Find a Marketplace health plan that fits your life and your budget
Marketplace plans cover doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital stays. Many people qualify for financial help that lowers the monthly cost; the amount depends on your income, household, and location.
- Covers pre-existing conditions, with no medical underwriting
- Financial help may lower your monthly premium
- Plans must cover essential health benefits
- You can enroll during Open Enrollment or after a qualifying life event
- “Marketplace” means coverage through HealthCare.gov or your state's exchange: the plans that can qualify for financial help
Start with your situation
Which of these sounds like you?
This may not be a good fit if...
The honest signals, before any tool or quote asks for your information.
You're eligible for Medicare (65 or older, or a qualifying disability)
Medicare may be required
You have affordable employer coverage that meets minimum value
Marketplace subsidies may not be available
You're eligible for Medicaid in your state
Medicaid coverage may have no premium
You need coverage for less than a month and can't wait for a plan start date
Check your financial help first
Most Marketplace enrollees qualify for a premium tax credit; the amount depends on your income, household size, age, and location. Knowing your number first makes every plan decision easier.
Can you enroll right now?
A quick check of your enrollment window. Three questions, no sign-up. It routes you; it doesn't determine eligibility.
Step 1 of 3
Let's figure out when you can enroll in a health plan.
Do you currently have health insurance?
See what you could save on Marketplace plans
Estimate your 2026 premium tax credit in about 2 minutes, no sign-up needed.
Tools & resources
Estimate your ACA premium tax credit
For on-exchange ACA Marketplace plans only. About 2 minutes.
Estimate only. Uses 2026 plan prices and tax credit rules. 2027 amounts may differ. Your final credit is determined when you enroll.
Marketplace vs. off-Marketplace
Similar-looking plans can differ in one decisive way: only Marketplace plans can carry financial help.
| Marketplace | Off-Marketplace | |
|---|---|---|
| Financial help | Premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, if you qualify | Not eligible for financial help, even when the plan looks similar |
| Where you buy | HealthCare.gov or your state's exchange | Directly from an insurer or a private broker site |
| Plan choice | All plans cover essential health benefits | May offer additional choices for people who don't qualify for help |
Eligibility, not preference, usually answers this question: check your financial help first.
By the numbers
The market, without the sales pitch
87%
of Marketplace enrollees received a premium tax credit in 2026*
Source: CMS, Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report
$178
average monthly premium after tax credits in 2026; 34% of consumers paid $10 or less
Source: CMS, Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report
10.7 million
returning consumers actively chose to re-enroll or switch plans for 2026 rather than being auto-renewed
Source: CMS, Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report
Understand before you choose
Health insurance after leaving a jobA step-by-step guide to health, dental, vision, and supplemental coverage for anyone who has lost or is about to lose employer-sponsored health insurance.21 min readStart learningGuide
Health insurance when you're self-employedA step-by-step guide to health, dental, vision, and supplemental coverage for freelancers, sole proprietors, independent contractors, and small business owners without group coverage.19 min readStart learningGuide
Health insurance when you move to a new stateA step-by-step guide to keeping or replacing your health coverage when you relocate, covering Marketplace plans, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, dental, vision, and short-term insurance.21 min readStart learning
ACA / MarketplaceBronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum: What the metal tiers actually mean for your costsMetal tiers describe how you and your health plan share costs, not quality of care. Learn what each tier means for premiums, deductibles, copays, and when Silver's cost-sharing reductions change the math.10 min readReadACA / Marketplace plansCopay vs. coinsurance: What's the difference and when do I pay each?A copay is a flat fee per visit. Coinsurance is a percentage of the bill. Learn how each works, when you pay them, and what to compare across health plans.4 min readReadACA / Marketplace plansDo I qualify for help paying for health insurance?Find out whether you may qualify for a premium tax credit to lower your monthly health insurance cost through the Marketplace, based on your income, household size, and location.5 min readReadACA / Marketplace plansHow to check if my doctor is in a plan's network before I enrollYour plan's network determines which doctors and hospitals are covered at in-network rates. Learn how to verify your providers before you enroll in a health plan.5 min readReadACA / MarketplaceHow to choose a health insurance plan for yourself and your familyA step-by-step guide to choosing a health plan based on your expected healthcare use, budget, doctors, prescriptions, and financial help eligibility.7 min readReadACA / Marketplace plansHow to estimate my income for a Marketplace applicationLearn what counts as income on a Marketplace application, how to estimate it accurately, and why getting it right matters for your premium tax credit.5 min readReadCommon questions
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See my plan optionsGeneral educational information and estimates, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Plan availability, pricing, subsidies, and benefits depend on individual circumstances, location, and the current plan year, and may change. Healthcare.com is a licensed health insurance agency. Provider-neutral education; sources reviewed for 2026.
