ACA plans available
26
Plan year 2026
2026 data Public-data reference. official source
Howard, Iowa Health Insurance
Open-data reference.
26 ACA plans from 3 issuers - Plan year 2026
Howard, Iowa offers 26 ACA marketplace plans from 3 issuers for plan year 2026. Silver plans start at $476/mo (age 27, before subsidies). Use the tables below to compare premiums, deductibles, and issuers across all metal tiers.
$609
Avg Silver Premium/mo
$481
Benchmark Premium/mo
+41.7%
Year-over-Year Change
$5,105
Avg Deductible
What the Numbers Say About Howard
Howard, Iowa has 26 ACA marketplace plans offered by 3 issuers for plan year 2026. The average Silver-tier premium comes in at $609/mo for a 27-year-old non-tobacco user, with the lowest Silver at $476 and the highest at $877.
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium is $481/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 $5,105 and the average out-of-pocket maximum is $8,950 - numbers that matter more than the sticker premium once you actually use care. Year-over-year, average premiums in Howard shifted by +41.7%, a signal of how local issuer pricing and risk-pool dynamics are trending.
Issuer count is one of the strongest predictors of affordability: with 3 issuers active in Howard, consumers have some competitive choice, though narrower than the most competitive counties. EPO is the most common network type in Howard, with HMO rounding out the alternatives. 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
9 plans$609/mo avg
$476 - $877
Gold
7 plans$625/mo avg
$436 - $875
Catastrophic plan available: avg $316/mo (1 plan) - only for individuals under 30 or with a hardship exemption.
Benchmark Premium & Subsidies
The benchmark premium (2nd-lowest Silver plan) in Howard is $481/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
3
Some competition
Benchmark Silver
$481 /mo
Sets your subsidy ceiling
Avg deductible
$5,105
Across all metal tiers
Howard ACA plans by premium and deductible
Each marker is the Howard 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 Howard, plan year 2026. Each point is the county average for one metal tier (premium age 27 vs average annual deductible).
Issuers in Howard
| Issuer | Plans | Avg Premium (Age 27) |
|---|---|---|
| Oscar Insurance Company | 10 | $431/mo |
| Medica | 9 | $763/mo |
| Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | 7 | $403/mo |
All Plans in Howard
| Plan Name | Metal | Type | Premium (27) | Premium (40) | Deductible | OOP Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Oscar Insurance Company | Catastrophic | EPO | $315.57 | $384.83 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
| Wellmark Bronze Traditional HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $318.04 | $387.84 | $7,200 | $9,900 |
| Wellmark Bronze HDHP HMO HSA Qualified Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $324.70 | $395.97 | $8,300 | $8,300 |
| Wellmark Standard Bronze HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $340.89 | $415.70 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Bronze Classic Standard Oscar Insurance Company | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $352.33 | $429.66 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Bronze Classic 4700 Oscar Insurance Company | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $363.12 | $442.81 | $4,700 | $9,300 |
| Bronze Elite + PCP Saver Plus Oscar Insurance Company | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $386.31 | $471.09 | $0 | $10,600 |
| Medica Insure Bronze Share Medica | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $544.89 | $664.48 | $8,000 | $10,600 |
| Medica Insure Bronze $0 Copay PCP Visits Medica | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $592.44 | $722.46 | $7,500 | $10,600 |
| Medica Insure Expanded Bronze Standard Medica | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $599.60 | $731.19 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Wellmark Silver Traditional HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Silver | HMO | $476.07 | $580.55 | $5,000 | $7,500 |
| Silver Simple PCP Saver Oscar Insurance Company | Silver | EPO | $481.15 | $586.74 | $5,000 | $8,500 |
| Silver Classic Standard Oscar Insurance Company | Silver | EPO | $481.67 | $587.38 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Wellmark Standard Silver HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Silver | HMO | $483.04 | $589.05 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Silver Classic Oscar Insurance Company | Silver | EPO | $487.97 | $595.06 | $5,000 | $8,000 |
| Silver Simple Diabetes Oscar Insurance Company | Silver | EPO | $491.49 | $599.36 | $6,500 | $10,000 |
| Medica Insure Silver $0 Copay PCP Visits Medica | Silver | EPO | $837.98 | $1,021.89 | $3,500 | $10,450 |
| Medica Insure Silver Share Medica | Silver | EPO | $863.13 | $1,052.56 | $3,525 | $8,850 |
| Medica Insure Silver Standard Medica | Silver | EPO | $876.65 | $1,069.04 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Wellmark Gold Traditional HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Gold | HMO | $435.77 | $531.41 | $1,750 | $7,500 |
| Wellmark Standard Gold HMO Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | Gold | HMO | $443.55 | $540.90 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Gold Classic Standard Oscar Insurance Company | Gold | EPO | $455.96 | $556.02 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Gold Elite Oscar Insurance Company | Gold | EPO | $492.48 | $600.57 | $550 | $6,000 |
| Medica Insure Gold $0 Copay PCP Visits Medica | Gold | EPO | $824.71 | $1,005.70 | $1,500 | $8,800 |
| Medica Insure Gold Share Medica | Gold | EPO | $849.38 | $1,035.78 | $2,500 | $5,900 |
| Medica Insure Gold Standard Medica | Gold | EPO | $875.10 | $1,067.16 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
Silver Premium Trend (2022-2026)
| Year | Avg Premium | Min | Max | Plans | Issuers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $506/mo | $475 | $521 | 3 | 2 |
| 2023 | $516/mo | $454 | $614 | 4 | 2 |
| 2024 | $483/mo | $397 | $636 | 11 | 3 |
| 2025 | $462/mo | $386 | $598 | 9 | 3 |
| 2026 | $609/mo | $476 | $877 | 9 | 3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ACA plans are available in Howard, IA?
There are 26 ACA marketplace plans available in Howard from 3 insurance issuers for plan year 2026.
What is the cheapest health insurance plan in Howard?
Silver plans in Howard start at $476/mo (age 27). Actual premiums vary by age and may be reduced by premium tax credits.
What is the benchmark premium for Howard?
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium in Howard is $481/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 Howard?
Average premiums in Howard changed by +41.7% 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 Howard?
The average annual deductible across all plans in Howard is $5,105, and the average out-of-pocket maximum is $8,950. 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 Howard?
There are 3 insurance issuers offering ACA marketplace plans in Howard, including Oscar Insurance Company, 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 Howard, IA's $481/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
