ACA plans available
31
Plan year 2026
CMS Marketplace county · plan year 2026
Durham, 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
- $600
- Silver avg/mo
- 31
- ACA plans
- 3
- Issuers
- +2.8%
- YoY premium
Silver avg $600/mo
Durham, North Carolina has 31 ACA marketplace plans from 3 issuers (plan year 2026). Average Silver premium is $600/mo; Bronze averages $470/mo and Gold $606/mo. Figures are CMS Marketplace Public Use File county aggregates for age-27 rates.
- County Silver corpus place #1337 of 2055 (highest = #1)
- Benchmark (2nd-lowest Silver) $500/mo
- Plan year 2026 CMS PUF
Silver rank is not plan-count rank
According to CMS Marketplace Public Use Files, Durham, North Carolina ranks #1,337 of 2,055 counties by listed Silver average ($600/mo) and #1,505 of 2,055 by plan count (31 plans).
- #1,337 of 2,055
- Silver average among 2,055 counties
- $600
- Listed Silver average /mo
- #1,505 of 2,055
- Plan count among 2,055 counties
- 31
- 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.
Durham, North Carolina offers 31 ACA marketplace plans from 3 issuers for plan year 2026. Bronze plans start at $377/mo and Silver plans start at $494/mo (age 27 listed rates). Use the tables below to compare premiums, deductibles, and issuers across all metal tiers.
$600
Avg Silver Premium/mo
$500
Benchmark Premium/mo
+2.8%
Year-over-Year Change
$5,076
Avg Deductible
Thin plan inventory
Durham marketplace standing
31 plans: bottom-third inventory vs other tracked counties. Corpus place #1337 of 2055 (highest Silver = #1).
Mid-pack Silver avg $600/mo with 31 plans . YoY average shift: +2.8%. HMO is the most common network type in Durham, with EPO rounding out the alternatives.
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
13 plans$470/mo avg
$377 - $667
Silver
11 plans$600/mo avg
$494 - $819
Gold
7 plans$606/mo avg
$519 - $983
Benchmark premium & subsidies
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium in Durham is $500/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
$500 /mo
Sets your subsidy ceiling
Avg deductible
$5,076
Across all metal tiers
D
Marketplace Access Score
48/100
Durham
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 B-
$500/mo
Benchmark Silver premium; rank #1337 of 2055 tracked counties (cheapest first)
Plan Choice F
31 plans
ACA marketplace plan count; rank #1505 of 2055 tracked counties (most first)
Issuer Competition D
3 issuers
Distinct marketplace issuers; rank #1129 of 2055 tracked counties (most first)
Cost Predictability D
$5,076
Average deductible across tracked plans; rank #890 of 2055 tracked counties (lowest first)
Durham ACA plans by premium and deductible
Each marker is the Durham 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.
Durham ACA marketplace plans: premium vs deductible
How Durham's Silver premium compares nationwide
2,055 federal-marketplace counties with a tracked Silver average, banded by monthly premium.
Durham vs 2,055 tracked counties
Average Silver premium (age 27), CMS Marketplace Public Use Files
$600 1337th of 2055 higher than 717 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 Durham
| Issuer | Plans | Avg Premium (Age 27) |
|---|---|---|
| Ambetter of North Carolina | 15 | $495/mo |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | 9 | $458/mo |
| Cigna Healthcare | 7 | $773/mo |
All Plans in Durham
| Plan Name | Metal | Type | Premium (27) | Premium (40) | Deductible | OOP Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Home Bronze Basic | 3 Free PCP | $25 Tier 1 Rx | Integrated | with UNC Health Alliance Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $377.15 | $459.93 | $7,000 | $10,600 |
| Blue Home Bronze Standard | with UNC Health Alliance Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $392.35 | $478.46 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Blue Home Bronze Complete | $60 PCP | $20 Tier 1 Rx | with UNC Health Alliance Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $397.62 | $484.89 | $4,000 | $10,600 |
| Everyday Bronze Ambetter of North Carolina | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $401.18 | $489.22 | $8,450 | $10,150 |
| Standard Expanded Bronze Ambetter of North Carolina | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $402.73 | $491.12 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Blue Home Bronze HSA Eligible | Integrated | with UNC Health Alliance Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $407.89 | $497.41 | $8,500 | $8,500 |
| Everyday Bronze + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter of North Carolina | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $414.68 | $505.68 | $8,450 | $10,150 |
| Standard Expanded Bronze + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter of North Carolina | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $416.28 | $507.64 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Elite Bronze Ambetter of North Carolina | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $455.83 | $555.87 | $0 | $10,500 |
| Elite Bronze + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter of North Carolina | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $471.17 | $574.57 | $0 | $10,500 |
| Connect Bronze RD 6000 Indiv Med Deductible Cigna Healthcare | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $654.44 | $798.07 | $6,000 | $10,300 |
