Health insurance marketplace: find your state

Open your state's official marketplace, see the 2027 dates and know the terms before you decide.

Your state's official marketplace

The marketplace is the only place to get help paying for a plan (APTC, below). Applying is free. 29 states use HealthCare.gov; 21 states and Washington, DC run their own site.

Open enrollment for 2027 coverage

  1. 1 Nov 2026Open enrollment starts
  2. 15 Dec 2026Sign up by this day for cover from 1 January
  3. 15 Jan 2027Last day on HealthCare.gov (cover from 1 February)

States with their own site set their own dates, and some run later. Outside these dates, a life change such as losing other coverage, moving, getting married or having a baby can open a special enrollment period, usually 60 days. You can apply for Medicaid and CHIP at any time.

Know the terms before you decide

A cheap plan can cost you more when you get sick. Follow one person's year, then tap any term.

Maya's year with a health plan

Deductible $2,000Coinsurance 20%Out-of-pocket max $6,000

1. Deductible$0 of $2,000

2. Out-of-pocket max$0 of $6,000

This bill: Maya pays $0

This bill: plan pays $0

Maya pays a premium every month to keep her plan, even when she is well. Tap "Next bill" to see who pays for her care.

So far: Maya $0 · plan $0

Tap a term

PremiumPaid every month

The price of the plan, paid every month, even if you never see a doctor. Like a phone bill. Missing payments can end your cover.

Example $350 a month = $4,200 a year, before any care.

DeductibleYou pay first

What you pay for covered care each year before the plan starts to share the cost. It starts again every 1 January.

Example $2,000 deductible: you pay the first $2,000 of bills yourself.

CopayFixed fee per visit

A set amount for a service. Some plans charge copays even before the deductible is met.

Example $30 for a doctor visit, $10 for a generic medicine.

CoinsuranceYour % share

After the deductible, you pay a percentage of each bill and the plan pays the rest.

Example 20% of a $1,000 bill: you pay $200, the plan pays $800.

Out-of-pocket maxYour yearly limit

The most you pay in a year for covered, in-network care. Deductible, copays and coinsurance all count; the premium does not. After that, the plan pays 100%.

Example $6,000 limit: a $50,000 hospital year still costs you $6,000.

NetworkHMO, PPO and EPO

The doctors, hospitals and pharmacies a plan works with. Outside it, care can cost much more or not be covered. An HMO usually covers only its network and needs a referral for specialists; a PPO gives more choice for a higher price.

Check Search the plan's list for your doctors and medicines before you pick it.

Metal levelsBronze to Platinum

On average, the plan pays about this share of care costs; you pay the rest.

  • Bronze60%
  • Silver70%
  • Gold80%
  • Platinum90%

Rule of thumb Bronze: lowest premium, highest costs when you get care. Platinum: the other way round. Metal is not about quality.

Cost-sharing reductionsSilver plan savings

If your income is low enough, a Silver plan from the marketplace comes with a lower deductible, copays and out-of-pocket max. Only on Silver.

Example A Silver plan's $5,000 deductible might drop to a few hundred dollars.

Reading a plan5 things to check

Every plan has a Summary of Benefits and Coverage, laid out the same way so you can compare.

  1. The premium after any help (APTC).
  2. The deductible and the out-of-pocket max.
  3. Copays for what you use: doctor, medicines, the ER.
  4. Your doctors, hospital and medicines in the network.
  5. The "coverage examples" (having a baby, diabetes): your total cost.
Medicaid and CHIPFree or low-cost cover

Free or low-cost cover for people with lower incomes, children and some others, run by each state. When you apply at your marketplace, it tells you if you may qualify. You can apply any time of year.

Try your own numbersMove the slider to see who pays
  • You: deductible (solid)
  • You: coinsurance (stripes)
  • Plan pays (lines)

You pay $0

Plan pays $0

An example for covered, in-network care. Real plans differ: many charge copays and preventive care is often free. Nothing you type is stored or sent.

What is APTC?

Help paying your monthly premium

APTC means advance premium tax credit: help from the government that lowers your monthly premium. "Advance" means it is paid straight to your insurer each month, so you pay less now.

Example: a plan costs $600 a month. APTC pays $450 of it to the insurer, so you pay $150. Full price: $600 a month You $150 APTC pays $450 You pay $150 a month
Made-up numbers. Your amount depends on your income, household and where you live.
  • You can only get it on your state's official marketplace (pick your state above).
  • It is based on the income you expect for the year, your household size and plan prices where you live.
  • You can take all of it, some of it or none in advance.
  • Tell the marketplace straight away when your income or household changes. If you get more than you were due, you may have to pay the extra back when you file your federal tax return.
  • The extra help of 2021 to 2025 has ended. Since 2026, households earning more than 400% of the federal poverty level usually do not qualify.

Read more: What is APTC? A plain guide on our sister site GetReady Money. This site does not give tax advice; HealthCare.gov and the IRS explain the details.

Free helplines

Marketplace, Medicaid, Medicare, surprise bills

Your state's marketplace number is in the finder above. These lines are free.

In an emergency, call 911.

Watch out for scams

Applying is free: never pay to sign up
  • Use the official sites above. Applying and getting free help cost nothing.
  • Never pay anyone to "sign you up", and never give your bank or card details to a caller.
  • Ads and sites with "Obamacare" in the name are often run by sellers, not the marketplace. Check the web address.
  • If someone changed your plan without asking, call your marketplace.

Read more

Sources

Official pages behind this page

Updated