Affordable Care Act (ACA)

How Much Does Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Insurance Cost?

Q: Can I get Obamacare if I have no income?

With no income , you’ll likely qualify for Medicaid in your state or territory. When you apply for health insurance through an ACA marketplace, you’ll be able to find out whether you’re eligible for Obamacare or Medicaid.

Written by Sana Khan MBA, MPH

Updated on March 30, 2026

omgimages/iStock via Getty Images

Key takeaways:

Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans require you to pay a monthly premium, which may be reduced by a premium tax credit, also known as a premium subsidy.
Enhanced premium tax credits that provided even more savings on ACA plans for a large population of enrollees are not available for the 2026 coverage year. Standard premium tax credits can still help some people save money on their plans.
ACA insurance plans typically come with out-of-pocket costs such as a deductible and copayments or coinsurance when you access care.
If you qualify for cost-sharing reductions known as “extra savings” and select a silver plan, you can receive help paying for your deductible and copays. You will also have a lower out-of-pocket maximum.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) — also known as Obamacare — is the 2010 comprehensive health-reform law that expanded health insurance options in the U.S. The first plans to provide health coverage under the ACA were effective in 2014.

Over the years, ACA marketplaces have extended health insurance coverage to millions of people. The ACA also led to Medicaid expansion in most states. As a result, uninsured people now account for a smaller share of the U.S. population. And those with coverage have more options for healthcare.

Having an ACA health insurance plan typically means paying a monthly premium. There are also out-of-pocket expenses when you access care, including your deductible and cost-sharing amounts for medical services such as:

Healthcare visits
Prescription medications
Tests

Keep reading to learn more about how much Obamacare costs.

What is the total financial cost of an ACA insurance plan?

It’s important to consider the complete financial picture when thinking about what you will pay to have and use an ACA health insurance plan. This is called your total cost estimate for health coverage. Your total cost estimate is the sum of your premiums, deductible, and other out-of-pocket costs when you access care.

Here’s more information about these expenses:

Your premium is the monthly bill for your health insurance plan.
Your deductible is triggered when you need care. This is the amount you pay before your insurance begins to share costs, except for when you access preventive health services. For instance, if you have a $1,000 deductible, you will pay $1,000 out of pocket for applicable medical services before your insurance company begins to pay its part.
Your other potential out-of-pocket costs include copayments and coinsurance. These are post-deductible payments you make each time you get in-network healthcare, excluding preventive health services. A copayment, or copay, is a fixed amount that you pay after meeting your deductible. Coinsurance is a percentage of the cost of a covered health service.
Your out-of-pocket costs have a limit with ACA plans. Your out-of-pocket maximum is the most you could be asked to pay for covered services in a plan year. If your deductible, copays, and coinsurance payments reach this amount, all covered services for the rest of the plan year will be paid in full by your insurance. The out-of-pocket limits in 2026 for marketplace plans are $10,600 for an individual and $21,200 for a family. Your maximum is lower if you qualify for cost-sharing reductions, which we will discuss later.

What factors contribute to the cost of an ACA plan?

The cost of your ACA health insurance plan will depend on many factors, including:

Whether you apply as an individual or a family, and your household size
Your income
Where you live — often down to the county
The type of plan you choose, which could be an option in the metal tiers or a catastrophic plan
Whether you qualify for subsidies like premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions

ACA plans are organized into four metal tiers: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Bronze plans have the lowest monthly premiums but the highest out-of-pocket costs when you receive care. Conversely, platinum plans have the highest monthly costs but the lowest expenses when you access healthcare services.

How much in monthly premiums can you expect to pay with Obamacare?

As mentioned, any ACA plan you choose will have a monthly premium. If you qualify, a premium tax credit — also known as a premium subsidy — could reduce your monthly bill. This amount will be based on your estimated income in the coverage year. If your actual income is higher or lower, your premium tax credit could be adjusted.

In general, individuals and families who meet certain income limits — earning 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL) — qualify for a premium tax credit. You can estimate your premiums and subsidies using this ACA health insurance marketplace calculator.

Generally, what you pay each month depends on the plan you select. A KFF national analysis of marketplace plans for a 40-year-old person found that the average benchmark premium (the second-lowest cost silver option) is $625 in 2026. Enhanced premium tax credits were eliminated for the 2026 coverage year. As a result, many people have much higher premiums. Average benchmark premiums in 2026 range from $401 in New Hampshire to $1,299 in Vermont.

