Which states have the highest and lowest ACA health insurance rates?
The cheapest states for ACA health insurance coverage are New Hampshire, Maryland and Minnesota, and the most expensive states are Vermont, Wyoming and West Virginia.
KFF publishes average monthly ACA plan rates for each state and nationally each year. Rates are based on the lowest cost silver plan offered through the marketplace, which is the KFF benchmark plan, for a 40-year-old single man.
The five most expensive states for ACA plans
These states pay the highest rates for a benchmark plan, with four states having rates over $1,000 a month.
- Vermont - $1,299
- Wyoming - $1,090
- West Virginia - $1,073
- Alaska - $1,032
- Connecticut - $870
The five cheapest states for ACA plans
These five states all have rates under $500 a month, the lowest in the nation.
- New Hampshire - $401
- Maryland - $414
- Minnesota - $448
- Virginia - $455
- Indiana - $474
Here are the average monthly premiums for the ACA benchmark plans in 2026 by state compared to 2025.
| State | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $535 | $645 |
| Alaska | $1,045 | $1,019 |
| Arizona | $410 | $532 |
| Arkansas | $458 | $774 |
| California | $512 | $570 |
| Colorado | $463 | $557 |
| Connecticut | $693 | $870 |
| Delaware | $534 | $691 |
| District of Columbia | $578 | $610 |
| Florida | $515 | $683 |
| Georgia | $493 | $615 |
| Hawaii | $493 | $541 |
| Idaho | $436 | $490 |
| Illinois | $474 | $646 |
| Indiana | $382 | $474 |
| Iowa | $429 | $501 |
| Kansas | $513 | $670 |
| Kentucky | $442 | $590 |
| Louisiana | $524 | $646 |
| Maine | $546 | $709 |
| Maryland | $365 | $414 |
| Massachusetts | $447 | $494 |
| Michigan | $404 | $523 |
| Minnesota | $363 | $448 |
| Mississippi | $485 | $662 |
| Missouri | $489 | $605 |
| Montana | $554 | $692 |
| Nebraska | $600 | $710 |
| Nevada | $414 | $497 |
| New Hampshire | $325 | $401 |
| New Jersey | $492 | $545 |
| New Mexico | $515 | $623 |
| New York | $790 | $817 |
| North Carolina | $507 | $638 |
| North Dakota | $537 | $570 |
| Ohio | $441 | $513 |
| Oklahoma | $501 | $604 |
| Oregon | $510 | $543 |
| Pennsylvania | $461 | $572 |
| Rhode Island | $425 | $506 |
| South Carolina | $471 | $564 |
| South Dakota | $619 | $655 |
| Tennessee | $516 | $711 |
| Texas | $489 | $661 |
| Utah | $547 | $640 |
| Vermont | $1,277 | $1,299 |
| Virginia | $372 | $455 |
| Washington | $434 | $612 |
| West Virginia | $919 | $1,073 |
| Wisconsin | $495 | $611 |
| Wyoming | $871 | $1,090 |
What are the factors that affect ACA health plan premiums?
The main factors that affect the cost of an ACA health insurance plan are:
- Location. Where you live affects the cost of healthcare, which in turn affects insurance costs.
- Age. Older people pay more for health insurance because they tend to have more health problems.
- Tobacco use. ACA plan providers can, and do charge tobacco users more for health insurance.
- Plan tier. Bronze plans are the cheapest, and Gold or Platinum plans are the most expensive, in general.
- Family size. How much you pay depends on how many people you are insuring.
- Subsidies. You'll pay less if you qualify for an ACA subsidy based on your income.
Silver plans provide a good balance of monthly premiums with out-of-pocket costs. Coinsurance is 70% with a silver plan, meaning you will pay 30% of the costs after your deductible is met, up to the out-of-pocket limit. Silver plans are a good choice for people who are in generally good health but don't want high out-of-pocket costs if something goes wrong. Bronze plans are a popular choice with those who value low monthly premiums and are willing to pay more when they need care. Coinsurance is set at 60%, meaning you will pay 40% if you do need care, up to the out-of-pocket limit. Bronze plans are good for those who don't expect to need many services outside of preventative care throughout the year.
