When you're trying to manage your money and figure out your budget, you may wonder: How much does health insurance cost per month in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace?
Whether you’re in charge of a household or single and in charge of only yourself, most of us have a budget.
Each month most people pay for things like:
- Mortgage/Rent
- Utilities
- Groceries
- Car expenses
- Credit card bills
- And more
While some of these obligations are easy to estimate, the cost of medical care can be a little trickier.
Below are several factors that influence healthcare premiums and could help you answer the question: How much does health insurance cost per month in the ACA Marketplace?
Get to know your monthly premium
A health insurance premium is the amount of money you pay each month to keep your health insurance coverage active, even if you don’t use medical services. Monthly premiums for ACA Marketplace plans vary by state and can be reduced by premium tax credits, sometimes called subsidies.
These tax credits lower the amount you pay each month for your plan and are based on your income, household size, and where you live.
- The average national monthly healthcare cost for one person on an ACA plan without subsidies in 2026 is $625.1
Wondering how healthcare premiums are decided?
The Affordable Care Act ensures that insurance companies cannot discriminate based on gender, current health status, or medical history.
Here are factors that determine healthcare premiums:2
Age
While some states, specifically New York and Vermont, do not use age when determining healthcare premiums, this is a major contributing factor for most states.
- The age of 21 is used as the base age, with premium costs being adjusted upwards for those in their thirties, forties, fifties, and sixties.
- Around age 53, the premium rate may become more than double the base rate.
Tobacco
Tobacco use will affect how much healthcare costs you per month.
- In fact, health insurance companies can charge smokers up to 50% more than non-tobacco users.
- While some states have elected not to allow insurance carriers to charge smokers the maximum allowed, tobacco use does still affect pricing.
Location
Location affects the price of the premiums, too, mostly due to the amount of (or lack of) competition in a particular area or region.
While competition can be intense in populated areas, rural parts of the country may only have one or two insurance companies, making pricing higher for these residents.
Plan Category
Finally, your choice of plan also influences the average healthcare cost per month.
Plans are broken down by metal tiers:3
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Catastrophic
Each carries different premiums based on what percentage of overall healthcare costs they cover.
Premiums are also affected by the plan’s:
- Deductibles
- Copays
- Coinsurance
- Number of family members on the plan.
How much does healthcare cost per month in each state?
The national average healthcare premium for a benchmark plan in 2026 is $625, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.1 A benchmark plan is the average premium for each state’s second lowest cost silver plan.
The following data reflects the national average, and each state’s average, but does not include any reduction in cost from subsidies.1 Rates will vary by area.
Average Monthly Health Insurance Premiums for Benchmark Plans by State Without a Subsidy
Location | 2025 | 2026 | Percent Change |
United States | $497 | $625 | 26% |
Alabama | $535 | $645 | 21% |
Alaska | $1,045 | $1,032 | -1% |
Arizona | $410 | $532 | 30% |
Arkansas | $458 | $774 | 69% |
California | $512 | $570 | 11% |
Colorado | $463 | $557 | 20% |
Connecticut | $693 | $870 | 26% |
Delaware | $534 | $691 | 29% |
District of Columbia | $578 | $610 | 6% |
Florida | $515 | $683 | 33% |
Georgia | $493 | $615 | 25% |
Hawaii | $493 | $541 | 10% |
Idaho | $436 | $490 | 12% |
Illinois | $474 | $646 | 36% |
Indiana | $382 | $474 | 24% |
Iowa | $429 | $501 | 17% |
Kansas | $513 | $670 | 31% |
Kentucky | $442 | $590 | 33% |
Louisiana | $524 | $646 | 23% |
Maine | $546 | $709 | 30% |
Maryland | $365 | $414 | 13% |
Massachusetts | $447 | $494 | 11% |
Michigan | $404 | $523 | 29% |
Minnesota | $363 | $448 | 23% |
Mississippi | $485 | $662 | 36% |
Missouri | $489 | $605 | 24% |
Montana | $554 | $692 | 25% |
Nebraska | $600 | $710 | 18% |
Nevada | $414 | $497 | 20% |
New Hampshire | $325 | $401 | 23% |
