Health Insurance Cost 2026
By Axis Intelligence Research
Co-author: David Park | Last updated: October 3, 2026 | License: CC BY 4.0
Prices verified on October 3, 2026. Every premium, deductible and cap on this page was read on that date from a primary source: KFF’s 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey, CMS’s Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report, KFF’s analysis of CMS Marketplace premium data, IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25, the HHS Marketplace Integrity and Affordability rule, and CMS and Department of Labor guidance. Health insurance has no single list price, so we publish the official averages and ranges with their basis, never an invented point. Full fact table (CSV, 200 rows) at the end of the page.
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in 2026?
Quick answer: A worker with employer coverage pays an average of $1,440 a year toward a $9,325 single premium and $6,850 toward a $26,993 family premium (KFF, 2025). A 40-year-old buying Marketplace coverage without a subsidy pays an average of $625 a month ($7,500 a year) for the benchmark silver plan in 2026. After tax credits, the average Marketplace enrollee pays $178 a month.
Those three numbers describe three different products, which is why “how much is health insurance” has no honest one-line answer. The premium is also only half the bill. So Axis Intelligence Research built a single comparable unit for every way Americans buy coverage: the Premium-Plus-Deductible Cost (PPDC), the money a household must spend in a year before its plan starts paying for most care.
Key Findings
- According to Axis Intelligence Research, the PPDC for single employer coverage averages $3,326 a year, against $12,804 for an unsubsidized 40-year-old on benchmark silver Marketplace coverage, a ratio of 3.85 to 1.
- Benchmark Marketplace premiums for a 40-year-old rose from $497 to $625 a month for 2026, an increase of 25.8% per Axis Intelligence Research’s calculation from KFF data, while what the average enrollee actually paid after tax credits rose 57.5%, from $113 to $178 a month, per CMS.
- Axis Intelligence Research estimates the 2026 subsidy cliff at $9,692 a year for a single 60-year-old earning just above $62,600 (400% of the poverty line), the gap between losing all premium tax credits and keeping them.
- Employers pay $20,143 of the average $26,993 family premium (74.6%) and $7,885 of the $9,325 single premium (84.6%), according to Axis Intelligence Research’s calculation from KFF’s 2025 survey.
- Workers at firms with 10 to 199 employees pay $8,889 a year for family coverage, $2,662 more than workers at larger firms ($6,227), per KFF; 28% of small-firm workers face a family contribution of $12,000 or more.
Health Insurance Price Table 2026: Every Way to Buy Coverage, Side by Side
There is no vendor price sheet for health insurance. Prices are set plan by plan, county by county, and published through surveys and regulators. The table below uses the official national averages for each channel, each read from its primary source on October 3, 2026. Survey averages and regulatory caps are different kinds of numbers; we keep them in separate rows and never blend them (see Methodology).
| Channel | Tier or plan | Price | Unit | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer plan, all firms | Single, total premium | $9,325 | per year, 2025 avg. | Oct 3, 2026 | KFF EHBS 2025 |
| Employer plan, all firms | Single, worker share | $1,440 | per year | Oct 3, 2026 | KFF EHBS 2025 |
| Employer plan, all firms | Family, total premium | $26,993 | per year, 2025 avg. | Oct 3, 2026 | KFF EHBS 2025 |
| Employer plan, all firms | Family, worker share | $6,850 | per year | Oct 3, 2026 | KFF EHBS 2025 |
| Employer plan, 10-199 workers | Family, worker share | $8,889 | per year | Oct 3, 2026 | KFF EHBS 2025 |
| Employer plan, PPO | Family, total premium | $28,272 | per year | Oct 3, 2026 | KFF EHBS 2025 |
| Employer plan, HDHP with savings option | Family, total premium | $25,379 | per year | Oct 3, 2026 | KFF EHBS 2025 |
| Marketplace, age 40, no subsidy | Benchmark (second-lowest silver) | $625 | per month, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 | KFF analysis of CMS data |
| Marketplace, age 40, no subsidy | Lowest-cost bronze | $456 | per month | Oct 3, 2026 | KFF analysis of CMS data |
| Marketplace, age 40, no subsidy | Lowest-cost silver | $611 | per month | Oct 3, 2026 | KFF analysis of CMS data |
| Marketplace, age 40, no subsidy | Lowest-cost gold | $615 | per month | Oct 3, 2026 | KFF analysis of CMS data |
| Marketplace, all enrollees | Average paid after tax credits | $178 | per month | Oct 3, 2026 | CMS 2026 OEP Report |
| COBRA continuation | Any tier | up to 102% | of full plan cost | Oct 3, 2026 | U.S. Department of Labor |
| Medicare Part B (age 65+) | Standard premium | $202.90 | per month, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 | CMS |
Two notes from the verification pass. First, KFF’s 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey had not been published when this page was verified, so employer figures are 2025 survey values, the latest available; we flag them as such rather than inflate them forward (the declined projection is logged as a retracted row in the CSV). Second, the CMS Open Enrollment Report’s narrative text gives the 2026 average premium before tax credits as $619, while trade-press readings of the report’s Table 5 place $619 in 2025 and $741 in 2026. We could not resolve the conflict from the text alone, so both values are published as a discrepancy and neither is used in our calculations.
