ACA plans available
36
Plan year 2026
CMS Marketplace county · plan year 2026
Cherokee, North Carolina ACA premiums
County-level marketplace aggregates from CMS Public Use Files. Listed rates are age-27 premiums unless noted.
Data updated 2026-08-30
- $736
- Silver avg/mo
- 36
- ACA plans
- 3
- Issuers
- +17.1%
- YoY premium
Silver avg $736/mo
Cherokee, North Carolina has 36 ACA marketplace plans from 3 issuers (plan year 2026). Average Silver premium is $736/mo; Bronze averages $575/mo and Gold $787/mo. Figures are CMS Marketplace Public Use File county aggregates for age-27 rates.
- County Silver corpus place #301 of 2055 (highest = #1)
- Benchmark (2nd-lowest Silver) $597/mo
- Plan year 2026 CMS PUF
Silver rank is not plan-count rank
According to CMS Marketplace Public Use Files, Cherokee, North Carolina ranks #301 of 2,055 counties by listed Silver average ($736/mo) and #1,387 of 2,055 by plan count (36 plans).
- #301 of 2,055
- Silver average among 2,055 counties
- $736
- Listed Silver average /mo
- #1,387 of 2,055
- Plan count among 2,055 counties
- 36
- 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, North Carolina offers 36 ACA marketplace plans from 3 issuers for plan year 2026. Bronze plans start at $452/mo and Silver plans start at $592/mo (age 27 listed rates). Use the tables below to compare premiums, deductibles, and issuers across all metal tiers.
$736
Avg Silver Premium/mo
$597
Benchmark Premium/mo
+17.1%
Year-over-Year Change
$4,733
Avg Deductible
High-premium band
Cherokee in the high-premium third
$736/mo Silver avg sits in the top third of tracked federal-marketplace counties. Corpus place #301 of 2055 (highest Silver = #1).
Bronze starts at $452/mo; Silver spans $592–$925/mo (age 27). Benchmark (2nd-lowest Silver) is $597/mo, the subsidy ceiling.
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$575/mo avg
$452 - $744
Silver
13 plans$736/mo avg
$592 - $925
Gold
8 plans$787/mo avg
$612 - $1,103
Benchmark premium & subsidies
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium in Cherokee is $597/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
3
Some competition
Benchmark Silver
$597 /mo
Sets your subsidy ceiling
Avg deductible
$4,733
Across all metal tiers
D
Marketplace Access Score
42/100
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 F
$597/mo
Benchmark Silver premium; rank #301 of 2055 tracked counties (cheapest first)
Plan Choice F
36 plans
ACA marketplace plan count; rank #1387 of 2055 tracked counties (most first)
Issuer Competition D
3 issuers
Distinct marketplace issuers; rank #1056 of 2055 tracked counties (most first)
Cost Predictability A-
$4,733
Average deductible across tracked plans; rank #1680 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
$736 301st of 2055 higher than 1,754 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | 18 | $625/mo |
| Cigna Healthcare | 10 | $882/mo |
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next | 8 | $553/mo |
All Plans in Cherokee
| Plan Name | Metal | Type | Premium (27) | Premium (40) | Deductible | OOP Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next Bronze Essential + No Referrals AmeriHealth Caritas Next | Bronze | HMO | $451.76 | $550.91 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next Bronze Signature + No Referrals AmeriHealth Caritas Next | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $456.84 | $557.10 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next Bronze Premier + No Referrals AmeriHealth Caritas Next | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $466.75 | $569.19 | $3,850 | $10,600 |
| Blue Care Bronze Basic | 3 Free PCP | $25 Tier 1 Rx | Integrated | Statewide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $506.32 | $617.44 | $7,000 | $10,600 |
| Blue Advantage Bronze Basic | 3 Free PCP | $25 Tier 1 Rx | Integrated | Nationwide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | PPO | $521.91 | $636.46 | $7,000 | $10,600 |
| Blue Care Bronze Standard | Statewide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $527.94 | $643.81 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Blue Care Bronze Complete | $60 PCP | $20 Tier 1 Rx | Statewide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $534.04 | $651.24 | $4,000 | $10,600 |
| Blue Advantage Bronze Standard | Nationwide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | PPO | $542.74 | $661.85 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Blue Care Bronze HSA Eligible | Integrated | Statewide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $547.42 | $667.56 | $8,500 | $8,500 |
| Blue Advantage Bronze Complete | $60 PCP | $20 Tier 1 Rx | Nationwide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | PPO | $550.38 | $671.17 | $4,000 | $10,600 |
| Blue Advantage Bronze HSA Eligible | Integrated | Nationwide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | PPO | $564.20 | $688.02 | $8,500 | $8,500 |
| Connect Bronze 5500 Indiv Med Deductible Cigna Healthcare | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $733.42 | $894.38 | $5,500 | $10,250 |
| Connect Bronze CMS Standard Cigna Healthcare | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $734.07 | $895.18 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Connect Bronze 6500 Indiv Med Deductible Cigna Healthcare | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $737.53 | $899.39 | $6,500 | $9,900 |
| Connect myDiabetesCare Bronze Cigna Healthcare | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $743.71 | $906.93 | $6,000 | $9,900 |
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Essential + No Referrals AmeriHealth Caritas Next | Silver | HMO | $592.41 | $722.43 | $6,100 | $9,000 |