ACA platinum plans have the highest monthly premiums, but the lowest out-of-pocket costs. You'll pay more monthly in return for lower deductibles, copays and coinsurance amounts. Coinsurance with platinum plans is 90%, which means you pay 10% after the deductible, up to your out-of-pocket limit. Platinum plans are good for those who anticipate a lot of medical needs throughout the year.
Gold plans cost a little less than platinum plans, and come with higher out-of-pocket costs. The coinsurance amount on a gold plan is 80%, which means you pay 20% after the deductible, up to your out-of-pocket limit. A gold plan is a good idea if you think you'll need a lot of care throughout the year, but don't want to pay platinum premiums.Health insurance finder tool
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Medicare
Medicare costs vary depending on which option you choose.
Learn more about Medicare costs.
Medicaid
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Employer-sponsored health insurance
Preferred-provider Organization (PPOs)
Preferred-provider organization (PPOs) plans are the most common type of
employer-based health plan. PPOs have higher premiums than HMOs and HDHPs, but
those added costs offer you flexibility. A PPO allows you to get care anywhere
and without primary care provider referrals. You may have to pay more to get
out-of-network care, but a PPO will pick up a portion of the costs.
Find out more about the differences between plansHealth maintenance organization (HMO)
Health maintenance organization (HMO) plans have lower premiums than PPOs.
However, HMOs have more restrictions. HMOs don't allow you to get care outside
of your provider network. If you get out-of-network care, you'll likely have to
pay for all of it. HMOs also require you to get primary care provider referrals
to see specialists.
Find out more about the differences between plansHigh-deductible health plans (HDHPs)
High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) have become more common as employers look
to reduce their health costs. HDHPs have lower premiums than PPOs and HMOs, but
much higher deductibles. A deductible is what you have to pay for health care
services before your health plan chips in money. Once you reach your deductible,
the health plan pays a portion and you pay your share, which is called
coinsurance.
Find out more about the differences between plansExclusive provider organization (EPO)
Exclusive provider organization (EPO) plans offer the flexibility of a PPO with
the restricted network found in an HMO. EPOs don't require that members get a
referral to see a specialist. In that way, it's similar to a PPO. However, an
EPO requires in-network care, which is like an HMO.
Find out more about the differences between plans
Learn more about individual insurance plans
Know more individual insurance / ACA 
Know more individual insurance / ACA 
Are there cheaper alternatives to an ACA health insurance plan?
For many people, ACA plans on the exchanges are the easiest and cheapest way to get coverage, especially those that qualify for subsidies. However, if you qualify for other health plans, there might be a cheaper option, and it might even offer better coverage.
Your employer or your spouse’s employer
Employer-sponsored health insurance remains the most common way Americans get coverage. It’s usually cheaper than getting individual insurance or family coverage from the exchanges.
If both you and your spouse have insurance options, compare each plan to see which one is best for you. Make sure to check that your doctors and physicians are part of the network.
Also, remember that children can stay on their parents’ health insurance until the age of 26, so you’ll want to take into account their health needs when making a decision.
A government health insurance plan
If you qualify, public plans like Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are more inexpensive ways to get covered.
Medicare is usually for people 65 and older. It’s also for people with a disability or with end-stage renal disease.
Medicaid is another option for many Americans. The ACA allowed states to expand Medicaid up to 138% of the federal poverty level.
A direct individual or family plan from a health insurer
Rather than buy a plan through the ACA exchanges, you can also sign up for a health plan from the regular individual insurance market. Some insurers that don’t offer plans in the exchanges provide coverage through individual insurance, so you have that option, too.
These plans are usually significantly more expensive than employer-sponsored coverage, but they’re an option to get full coverage if you’re not eligible for an employer-sponsored plan.
Source:
KFF. "Average Monthly Marketplace Premiums by Metal Tier." Accessed February 2026
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