How much is health insurance in America per month?
The average national monthly health insurance cost for one person on an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan without premium tax credits in 2024 is $477.
On average, a single person pays about $117 a month for employer-sponsored coverage and $477 a month for a plan on the health insurance marketplace, before any subsidies. Besides monthly premiums, health insurance expenses include copayments, coinsurance and spending to meet your deductible.
For some, especially those with employer-sponsored coverage or receiving subsidies under the ACA, $200 might seem high. For others, especially those in the private market without subsidies, $200 might be considered affordable.
Including deductibles and premiums, Americans spend an average of $12,530 on medical expenses every year. That's nearly 20% of annual earnings for those that earn the median household income of $67,521, according to 2020 U.S. Census Bureau data.
About half of U.S. adults say it is difficult to afford health care costs, and one in four say they or a family member in their household had problems paying for health care in the past 12 months.
The cheapest health insurance companies for Bronze plans are Kaiser Permanente, Aetna and Ambetter. A Bronze plan is typically the cheapest health insurance with full medical benefits. The average cost of a Bronze plan for 2024 is $462 per month. These plans follow Affordable Care Act (ACA) guidelines.
Platinum health insurance is the most expensive type of health care coverage you can purchase. You pay low out-of-pocket expenses for appointments and services, but high monthly premiums. Plans typically feature a small deductible or no deductible and cheap copays or coinsurance.
| Location | 2023 | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|
| California | $432 | 8% |
| Colorado | $380 | 19% |
| Connecticut | $627 | 5% |
| Delaware | $549 | -3% |
How much does health insurance cost in California? The average cost of health insurance in California is $600 per month in 2024. That's for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan. Bronze plans usually have cheaper rates, but they also have less coverage.
The average monthly health insurance cost for a bronze plan is $373 for a single 30-year-old person. That same person pays an average of $488 for a Silver plan and $634 for a Gold plan. A 40-year-old single person pays $420 on average each month for a bronze plan, $549 for a silver plan and $713 for a gold plan.
What happens in America if you can't afford healthcare?
If you don't have health insurance, you're at much greater risk of accumulating medical bills that you may not be able to pay. In a worst-case scenario, you could be sued and have your wages garnished.
How much does the average person pay for Obamacare? Obamacare costs an average of $584 per month for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan. Your age affects your monthly rates. A 20-year-old pays an average of $443 per month for a Silver plan, while a 60-year-old pays an average of $1,240 per month, before subsidies.
The Share of Americans without Health Insurance in 2022 Matched a Record Low. In 2022, 26 million people — or 7.9 percent of the population – were uninsured, according to a report in September 2023 from the Census Bureau.
Large shares of insured working-age adults surveyed said it was very or somewhat difficult to afford their health care: 43 percent of those with employer coverage, 57 percent with marketplace or individual-market plans, 45 percent with Medicaid, and 51 and percent with Medicare.
There are many possible reasons for that increase in healthcare prices: The introduction of new, innovative healthcare technology can lead to better, more expensive procedures and products. The complexity of the U.S. healthcare system can lead to administrative waste in the insurance and provider payment systems.
There are many factors that contribute to the high cost of healthcare in the country. These include wasteful systems, rising drug costs, medical professional salaries, profit-driven healthcare centers, the type of medical practices, and health-related pricing.
In all states, Medicaid gives health coverage to some individuals and families, including children, parents, people who are pregnant, elderly people with certain incomes, and people with disabilities. Some states have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover other adults below a certain income level.
| Household size | Min. income | Typical max. income |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $19,720 | $78,880 |
| 3 | $24,860 | $99,440 |
| 4 | $30,000 | $120,000 |
| 5 | $35,140 | $140,560 |
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. Healthcare coverage is one of the most important decisions you make. Choose the card that opens doors in all 50 states.
1. UnitedHealth Group. UnitedHealthcare, part of UnitedHealth Group, is the largest health insurance company based on revenue. UnitedHealthcare offers a variety of products from individual health insurance to employer plans for some of the biggest corporations.
What are the top 3 health insurances?
- Best Overall: Blue Cross Blue Shield.
- Highest Quality Plans: Kaiser Permanente.
- Most Health Management Programs: Oscar.
- Best for Same-Day Care: Aetna CVS Health.
For example, people aged 64 and older can't be charged more than three times as much as someone in their early 20s. Generally, though, you will pay more the older you are. In most states, monthly health insurance rates get gradually more expensive until around your mid-40s.
| State | Average out-of-pocket healthcare spending | Average out-of-pocket healthcare burden |
|---|---|---|
| California | $596 | 1.1% |
| Colorado | $916 | 1.6% |
| Connecticut | $880 | 1.1% |
| Florida | $660 | 1.4% |
The out-of-pocket maximum is the most that you'll have to pay for covered medical services in a given year. Think of it as an annual cap on your health-care costs. Once you reach that limit, the plan covers all costs for covered medical expenses for the rest of the year.
Administrative Overhead: Health insurers often have substantial administrative overhead, including marketing, underwriting, and claims processing. These costs are passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums, which can contribute to overall healthcare expenditure.
