ACA plans available
42
Plan year 2026
CMS Marketplace county · plan year 2026
Cherokee, Iowa ACA premiums
County-level marketplace aggregates from CMS Public Use Files. Listed rates are age-27 premiums unless noted.
Data updated 2026-08-30
- $519
- Silver avg/mo
- 42
- ACA plans
- 4
- Issuers
- +27.0%
- YoY premium
Silver avg $519/mo
Cherokee, Iowa has 42 ACA marketplace plans from 4 issuers (plan year 2026). Average Silver premium is $519/mo; Bronze averages $377/mo and Gold $521/mo. Figures are CMS Marketplace Public Use File county aggregates for age-27 rates.
- County Silver corpus place #1767 of 2055 (highest = #1)
- Benchmark (2nd-lowest Silver) $414/mo
- Plan year 2026 CMS PUF
Silver rank is not plan-count rank
According to CMS Marketplace Public Use Files, Cherokee, Iowa ranks #1,767 of 2,055 counties by listed Silver average ($519/mo) and #1,051 of 2,055 by plan count (42 plans).
- #1,767 of 2,055
- Silver average among 2,055 counties
- $519
- Listed Silver average /mo
- #1,051 of 2,055
- Plan count among 2,055 counties
- 42
- Listed ACA plans in this county
Highest listed Silver average = #1. Most listed plans = #1. County of residence still governs which plans CMS files for that FIPS.
Cherokee, Iowa offers 42 ACA marketplace plans from 4 issuers for plan year 2026. Bronze plans start at $322/mo and Silver plans start at $410/mo (age 27 listed rates). Use the tables below to compare premiums, deductibles, and issuers across all metal tiers.
$519
Avg Silver Premium/mo
$414
Benchmark Premium/mo
+27.0%
Year-over-Year Change
$4,939
Avg Deductible
Lower-premium band
Cherokee in the lower-premium third
$519/mo Silver avg sits in the bottom third of tracked federal-marketplace counties. Corpus place #1767 of 2055 (highest Silver = #1).
Floor-to-ceiling Silver runs $410–$760/mo. Network types split fairly evenly here between HMO and EPO, so comparing referral rules and out-of-network coverage across those two matters as much as comparing metal tiers.
Source: CMS Marketplace Public Use Files, plan year 2026. Informational only; confirm options at HealthCare.gov. How we place counties.
Premiums by Metal Level
Bronze-tier cards fold CMS Expanded Bronze into Bronze (same population as county_trends and methodology). Plan rows and the premium-vs-deductible chart below keep the CMS source label.
Bronze
15 plans$377/mo avg
$322 - $520
Silver
13 plans$519/mo avg
$410 - $760
Gold
13 plans$521/mo avg
$426 - $758
Catastrophic plan available: avg $295/mo (1 plan) - only for individuals under 30 or with a hardship exemption.
Benchmark premium & subsidies
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium in Cherokee is $414/mo for a 27-year-old. This is the amount used to calculate your premium tax credit. If your expected contribution (based on income) is less than the benchmark, you receive a subsidy for the difference.
Issuers in market
4
Competitive market
Benchmark Silver
$414 /mo
Sets your subsidy ceiling
Avg deductible
$4,939
Across all metal tiers
B-
Marketplace Access Score
69/100
Cherokee
Based on benchmark premium, plan and issuer counts, and average deductible across 2,055 tracked ACA marketplace counties, not plan quality, network adequacy, or provider access.
Affordability A
$414/mo
Benchmark Silver premium; rank #1767 of 2055 tracked counties (cheapest first)
Plan Choice D
42 plans
ACA marketplace plan count; rank #1051 of 2055 tracked counties (most first)
Issuer Competition B-
4 issuers
Distinct marketplace issuers; rank #624 of 2055 tracked counties (most first)
Cost Predictability C+
$4,939
Average deductible across tracked plans; rank #1236 of 2055 tracked counties (lowest first)
Cherokee ACA plans by premium and deductible
Each marker is the Cherokee average for one metal tier, monthly premium (age 27) plotted against the average annual deductible, both computed directly from this county's plans. The classic ACA tradeoff is visible: lower-premium Bronze tiers carry the highest deductibles, while Gold and Platinum invert it.
Cherokee ACA marketplace plans: premium vs deductible
How Cherokee's Silver premium compares nationwide
2,055 federal-marketplace counties with a tracked Silver average, banded by monthly premium.