Commentary, David Park: The question I hear most this year is “why did my bill jump when the news says premiums rose 26%?” Both things are true. The sticker price of a benchmark plan rose about a quarter. What people pay after subsidies rose more than half, because the enhanced tax credits that had absorbed the increases expired on January 1. The price didn’t change twice. The discount went away.
What Does Employer Health Insurance Cost a Worker in 2026?
The average covered worker contributes 16% of the single premium and 26% of the family premium, per KFF’s 2025 survey. In dollars, that is $1,440 a year for single coverage ($120 a month) and $6,850 for family coverage. The employer pays the rest, which is the largest piece of compensation most workers never see on a pay stub: $7,885 per single enrollee and $20,143 per family enrollee, per Axis Intelligence Research’s calculation. Our business operating costs analysis tracks that same employer line against total labor cost.
Family premiums have risen 26% over five years, against wage growth of 28.6% and inflation of 23.5%, per KFF. The national average hides a sharp split by firm size, though.
Why Small-Business Workers Pay More for Family Coverage
Premiums are roughly the same at small and large firms. What differs is how much the employer absorbs. Workers at firms with 10 to 199 employees contribute 36% of the family premium, against 23% at larger firms, according to KFF. That puts the small-firm family contribution at $8,889 a year versus $6,227.
Small-firm workers also face higher deductibles: $2,631 for single coverage on average, against $1,670 at larger firms. Over half (53%) of small-firm workers have a single deductible of $2,000 or more.
The practical consequence for a job seeker comparing offers: a higher salary at a small firm can be erased entirely by the benefits package; the family contribution gap alone averages $2,662 a year. Ask for the employee contribution and the deductible for the tier you would actually enroll in, not the plan summary.
PPO vs HDHP: What Plan Choice Does to the Premium
PPOs remain the most common plan type, covering 46% of covered workers, with an average family premium of $28,272. High-deductible plans with a savings option average $25,379 for family coverage, per KFF. The $2,893 annual premium gap is the price of a lower deductible, and whether it is worth paying depends on how much care the household expects to use.
How Much Does Marketplace (ACA) Health Insurance Cost in 2026?
The national average benchmark premium for a 40-year-old is $625 a month in 2026, up from $497 in 2025, according to KFF’s analysis of CMS plan data weighted by county plan selections. Axis Intelligence Research calculates the increase at 25.8%. CMS reports that the benchmark premium attributable to essential health benefits rose about 30% on HealthCare.gov, a narrower scope (federal-platform states only, EHB portion only), per its Plan Year 2026 Marketplace Plans and Prices fact sheet. Both figures are correct for what they measure; we report each with its scope rather than average them.
The finalized median rate change across Marketplace insurers was 20% for 2026, per KFF. For a buyer without a subsidy, that is the price movement that lands in full.
