Quick answer
In 2026, the benchmark silver plan on HealthCare.gov averaged $605 a month for a 40-year-old Missourian before subsidies, close to the U.S. average of $625. Prices rise with age, from about $473 a month at 21 to $1,420 at 64. Nearly 9 in 10 enrollees got a premium tax credit, and the average enrollee paid $173 a month after it. Proposed 2027 increases average about 12.4% to 12.5%, but Missouri won’t finalize them until October 31, 2026.
Key takeaways
- Missouri’s 2026 benchmark premium for a 40-year-old, $605 a month, sat close to the U.S. average of $625.
- 365,734 Missourians picked a marketplace plan for 2026, down 12.3% from 2025, after enhanced federal subsidies expired.
- Proposed 2027 rates average about 12.4% to 12.5%, but Missouri’s insurance department won’t finalize them until October 31, 2026.
- Missouri expanded Medicaid through a 2020 ballot measure; adults now qualify up to 138% of the poverty level.
- A Medicaid work requirement for expansion adults takes effect December 31, 2026.
On this page
What a Missouri Marketplace plan costs before subsidies
| Age | Benchmark silver plan, per month (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| 21 | $473 |
| 30 | $537 |
| 40 | $605 |
| 50 | $845 |
| 60 | $1,285 |
| 64 | $1,420 |
| Child under 15 | $362 |
A family of four with two 40-year-old parents and two young children would pay about $1,934 a month for benchmark plans before subsidies.
What you’d pay after a tax credit
If your household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, a premium tax credit caps what you pay for the benchmark plan at a share of your income. A single 40-year-old in Missouri earning $40,000 would pay about $287 a month for the benchmark plan in 2026, with a tax credit of about $318. For 2027, the same person’s share would be about $289 a month. Above 400% of the poverty level ($62,600 for one person for 2026 coverage, $63,840 for 2027), you’d pay full price.
Costs beyond the premium
What you pay when you get care depends on your plan’s deductible, copays and coinsurance, up to the out-of-pocket maximum of $10,600 for one person in 2026 ($12,000 in 2027). If your income is under 250% of the poverty level, a silver plan’s cost-sharing reductions lower those costs.
Missouri Marketplace facts
- Marketplace: HealthCare.gov, the federal exchange.
- Enrollment: 365,734 plan selections for 2026, down from 417,000 in 2025 after enhanced federal subsidies expired. Nearly 9 in 10 enrollees got a premium tax credit or cost-sharing reduction, and 25% paid less than $10 a month.
- Insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Celtic (Ambetter), Anthem, Medica, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare are continuing for 2027; Cox Health Plans is moving off-exchange only. Cigna already left Missouri’s individual market in 2023, well before its 11-state exit for 2027, so Missouri isn’t part of that wave.
- 2027 prices: Missouri released preliminary rates in July 2026 averaging about 12.4% to 12.5%, but final rates aren’t due until October 31, 2026, so treat any number published before then as preliminary. By insurer, proposed increases range from about 10.3% (Celtic/Ambetter) to 25.6% (Medica).
- State help: Missouri doesn’t have a state premium subsidy or reinsurance program for marketplace plans.
- Medicaid: MO HealthNet expanded in July 2021 after voters approved a 2020 ballot measure. Adults under 65 qualify up to 138% of the poverty level, and an 80-hour-a-month work, education or volunteer requirement takes effect December 31, 2026, with limited exemptions. See Medicaid work requirements.
When to enroll
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Sign up by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. For ways to keep your bill down, see how to lower your Marketplace premium.
Other options in Missouri
- Job-based coverage, usually the cheapest route if it’s offered.
- MO HealthNet for Kids for children up to 305% of the poverty level; see health insurance for children.
- Medicare at 65.
Health insurance costs in nearby states: Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa and Tennessee. You can also compare health insurance costs in every state.
See 2027 plans and prices in your Missouri county: compare quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
Did Missouri expand Medicaid?
Yes. Voters approved it in 2020, and it took effect in July 2021 after the legislature initially declined to fund it. Adults under 65 qualify up to 138% of the poverty level.
Will Missouri have Medicaid work requirements?
Yes. The state’s Department of Social Services lists December 31, 2026 as the effective date for an 80-hour-a-month work, school or volunteer requirement for expansion adults, with limited exemptions.
How much will Missouri’s 2027 marketplace premiums go up?
Proposed rates average about 12.4% to 12.5%, but Missouri’s insurance department won’t finalize them until October 31, 2026 at the latest, so any number published before then is preliminary.
Sources
- Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance: 2027 preliminary health insurance rates
- Missouri Department of Social Services: H.R. 1 implementation
- healthinsurance.org: Missouri health insurance marketplace
- healthinsurance.org: Missouri Medicaid
- ACA Signups: 2027 rate changes, Missouri
- KFF: Marketplace average benchmark premiums by state
This article is general information, not insurance or tax advice. Prices are averages and estimates; your actual premium depends on your county, age, income and plan. Last reviewed September 2026.