Cherokee vs 2,055 tracked counties
Average Silver premium (age 27), CMS Marketplace Public Use Files
$519 1767th of 2055 higher than 285 of 2,055 counties
Counties, banded by average Silver premium
Each bar is a $1-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source CMS Marketplace Public Use Files · 2026-08-30
Issuers in Cherokee
| Issuer | Plans | Avg Premium (Age 27) |
|---|---|---|
| Ambetter Health | 16 | $407/mo |
| Oscar Insurance Company | 10 | $402/mo |
| Medica | 9 | $661/mo |
| Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | 7 | $425/mo |
All Plans in Cherokee
| Plan Name | Metal | Type | Premium (27) | Premium (40) | Deductible | OOP Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Oscar Insurance Company | Catastrophic | EPO | $294.69 | $359.36 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
| Everyday Bronze Ambetter Health | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $321.78 | $392.39 | $8,450 | $10,150 |
| Standard Expanded Bronze Ambetter Health | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $322.42 | $393.18 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Bronze Classic Standard Oscar Insurance Company | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $329.02 | $401.22 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Wellmark Bronze Traditional HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $335.24 | $408.82 | $7,200 | $9,900 |
| Everyday Bronze + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter Health | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $335.41 | $409.02 | $8,450 | $10,150 |
| Standard Expanded Bronze + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter Health | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $336.08 | $409.84 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Bronze Classic 4700 Oscar Insurance Company | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $339.09 | $413.51 | $4,700 | $9,300 |
| Wellmark Bronze HDHP HMO HSA Qualified Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $342.26 | $417.38 | $8,300 | $8,300 |
| Wellmark Standard Bronze HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $359.32 | $438.18 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Bronze Elite + PCP Saver Plus Oscar Insurance Company | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $360.75 | $439.92 | $0 | $10,600 |
| Elite Bronze Ambetter Health | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $372.89 | $454.73 | $0 | $10,500 |
| Elite Bronze + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter Health | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $388.69 | $474.00 | $0 | $10,500 |
| Medica Insure Bronze Share Medica | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $472.27 | $575.91 | $8,000 | $10,600 |
| Medica Insure Bronze $0 Copay PCP Visits Medica | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $513.48 | $626.17 | $7,500 | $10,600 |
| Medica Insure Expanded Bronze Standard Medica | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $519.68 | $633.74 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Standard Silver Ambetter Health | Silver | HMO | $409.90 | $499.85 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Focused Silver Ambetter Health | Silver | HMO | $414.47 | $505.43 | $6,300 | $8,400 |
| Standard Silver + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter Health | Silver | HMO | $427.27 | $521.04 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Focused Silver + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter Health | Silver | HMO | $432.03 | $526.85 | $6,300 | $8,400 |
| Silver Simple PCP Saver Oscar Insurance Company | Silver | EPO | $449.31 | $547.92 | $5,000 | $8,500 |
| Silver Classic Standard Oscar Insurance Company | Silver | EPO | $449.80 | $548.51 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Silver Classic Oscar Insurance Company | Silver | EPO | $455.68 | $555.68 | $5,000 | $8,000 |
| Silver Simple Diabetes Oscar Insurance Company | Silver | EPO | $458.97 | $559.70 | $6,500 | $10,000 |
| Wellmark Silver Traditional HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Silver | HMO | $501.81 | $611.94 | $5,000 | $7,500 |
| Wellmark Standard Silver HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Silver | HMO | $509.16 | $620.90 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Medica Insure Silver $0 Copay PCP Visits Medica | Silver | EPO | $726.29 | $885.68 | $3,500 | $10,450 |
| Medica Insure Silver Share Medica | Silver | EPO | $748.09 | $912.27 | $3,525 | $8,850 |
| Medica Insure Silver Standard Medica | Silver | EPO | $759.80 | $926.56 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Gold Classic Standard Oscar Insurance Company | Gold | EPO | $425.78 | $519.23 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Standard Gold Ambetter Health | Gold | HMO | $438.40 | $534.61 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Everyday Gold Ambetter Health | Gold | HMO | $445.33 | $543.06 | $800 | $7,250 |
| Standard Gold + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter Health | Gold | HMO | $456.98 | $557.27 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Wellmark Gold Traditional HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Gold | HMO | $459.34 | $560.15 | $1,750 | $7,500 |
| Gold Elite Oscar Insurance Company | Gold | EPO | $459.89 | $560.82 | $550 | $6,000 |
| Complete Gold Ambetter Health | Gold | HMO | $461.41 | $562.67 | $1,450 | $7,500 |
| Everyday Gold + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter Health | Gold | HMO | $464.20 | $566.07 | $800 | $7,250 |
| Wellmark Standard Gold HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Gold | HMO | $467.54 | $570.15 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Complete Gold + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter Health | Gold | HMO | $480.96 | $586.51 | $1,450 | $7,500 |
| Medica Insure Gold $0 Copay PCP Visits Medica | Gold | EPO | $714.79 | $871.66 | $1,500 | $8,800 |
| Medica Insure Gold Share Medica | Gold | EPO | $736.17 | $897.73 | $2,500 | $5,900 |
| Medica Insure Gold Standard Medica | Gold | EPO | $758.46 | $924.92 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
Silver Premium Trend (2022-2026)
| Year | Avg Premium | Min | Max | Plans | Issuers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $490/mo | $459 | $505 | 3 | 2 |
| 2023 | $499/mo | $439 | $595 | 4 | 2 |
| 2024 | $472/mo | $381 | $617 | 11 | 3 |
| 2025 | $401/mo | $312 | $563 | 14 | 4 |
| 2026 | $519/mo | $410 | $760 | 13 | 4 |
What this means for Cherokee
Use Cherokee's own numbers here, not a national average, before you enroll.