Marketplace Premium by Metal Tier (Age 40, Before Subsidies)
| Metal tier | Avg. monthly premium 2026 | Annual | Avg. deductible 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest-cost bronze | $456 | $5,472 | $7,186 | KFF; Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker |
| Lowest-cost silver | $611 | $7,332 | n/a | KFF |
| Benchmark silver | $625 | $7,500 | $5,304 | KFF; Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker |
| Lowest-cost gold | $615 | $7,380 | n/a | KFF |
One line in this table deserves attention. The cheapest gold plan ($615) is priced below the benchmark silver plan ($625) for a 40-year-old. Insurers load the cost of cost-sharing reductions onto silver premiums, which inflates silver relative to gold. For an unsubsidized buyer, that means a gold plan with richer coverage can cost $120 a year less than benchmark silver. For a subsidized buyer, the tax credit is pegged to the inflated silver price, so the same credit buys more when applied to gold or bronze.
The bronze deductible figure carries a discrepancy: the Peterson-KFF brief cites $7,186 in one passage and $7,476 in another. We use $7,186 and publish both in the CSV.
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost by Age?
ACA rules let insurers charge an older adult up to three times what a 21-year-old pays. Applying the federal default age curve published by CMS and HHS to KFF’s $625 national benchmark, Axis Intelligence Research estimates the following unsubsidized monthly benchmark premiums for 2026:
| Age | Age factor | Est. benchmark premium | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 1.000 | $489 | $5,869 |
| 27 | 1.048 | $513 | $6,150 |
| 40 | 1.278 | $625 | $7,500 |
| 60 | 2.714 | $1,327 | $15,927 |
| 64 | 3.000 | $1,467 | $17,606 |
| Family of four (two adults age 40, two children under 15) | n/a | $1,998 | $23,979 |
Source: Axis Intelligence Research estimate = $625 x (age factor / 1.278). A handful of states (including Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah and DC) use their own curves, so local quotes there will differ.
Against the $6,850 average worker contribution for employer family coverage, the unsubsidized Marketplace family premium is about 3.5 times higher, per Axis Intelligence Research. That ratio is the single clearest measure of what an employer plan is worth to a family that would otherwise buy coverage on its own.
Where Health Insurance Costs the Most and Least
State averages for a 40-year-old’s benchmark plan range from $455 a month in Virginia to $1,299 in Vermont in 2026, per KFF’s state data. Benchmark plans also topped $1,000 a month in Alaska, West Virginia and Wyoming. Geography moves the price as much as age does, which is why any national average is a starting point for a quote, never a substitute for one.
Premium-Plus-Deductible Cost: The Axis PPDC Comparison
The Premium-Plus-Deductible Cost (PPDC) is an Axis Intelligence Research metric that prices every coverage channel on the same basis: what a household must pay in a year before the plan starts covering most services.
PPDC = annual premium paid by the household (after any employer contribution or tax credit) + annual plan deductible.
A companion figure, the PPDC ceiling, replaces the deductible with the 2026 legal out-of-pocket maximum ($10,600 for self-only coverage under the HHS Marketplace Integrity and Affordability rule), giving the worst case a compliant plan can legally impose.
PPDC by Coverage Channel, Single Adult (2026)
| Channel | Annual premium paid | Deductible | PPDC | vs. employer avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer plan, firms with 200+ workers | $1,498 (est.) | $1,670 | $3,168 | 0.95x |
| Employer plan, all firms | $1,440 | $1,886 | $3,326 | 1.00x |
| Employer plan, firms with 10-199 workers | $1,474 (est.) | $2,631 | $4,105 | 1.23x |
| Marketplace, average enrollee after tax credits | $2,136 | $3,786 | $5,922 | 1.78x |
| COBRA, average employer plan | $9,512 | $1,886 | $11,398 | 3.43x |
| Marketplace, age 40, no subsidy, lowest bronze | $5,472 | $7,186 | $12,658 | 3.81x |
| Marketplace, age 40, no subsidy, benchmark silver | $7,500 | $5,304 | $12,804 | 3.85x |
Source: Axis Intelligence Research PPDC calculation. Employer premium shares for firm-size segments = 16% contribution rate x segment single premium (KFF publishes the share, not the dollar figure, for these segments). Marketplace average-enrollee deductible ($3,786) is KFF’s 2026 Marketplace-wide average. COBRA = 102% x $9,325 average single premium.
According to Axis Intelligence Research, an unsubsidized 40-year-old on benchmark silver faces a PPDC 3.85 times that of the average employer-covered worker. The bronze route looks cheaper on the monthly bill but ends up within $146 of silver once the deductible is counted, which is the trade most bronze shoppers don’t see at checkout.
