Quick answer
Hawaii’s 2026 benchmark silver plan averaged $541 a month for a 40-year-old before subsidies, below the U.S. average of $625. Full prices run from about $423 a month at 21 to $1,270 at 64. About 72% of Hawaii enrollees got financial help, compared with about 87% nationally, and the average enrollee paid $372 a month after tax credits. Approved 2027 increases average 11.1% to 12.7% before subsidies, depending on the calculation.
Key takeaways
- Hawaii’s 2026 benchmark premium for a 40-year-old was $541 a month before subsidies, $84 below the national average.
- The average Hawaii enrollee paid $372 a month after tax credits in 2026, about twice the national average of $178.
- Regulators approved 2027 increases averaging 11.1% to 12.7% before subsidies, depending on the calculation, and HMSA’s plans rise 13.3% on average.
- Only two insurers sell Marketplace plans in Hawaii, HMSA and Kaiser Permanente, and both are returning for 2027.
- Hawaii’s poverty guidelines are higher than the mainland’s, so tax credits reach incomes up to $73,440 for one person for 2027 coverage.
On this page
What a Hawaii Marketplace plan costs before subsidies
| Age | Benchmark silver plan, per month (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| 21 | $423 |
| 30 | $480 |
| 40 | $541 |
| 50 | $756 |
| 60 | $1,149 |
| 64 | $1,270 |
| Child under 15 | $324 |
A family with two 40-year-old parents and two young children would pay about $1,730 a month for benchmark plans at full price.
What you’d pay after tax credits
Hawaii has its own federal poverty guidelines, set higher than the mainland’s, so the income limits for help are higher too. For 2027 coverage, the poverty level for one person in Hawaii is $18,360. A premium tax credit is available from 100% to 400% of that, or up to $73,440, compared with $63,840 in the lower 48 states. Above that line, you pay full price.
Take a single 40-year-old in Hawaii earning $40,000. That’s about 218% of Hawaii’s poverty level, so for 2027 they’d be expected to pay about $248 a month for the benchmark plan, and the credit would cover the rest of its price. The same income on the mainland would mean a share of about $289 a month.
A smaller share of Hawaii enrollees get this help than nationally, and the ones paying full price pull the state’s average up. In 2026, enrollees who did get a credit paid $243 a month on average, against $372 for all enrollees.
Med-QUEST, Hawaii’s Medicaid program, covers adults with incomes up to 138% of Hawaii’s poverty level, about $25,337 a year for one person under the 2026 guidelines. See health insurance for low-income families.
Costs beyond the premium
Once you use care, your deductible, copays and coinsurance kick in, up to the out-of-pocket maximum: $10,600 for one person in 2026 and $12,000 in 2027. With income under 250% of the poverty level (about $45,900 for one person in Hawaii for 2027 coverage), a silver plan’s cost-sharing reductions lower those costs.
Hawaii Marketplace facts
- Marketplace: HealthCare.gov, the federal exchange.
- Enrollment: 23,380 people picked a plan for 2026, about 5% fewer than the 24,606 in 2025. Roughly 72% qualified for financial help, and the average premium after tax credits was $372 a month.
- Insurers: Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan are the only Marketplace insurers, and both return for 2027. See our Kaiser Permanente individual plans review.
- 2027 prices: Approved in September 2026. The average increase is 11.1% or 12.7% before subsidies, depending on how the two insurers’ enrollment is weighted. HMSA’s approved average is 13.3%.
- State help: Hawaii has no state premium subsidy, reinsurance program or individual mandate. Its Prepaid Health Care Act requires employers to cover employees who work at least 20 hours a week and caps the worker’s share of the premium at 1.5% of gross wages.
- Medicaid: Med-QUEST covers adults up to 138% of Hawaii’s poverty level and children up to 313%. Hawaii also uses Medicaid funds to help citizens of Compact of Free Association nations with premium costs. Federal work requirements for many adults in the expansion group start January 1, 2027. See health insurance for children.
When to enroll
Hawaii uses HealthCare.gov, so open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. If you want coverage from January 1, choose a plan by December 15. For ways to bring your premium down, see how to lower your Marketplace premium.
Other options in Hawaii
- Coverage through your job. If you work at least 20 hours a week, Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act generally requires your employer to offer it. See whether it’s cheaper to get insurance through your employer.
- Med-QUEST for adults up to 138% of Hawaii’s poverty level and children up to 313%.
- Medicare at 65.
Short-term health insurance isn’t sold in Hawaii, so it can’t fill a gap if you miss open enrollment.
Health insurance costs in nearby states: Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington. You can also compare health insurance costs in every state.
Find 2027 plans and prices where you live in Hawaii: compare quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the average cost of health insurance in Hawaii?
The 2026 benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old averaged $541 a month before subsidies. After tax credits, the average Hawaii enrollee paid $372 a month in 2026, and those who got a credit paid $243.
Do employers in Hawaii have to offer health insurance?
Yes. Under the Prepaid Health Care Act, employers must provide coverage to employees who work at least 20 hours a week, and the employee’s share can’t be more than 1.5% of gross wages.
Who sells Marketplace plans in Hawaii?
Two: HMSA and Kaiser Permanente. Both are back for 2027, with approved increases averaging 11.1% to 12.7% across the market, depending on the calculation.
What’s the income limit for Marketplace tax credits in Hawaii?
For 2027 coverage, a single person in Hawaii can get a premium tax credit with income up to $73,440, which is 400% of Hawaii’s poverty level. That’s higher than the $63,840 limit in the lower 48 states.
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. Last reviewed September 2026.