736 |
New Hampshire county savings pages
Every New Hampshire county where the 2026 benchmark gap tops $100/employee/month — each with its own local breakdown.
- Belknap County 24.4%
- Hillsborough County 24.4%
- Merrimack County 24.4%
- Rockingham County 24.4%
- Strafford County 24.4%
The New Hampshire picture
New Hampshire runs a compact market: in the 2026 data, the small-group benchmark we track is effectively uniform statewide, while lowest-cost individual silver premiums differ by county — which is exactly why some counties qualify and others don't. The Lakes Region leads, with Belknap County showing an estimated $157 per employee per month gap (about 24.4%) on the silver age-50 benchmark. For 2027, insurers have filed a proposed 18.4% average individual-market increase — that's news context for planning, not part of these estimates.
With only ten counties in the state, New Hampshire's picture is compact: a Laconia-area employer in Belknap County sits at the top of the estimated range on 2026 data, and the remaining nine qualifying counties step down from there. Because the individual market prices the same statewide, an employer with locations in Nashua, Concord, and the Lakes Region can hand every employee access to the same plan menu — the estimated savings just vary with what each county's small-group market charges today. Companies like yours could see the widest spreads where group renewals have run hottest.
New Hampshire ICHRA FAQs
How much can employers save with an ICHRA in New Hampshire?
Across 10 qualifying New Hampshire counties, the 2026 gap between small-group and individual silver coverage averages 17% — up to $1,880 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 New Hampshire county has the biggest ICHRA savings?
Belknap County currently shows the widest 2026 spread in New Hampshire: individual $484/mo vs small group $641/mo — about 24.4% ($1,880/employee/year, estimated).
Does every New Hampshire county qualify for ICHRA savings?
No. Only counties where the individual market prices below small group make the list — 10 in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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.
If New Hampshire has one statewide rating area, why do ICHRA savings estimates differ by county?
Because the county-to-county difference in our 2026 data comes from the individual-market side: the small-group benchmark is essentially the same across New Hampshire, while lowest-cost individual silver premiums vary by county and carrier footprint. Where the individual side prices lower — Belknap and nearby Lakes Region counties — an estimated gap opens; where it doesn't, the county simply doesn't qualify. The estimator gives the county-exact 2026 answer.
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