7 Ways to Get Free or Low-Cost Health Insurance

1. Affordable Care Act marketplace

The ACA makes affordable health insurance available through federal and state marketplaces. ACA marketplaces offer premium tax credits, also known as premium subsidies. Your potential savings with premium subsidies depend on your income and household size.

The deep discounts on premiums from previous years are no longer available. Starting in 2021, enhanced premium tax credits significantly lowered premiums and drove record enrollment by expanding the population eligible for savings. In 2025, that meant more than 90% of ACA enrollees — about 22 million people — received additional savings on plans. These enhanced subsidies were eliminated for the 2026 coverage year. As a result, many people now have much higher premiums.

2. Medicaid

Depending on your income, enrolling in Medicaid could be one of the best ways to access free or low-cost health insurance coverage. As of February 2026, Medicaid covered more than 67 million people nationwide. Medicaid is the largest source of health insurance in the U.S.

Medicaid is jointly funded by states and the federal government. All 50 states, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories administer Medicaid programs. If you’re applying for ACA insurance and anyone in your household qualifies for Medicaid, your application will be automatically forwarded to your local Medicaid agency. But you can also apply directly.

Medicaid eligibility is determined by income and family size, among other factors. Emergency Medicaid, which offers coverage for ER services, is one of the only federal health insurance programs available to undocumented immigrants.

Also, Medicaid now covers some people with higher incomes. We will discuss this later.

3. Children’s Health Insurance Program

As of February 2026, more than 7 million people were enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This program covers children whose families earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but can’t afford to buy a private health insurance plan. People who are pregnant or have recently given birth also qualify for CHIP coverage in some states.

4. High-deductible health plan

A high-deductible health plan (HDHP) is a health insurance policy that typically pairs lower monthly premiums with a high deductible. About one-third of employer-sponsored plans and all bronze and catastrophic plans available through the ACA marketplace are HDHPs. Before you meet your deductible, an HDHP typically covers all of your in-network preventive care. This includes annual exams, certain vaccines, and screenings. But many people with HDHPs aren’t aware of this and don’t take advantage of covered services.

In 2026, HDHPs have a minimum deductible of $1,700 for an individual and $3,400 for a family. But the maximum out-of-pocket costs (excluding premiums) are $8,500 for an individual and $17,000 for a family. In 2027, HDHPs will have a minimum deductible of $1,750 for an individual and $3,500 for a family. But the maximum out-of-pocket costs are $8,700 for an individual and $17,400 for a family.

Having an HDHP typically gives you the option to enroll in a health savings account (HSA). You can deposit pretax money in an HSA and use it to pay medical costs. In some cases, employers offer HSAs, but you can also set up one on your own. Your HDHP may also pair with a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), which is an exclusively employer-funded account. Employees can’t contribute to an HRA.

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As noted earlier, catastrophic health plans are considered HDHPs. Catastrophic plans are designed to protect you from incurring costs related to worst-case scenarios, such as serious injury or prolonged illness. People in these groups qualify for catastrophic plans:

• Adults under 30

• Adults 30 and older who don’t qualify for savings through the ACA marketplace

• Adults 30 and older who have been granted an affordability or hardship exemption to access ACA coverage

5. Medicare with Extra Help

If you have Medicare, you may qualify for a Part D low-income subsidy program known as Extra Help. This program helps people with limited income pay for their Medicare Part D costs. In 2026, most people with Extra Help pay:

• No monthly premiums for their Part D prescription medication coverage

• No Part D deductible

• No more than $12.65 for brand-name medications

• No more than $5.10 for generic medications

People who live in one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C., can apply for Extra Help. In American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, there are other programs that help Medicare enrollees with limited income pay for prescription medications.

Some people automatically qualify for Extra Help. This includes:

• People with dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid

• People who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

• People who qualify for one of the four Medicare Savings Programs, which are run by Medicaid programs

If you have Medicare Part D and believe you qualify for Extra Help, but have not been enrolled automatically, you can apply through the U.S. Social Security Administration. This application is for Extra Help only and doesn’t enroll you in a Part D plan.

6. Medicare special needs plans

Medicare enrollees can choose between original Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) and private alternatives, known collectively as Medicare Advantage. Medicare special needs plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans for people who have certain conditions and meet other requirements. SNPs provide care coordination, among other benefits.

There are three kinds of SNPs:

1. Chronic condition SNP: This plan type is for people with diabetes, dementia, or another qualifying chronic health issue.

2. Institutional SNP: This plan type is for people who live in a nursing home or an inpatient care center, or who receive a high level of nursing care at home.

3. Dual-eligible SNP: This plan type is for people who qualify for Medicare and full Medicaid. (Some dually eligible people have partial Medicaid eligibility and only qualify for the Medicare Savings Program benefit.)

7. A parent’s plan

If you are younger than age 26, you may qualify for coverage through an insured parent’s health plan. You can qualify for this type of coverage even if you’re married, you’re a parent, you’re not claimed as a dependent, or you don’t live at home. And the maximum age is higher in some states if you meet certain requirements. 

This coverage rule applies if your parent has job-based insurance or an ACA plan. Any extra cost of covering you under one of these plans is typically lower than what you’d pay for a separate policy.

How to choose a low-cost insurance plan

Here are some questions to ask yourself when shopping around for low-cost insurance:

• Eligibility: What low-cost coverage options do I qualify for?

• Budget: What is my current financial situation? How much can I afford to pay for a monthly premium? What are the out-of-pocket costs when I access care?

• Plans: What are the coverage options? Will I have coverage for the healthcare professionals and facilities that I need? Which plans include my prescription medications on their formularies?

• Lifestyle: In the next year, am I expecting any major life changes, such as getting a spouse or domestic partner, adding a child to the household, or retiring?

When can you enroll in a low-cost insurance plan?

Enrollment opportunities vary based on the insurance plan you’re considering. But, generally, you can join a health plan during open enrollment. You may qualify for a special enrollment period at any time of the year if you experience a qualifying life event like losing health coverage, getting married, or having a baby.

Beware of low-cost healthcare offers that aren’t insurance

If you’re not getting a health plan through your employer, the ACA marketplace, or an insurance company, you might not be buying insurance. Not all products that offer help with medical costs are insurance. Beware of healthcare sharing ministries (also known as medical cost-sharing programs) and nonlicensed risk-sharing plans. These arrangements don’t have the same consumer protections, insurance department regulation, or claims payment guarantees as health insurance plans.

Where can I go for free or low-cost medical care without insurance?

Hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities may offer free or low-cost healthcare services to people without insurance. This includes medical care and prescription medications. Here are some places you might be able to find this type of affordable care. 

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Written 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.

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