Quick answer
Alaska is one of the most expensive places in the country to buy your own health insurance. In 2026, the benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old averaged $1,032 a month before subsidies, about $400 more than the U.S. average of $625, and full prices run from about $808 at 21 to $2,423 at 64. After tax credits, the average Alaska enrollee paid $344 a month. Insurers have proposed 2027 increases averaging about 22.9%, which hadn’t been approved as of late September 2026.
Key takeaways
- Alaska’s 2026 benchmark premium for a 40-year-old, $1,032 a month, was the fourth-highest in the country.
- Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska and Moda are the state’s only two Marketplace insurers, and both are returning for 2027.
- Proposed 2027 increases average about 22.9% before subsidies, well above the 15% median that insurers proposed nationally, and weren’t final as of late September 2026.
- Alaska’s poverty guidelines are higher than the lower 48’s, so a single person can qualify for a tax credit with income up to $79,800 for 2027 coverage.
- A state reinsurance program, approved under a federal waiver through the end of 2027, pays the claims of enrollees with certain high-cost conditions to hold down full prices.
On this page
What an Alaska Marketplace plan costs before subsidies
| Age | Benchmark silver plan, per month (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| 21 | $808 |
| 30 | $917 |
| 40 | $1,032 |
| 50 | $1,442 |
| 60 | $2,192 |
| 64 | $2,423 |
| Child under 15 | $618 |
A family of four with two 40-year-old parents and two young children would pay about $3,299 a month for benchmark plans before subsidies. About three in four Alaska enrollees get a tax credit that cuts that bill, as the next section shows.
What you’d pay after a tax credit
Alaska has its own federal poverty guidelines, set higher than the ones used in the lower 48 states. For 2027 coverage, the poverty level for one person in Alaska is $19,950, so a premium tax credit is available from $19,950 up to $79,800 in income, compared with a $63,840 ceiling in the lower 48.
Take a single 40-year-old earning $40,000. That’s about 200% of Alaska’s poverty level, so for 2027 they’d be expected to pay about $227 a month for the benchmark plan, with the credit covering the rest of its price. The same income in the lower 48 would mean a share of about $289 a month. Above $79,800, there’s no credit.
In 2026, 74% of Alaska enrollees got a premium tax credit, and it averaged $947 a month. Those enrollees paid $114 a month on average. Across everyone, including people paying full price, the average was $344.
If your income is under 138% of Alaska’s poverty level, about $27,531 a year for one person under the 2026 guidelines, Medicaid may cover you instead. More on that in health insurance for low-income families.
Costs beyond the premium
The premium is only part of what you’ll spend. Most plans have you pay toward a deductible before they cover more, then copays or coinsurance until you reach the out-of-pocket maximum: $10,600 for one person in 2026 and $12,000 in 2027. Silver plans come with cost-sharing reductions if your income is under 250% of the poverty level, which in Alaska is $49,875 for one person for 2027 coverage.
Alaska Marketplace facts
- Marketplace: Alaskans shop on HealthCare.gov; the state doesn’t run its own exchange.
- Enrollment: 26,079 plan selections for 2026, down about 9% from 28,736 in 2025. 2026 was the first year without the enhanced federal tax credits. About 74% of enrollees got a premium tax credit.
- Insurers: Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska and Moda, both returning for 2027. Premera covers most of the state’s Marketplace enrollees.
- 2027 prices: Not final as of late September 2026. The filings work out to a weighted-average increase of about 22.9% before subsidies, and Premera asked for a larger increase than Moda. The state Division of Insurance hadn’t announced final rates. Compare other states in 2027 premium increases by state.
- State help: The Alaska Reinsurance Program has run under a federal waiver since 2018. It reimburses insurers for a full year of claims for enrollees with any of 34 high-cost conditions. CMS estimated it made 2023 premiums about 38.5% lower than they would have been otherwise. The current approval runs through December 31, 2027. Alaska has no state premium subsidy or individual mandate.
- Medicaid: Alaska expanded Medicaid on September 1, 2015, for adults up to 138% of the poverty level. Denali KidCare, the state’s CHIP, covers children up to 208%. Federal Medicaid work requirements for many expansion adults are set to start January 1, 2027, and Alaska has asked federal officials for more time.
When to enroll
Alaska uses HealthCare.gov’s calendar. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and a plan you pick by December 15 starts January 1. If you miss the window, see what to do after open enrollment ends.
Other options in Alaska
- A plan through your job or a spouse’s job, often the lowest-cost choice when one is offered.
- Medicaid for adults up to 138% of the poverty level, and Denali KidCare for children and pregnant women who meet its income limits; see health insurance for children.
- Medicare at 65.
Health insurance costs in nearby states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Hawaii. You can also compare health insurance costs in every state.
See 2027 plans and prices where you live in Alaska: compare quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
How much is health insurance in Alaska per month?
Before subsidies, the 2026 benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old averaged $1,032 a month, and a 64-year-old would pay about $2,423. After tax credits, the average Alaska enrollee paid $344 a month, and those who got a credit paid $114.
What’s the income limit for a tax credit in Alaska?
For 2027 coverage, it’s $79,800 for a single person, which is 400% of Alaska’s poverty level of $19,950. That’s higher than the $63,840 limit in the lower 48 because Alaska has its own, higher poverty guidelines.
What does Alaska’s reinsurance program do?
It pays insurers back for the claims of enrollees with any of 34 expensive conditions, which helps keep full-price premiums lower for everyone. The program started in 2018, and its current federal approval runs through the end of 2027.
How much are Alaska health insurance rates going up in 2027?
Insurers have proposed increases averaging about 22.9% before subsidies. As of late September 2026, the Division of Insurance hadn’t approved final rates.
Sources
This article is general information, not insurance or tax advice. Prices are averages and estimates; your actual premium depends on where you live in Alaska, your age, your income and the plan you choose. Last reviewed September 2026.