The PPDC ceiling widens the gap: $12,040 for the average employer enrollee ($1,440 + $10,600) against $18,100 for the unsubsidized benchmark buyer ($7,500 + $10,600), per Axis Intelligence Research. Most employer plans set their out-of-pocket limit below the legal cap; KFF reports 21% of covered workers are in plans with a single out-of-pocket limit above $6,000.
Commentary, David Park: The 11pm version of this decision is “can I afford to leave my job and buy my own plan?” The premium answers half of it. The PPDC answers the rest: at 40, without a subsidy, budget $12,804 for the year before your plan pays for most care, not $7,500. If your income will land under 400% of the poverty line, the tax credit changes the math dramatically. If it won’t, see the next section before you resign.
Who Should Choose COBRA, and Who Should Not
COBRA lets a departing worker keep the exact employer plan, but at up to 102% of its full cost, employer share included. On the average single plan, that is $9,512 a year in premium alone. COBRA wins in one situation: when you have already paid most of your deductible this year and keeping the same plan preserves that progress. Otherwise, losing job-based coverage triggers a Special Enrollment Period on the Marketplace, where a subsidy may cut the premium far below COBRA’s.
The 400% Poverty Line Subsidy Cliff Is Back in 2026
The enhanced premium tax credits, which had extended subsidies above 400% of the poverty line since 2021, expired at the end of 2025, per CMS. In 2026, the original ACA structure returns: households from 300% to 400% of the federal poverty line pay no more than 9.96% of income for the benchmark plan under IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25, and households above 400% receive nothing. For 2026 coverage, 400% of the poverty line is $62,600 for one person and $128,600 for a family of four, based on the 2025 HHS guidelines published by ASPE.
Axis Intelligence Research calculated the size of that cliff for four households: the subsidy each would lose by earning one dollar more than 400% of the poverty line.
| Household | Income at the cliff | Max. contribution (9.96%) | Est. benchmark premium, annual | Subsidy lost one dollar later |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, age 40 | $62,600 | $6,235 | $7,500 | $1,265 |
| Family of four, adults age 40 | $128,600 | $12,809 | $23,979 | $11,170 |
| Single, age 60 | $62,600 | $6,235 | $15,927 | $9,692 |
| Single, age 64 | $62,600 | $6,235 | $17,606 | $11,371 |
Source: Axis Intelligence Research estimate. Benchmark premiums use KFF’s national average and the federal default age curve; actual premiums and cliffs vary by county.
According to Axis Intelligence Research, a 64-year-old just over the line would spend 28.1% of income on the benchmark premium alone. The cliff hits early retirees and self-employed workers in their late 50s and early 60s hardest, because their age-rated premiums are highest and they are a year or more away from Medicare (where the 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month, per CMS).
This is also where a tax decision becomes a health insurance decision. Contributions to a traditional IRA, a solo 401(k) or an HSA lower the modified adjusted gross income used to test subsidy eligibility. For a 60-year-old near $62,600, a deductible contribution that keeps income under the line can be worth up to $9,692 in premium tax credit. Premium tax credits are reconciled on Form 8962 at filing time; our tax preparation cost analysis covers what professional help with that return costs.
How Much Will Health Insurance Cost Over 1, 3 and 5 Years?
Coverage is a recurring cost, so a one-year price understates the decision. Axis Intelligence Research projected cumulative PPDC using published growth rates only, with deductibles held flat at 2026 levels:
| Path | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | Escalator basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer single, low | $3,326 | $10,198 | $17,387 | +5%/yr, KFF 2025 single premium growth |
| Employer single, high | $3,326 | $10,342 | $17,912 | +8.2%/yr, Mercer 2027 cost projection |
| Marketplace age 40, unsubsidized, flat | $12,804 | $38,412 | $64,020 | held at 2026 price |
| Marketplace age 40, unsubsidized, high | $12,804 | $41,956 | $77,088 | +15%/yr, KFF median proposed 2027 rate |
Source: Axis Intelligence Research estimates. Escalators apply to the household premium; deductibles held flat.
Over five years, the gap between keeping an average employer plan and buying unsubsidized benchmark coverage runs from $46,633 to $59,176, per Axis Intelligence Research. That is the number to set against a job offer without benefits or a plan to go independent.
