Medically reviewed by Jawad Arshad, MD, FACEP. Last reviewed: October 13, 2026.
Disclosure: membership-based coverage, which is mentioned once below as an option, is not insurance. It does not guarantee payment of any expense, and eligibility and waiting periods apply.
The best individual health insurance is not one brand. It is the plan that fits how you use care, where you live, and what your income does to your subsidy. This guide shows how to compare plans for 2027, what premiums are doing, and which tax rules can lower your real cost.
Key facts
- HealthCare.gov open enrollment for 2027 runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and December 15 is the last day to enroll for coverage that starts January 1 (HealthCare.gov, 2026).
- Insurers proposed a median 2027 ACA marketplace premium increase of 15%, across 276 insurers in all 50 states and DC (KFF, updated August 3, 2026).
- The 2027 maximum out-of-pocket limit is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family, up from $10,600 and $21,200 in 2026 (CMS, January 29, 2026).
- The premium tax credit is available at household incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (HealthCare.gov, 2026).
- Bronze and catastrophic marketplace plans count as HSA-compatible plans starting January 1, 2026 (IRS Notice 2026-5, 2025).
What is the best individual health insurance for 2027?
The best individual health insurance for 2027 is the plan that keeps your doctors in network and costs the least in premium plus expected out-of-pocket spending. A cheap premium with a high deductible is not cheap if you use care often.
Compare every plan on the same five items: monthly premium, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, provider network, and drug coverage. The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you can owe in a year for covered, in-network care. Our best health insurance plans guide lists the main carriers and plan types, and this page shows how to choose among them.
How much does individual health insurance cost?
Individual health insurance cost is rising again for 2027. Insurers proposed a median increase of 15% for marketplace plans, the second-highest requested change since 2018 (KFF, updated August 3, 2026).
KFF says rising prices for care are the main driver, and that the end of the enhanced premium tax credits after 2025 also pushed rates up (KFF, 2026). These are proposed rates, and states can change them before they are final. See our 2027 premium increases by state guide for your state.
Here is a worked example. A hypothetical plan costs $600 a month, or $7,200 a year, in 2026. A 15% increase makes it $690 a month, or $8,280 a year, which is $1,080 more. If your subsidy does not change, you pay that difference.
Which metal tier is the best individual health insurance for you?
The best metal tier depends on how often you use care. Bronze plans pay about 60% of costs, silver about 70%, gold about 80%, and platinum about 90% (HealthCare.gov, 2026).
Table: Metal tiers and the 2027 out-of-pocket limits
| Tier | Plan pays (average) | You pay (average) | Often a fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 60% | 40% | Healthy people who want a low premium and an HSA |
| Silver | 70% | 30% | People who qualify for cost-sharing reductions |
| Gold | 80% | 20% | People with regular prescriptions or visits |
| Platinum | 90% | 10% | People with high, predictable care needs |
Source: HealthCare.gov plan categories (2026). The 2027 out-of-pocket maximum cannot exceed $12,000 for one person or $24,000 for a family (CMS, 2026).
Bronze and catastrophic marketplace plans now count as HSA-compatible, which means you can pair them with a health savings account (IRS Notice 2026-5, 2025). The 2026 HSA limit is $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for family coverage (IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-19, 2025). Catastrophic plans are open to people under 30 or those with a hardship or affordability exemption (HealthCare.gov, 2026).
Here is a hypothetical comparison for one person. Plan A costs $380 a month with a $6,000 deductible, 30% coinsurance, and a $9,000 out-of-pocket maximum. Plan B costs $540 a month with a $1,500 deductible, 20% coinsurance, and a $5,000 out-of-pocket maximum.
Table: Total yearly cost of two hypothetical plans
| Scenario | Plan A total | Plan B total | Lower cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light use, $2,500 of covered care | $7,060 | $8,180 | Plan A |
| Heavy use, $30,000 of covered care | $13,560 | $11,480 | Plan B |
Total is twelve months of premium plus the cost sharing you pay. Plan A is $4,560 in premium plus your costs. Plan B is $6,480 in premium plus your costs. Neither plan is better in every year, which is why your expected use matters.
What is the best family health insurance?
The best family health insurance is the plan whose family deductible and out-of-pocket maximum you could actually pay, with every parent's and child's doctors in network. The family out-of-pocket maximum for 2027 can be as high as $24,000, up from $21,200 in 2026 (CMS, 2026).
That is a $2,800 increase, or 13.2%, in the highest amount a family could owe in a bad year. Check how the plan counts the deductible too. Some plans have one family deductible, and some have separate deductibles per person plus a family limit.
Income matters for families because of the subsidy cliff. The premium tax credit is available at household incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (HealthCare.gov, 2026). The poverty guideline in effect on the first day of open enrollment is the one used (26 CFR 1.36B-1(h), 2026). For 2027 coverage that is the 2026 HHS guideline, which is $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four (HHS, 2026).
