How much does health insurance cost in California in 2026?

California runs its own health insurance marketplace, so this page uses statewide 2026 estimates plus private plan ranges; enter your ZIP in the tool for your household.

Cheapest Bronze, age 40

$414/mo

statewide estimate

Silver benchmark, age 40

$570/mo

KFF statewide average

Insurers

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see state marketplace

Plans

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Counties

in this state

Monthly premiums by tier and age

Tier	Age 21	Age 30	Age 40	Age 50	Age 60
Bronze	$324–$449	$368–$509	$414–$573	$578–$801	$879–$1,218
Silver	$440–$581	$500–$659	$563–$742	$786–$1,037	$1,195–$1,576
Gold	$443–$621	$503–$705	$567–$793	$792–$1,109	$1,203–$1,685

California runs its own marketplace, which is not in the federal plan file, so these are statewide estimates built from the 2026 benchmark premium (KFF) and the tier spreads seen in HealthCare.gov states. The state marketplace, Covered California, has the exact county plans.

Ranges at a glance (age 40)

What a tax credit does (statewide estimate)

Household	% of poverty level	Estimated tax credit	Cheapest Bronze, full → after credit
A single 40-year-old earning $40,000	255%	$283/mo	$414 → $131
A family of four (parents 40 and 38, two kids) earning $85,000	264%	$1,179/mo	$1,313 → $133

2025 federal poverty guidelines apply to 2026 coverage; the enhanced credits of 2021–2025 expired, so the 400% cutoff is back (for one person that is $62,600 a year, for four $128,600). The Marketplace sets the final credit.

See your own numbers for California

Enter your age, household and income and get every Marketplace plan priced for you, your estimated tax credit, and a private plan range, side by side, in about 30 seconds. No medical questions.

Show my price ranges

Private plans in California

Private plan pricing for California is not loaded online yet; an advisor quotes it by phone.

California counties

Questions people ask

How much is health insurance in California per month?

For a 40-year-old paying full price in 2026, Marketplace Bronze plans typically run $414 to $573 a month across California counties, Silver $563 to $742, and the silver benchmark that tax credits are based on is about $570. Most people who qualify for a credit pay far less; see the examples above.

Does California have Medicaid expansion?

Yes. Households under 138% of the federal poverty level are generally covered by Medicaid rather than a Marketplace credit.

Where do California residents enroll in a Marketplace plan?

California runs its own marketplace, Covered California. Open Enrollment dates are set by the state each fall; outside the window you need a qualifying life event.

Are private health plans cheaper than the Marketplace in California?

It depends on your health and income; the tool compares both for your household.

Sources: CMS QHP Landscape PY2026 Individual Medical (data.healthcare.gov, snapshot August 4, 2026); KFF marketplace benchmark premiums; HHS 2025 poverty guidelines; IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25; private ranges from the carrier rate tables our advisors quote from. Page generated 2026-09-29.