- $519/mo Silver average sits in the bottom third of tracked counties nationally -- a subsidized Silver plan can already beat Bronze on total cost here. See how subsidies work
- 42 plans from 4 issuers here -- see how that stacks up against the cheapest counties nationwide. See cheapest counties
Averages and tercile bands are CMS Marketplace Public Use File aggregates for this county; your actual premium depends on your age, household income, and chosen plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Cherokee's Silver premium in the lower band?
Cherokee ranks #1767 of 2055 tracked federal-marketplace counties by average Silver premium (highest = #1; CMS PUF sort). Local Silver avg is $519/mo. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How many ACA plans are available in Cherokee, IA?
There are 42 ACA marketplace plans available in Cherokee from 4 insurance issuers for plan year 2026.
What is the cheapest health insurance plan in Cherokee?
The lowest-premium plan in Cherokee starts at $322/mo (Bronze tier, age 27). Silver plans start at $410/mo. Actual premiums vary by age and may be reduced by premium tax credits.
What is the benchmark premium for Cherokee?
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium in Cherokee is $414/mo for a 27-year-old. This amount determines how much premium tax credit subsidy you may be eligible for.
Why did Cherokee premiums rise +27.0% year-over-year?
The average age-27 premium in Cherokee changed by +27.0% between plan years 2025 and 2026, measured across Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Catastrophic plans. Premium trends are tracked from 2022 to 2026.
What is the average deductible and out-of-pocket maximum in Cherokee?
The average annual deductible across all plans in Cherokee is $4,939, and the average out-of-pocket maximum is $8,917. Bronze plans generally have higher deductibles but lower premiums, while Gold and Platinum plans have lower deductibles but higher monthly costs.
Which issuers compete in Cherokee's crowded market?
There are 4 insurance issuers offering ACA marketplace plans in Cherokee, including Ambetter Health, Oscar Insurance Company, Medica, and others. Competition among issuers affects plan variety and pricing. More issuers generally mean more choices and potentially lower premiums.
Disclaimer
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance or financial advice. Premiums shown are for a 27-year-old non-tobacco user unless otherwise noted. Your actual premium depends on age, location, tobacco use, and subsidy eligibility. Visit HealthCare.gov for official enrollment. Source: CMS Marketplace PUF, PY2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Counties With a Similar Benchmark Premium
The closest counties nationwide to Cherokee, IA's $414/mo benchmark premium.
One of 2,054 counties nationwide with a tracked benchmark premium, 5 are shown here.
Nationwide counties with similar marketplace profiles
Two CMS Marketplace peer sets for Cherokee, IA, both outside IA so the neighborhoods are not state containment (the similar-premium list above may still include same-state rating-area siblings). Peers are drawn from counties with ≥20 plans, the rankings-scale corpus.
Similar benchmark premium
Nearest other-state counties by benchmark premium ($414/mo here).
Similar issuer competition
Nearest other-state counties by issuer count (4 here).
Data sources
Data sourced from the CMS Health Insurance Marketplace Public Use Files. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainHealthPlan
PlainHealthPlan is rendered directly from CMS Health Insurance Marketplace Public Use Files, no number is typed in by an editor. Plan and premium figures for this county come from the live CMS Marketplace PUF aggregates. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.