How Much Is Health Insurance in 2026?
The average health insurance premium in 2026 is $752 per month for a Silver plan on the ACA marketplace. Enhanced credits expired at the end of 2025, premiums jumped 21-26%, and the subsidy cliff is back at 400% FPL ($62,600 for individuals).
$752
Silver plan avg/mo
$2,230
Family avg/mo
$132
Employer plan avg/mo
+21%
YoY increase
Quick Cost Estimator
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Enter gross household income to estimate ACA subsidy eligibility
Estimated Monthly Premium
$657/mo
Before any ACA subsidies
Annual
$7,884
After Subsidy
Enter income above
2026 Average Premiums by Plan Tier
ACA marketplace plans are grouped into four metal tiers. All figures are unsubsidised averages for a 40-year-old individual. Higher tiers have higher premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs.
| Tier | Coverage | Monthly | Annual | Deductible | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 60% | $573 | $6,876 | ~$7,500 | +22% |
| Silver | 70% | $752 | $9,024 | ~$5,000 | +21% |
| Gold | 80% | $793 | $9,516 | ~$1,500 | +23% |
| Platinum | 90% | $1,012 | $12,144 | ~$500 | +26% |
Source: CMS rate filings and KFF benchmark data, 2026. Averages for 40-year-old non-smoker before subsidies.
Cost by Coverage Type
Three main ways Americans get health insurance, each with very different costs.
Individual Marketplace
$752/mo
Average Silver plan premium for a single adult before subsidies. Many pay less after premium tax credits.
Estimate your cost →
Family Coverage
$2,230/mo
Average family marketplace premium. Actual cost depends on ages, family size, and income level.
Family cost guide →
Employer-Sponsored
$132/mo
Average employee share. Employers cover about 84% of total individual premium costs.
Employer vs marketplace →
Why Health Insurance Costs Jumped in 2026
From 2021 through 2025, the American Rescue Plan Act and Inflation Reduction Act provided enhanced premium tax credits that capped marketplace premiums at 8.5% of household income, regardless of how high your income was. Roughly 21 million Americans benefited from these expanded subsidies.
Those enhanced credits expired on December 31, 2025. In 2026, the original ACA subsidy rules returned with a hard cutoff at 400% of the Federal Poverty Level ($62,600 for an individual). Anyone earning above that threshold lost all subsidy support overnight. CMS data shows marketplace premiums rose 21-26% on average as insurers repriced plans to account for the expected exodus of healthier, higher-income enrollees.
The result is what policy analysts call the "subsidy cliff." A single person earning $62,599 might pay $200/month after subsidies. The same person earning $62,601 pays the full $752/month premium. That is over $6,600 per year in additional costs from just $2 in extra income.
Affected by the subsidy cliff? See our full subsidies guide for income thresholds, worked examples, and strategies to manage your income below the cutoff.
Quick Reference
Cost by Age
Cheapest and Most Expensive States
5 Ways to Lower Your Cost
Explore Our Guides
Everything you need to understand health insurance costs in 2026.
Cost by Age
Age 21 to 64, the ACA 3:1 band rule, and turning-26 guide
Cost by State
All 50 states ranked by premium, from cheapest to most expensive
Family Coverage
Costs for couples, families of 3, 4, and 5+, plus adding a baby
Plan Types
Bronze through Platinum, plus HMO, PPO, EPO, and HDHP compared
Self-Employed
Tax deductions, QSEHRA, marketplace strategies for freelancers
ACA Subsidies
2026 income thresholds, the subsidy cliff, and strategies to stay below
Employer Coverage
Employer vs marketplace costs, COBRA, affordability test
Total Cost Explained
Premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and OOP maximums
Medicaid and CHIP
Free coverage eligibility, expansion states, and the coverage gap
Save Money
10 strategies to reduce your health insurance costs in 2026
Cost Calculator
Full interactive estimator with subsidies and total cost projection
Open Enrollment
Dates, deadlines, special enrollment periods, and state marketplaces