Table: Where the 400% line falls for 2027 coverage
| Household | 2026 poverty guideline | 400% of the guideline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $63,840 |
| Family of 4 | $33,000 | $132,000 |
Source: HHS 2026 poverty guidelines and HealthCare.gov (2026). A family of four earning $132,001 is above the line. Because the enhanced credits ended after 2025, the cap at 400% applies, so a small raise can cost a lot of subsidy. A freelancer or small business owner can often control year-end income, so check your estimate before you enroll.
How to choose the right individual healthcare plan for my family this year?
Choose the right plan by checking doctors, drugs, total yearly cost, subsidy, and the deadline in that order. Do the steps below before you click enroll.
- Write down each person's doctors, hospitals, and regular prescriptions.
- Estimate your 2027 household income, including self-employment profit.
- Check whether you qualify for a premium tax credit at that income.
- Search each plan's network and drug list for those doctors and drugs.
- Add 12 months of premium to your likely cost sharing for each plan.
- Confirm the out-of-pocket maximum is an amount you could pay.
- Enroll by December 15 for January 1 coverage, and no later than your state's deadline.
Copy this note and send it to the licensed advisor you choose:
Subject: Help comparing 2027 individual health plans
>
Hello, I need a plan for [number] people in [county, state] starting January 1. Our estimated 2027 household income is [amount]. Our doctors are [names] and our regular prescriptions are [list]. Please compare the three best-fit plans on total yearly cost, network, and subsidy, and tell me the enrollment deadline for my state. Thank you.
When is open enrollment for individual health insurance in 2027?
Open enrollment for most states runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, with December 15 as the deadline for coverage that starts January 1 (HealthCare.gov, 2026). Some states set their own dates.
Table: 2027 open enrollment dates for HealthCare.gov and selected state exchanges
| State or exchange | Open enrollment |
|---|---|
| HealthCare.gov states | November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 |
| Idaho | October 15 to December 15, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | October 23, 2026 to January 23, 2027 |
| Rhode Island | November 1 to December 31, 2026 |
| New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, District of Columbia | November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 |
| Virginia | November 1, 2026 to January 29, 2027 |
Source: HealthCare.gov (2026) and healthinsurance.org (updated October 5, 2026). Our open enrollment dates and changes page keeps a longer list.
Can individual health insurance be tax deductible?
Individual health insurance can be tax deductible for self-employed people, and for others only above a high threshold. Self-employed filers can deduct premiums for medical, dental, and vision coverage for themselves, a spouse, and dependents (IRS Instructions for Form 7206, 2025).
The self-employed deduction requires a net profit on Schedule C or Schedule F, a partnership K-1 with self-employment earnings, or more-than-2% S corporation wages. You cannot take it for any month you were eligible for an employer-subsidized plan, including through a spouse's employer, even if you did not enroll (IRS Instructions for Form 7206, 2025). The deduction is claimed on Schedule 1 of Form 1040 (IRS, 2026).
Everyone else can deduct medical expenses, including premiums paid with after-tax dollars, only to the extent they exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income (IRS Instructions for Schedule A, 2025). For a $60,000 income, that is $4,500 of expenses before any deduction starts. Our premium deductibility guide and self-employed health insurance guide go deeper.
Results depend on your plan terms and IRS rules. Not legal or tax advice.
How do membership-based plans compare with insurance?
Membership-based coverage is not insurance, and it does not replace the protections of an ACA plan. It can fit people who are healthy, who are self-employed, or who are priced out of a marketplace plan.
Our medical cost sharing plans guide explains how these programs work and what they exclude. Compare the sharing rules, waiting periods, and any limits on pre-existing conditions before you rely on one. If you want an insured plan with ACA protections, the marketplace is the place to start.
Results depend on your plan terms and IRS rules. Not legal or tax advice.
Compare Plans for Your State
A licensed Summit Health Benefits advisor compares individual and family plans in your county, checks your subsidy range, and helps you enroll before the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best individual health insurance?
What is the best family health insurance?
How much does individual health insurance cost?
Can individual health insurance be tax deductible?
When does open enrollment end for 2027 individual health insurance?
How do I choose the right individual healthcare plan for my family this year?
Sources: HealthCare.gov, Dates and deadlines, Plan categories, and Premium tax credit glossary (2026); KFF, How Much and Why ACA Marketplace Premiums Are Going Up in 2027 (updated August 3, 2026); CMS, Premium Adjustment Percentage, Maximum Annual Limitation on Cost Sharing, and Required Contribution Percentage guidance for 2027 (January 29, 2026); healthinsurance.org, ACA Open Enrollment Guide (updated October 5, 2026); IRS Notice 2026-5 (2025); IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-19 (2025); 26 CFR 1.36B-1(h) (2026); HHS 2026 poverty guidelines (2026); IRS Instructions for Form 7206 (2025); IRS About Form 7206 (2026); IRS Instructions for Schedule A (2025); Summit Health Benefits individuals and families page (2026).