What Employers Will Pay in 2027
Employer cost growth is accelerating. Mercer projects total health benefit cost per employee will rise 8.2% in 2027, the highest increase since 2003, and 11% if employers took no action, per the preliminary results of its 2026 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans. That follows a projected 6.7% rise in 2026 that pushes average cost above $18,500 per employee. Mercer’s actuaries attribute about one percentage point of 2027 growth to GLP-1 use, and 59% of employers plan cost-cutting changes for 2027, including higher deductibles.
For an employer, the 2025 baseline is already large. At KFF’s averages, 100 covered workers cost an employer $788,500 a year if all enroll in single coverage and $2,014,300 if all enroll in family coverage, per Axis Intelligence Research. Real workforces fall between those bounds depending on tier mix.
What Moves the Price of Health Insurance?
Age and Location
Within the individual market, age can triple the premium and location can nearly triple it, as the tables above show. Your health history cannot be used; where you live and how old you are do most of the work, and the metal tier you pick does the rest.
Expiration of the Enhanced Tax Credits
This was the dominant force of 2026. With the enhanced credits gone, 87% of Marketplace enrollees still selected plans with a tax credit, but the average amount they paid rose 57.5%, per CMS. Enrollment fell 5% to 23.1 million plan selections, and silver selections dropped from 56% to 43% as buyers moved to bronze and gold.
The Risk Pool
When healthier enrollees leave, insurers price for a sicker pool. KFF’s analysis of 2027 filings across 276 insurers found a median proposed increase of 15%, the second consecutive double-digit year, with insurers citing the subsidy expiration as a factor alongside rising medical prices.
Prescription Drugs, GLP-1s and Provider Consolidation
Among the largest employers (5,000 or more workers), 43% covered GLP-1 drugs for weight loss in 2025, up from 28%, per KFF, and many reported higher-than-expected use. Mercer also cites provider consolidation and AI-enabled claims coding as 2027 cost drivers; state legislatures have begun regulating how insurers use AI in coverage decisions, as tracked in our U.S. AI laws by state map.
Cost-Sharing Caps
The legal out-of-pocket maximum rose 15.2%, from $9,200 to $10,600 for self-only coverage, after HHS changed the premium-growth measure behind the cap. A higher cap gives insurers room to raise deductibles and keep premiums lower, which shifts cost from the healthy to the sick.
How to Pay Less for Health Insurance in 2026
Take an employer plan if you have one, and price the tier you will actually use. At an average PPDC of $3,326 for single coverage, no other channel comes close. At a small firm, ask for the family contribution in dollars before comparing offers.
Check subsidy eligibility before you buy on your own. Most Marketplace enrollees still qualify: 54% of HealthCare.gov enrollees paid $50 a month or less after tax credits in 2026, and 29% paid nothing, per CMS. Use the window-shopping tool on HealthCare.gov or your state exchange with your projected income.
If your income is near 400% of the poverty line, manage it. Retirement and HSA contributions can keep a household under the cliff. For older buyers, that single decision can be worth more than any plan choice.
Compare gold against silver if you don’t qualify for cost-sharing reductions. For a 40-year-old, the cheapest gold averages less than benchmark silver nationally.
Pick silver if your income is under 250% of the poverty line. Cost-sharing reductions cut the average benchmark silver deductible from $5,304 to $80 below 150% of the poverty line, $790 at 150% to 200%, and $3,727 at 200% to 250%, per the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. A $0 bronze plan with a $7,186 deductible is not cheaper for anyone who expects to use care.
Use COBRA only to protect a deductible you have already met. Otherwise, compare it against a subsidized Marketplace plan during your Special Enrollment Period.
Health Insurance Cost Questions, Answered
What is the average cost of health insurance per month for one person in 2026?
It depends on the channel. A worker with employer coverage pays $120 a month on average toward single coverage (KFF, 2025). A 40-year-old buying benchmark silver Marketplace coverage without a subsidy pays $625 a month on average. The average Marketplace enrollee pays $178 a month after tax credits (CMS, 2026).
Why did my Marketplace premium go up so much in 2026?
Two changes stacked. Benchmark premiums rose about 26% nationally, and the enhanced premium tax credits expired on January 1, 2026. Together they raised the average amount enrollees paid after credits by 57.5%, from $113 to $178 a month, per CMS.
