Health insurance in the US costs anywhere from $0 to well over $2,000 a month, depending on where the coverage comes from. A worker with a job-based plan paid about $120 a month for single coverage in 2025, while the full premium was about $777. On the ACA Marketplace, the average benchmark plan for a 40-year-old lists at $625 a month in 2026, before any tax credit.
Those numbers swing widely because of who pays, how old you are and what kind of plan you pick. The sections below break down each source of coverage, with dated figures from federal data and KFF, a nonprofit health research group.
Average cost of health insurance at a glance
| Type of coverage | Full premium per month | What the enrollee typically pays |
|---|---|---|
| Employer plan, single (2025) | About $777 | About $120 |
| Employer plan, family (2025) | About $2,249 | About $571 |
| Marketplace benchmark silver, age 40 (2026) | $625 | $178 average after tax credits |
| Medicare Part B (2026) | $202.90 standard | $202.90, more at high incomes |
| Medicaid | Paid by government | Usually $0 or a small amount |
The employer figures are annual averages from the KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey, divided by 12. KFF plans to publish its 2026 survey on October 22, 2026, so expect slightly higher numbers soon.
Employer health insurance
About half of Americans get coverage through a job. The employer usually pays most of the premium, which is why this tends to be the cheapest option for workers.
In 2025 the average annual premium was $9,325 for single coverage and $26,993 for family coverage. Workers paid $1,440 a year toward single coverage and $6,850 toward family coverage. The employer covered the rest.
Company size makes a real difference. At firms with 10 to 199 workers, employees paid $8,889 a year toward a family plan. At larger firms the figure was $6,227. Small employers also tend to offer plans with higher deductibles. For example, 53% of covered workers at small firms had a single deductible of $2,000 or more, compared with 28% at large firms.
That deductible is a separate cost from the premium. The average single deductible among workers who had one was $1,886 in 2025. So a cheap monthly premium can still come with a big bill when you actually need care.
If you leave your job: COBRA
When you quit or lose a job, a federal law called COBRA usually lets you keep the same group plan for a limited time, often 18 months. The catch is the price. You pay the whole premium yourself, plus up to a 2% administrative fee, as the Labor Department explains.
Using the 2025 averages, that works out to roughly $790 a month for single coverage and about $2,300 for a family. So COBRA makes sense mainly for short gaps, or when you are in the middle of treatment and want to keep the same doctors. Losing job coverage also opens a special window to buy a Marketplace plan, which may cost less after tax credits.
Marketplace (ACA) plans
If you buy your own coverage, the federal or state Marketplace is the main route. Prices there depend on your age, your ZIP code, tobacco use and the metal tier you choose. Insurers cannot charge more for health conditions.
The figures below are national averages for a 40-year-old, from KFF’s Marketplace premium tracker. They show list prices before tax credits.
| Plan, age 40 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest-cost bronze | $381 | $456 |
| Lowest-cost silver | $486 | $611 |
| Benchmark silver | $497 | $625 |
| Lowest-cost gold | $507 | $615 |
The benchmark plan jumped about 26% in one year. At the same time, the temporary boost to premium tax credits ended after 2025, and Congress did not extend it. As a result, what enrollees actually paid rose from $113 a month on average in 2025 to $178 in 2026, according to KFF’s review of CMS enrollment data.
Many people responded by moving to cheaper plans. Bronze enrollment grew from 30% to 40% of sign-ups. But bronze plans carry bigger deductibles, and the average Marketplace deductible hit a record $3,786 in 2026.
Here is how that plays out for one person. Say a 40-year-old picks the benchmark silver plan at the national average of $625 a month. Without any tax credit, that is $7,500 a year in premiums alone. With a credit, the same person might pay a fraction of that, depending on income and household size.
Tax credits still exist. They now generally go to households earning between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. If your income lands just above that line, you pay the full price, which is why some people saw their bills double.
What changes the price you pay
- Age. Under the ACA, insurers can charge an older adult up to three times what they charge a young adult for the same plan.
- Location. Premiums vary by county, because local hospital prices and competition differ.
- Tobacco use. Smokers can be charged up to 50% more in most states.
- Metal tier. Bronze plans have the lowest premiums but the highest costs when you get care. Gold plans flip that.
- Household size and income. These set your tax credit on the Marketplace and your share of the premium at work.
HealthCare.gov explains these pricing factors in more detail.
Also look at the out-of-pocket maximum, which caps what you pay for covered in-network care in a year. For 2026 the Marketplace limit is $10,600 for one person and $21,200 for a family. For 2027 it rises to $12,000 and $24,000, according to HealthCare.gov. Premiums do not count toward that cap.
Medicare and Medicaid costs
People 65 and older, and some younger people with disabilities, usually move to Medicare. Most pay no premium for Part A. Part B, which covers doctors and outpatient care, has a standard premium of $202.90 a month in 2026, plus a $283 deductible. Our guide to what Medicare covers explains the parts in more detail.
Medicaid is the low-cost option for people with limited income. Most enrollees pay no premium, and copays are small or zero. Eligibility rules differ by state. If you are unsure which program fits, our comparison of Medicare vs Medicaid lays out the differences.
How to lower what you pay
Start with any job-based plan you can get, including through a spouse, because employers usually cover most of the cost. Then compare it against the Marketplace only if the work plan is unaffordable or missing.
On the Marketplace, estimate your income for the coverage year carefully, since your tax credit depends on it. Compare the total yearly cost, not just the premium. A plan that is $80 cheaper per month can cost more if you expect regular doctor visits or prescriptions.
Timing matters too. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage on HealthCare.gov runs from November 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 if you want coverage to start January 1. Outside that window, you usually need a life event, such as losing job coverage, moving or having a baby. More explainers sit in our health and sports guides.
This article is general information. Check with HealthCare.gov, your state Marketplace, your employer or Medicare and Medicaid directly for your own case.
Frequently asked questions
How much does health insurance cost per month for one person?
With a job-based plan, a worker paid about $120 a month on average in 2025. On the Marketplace, a 40-year-old’s benchmark plan lists at $625 a month in 2026 before tax credits.
How much is health insurance for a family?
The average employer family premium was $26,993 a year in 2025, or about $2,249 a month. Workers paid about $571 a month of that on average.
Why did health insurance costs go up in 2026?
Insurers raised Marketplace prices, and the extra federal tax credits expired after 2025. Employer premiums keep rising too, with family coverage up 6% in 2025.
Is health insurance cheaper through an employer?
Usually, yes. Employers paid about 85% of a single premium and about 75% of a family premium in 2025, so workers see a much smaller bill.
Have a question about this topic? Ask in the comments below. Our editors read every comment and answer questions here, and we add useful answers to the guide.
Sources
- kff.org/health-costs/2025-employer-health-benefits-survey
- kff.org/affordable-care-act/state-indicator/average-marketplace-…
- kff.org/affordable-care-act/what-we-know-so-far-about-2026-aca-m…
- healthcare.gov/glossary/out-of-pocket-maximum-limit
- healthcare.gov/how-plans-set-your-premiums
- healthcare.gov/quick-guide/dates-and-deadlines
- dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/cobra
- cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-dedu…