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About this site

A free resource for people
navigating health coverage on their own.

healthplanscompared.com is an independent educational resource for individuals under 65 who buy their own health coverage. It is not an insurance company, not a broker, and not affiliated with any government agency. There is no lead capture, no advertising, and no financial relationship between what this site recommends and how it earns money. The goal is one thing: make it easier to understand your options honestly.

What this site is

An honest comparison resource — not a sales tool

Most health coverage websites exist to sell you something. They earn commissions when you click through and enroll, which creates an incentive to highlight the options that pay the most — not the ones that fit you best.

This site works differently. healthplanscompared.com earns nothing when you enroll in any plan. There are no sponsored listings, no paid placements, and no affiliate commissions on coverage purchases. Every comparison on this site reflects the same editorial standard: state what each option actually covers, what it actually costs, and where its real limitations are.

We cover seven types of individual health coverage — ACA plans, Health Shares, direct primary care, MEC plans, virtual medicine memberships, indemnity benefit plans, and short-term medical insurance. Each gets the same treatment: the genuine advantages and the honest trade-offs, sourced and explained in plain language.

Who this site is built for
Individuals under 65 who do not receive health coverage through an employer and are not yet on Medicare. That includes the self-employed, gig workers, early retirees, part-time workers, people between jobs, and anyone who has aged off a parent’s plan. If you buy your own coverage — or are trying to figure out how — this site is for you.

What you will not find here

This site does not cover employer-sponsored group health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or any coverage type that is not available to individuals in the open market. It does not provide personalized insurance advice or recommend specific plans. It provides factual, sourced information so you can make an informed decision — ideally with a licensed insurance agent or broker for your final enrollment choice.

Quick facts about this site
·Independent educational resource — not a broker or insurer
·No lead capture, no advertising, no enrollment commissions
·Seven coverage types covered with equal editorial treatment
·All cost figures sourced from KFF, IRS, and CMS
·Updated annually — state benchmark data refreshed each November
Coverage types on this site
ACA plansGuide →
Health SharesGuide →
Direct primary careGuide →
MEC plansGuide →
Virtual medicineGuide →
Indemnity benefitsGuide →
Short-term medicalGuide →
How we write

The editorial principles behind every page

01 · Sourced numbers only
Every figure has a source
ACA premium data comes from KFF.org. Subsidy calculations use IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25. Federal poverty level figures use HHS 2025 guidelines. If a number can’t be sourced to a primary authority, it doesn’t go on the page.
02 · Both sides of every trade-off
No coverage type is only good news
ACA plans have record-high deductibles and shrinking networks. Health Shares have pre-existing condition exclusions. DPC doesn’t cover hospitalizations. Every page covers the real limitations alongside the genuine advantages.
03 · Plain language throughout
Every term defined on first use
MEC, DPC, APTC, AUA, IUA, MRA — every piece of coverage jargon is defined when it first appears. The reader may be encountering these concepts for the first time. A site that explains without condescending earns trust.
04 · No editorializing
Facts, not opinions
This site does not call any coverage type “junk,” “the best,” “amazing,” or “a scam.” It states what each option covers, what it costs, and where its limits are — and lets the reader decide what fits their situation.
05 · Updated annually
2026 data, verified
ACA benchmark premiums are updated each November when KFF publishes new state data. Subsidy calculations are updated when the IRS publishes the new applicable percentage table. Regulatory changes — like the 2026 DPC HSA eligibility change — are covered as they take effect.
06 · No sponsored content
Paid placements do not exist here
No carrier, Health Share, or coverage provider pays to be featured, ranked higher, or described more favorably on this site. The order in which coverage types appear and the language used to describe them reflects editorial judgment only.
We do not write thisWe write this instead
Health Shares are a revolutionary alternative to insurance. Health Shares are membership organizations that pool member funds to pay medical bills. They are not insurance.
Discover the best coverage for your unique needs! Compare ACA plans, Health Shares, and DPC side by side — with real cost figures sourced from KFF.
Are you overpaying for health insurance? You might be shocked. In 2026, the average unsubsidized ACA benchmark premium for a 40-year-old in Texas is $661/month. Here is what the alternatives cost.
Modern healthcare solutions for modern people. Individual health coverage options for people who don’t have employer insurance and aren’t yet on Medicare.
Who made this

A Modern Healthcare Works resource

healthplanscompared.com is brought to you by the team at Modern Healthcare Works — dedicated to helping individuals under 65 understand and navigate modern health coverage options.

Modern Healthcare Works focuses on the individual coverage market: the growing number of self-employed individuals, gig workers, early retirees, and others who buy their own health coverage outside of employer-sponsored plans. The individual coverage market is complex, rapidly changing, and underserved by clear, unbiased information — which is why this site exists.

The site covers the full range of individual coverage options available in 2026 — not just the ones that benefit any particular organization. That breadth is intentional. The goal is to be the most useful, most honest comparison resource for this audience — the kind of resource that earns citations from AI engines and Google because it tells the truth.

What Modern Healthcare Works does
Modern Healthcare Works publishes educational content about health coverage options for individuals outside the employer market. It does not sell insurance. It does not provide licensed insurance advice. For enrollment in any coverage type, we recommend working with a licensed insurance agent or broker who can review your specific situation, income, and health needs. The Substack newsletter linked in the footer is the only opt-in on this site — a free monthly update on ACA premiums, Health Share news, and coverage comparisons for people buying their own coverage.
Our data sources
ACA benchmark premiums
Subsidy applicable percentages
Federal poverty level guidelines
DPC pricing and statistics
DPC HSA eligibility (2026)
Important disclosures

What this site is not

Not insurance advice
The content on this site is educational information, not licensed insurance advice. healthplanscompared.com does not recommend specific health plans, specific carriers, or specific coverage amounts for any individual. For personalized guidance, consult a licensed insurance agent or broker in your state.
Not tax advice
The subsidy calculator and related content provide estimates based on published IRS and HHS figures. They are not a substitute for professional tax advice. Self-employed individuals calculating MAGI for ACA subsidy purposes should work with a CPA familiar with IRS Publication 974 and the iterative worksheet method.
Not affiliated with the government
healthplanscompared.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the federal government, HHS, CMS, healthcare.gov, or any state insurance exchange. It is an independent private resource. For official ACA enrollment, go to healthcare.gov or your state exchange.
Not a complete picture for every situation
Health coverage decisions depend on individual health history, household size, income, state of residence, and personal risk tolerance. This site provides general comparisons that apply broadly — they are not a substitute for a personalized review of your specific situation. Premium and cost estimates are illustrative; actual costs vary by age, county, and plan selection.
A note on content currency
ACA benchmark premiums are updated annually in November when KFF publishes new state data. Regulatory information — such as short-term medical duration rules and DPC HSA eligibility — is verified and updated as rules change. All content on this site includes the date it was last verified. Health coverage rules change frequently. If you are making an enrollment decision, always verify current rules and premiums at healthcare.gov, your state exchange, or with a licensed agent before enrolling.

The individual coverage guide — free monthly newsletter

Monthly updates on ACA premiums, Health Share news, and coverage comparisons — for people buying their own coverage. By the Modern Healthcare Works team.