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Signature + No Referrals AmeriHealth Caritas Next | Silver | HMO | $597.49 | $728.62 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Premier + No Referrals AmeriHealth Caritas Next | Silver | HMO | $610.03 | $743.91 | $400 | $10,200 |
| Blue Care Silver Preferred | 3 Free PCP | $10 Tier 1 Rx | Integrated | Statewide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Silver | HMO | $663.53 | $809.15 | $2,800 | $10,600 |
| Blue Care Silver Standard | Statewide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Silver | HMO | $672.49 | $820.08 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Blue Advantage Silver Preferred | 3 Free PCP | $10 Tier 1 Rx | Integrated | Nationwide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Silver | PPO | $683.94 | $834.04 | $2,800 | $10,600 |
| Blue Care Silver Choice A | 3 Free PCP | $15 Tier 1 Rx | Statewide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Silver | HMO | $685.95 | $836.49 | $3,000 | $10,600 |
| Blue Advantage Silver Standard | Nationwide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Silver | PPO | $691.33 | $843.06 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Blue Advantage Silver Choice A | 3 Free PCP | $15 Tier 1 Rx | Nationwide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Silver | PPO | $707.01 | $862.18 | $3,000 | $10,600 |
| Connect Silver 5000 Indiv Med Deductible Cigna Healthcare | Silver | HMO | $912.73 | $1,113.05 | $5,000 | $8,850 |
| Connect Silver 3600 Indiv Med Deductible Cigna Healthcare | Silver | HMO | $914.46 | $1,115.16 | $3,600 | $9,150 |
| Connect Silver CMS Standard Cigna Healthcare | Silver | HMO | $914.79 | $1,115.55 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Connect myDiabetesCare Silver Cigna Healthcare | Silver | HMO | $925.20 | $1,128.24 | $4,300 | $9,200 |
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next Gold Signature + No Referrals AmeriHealth Caritas Next | Gold | HMO | $611.68 | $745.92 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next Gold Premier + No Referrals AmeriHealth Caritas Next | Gold | HMO | $635.36 | $774.79 | $850 | $8,500 |
| Blue Care Gold Premier A | 3 Free PCP | $10 Tier 1 Rx | Statewide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Gold | HMO | $696.32 | $849.14 | $1,800 | $10,600 |
| Blue Care Gold Standard A | Statewide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Gold | HMO | $705.03 | $859.76 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Blue Advantage Gold Premier A | 3 Free PCP | $10 Tier 1 Rx | Nationwide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Gold | PPO | $717.70 | $875.21 | $1,800 | $10,600 |
| Blue Advantage Gold Standard A | Nationwide Doctors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Gold | PPO | $724.85 | $883.93 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Connect Gold CMS Standard Cigna Healthcare | Gold | HMO | $1,100.83 | $1,342.42 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Connect Gold 1500 Indiv Med Deductible Cigna Healthcare | Gold | HMO | $1,102.67 | $1,344.67 | $1,500 | $9,950 |
Silver Premium Trend (2022-2026)
| Year | Avg Premium | Min | Max | Plans | Issuers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $533/mo | $465 | $799 | 15 | 5 |
| 2023 | $548/mo | $456 | $759 | 34 | 7 |
| 2024 | $542/mo | $455 | $793 | 24 | 6 |
| 2025 | $586/mo | $467 | $955 | 26 | 6 |
| 2026 | $736/mo | $592 | $925 | 13 | 3 |
What this means for Cherokee
Use Cherokee's own numbers here, not a national average, before you enroll.
- $736/mo Silver average sits in the top third of tracked counties nationally -- run the metal-tier math before defaulting to Silver. Compare metal tiers
- 36 plans from 3 issuers puts Cherokee in the thinnest third of tracked counties -- check the rest of North Carolina for more options. All of North Carolina
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 high band?
Cherokee ranks #301 of 2055 tracked federal-marketplace counties by average Silver premium (highest = #1; CMS PUF sort). Local Silver avg is $736/mo. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
Why does Cherokee carry a thin ACA plan book?
Cherokee lists 36 marketplace plans from 3 issuers - a bottom-third inventory vs other tracked counties (plan year 2026).
What is the floor premium in high-cost Cherokee?
The lowest-premium plan in Cherokee starts at $452/mo (Bronze tier, age 27). Silver plans start at $592/mo. Actual premiums vary by age and may be reduced by premium tax credits.
How does the Cherokee benchmark premium affect subsidies?
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium in Cherokee is $597/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 +17.1% year-over-year?
The average age-27 premium in Cherokee changed by +17.1% 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 $4,733, and the average out-of-pocket maximum is $9,653. Bronze plans generally have higher deductibles but lower premiums, while Gold and Platinum plans have lower deductibles but higher monthly costs.
Which insurance companies offer plans in Cherokee?
There are 3 insurance issuers offering ACA marketplace plans in Cherokee, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC, Cigna Healthcare, AmeriHealth Caritas Next. 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, NC's $597/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, NC, both outside NC 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 ($597/mo here).
Similar issuer competition
Nearest other-state counties by issuer count (3 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.