Quick answer
It depends on where you get coverage, your age and your income. With a job-based plan, the average worker paid $1,440 a year (about $120 a month) for single coverage in 2025. On the marketplace, the benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old averaged $625 a month before subsidies in 2026, but the average enrollee paid about $178 after tax credits. If your income is below about $22,000 and your state expanded Medicaid, you may pay nothing.
Key takeaways
- Job-based single coverage averaged $9,325 a year in 2025; employers paid about 84% of it.
- Before subsidies, marketplace premiums range from about $489 a month at 21 to $1,327 at 60 for a benchmark plan.
- For 2026 coverage, a single person earning $35,000 pays about $218 a month for the benchmark plan after the tax credit.
- Above $62,600 of income, there’s no tax credit for 2026 coverage, which can double the cost for older adults.
- Your deductible, copays and prescriptions add to what you’ll spend in a year.
On this page
If you get coverage through work
The average single premium for job-based coverage was $9,325 in 2025. Workers paid $1,440 of it, about $120 a month, and employers paid the rest. The average deductible for single coverage was $1,886. See is it cheaper to get health insurance through your employer.
If you buy your own plan
Marketplace premiums depend on your age, where you live, tobacco use and the plan level. Here’s the national average benchmark silver premium in 2026 before subsidies:
| Age | Monthly premium before subsidies |
|---|---|
| 21 | About $489 |
| 30 | About $555 |
| 40 | About $625 |
| 50 | About $873 |
| 60 | About $1,327 |
| 64 | About $1,467 |
Bronze plans cost less and gold plans more; see the difference between bronze, silver, gold and platinum plans.
What you’d pay after a tax credit
| Your income | Your cost for the benchmark silver plan |
|---|---|
| $20,000 | About $35 a month |
| $25,000 | About $97 a month |
| $35,000 | About $218 a month |
| $50,000 | About $415 a month |
| $62,000 | About $515 a month |
| $63,000 | Full price: about $625 at 40, $1,327 at 60 |
The jump at $62,600 (400% of the poverty level) is steep, especially for older adults. The enhanced subsidies that removed that cliff expired at the end of 2025. Report your income as accurately as you can: if you under-report your income, you’ll repay the extra credit at tax time, and there’s no cap on repayment starting with 2026 coverage.
In the 41 states (including DC) that expanded Medicaid, you can qualify for Medicaid with income up to about $22,025 in 2026.
Other costs to plan for
Your premium is only part of the cost. You’ll also pay:
- A deductible before the plan pays for many services. See what a deductible is and how to meet your deductible.
- Copays and coinsurance for visits, tests like X-rays and procedures like surgery. See do copays count toward your deductible.
- Prescriptions. Check each plan’s drug list; see does health insurance cover prescription drugs.
- Dental and vision, which usually cost extra for adults. See does Obamacare cover dental and does Obamacare cover vision.
Your yearly costs for covered in-network care are capped at $10,600 in 2026 ($12,000 in 2027).
How to pay less
- Compare every plan in your area after your tax credit; see comparing health insurance.
- If your income is under 250% of the poverty level, look at silver plans with cost-sharing reductions.
- If you’re under 30, check catastrophic plans.
- See how to pick your health insurance for a step-by-step guide.
State-by-state costs: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
Costs by age: 26, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 64, plus couples.
See what you’d pay for your age and ZIP code: compare quotes.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the average cost of health insurance for one person?
About $120 a month for a worker’s share of job-based coverage in 2025. On the marketplace, about $178 a month after subsidies in 2026, or $625 before subsidies for a 40-year-old’s benchmark plan.
How much is health insurance for a single person with no income?
If your state expanded Medicaid, you likely qualify for free coverage. In states that didn’t expand, adults with income below the poverty level often can’t get Medicaid or tax credits.
What will health insurance cost in 2027?
Insurers proposed a median increase of 15% for 2027. The tax credit limit for one person rises to $63,840, and the most anyone pays for the benchmark plan rises to 10.22% of income.
Sources
- KFF: 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey
- KFF: Average marketplace benchmark premiums by state
- KFF: What we know about 2026 ACA marketplace enrollment, premiums and deductibles
- IRS: Rev. Proc. 2025-25 (2026 applicable percentages, PDF)
- Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker: How much and why ACA marketplace premiums are going up in 2027
This article is general information, not insurance or tax advice. Estimates use national averages; your actual costs depend on your state, age, income and plan. Last reviewed September 2026.