How much does family health insurance cost through an employer?
The average family premium is $26,993 a year, of which the worker pays $6,850 and the employer $20,143 (KFF, 2025). At firms with 10 to 199 workers, the average worker contribution is $8,889, and 28% of small-firm workers pay $12,000 or more.
What income is too high for ACA subsidies in 2026?
Premium tax credits end above 400% of the federal poverty line: $62,600 for a single person and $128,600 for a family of four for 2026 coverage. Below that line, no household pays more than 9.96% of income for the benchmark plan, per IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25.
Is COBRA cheaper than a Marketplace plan?
Rarely, unless you qualify for no subsidy and have already met your deductible. COBRA can charge up to 102% of the full plan cost, about $9,512 a year on an average single employer plan. Many people leaving a job qualify for Marketplace tax credits that bring the premium well below that.
Is a bronze plan cheaper than silver once you count the deductible?
Barely, without a subsidy. For a 40-year-old, the Axis Intelligence Research PPDC is $12,658 for the lowest bronze plan and $12,804 for benchmark silver, a $146 difference. With cost-sharing reductions, silver is far cheaper for anyone who uses care.
How much will health insurance cost in 2027?
Marketplace insurers proposed a median increase of 15% for 2027 (KFF, across 276 insurers), and Mercer projects employer health benefit costs will rise 8.2% per employee. Final 2027 Marketplace rates appear when open enrollment opens this fall.
What is the most I can be charged out of pocket in 2026?
The legal out-of-pocket maximum for ACA-compliant plans is $10,600 for self-only coverage and $21,200 for family coverage in 2026, excluding premiums and out-of-network care. Many employer plans set lower limits.
Methodology
Scope. U.S. health coverage costs for people under 65, by purchase channel: employer-sponsored coverage (KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey, 1,862 employers with 10 or more workers, fielded January to July 2025), the ACA Marketplace (KFF’s analysis of CMS plan data for a 40-year-old, weighted by county plan selections; CMS Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report), COBRA (Department of Labor rules) and, for reference, Medicare Part B. All sources were read on October 3, 2026.
PPDC formula. PPDC = annual premium paid by the household + annual plan deductible. PPDC ceiling = annual premium paid + 2026 legal out-of-pocket maximum. Employer firm-size premium shares = 16% contribution rate x KFF segment single premium. Marketplace unsubsidized PPDC uses KFF’s age-40 national premiums and Peterson-KFF’s 2026 metal-level deductibles. Average-enrollee PPDC uses CMS’s average premium after tax credits and KFF’s Marketplace-wide average deductible.
Age and family estimates. Estimated premium at age X = $625 x (federal default age factor at X / 1.278). Family of four = $625 x (2 + 2 x 0.765 / 1.278), using the default child factor for ages 0 to 14.
Subsidy cliff. Cliff = estimated annual benchmark premium minus (9.96% x income at exactly 400% of the 2025 poverty guideline). Applies to households not otherwise eligible for affordable employer coverage.
Multi-year PPDC. Year-one PPDC with premiums escalated annually at published rates (KFF 2025 single premium growth, 5%; Mercer 2027 projection, 8.2%; KFF median proposed 2027 Marketplace rate, 15%) and deductibles held flat. These are scenarios, not forecasts.
What we declined to compute. We did not project a 2026 employer family premium by applying Mercer’s cost-per-employee growth to KFF’s premium, because the two measure different things; the KFF 2026 survey will replace the 2025 values when published. We also did not produce a single “national median” health insurance cost by blending employer survey averages, Marketplace selections and regulatory caps. Both declined calculations appear in the CSV as retracted rows.
Discrepancies published as found. CMS narrative ($619) versus reported Table 5 ($741) for the 2026 average premium before tax credits; Peterson-KFF’s two bronze deductible figures ($7,186 and $7,476); KFF’s 25.8% versus CMS’s roughly 30% benchmark increase (different scopes).
Download the Data
CSV: health-insurance-cost-2026.csv, 200 rows with metric, value, unit, as-of date, segment, source organization, document, URL, retrieval date, primary-source flag, calculation flag and method notes. License: CC BY 4.0. Citation: Axis Intelligence Research, Health Insurance Cost 2026, 2026.
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