New Jersey | $492 | $545 | 11% |
New Mexico | $515 | $623 | 21% |
New York | $790 | $817 | 3% |
North Carolina | $507 | $638 | 26% |
North Dakota | $537 | $570 | 6% |
Ohio | $441 | $513 | 16% |
Oklahoma | $501 | $604 | 21% |
Oregon | $461 | $543 | 6% |
Pennsylvania | $425 | $572 | 24% |
Rhode Island | $425 | $506 | 19% |
South Carolina | $471 | $564 | 20% |
South Dakota | $619 | $655 | 6% |
Tennessee | $513 | $711 | 39% |
Texas | $489 | $661 | 35% |
Utah | $547 | $640 | 17% |
Vermont | $1,277 | $1,299 | 2% |
Virginia | $372 | $455 | 22% |
Washington | $434 | $612 | 41% |
West Virginia | $919 | $1,073 | 17% |
Wisconsin | $495 | $611 | 23% |
Wyoming | $871 | $1,090 | 25% |
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Marketplace Average Benchmark Premiums. | |||
Tax credits & healthcare premiums in 2026
Wondering how much your monthly healthcare premium will be after tax credits in 2026? It depends on:
- Your income
- Type of plan you choose
- Amount of tax credit you qualify for through the ACA Marketplace
Note: Most Marketplace enrollees receive a premium tax credit, which helps lower their monthly payment.
From 2022 through 2025, many people received expanded premium tax credits under federal legislation from the Inflation Reduction Act. These enhanced subsidies lowered monthly costs and allowed some middle-income households to qualify for financial help for the first time.
However, the expanded tax credits expired at the end of 2025.5
ACA Premium Tax Credit Changes in 2026
In 2026, only the standard ACA premium tax credits are available. These standard subsidies generally provide less financial assistance than the enhanced version. This means:
- Required income contribution percentages may increase for some households
- The 400% federal poverty level income cap returns
- Some higher-income households may no longer qualify for any premium tax credit, and others may receive smaller tax credits than they did in 2025.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:4 "The average HealthCare.gov premium after tax credits is projected to be $50 per month for the lowest cost plan in 2026 for eligible enrollees.”
However, individual costs vary widely based on income, age, location, and plan selection.
Premiums rise without expanded subsidies
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, enrollees who keep the same plan they had in 2025 can expect their premium contributions to increase by an average of 114%, net of premium tax credits.5
- In 2025, the average subsidized Marketplace enrollee paid about $74 per month after tax credits.5
- A 114% increase would raise that amount to roughly $158 per month, though individual costs will vary.
Premium vs. deductible tradeoff in 2026
With the expiration of enhanced subsidies, consumers may need to consider tradeoffs between premiums and deductibles.
Here’s what that change could look like for one enrollee:
A 40-year-old earning $22,000 per year (about 141% of the federal poverty level) qualified for a $0 premium Silver plan in 2025 under the enhanced tax credits.5
- Because of cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), that plan had an average deductible of about $80.
- In 2026, that same individual would owe approximately $794 per year in premiums for a Silver plan, though they would still qualify for CSRs that reduce deductibles and other cost-sharing.5
Alternatively, that individual may qualify for a $0 premium Bronze plan.
- However, Bronze plans are not eligible for cost-sharing reductions.
- In 2026, the average deductible for a Bronze plan is about $7,476.⁵
This creates a tradeoff:
- Silver plan: Higher monthly premium but much lower deductible
- Bronze plan: Lower or $0 premium but significantly higher out-of-pocket costs
For individuals who expect to use medical services during the year, the Silver plan may provide better overall financial protection despite the higher monthly premium.
Standard ACA tax credits will continue to help many lower-income households in 2026. However, the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits means some Marketplace enrollees may face higher monthly costs or different plan tradeoffs compared to recent years.5
Find out how much health insurance costs per month
Are you ready to figure out how much health insurance will cost you each month?
Our licensed insurance agents can help you find a plan that works for you. Give us a call at 1-866-892-7324 or talk with a licensed health insurance agent in your area.
