Quick answer
The 2026 benchmark silver plan in Montana averaged $692 a month for a 40-year-old before subsidies, about $67 above the U.S. average. For 2027, final rates rise 22.6% to 23.3% on average, depending on the calculation, and with PacificSource pulling out, two insurers will be left on the Marketplace. Tax credits soften the hit for most buyers: the average enrollee paid $230 a month after them in 2026.
Key takeaways
- Montana’s 2026 benchmark premium for a 40-year-old was $692 a month before subsidies, compared with $625 nationally.
- Final 2027 rates rise an average of 22.6% to 23.3%, well above the roughly 15% median increase insurers proposed nationwide.
- PacificSource stops selling Marketplace plans after 2026, leaving Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana and Montana Health CO-OP; about 11,000 PacificSource enrollees need a new plan.
- Montana started Medicaid work requirements on July 1, 2026, six months ahead of the federal deadline.
- 78% of 2026 enrollees got a tax credit or cost-sharing help, and 23% paid less than $10 a month.
On this page
What a Montana Marketplace plan costs before subsidies
| Age | Benchmark silver plan, per month (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| 21 | $541 |
| 30 | $615 |
| 40 | $692 |
| 50 | $967 |
| 60 | $1,470 |
| 64 | $1,624 |
| Child under 15 | $414 |
A couple of 40-year-olds with two young children would face about $2,212 a month for benchmark plans at full price.
These are 2026 figures. Final 2027 rates are more than 20% higher on average, so full prices for most 2027 plans will be above what the table shows.
What you’d pay after a tax credit
If you qualify for the premium tax credit, it rises along with the benchmark plan’s price, so your cost for that plan stays tied to your income instead of to the rate increase. The credit is available with household income from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level. A single 40-year-old earning $40,000 would pay about $287 a month for the benchmark plan in 2026, with a credit of about $405. In 2027, that person’s share would be about $289 a month even though full prices are rising.
The picture changes above 400% of the poverty level, which is $62,600 for one person for 2026 coverage and $63,840 for 2027. Past that line there’s no credit, so you’d pay the full 2027 increase yourself.
Montanans who got a credit in 2026 paid about $107 a month on average. Montana 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; see health insurance for low-income families.
Costs beyond the premium
Your premium buys the plan, and using it costs extra. Most plans have a deductible and then copays or coinsurance, until you hit the out-of-pocket maximum, which is $10,600 for one person in 2026 and $12,000 in 2027. A silver plan with cost-sharing reductions lowers those costs if your income is below 250% of the poverty level.
Montana Marketplace facts
- Marketplace: HealthCare.gov, the federal exchange. American Indians and Alaska Natives can enroll at any time of year.
- Enrollment: 73,255 plan selections for 2026, down from a record 77,221 in 2025. 78% got financial help.
- Insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, Montana Health CO-OP and PacificSource sold 2026 plans. PacificSource won’t offer Marketplace coverage after 2026, which affects about 11,000 enrollees; see what to do if your insurance company leaves the Marketplace.
- 2027 prices: Final. The weighted average increase is 22.6% (healthinsurance.org) or 23.3% (ACA Signups), depending on the calculation. By insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana is going up 21.7% and Montana Health CO-OP 27.1%. Montana’s insurance commissioner reviews rates but has no power under state law to reject them.
- State help: A reinsurance program since 2020, with federal approval through 2029; CMS projected it would make 2025 premiums 9.1% lower than without it. There’s no state premium subsidy or individual mandate.
- Medicaid: Montana’s expansion covers adults up to 138% of the poverty level, and a 2025 law made it permanent. Montana is also one of several states with a trigger law that would end expansion if federal funding drops. Children can get Medicaid or Healthy Montana Kids, the state’s CHIP, up to 266% of the poverty level.
When to enroll
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. To be covered from January 1, sign up by December 15. If you’re with PacificSource now, your plan ends with 2026, so picking a new one by December 15 avoids a gap in coverage. For ways to trim the bill, see how to lower your Marketplace premium.
Other options in Montana
- A plan through your employer, often the lowest-cost choice when it’s available.
- Montana Medicaid for adults up to 138% of the poverty level. Since July 1, 2026, most expansion adults ages 19 to 64 must show at least 80 hours a month of work, volunteering, job training or school when their coverage is renewed; see Medicaid work requirements.
- Healthy Montana Kids for children; see health insurance for children.
- Medicare at 65.
Health insurance costs in nearby states: Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota. You can also compare health insurance costs in every state.
Compare 2027 plans and prices in your Montana county: get quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
How much will Montana health insurance premiums go up in 2027?
Final 2027 rates rise an average of 22.6% to 23.3% before subsidies, depending on how the average is calculated. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana is raising rates 21.7% and Montana Health CO-OP 27.1%.
Is PacificSource leaving Montana’s Marketplace?
Yes. PacificSource stops selling Marketplace plans after 2026, leaving two insurers. About 11,000 PacificSource enrollees need to choose a new plan during open enrollment.
When did Montana’s Medicaid work requirements start?
July 1, 2026, six months before the January 1, 2027 federal deadline. Most expansion adults ages 19 to 64 must show 80 hours a month of qualifying activity at their next renewal, unless they’re exempt.
Can Montana’s insurance commissioner block a rate increase?
No. Under a 2013 state law, the commissioner can review rate filings but doesn’t have the authority to disapprove rates or stop them from taking effect.
Sources
- healthinsurance.org: Montana Health Insurance Marketplace
- ACA Signups: 2027 Rate Changes – Montana
- Montana DPHHS: Medicaid Community Engagement Requirements Begin July 1
- Montana Free Press: Montana governor signs Medicaid expansion bill, lifting 2025 sunset
- CMS: Montana Section 1332 Waiver Extension Fact Sheet
- KFF: Marketplace Average Benchmark Premiums
This article is general information, not insurance or tax advice. Your premium depends on your county, age, income and plan. Last reviewed September 2026.