Average 2026 Marketplace Premium for a 40-Year-Old (Without Subsidies)

Plan category	2026 cost
Average lowest-cost bronze premium	$456
Average lowest-cost silver premium	$611
Average benchmark silver premium	$625
Average lowest-cost gold premium	$615

You may qualify for what’s known as “extra savings” if you select a silver plan. These cost-sharing reductions can help you pay less out of pocket when you receive care. The savings apply to your deductible, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum.

Use this income tool to find out if your estimated income falls within the range to qualify for cost-sharing reductions. If you are eligible, you will find out exactly how much you’ll save when you apply for ACA coverage and shop for a silver plan.

Enrolling in a silver plan and qualifying for cost-sharing reductions can:

Lower your deductible: Let’s say your deductible is $750. That means you have to pay $750 in medical costs before your insurance plan begins to pay. (This does not apply to preventive services, which are covered regardless of whether you’ve reached your deductible.) If you qualify for cost-sharing savings, your deductible could be reduced to $300, $500, or another amount below $750, depending on your income.
Lower your copays and coinsurance: If your copay for a service is normally $30, cost-sharing reductions could drop that to $15, $20, or another amount below $30.
Lower your out-of-pocket maximum: According to a 2026 Congressional report on ACA subsidies, someone with a household income of 150% of the FPL who is eligible to receive cost-sharing reductions could have an annual out-of-pocket limit of $3,350, compared to an annual limit of more than $10,000 for someone who is enrolled in a silver plan and doesn’t receive these discounts.

Certain special populations have ACA coverage but pay nothing out of pocket when they access care through select healthcare professionals and facilities or essential health benefits. These populations qualify for what’s known as a zero-cost-sharing plan. This coverage is available to members of federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation shareholders. These consumers also must have incomes 100% to 300% of the federal poverty level to qualify for premium tax credits.

How do deductibles work under the Affordable Care Act?

A deductible is the amount that you pay for covered medical services before your health plan starts pitching in. Here are a few things to know about your deductible:

Generally, health plans with higher premiums have lower deductibles. Plans with lower premiums have higher deductibles.
After you meet your deductible, all covered medical services you receive should only require a copay or coinsurance (until you reach your out-of-pocket maximum). Your insurance plan will pay the rest.
When you access preventive health services — including well visits, certain screenings, and vaccinations — you do not have to pay toward your deductible and you're not responsible for any copay or coinsurance.
Your deductible will be reduced or eliminated if you qualify for cost-sharing reductions or have a zero-cost-sharing plan.

Frequently asked questions

Anyone of any income who is otherwise eligible can buy a plan on an ACA marketplace. But you’ll need an income of 100% to 400% of the FPL to qualify for a premium subsidy.

The lowest-cost option for insurance may be to hitchhike on a plan where you qualify as a dependent and aren’t responsible for paying the premium. (Though, this could increase the costs of the policy owner if they have to change from an individual to a family plan). You could join the plan of a spouse or domestic partner, or a parent, if you qualify.

Otherwise, you could look for a plan with a lower premium. Plans that generally have lower premiums include catastrophic and high-deductible health plans. Other options for affordable health insurance include Medicaid coverage and student insurance, depending on your eligibility.

With no income, you’ll likely qualify for Medicaid in your state or territory. When you apply for health insurance through an ACA marketplace, you’ll be able to find out whether you’re eligible for Obamacare or Medicaid.

The bottom line

Having insurance through an Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plan generally requires paying a monthly premium and out-of-pocket costs when you receive services. Out-of-pocket costs with an ACA plan include your deductible and copays or coinsurance for covered care.

A premium tax credit could reduce your monthly bill. If you qualify for cost-sharing reductions and select a silver plan, you can have additional savings on your deductible, copays and coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum.

why trust our exports reliability shield

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Sana Khan MBA, MPH

Sana Khan, MBA, MPH, has over 10 years of experience in the healthcare and finance industry in different capacities. In the past, she's held roles as a consultant and analyst, acting as the latter for a large hospital system in Ohio.

Edited by:

Cindy George, MPH

Cindy George, MPH, is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts

References

Fernandez, B. (2026). Health insurance premium tax and cost-sharing reductions. Congress.gov.

Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Catastrophic Events, et al. (2014). Key features of the Affordable Care Act by year. The Impacts of the Affordable Care Act on Preparedness Resources and Programs: Workshop Summary. National Academies Press.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.