| Connect Bronze RD CMS Standard Cigna Healthcare | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $655.70 | $799.61 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Connect Bronze RD 5000 Indiv Med Deductible Cigna Healthcare | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $667.02 | $813.41 | $5,000 | $9,700 |
| Blue Home Silver Preferred | 3 Free PCP | $10 Tier 1 Rx | Integrated | with UNC Health Alliance Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Silver | EPO | $494.39 | $602.90 | $2,800 | $10,600 |
| Blue Home Silver Standard | with UNC Health Alliance Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Silver | EPO | $499.85 | $609.55 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Blue Home Silver Choice A | 3 Free PCP | $15 Tier 1 Rx | with UNC Health Alliance Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Silver | EPO | $511.03 | $623.18 | $3,000 | $10,600 |
| Clear Silver with $0 Insulin Options Ambetter of North Carolina | Silver | HMO | $515.61 | $628.76 | $7,000 | $7,000 |
| Standard Silver Ambetter of North Carolina | Silver | HMO | $515.77 | $628.96 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Enhanced Asthma/COPD Care Silver with $0 Drug Options Ambetter of North Carolina | Silver | HMO | $529.24 | $645.39 | $5,900 | $8,150 |
| Standard Silver + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter of North Carolina | Silver | HMO | $533.12 | $650.12 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Enhanced Asthma/COPD Care Silver with $0 Drug Options + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter of North Carolina | Silver | HMO | $547.05 | $667.11 | $5,900 | $8,150 |
| Connect Silver RD 5000 Indiv Med Deductible Cigna Healthcare | Silver | HMO | $812.97 | $991.38 | $5,000 | $9,250 |
| Connect Silver RD CMS Standard Cigna Healthcare | Silver | HMO | $817.13 | $996.46 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Connect Silver RD 3500 Indiv Med Deductible Cigna Healthcare | Silver | HMO | $819.45 | $999.29 | $3,500 | $9,000 |
| Blue Home Gold Premier A | 3 Free PCP | $10 Tier 1 Rx | with UNC Health Alliance Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Gold | EPO | $518.77 | $632.62 | $1,800 | $10,600 |
| Blue Home Gold Standard A | with UNC Health Alliance Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC | Gold | EPO | $524.04 | $639.05 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Standard Gold Ambetter of North Carolina | Gold | HMO | $533.19 | $650.20 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Standard Gold + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter of North Carolina | Gold | HMO | $551.13 | $672.08 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Complete Gold Ambetter of North Carolina | Gold | HMO | $557.41 | $679.74 | $1,450 | $7,500 |
| Complete Gold + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter of North Carolina | Gold | HMO | $576.16 | $702.61 | $1,450 | $7,500 |
| Connect Gold RD CMS Standard Cigna Healthcare | Gold | HMO | $983.31 | $1,199.11 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
Silver Premium Trend (2022-2026)
| Year | Avg Premium | Min | Max | Plans | Issuers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $465/mo | $375 | $851 | 28 | 6 |
| 2023 | $493/mo | $402 | $851 | 28 | 5 |
| 2024 | $505/mo | $390 | $925 | 25 | 5 |
| 2025 | $546/mo | $400 | $981 | 18 | 5 |
| 2026 | $600/mo | $494 | $819 | 11 | 3 |
What this means for Durham
Use Durham's own numbers here, not a national average, before you enroll.
- $600/mo Silver average is mid-pack nationally -- estimate your own subsidy before comparing tiers. Estimate your subsidy
- 31 plans from 3 issuers puts Durham 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
Where does Durham sit on Silver premiums vs other counties?
Durham ranks #1337 of 2055 tracked federal-marketplace counties by average Silver premium (highest = #1; CMS PUF sort). Local Silver avg is $600/mo. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
Why does Durham carry a thin ACA plan book?
Durham lists 31 marketplace plans from 3 issuers - a bottom-third inventory vs other tracked counties (plan year 2026).
What is the cheapest health insurance plan in Durham?
The lowest-premium plan in Durham starts at $377/mo (Bronze tier, age 27). Silver plans start at $494/mo. Actual premiums vary by age and may be reduced by premium tax credits.
What is the benchmark premium for Durham?
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium in Durham is $500/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 Durham?
The average age-27 premium in Durham changed by +2.8% 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 Durham?
The average annual deductible across all plans in Durham is $5,076, and the average out-of-pocket maximum is $9,282. 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 Durham?
There are 3 insurance issuers offering ACA marketplace plans in Durham, including Ambetter of North Carolina, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC, Cigna Healthcare. 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 Durham, NC's $500/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 Durham, 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 ($500/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.