ACA plans available
16
Plan year 2026
2026 data Public-data reference. official source
Des Moines, Iowa Health Insurance
Open-data reference.
16 ACA plans from 2 issuers - Plan year 2026
Des Moines, Iowa offers 16 ACA marketplace plans from 2 issuers for plan year 2026. Silver plans start at $433/mo (age 27, before subsidies). Use the tables below to compare premiums, deductibles, and issuers across all metal tiers.
$579
Avg Silver Premium/mo
$440
Benchmark Premium/mo
+40.5%
Year-over-Year Change
$4,986
Avg Deductible
What the Numbers Say About Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa has 16 ACA marketplace plans offered by 2 issuers for plan year 2026. The average Silver-tier premium comes in at $579/mo for a 27-year-old non-tobacco user, with the lowest Silver at $433 and the highest at $687.
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium is $440/mo, the figure used to calculate your Advance Premium Tax Credit (the federal subsidy). Enrollees whose expected income-based contribution falls below this amount receive a subsidy for the difference. Across all plans, the average annual deductible is $4,986 and the average out-of-pocket maximum is $8,913 - numbers that matter more than the sticker premium once you actually use care. Year-over-year, average premiums in Des Moines shifted by +40.5%, a signal of how local issuer pricing and risk-pool dynamics are trending.
Issuer count is one of the strongest predictors of affordability: with 2 issuers active in Des Moines, consumers have some competitive choice, though narrower than the most competitive counties. Network types split fairly evenly here between EPO and HMO, so comparing referral rules and out-of-network coverage across those two matters as much as comparing metal tiers. This page is informational only and is not insurance, medical, or tax advice, verify your eligibility, network coverage, and final pricing at HealthCare.gov before enrolling. Source: CMS Marketplace PUF, plan year 2026.
Premiums by Metal Level
Silver
5 plans$579/mo avg
$433 - $687
Gold
5 plans$560/mo avg
$397 - $686
Benchmark Premium & Subsidies
The benchmark premium (2nd-lowest Silver plan) in Des Moines is $440/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. The higher the benchmark, the larger the potential subsidy.
Issuers in market
2
Some competition
Benchmark Silver
$440 /mo
Sets your subsidy ceiling
Avg deductible
$4,986
Across all metal tiers
Des Moines ACA plans by premium and deductible
Each marker is the Des Moines 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.
Source: CMS Marketplace Public Use Files for Des Moines, plan year 2026. Each point is the county average for one metal tier (premium age 27 vs average annual deductible).
Issuers in Des Moines
| Issuer | Plans | Avg Premium (Age 27) |
|---|---|---|
| Medica | 9 | $598/mo |
| Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | 7 | $367/mo |
All Plans in Des Moines
| Plan Name | Metal | Type | Premium (27) | Premium (40) | Deductible | OOP Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellmark Bronze Traditional HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $289.57 | $353.12 | $7,200 | $9,900 |
| Wellmark Bronze HDHP HMO HSA Qualified Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $295.63 | $360.51 | $8,300 | $8,300 |
| Wellmark Standard Bronze HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $310.37 | $378.48 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Medica Insure Bronze Share Medica | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $427.08 | $520.81 | $8,000 | $10,600 |
| Medica Insure Bronze $0 Copay PCP Visits Medica | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $464.34 | $566.25 | $7,500 | $10,600 |
| Medica Insure Expanded Bronze Standard Medica | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $469.96 | $573.10 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Wellmark Silver Traditional HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Silver | HMO | $433.44 | $528.57 | $5,000 | $7,500 |
| Wellmark Standard Silver HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Silver | HMO | $439.79 | $536.31 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Medica Insure Silver $0 Copay PCP Visits Medica | Silver | EPO | $656.79 | $800.94 | $3,500 | $10,450 |
| Medica Insure Silver Share Medica | Silver | EPO | $676.51 | $824.98 | $3,525 | $8,850 |
| Medica Insure Silver Standard Medica | Silver | EPO | $687.10 | $837.90 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Wellmark Gold Traditional HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Gold | HMO | $396.76 | $483.83 | $1,750 | $7,500 |
| Wellmark Standard Gold HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Gold | HMO | $403.84 | $492.47 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Medica Insure Gold $0 Copay PCP Visits Medica | Gold | EPO | $646.39 | $788.25 | $1,500 | $8,800 |
| Medica Insure Gold Share Medica | Gold | EPO | $665.73 | $811.83 | $2,500 | $5,900 |
| Medica Insure Gold Standard Medica | Gold | EPO | $685.89 | $836.42 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
Silver Premium Trend (2022-2026)
| Year | Avg Premium | Min | Max | Plans | Issuers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $449/mo | $414 | $467 | 3 | 2 |
| 2023 | $457/mo | $395 | $551 | 4 | 2 |
| 2024 | $489/mo | $361 | $571 | 6 | 2 |
| 2025 | $453/mo | $374 | $509 | 5 | 2 |
| 2026 | $579/mo | $433 | $687 | 5 | 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ACA plans are available in Des Moines, IA?
There are 16 ACA marketplace plans available in Des Moines from 2 insurance issuers for plan year 2026.
What is the cheapest health insurance plan in Des Moines?
Silver plans in Des Moines start at $433/mo (age 27). Actual premiums vary by age and may be reduced by premium tax credits.
What is the benchmark premium for Des Moines?
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium in Des Moines is $440/mo for a 27-year-old. This amount determines how much premium tax credit subsidy you may be eligible for.
How have premiums changed in Des Moines?
Average premiums in Des Moines changed by +40.5% year-over-year. Premium trends are tracked from 2022 to 2026 across all metal levels.
What is the average deductible and out-of-pocket maximum in Des Moines?
The average annual deductible across all plans in Des Moines is $4,986, and the average out-of-pocket maximum is $8,913. 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 Des Moines?
There are 2 insurance issuers offering ACA marketplace plans in Des Moines, including Medica, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc.. 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 Des Moines, IA's $440/mo benchmark premium.
Data sources
Data sourced from the CMS Health Insurance Marketplace Public Use Files. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainHealthPlan Editorial
