How Much Does Obamacare Insurance Cost?

Obamacare plans, also known as ACA plans or marketplace health insurance plans, range from free to pretty pricey.

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Updated Jan 22, 2026

The lowest-cost marketplace health insurance plan on the Obamacare health insurance marketplace costs an average of about $556 per month in 2026, according to data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). After tax credits, it’s $50 per month, on average.

Premiums can vary significantly based on company, plan type and metal level (Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum), plus your age, tobacco use, family size, location, income and more.

How much does marketplace health insurance cost per month?

Marketplace health insurance plans, sometimes referred to as Obamacare plans or ACA plans, can be purchased by individuals and families on HealthCare.gov and state health insurance marketplaces.

Depending on a variety of factors, premiums can range from $0 to over $1,000 per month.

For example, here are average 2026 premiums — before any tax credits — for the second-lowest-cost Silver plans available to three different combinations of age, family size and income as a percent of the federal poverty line (FPL), before any cost reductions, according to data from KFF, a health policy nonprofit:

21-year-old individual earning 150% of the FPL*: $489 per month.
40-year-old individual earning 150% of the FPL: $625 per month.
Family of four earning 325% of the FPL**: $1,997 per month.

* In 2025, 150% of the FPL for an individual in the contiguous U.S. is $23,475 per year.
** In 2025, 325% of the FPL for a family of four in the contiguous U.S. is $104,487.50 per year.

» MORE: How much is health insurance?

The second-lowest-cost Silver price is important because it's used to calculate premium tax credits.

Premium tax credits can significantly reduce what you pay for premiums, even if your income is well above the federal poverty line. For example, here’s what the three premiums above become after premium tax credits are applied:

21-year-old individual earning 150% of the FPL: $82 per month.
40-year-old individual earning 150% of the FPL: $82 per month.
Family of four earning 325% of the FPL: $168 per month.

In general, people with household income between 100% and 400% of the FPL can be eligible for premium tax credits. For an individual in the contiguous U.S., that’s between $15,650 and $62,600 per year in 2025. For a family of four in the contiguous United States, the range between 100% and 400% of the FPL would be $32,150 to $128,600 per year.

The largest subsidies go to people with the lowest income, then they go down on a sliding scale for those who qualify with higher income levels.

» MORE: What is the income limit for marketplace insurance?

Get the Care You Need Shop and compare health insurance plans in your area.

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What are the out-of-pocket costs for Obamacare plans?

Marketplace health insurance plans can have several kinds of out-of-pocket costs:

Deductible: Before your plan starts to pay for its portion of most covered services and prescription drugs, you might need to spend a certain amount out of pocket, such as $2,400 for an individual or $4,800 for a family.
Copay: You might owe a flat amount each time you get a service, such as $50 for visiting a doctor’s office or $10 for filling a prescription.
Coinsurance: You might owe a percent of the cost of a service, such as 25% of the cost of a prescription drug or 40% of an emergency room bill.

Plans also have an out-of-pocket maximum, which puts a cap on what you have to spend for the year in copays, coinsurance and/or deductibles. After you reach the out-of-pocket maximum, you don’t owe additional out-of-pocket costs for the rest of the year, so a lower maximum is better.

Generally speaking, plans with higher premiums tend to have lower out-of-pocket costs. Plans with lower premiums often have higher out-of-pocket costs.

Cost-sharing reductions

If you qualify for the premium tax credit and have household income up to 250% of the FPL, you can qualify for cost-sharing reductions. Cost-sharing reductions shrink or eliminate copays, coinsurance, deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs — but only for Silver plans.

The size of the cost-sharing reductions depends on your income:

Household income	Cost-sharing reductions
100% up to 150% of the FPL	Largest
Greater than 150% up to 200% of the FPL	Medium
Greater than 200% up to 250% of the FPL	Smallest

Why are Silver plans the most affordable?

Marketplace health insurance plans can come in four metal levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, each with different levels of coverage. For example, a Silver plan covers about 70% of members’ medical costs, so you’d be responsible for the other 30% out of pocket.

Marketplace health insurance plans by tier

Metal tier	Costs covered by plan	Deductible level
Bronze	60%.	High.
Silver	70%.	Medium.
Gold	80%.	Low.
Platinum	90%.	Low.

Source: HealthCare.gov

Silver plans are often the most affordable because they’re potentially eligible for more subsidies than any other plan type. Silver plans can end up covering more and costing less than other plans types if you qualify for cost-sharing reductions — and most marketplace enrollees do.

» MORE: How to choose health insurance: Your step-by-step guide

Best marketplace plans by state

We analyzed the best health insurance plans in 15 states.

Click on a green-shaded state to see the best marketplace plans available there.

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