Quick answer
Full-price health insurance in West Virginia is among the most expensive in the country: the 2026 benchmark silver plan averaged $1,073 a month for a 40-year-old, compared with $625 nationally. Tax credits cover most of that for most buyers, and the average enrollee paid $208 a month after them. For 2027, CareSource is leaving the state’s individual market, and Highmark has proposed an average increase of 18.3%, which hadn’t been approved as of late September 2026.
Key takeaways
- West Virginia’s 2026 benchmark premium for a 40-year-old was $1,073 a month before subsidies, the third-highest of any state.
- Across all plans chosen in 2026, the average full-price premium was $1,314 a month, and the average tax credit was $1,244.
- 55,879 West Virginians picked a Marketplace plan for 2026, down about 17% from 2025, and 89% got financial help.
- CareSource is leaving West Virginia’s individual market at the end of 2026, so its members need to choose a new plan for 2027.
- Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia proposed an average 18.3% increase for 2027, still a proposal as of late September 2026.
On this page
What a West Virginia Marketplace plan costs before subsidies
| Age | Benchmark silver plan, per month (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| 21 | $840 |
| 30 | $953 |
| 40 | $1,073 |
| 50 | $1,500 |
| 60 | $2,279 |
| 64 | $2,519 |
| Child under 15 | $642 |
Two 40-year-old parents with two young children would owe about $3,431 a month for benchmark plans if they paid full price.
Only Vermont and Wyoming had higher benchmark premiums for a 40-year-old in 2026. Most West Virginia buyers don’t pay these prices, though: 89% of 2026 enrollees got a tax credit.
What you’d pay after tax credits
In a high-cost state, the premium tax credit does most of the work. If your household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, the credit limits what you pay for the benchmark plan to a share of your income. A single 40-year-old in West Virginia earning $40,000 would pay about $287 a month for the benchmark plan in 2026, and the credit would cover about $786. For 2027, the same person’s share would be about $289 a month.
In 2026, enrollees who got help paid about $80 a month on average, and 36% of all enrollees paid less than $10 a month after their credit.
The 400% cutoff matters more here than in lower-cost states. Above 400% of the poverty level ($62,600 for one person for 2026 coverage, $63,840 for 2027), there’s no credit at all, so a 60-year-old just over that line would face about $2,279 a month for the benchmark plan at 2026 prices.
West Virginia expanded Medicaid, so adults with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level (about $22,025 a year for one person in 2026) can usually get Medicaid instead. For other low-cost routes, see health insurance for low-income families.
Costs beyond the premium
Your deductible, copays and coinsurance decide what you pay at the doctor or hospital, up to the out-of-pocket maximum of $10,600 for one person in 2026 and $12,000 in 2027. If your income is under 250% of the poverty level, pick a silver plan to get cost-sharing reductions, which lower those amounts.
West Virginia Marketplace facts
- Marketplace: HealthCare.gov, the federal exchange.
- Enrollment: 55,879 plan selections for 2026, down from 67,113 in 2025. 89% got financial help, and the average enrollee paid $208 a month after tax credits.
- Insurers: CareSource is leaving West Virginia’s individual market at the end of 2026. If it covers you now, you’ll need to pick a new plan during open enrollment; see what to do if your insurance company leaves the Marketplace. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia has filed 2027 rates.
- 2027 prices: Proposed as of late September 2026. Highmark asked for an average increase of 18.3%, ranging from 15.1% to 21.8% depending on the plan.
- State help: No state premium subsidy, reinsurance program or individual mandate. The federal tax credit is the only premium help available.
- Medicaid: Adults qualify up to 138% of the poverty level. WVCHIP covers children, and pregnant women, up to 300% of the poverty level. Federal work requirements for many adults in the expansion group begin January 1, 2027. See Medicaid work requirements.
When to enroll
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. To have coverage from January 1, sign up by December 15. That date matters most for CareSource members, whose current plans end with 2026. For ways to trim your bill, see how to lower your Marketplace premium.
Other options in West Virginia
- Health insurance through an employer, which is often the cheapest option if you have access to it.
- West Virginia Medicaid for adults up to 138% of the poverty level, and WVCHIP for children; see health insurance for children.
- Medicare at 65.
Health insurance costs in nearby states: Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. You can also compare health insurance costs in every state.
Compare 2027 plans and prices in your West Virginia county: get quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance expensive in West Virginia?
At full price, yes. The 2026 benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old averaged $1,073 a month, the third-highest in the country, but the average enrollee paid $208 a month after tax credits.
Is CareSource leaving West Virginia?
Yes. CareSource is leaving the state’s individual market at the end of 2026. If you have a CareSource plan, pick a new one by December 15 so your coverage continues on January 1.
Will West Virginia premiums rise in 2027?
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia proposed an average increase of 18.3% before subsidies. That rate was still a proposal as of late September 2026. If you get a tax credit, the credit rises along with the benchmark premium, so your cost for a benchmark plan stays tied to your income.
Does West Virginia have its own health insurance subsidy?
No. West Virginia doesn’t run a state premium subsidy or reinsurance program, so help with premiums comes from federal tax credits.
Sources
This article is general information, not insurance or tax advice. Premiums are averages and estimates; yours depends on your county, age, income and plan, and West Virginia’s 2027 rates weren’t final when this was written. Last reviewed September 2026.