Your health coverage options,
compared honestly.
If you buy your own health coverage — because you’re self-employed, between jobs, or simply don’t have an employer plan — this is the resource built for you. ACA plans, Health Shares, direct primary care, and more, explained side by side with real numbers — updated for 2026.
Built for people buying coverage on their own
This site covers the individual market only — people under 65 who don’t receive coverage through an employer and aren’t yet on Medicare.
If you work for yourself, you’re buying coverage without an employer contribution. Your options depend on your income and which state you’re in.
Platforms like Uber, DoorDash, and Fiverr don’t offer health benefits. This site helps you compare what’s actually available to you.
Retired before Medicare eligibility at 65? You need coverage for the gap years — and the options vary significantly in cost and structure.
Individual health coverage — all your options
Each works differently. Cost, coverage rules, and who qualifies varies widely. Here’s what each one is — and when it makes sense.
Marketplace insurance plans regulated under the Affordable Care Act. Subsidies are available based on income. Coverage of pre-existing conditions is guaranteed by law.
Member communities that pool funds to pay medical bills. Not insurance. Often lower monthly cost than ACA plans, but with different rules about what is and isn’t shared.
A monthly membership for unlimited primary care visits. Covers day-to-day health needs at a flat fee. Typically paired with other coverage for major medical events — not a standalone plan.
Minimum Essential Coverage plans satisfy the ACA’s definition of coverage. Bare-bones and low cost, but they don’t cover most services — typically preventive care only.
Telehealth memberships providing on-demand access to physicians, mental health providers, and specialists. Not a replacement for full coverage — a complement to it.
Fixed-benefit plans that pay a set dollar amount per medical event regardless of actual cost. Not comprehensive coverage, but can reduce out-of-pocket exposure for specific events.
Licensed insurance designed for temporary gaps — between jobs, before employer coverage starts, or after missing open enrollment. Premiums run $70–$165/month. Excludes pre-existing conditions and ACA essential benefits. Terms are capped by evolving federal and state rules.
Keep your employer’s group plan after leaving a job — but you pay the full premium plus a 2% admin fee. Identical coverage, very high cost. Average $723/month for single coverage. Best when actively treating a serious condition.
Health plans offered through state Farm Bureau organizations in select states (TX, IA, KS, IN, TN, NC, MS, AL, NE). Not ACA-compliant — can exclude pre-existing conditions. Lower premiums for healthy individuals above the subsidy cliff.
Compare all your coverage options for your state and income
Enter your ZIP code, household size, age, and income. The tool shows what ACA plans, Health Shares, DPC combinations, and short-term medical cost side by side — no forms, no data collected.
ACA premiums and coverage options by state
2026 health coverage options vary by state. Benchmark premiums are verified 2026 KFF figures. Each guide covers what coverage actually costs where you live, sourced from KFF.org.
One thousand dollars of income. Seventeen thousand dollars of consequences.
A 60-year-old couple in Texas earning $84,000 in 2026 pays an estimated $695/month for ACA coverage after their premium tax credit. The same couple earning $85,000 — one thousand dollars more — pays the full benchmark: $2,114/month. No subsidy. No phase-out. The credit drops to zero the moment income crosses 400% of the federal poverty level.
That $1,000 in extra income costs them $17,023 more per year in premiums. This is why enrollment among households just above the cliff fell 44% in 2026 — and why the individual coverage decision matters more this year than it has in a decade.
Read: The ACA subsidy cliff explained →Will you qualify for an ACA subsidy in 2026?
Enter your details to find out.
Enter your ZIP code, household size, income, and age to see your estimated 2026 premium tax credit, what you’d pay after the subsidy, and how that compares to alternatives. Uses verified 2026 benchmark premiums from KFF.org and the 2026 applicable percentage table from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25.
If your income changes, you may have to repay part of your subsidy
ACA subsidies are paid in advance based on your projected income. When you file your taxes, the IRS reconciles what you received against what you actually earned. If your income came in higher than projected, you repay the difference. Most people do not realize this until they file — and the rules became significantly stricter starting with plan year 2026.