Individual health insurance starts at $150/month depending on your age, location, and income. Compare ACA marketplace plans, short-term options, and more.
| Plan Type | Cost | Coverage Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACA Bronze Plan Most Affordable | $150โ$250/mo | 60% coverage | Young / healthy individuals |
| ACA Silver Plan Most Popular | $250โ$400/mo | 70% coverage | Most people (subsidy sweet spot) |
| ACA Gold Plan | $350โ$550/mo | 80% coverage | High medical use |
| Short-Term Plan | $50โ$150/mo | Limited | Gap coverage only |
| Medicaid | $0 (income-based) | Comprehensive | Low income households |
| COBRA | Varies | Full employer plan | Job transition (up to 18 months) |
Costs shown are estimates before subsidies. Your actual premium depends on age, location, income, and plan selection. Subsidies may significantly reduce your cost.
ACA Open Enrollment runs November 1 through January 15 each year. Coverage purchased by December 15 starts January 1. After January 15, you can only enroll with a qualifying life event (Special Enrollment Period).
Premium Tax Credits are available if your income falls between 100โ400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). In 2026, enhanced subsidies are available. A family of 4 earning up to $125,000 may still qualify for some subsidy. Check Healthcare.gov for your amount.
HMO: Lower premiums, requires referrals, in-network only. PPO: Higher premiums, no referrals, out-of-network covered at higher cost. HDHP: Lower premiums, high deductible, pairs with an HSA (Health Savings Account) for tax-advantaged savings.
Outside open enrollment, qualifying life events trigger a 60-day SEP: losing job-based coverage, marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, moving to a new coverage area, or turning 26 and losing parent's plan.
Individual plans average $456/month before subsidies in 2026. ACA premium tax credits can reduce this to near $0 for households earning 100โ400% of the federal poverty level. Use Healthcare.gov to check your subsidy eligibility.
Healthcare.gov is the federally-run marketplace where you can compare and enroll in ACA-compliant health plans. Open enrollment runs November 1 through January 15. Some states run their own marketplace (e.g., Covered California, NY State of Health).
Only with a qualifying life event (job loss, marriage, divorce, birth or adoption, moving to a new state) that triggers a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). You typically have 60 days from the qualifying event to enroll.
HMO requires you to choose a primary care physician and get referrals for specialists. Out-of-network care is generally not covered. PPO allows out-of-network care and no referrals โ at higher premiums and cost-sharing. EPO plans are a hybrid (no referrals, in-network only).
A Health Savings Account (HSA) lets you save pre-tax money for medical expenses. It is only available with a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). Funds roll over year to year and can be invested. In 2026, HSA limits are $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for families.