Quick answer
In 2026, the benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old in Wisconsin averaged $611 a month before subsidies, a bit below the U.S. average of $625. Prices rise with age, from about $478 a month at 21 to $1,434 at 64. Wisconsin hasn’t adopted the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, but it’s the only state in that position without a coverage gap, since BadgerCare Plus already covers adults up to the poverty level on its own. Proposed 2027 rate changes average about 21% before subsidies, and Wisconsin’s insurance office won’t post final numbers until around November 1.
Key takeaways
- Wisconsin’s 2026 benchmark premium for a 40-year-old was about $611 a month, below the $625 U.S. average.
- 291,336 Wisconsinites picked a Marketplace plan for 2026, down 7.1% from 2025, and 78.3% got a premium tax credit.
- Proposed 2027 rate increases average about 21.1% before subsidies, but Wisconsin won’t post final rates until around November 1, 2026.
- Wisconsin hasn’t adopted full Medicaid expansion, but BadgerCare Plus already covers adults up to the poverty level, so the state has no coverage gap.
- Starting in 2027, most BadgerCare Plus adults will need to show work, school or volunteer hours to keep their coverage.
On this page
What a Wisconsin Marketplace plan costs before subsidies
| Age | Benchmark silver plan, per month (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| 21 | $478 |
| 30 | $543 |
| 40 | $611 |
| 50 | $854 |
| 60 | $1,298 |
| 64 | $1,434 |
| Child under 15 | $366 |
A family of four with two 40-year-old parents and two young children would pay about $1,953 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 Wisconsin earning $40,000 would pay about $287 a month for the benchmark plan in 2026, with a tax credit of about $324. 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.
Wisconsin hasn’t adopted the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, but it’s the one non-expansion state without a coverage gap: BadgerCare Plus already covers non-elderly adults with incomes up to the poverty level through the state’s own waiver, so most adults below that line qualify for BadgerCare Plus rather than a marketplace tax credit. See health insurance for low-income families.
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.
Wisconsin Marketplace facts
- Marketplace: HealthCare.gov, the federal exchange.
- Enrollment: 291,336 plan selections for 2026, down from 313,579 in 2025. 78.3% got a premium tax credit, and the average enrollee paid $250 a month after it.
- Insurers: Wisconsin has 12 insurers selling Marketplace plans, the same as 2026. Molina filed to return to the state for 2027 and then withdrew that filing, according to ACA Signups.
- 2027 prices: Proposed rate changes average about 21.1% before subsidies, ranging from 15.6% (HealthPartners) to 30.9% (Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative). These are preliminary; Wisconsin’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance says final rates post around November 1, 2026.
- State help: The Wisconsin Healthcare Stability Plan, a reinsurance program running since 2019 and extended through 2028, has helped hold down premiums; payments to insurers topped $257 million in 2025. Wisconsin doesn’t offer its own premium subsidy.
- Medicaid: BadgerCare Plus covers non-elderly adults up to 100% of the poverty level, and children and pregnant women up to 300% of the poverty level. Starting in 2027, most adults age 19 to 64 without a dependent child under 19 must show 80 hours a month of work, school or volunteering, or about $580 in monthly income, checked once a year at renewal. See Medicaid work requirements.
When to enroll
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. 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 Wisconsin
- Job-based coverage, usually the cheapest route if it’s offered.
- BadgerCare Plus for adults up to the poverty level, and Medicaid or CHIP for children and pregnant people; see health insurance for children.
- Medicare at 65.
Health insurance costs in nearby states: Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan. You can also compare health insurance costs in every state.
See 2027 plans and prices in your Wisconsin county: compare quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the average cost of health insurance in Wisconsin?
Before subsidies, the 2026 benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old averaged $611 a month. Proposed 2027 increases average about 21%, but won’t be final until around November 1, 2026.
Is Wisconsin a Medicaid expansion state?
No. Wisconsin is one of 10 states that haven’t adopted the full ACA expansion, but it’s the only one of those 10 without a coverage gap, because BadgerCare Plus covers non-disabled adults up to the poverty level on its own.
Will BadgerCare Plus require work starting in 2027?
Yes. Most adults age 19 to 64 without a dependent child under 19 will need to show 80 hours a month of work, school or volunteering, or about $580 in monthly income, starting with new applicants on January 1, 2027 and current members at their next renewal.
Why did Wisconsin’s Marketplace enrollment drop for 2026?
Plan selections fell about 7%, from 313,579 to 291,336, after enhanced federal premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025.
Sources
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.