ACA plans available
37
Plan year 2026
CMS Marketplace county · plan year 2026
Nicholas, West Virginia ACA premiums
County-level marketplace aggregates from CMS Public Use Files. Listed rates are age-27 premiums unless noted.
Data updated 2026-08-30
- $914
- Silver avg/mo
- 37
- ACA plans
- 2
- Issuers
- +5.4%
- YoY premium
Silver avg $914/mo
Nicholas, West Virginia has 37 ACA marketplace plans from 2 issuers (plan year 2026). Average Silver premium is $914/mo; Bronze averages $683/mo and Gold $842/mo. Figures are CMS Marketplace Public Use File county aggregates for age-27 rates.
- County Silver corpus place #47 of 2055 (highest = #1)
- Benchmark (2nd-lowest Silver) $897/mo
- Plan year 2026 CMS PUF
Silver rank is not plan-count rank
According to CMS Marketplace Public Use Files, Nicholas, West Virginia ranks #47 of 2,055 counties by listed Silver average ($914/mo) and #1,345 of 2,055 by plan count (37 plans).
- #47 of 2,055
- Silver average among 2,055 counties
- $914
- Listed Silver average /mo
- #1,345 of 2,055
- Plan count among 2,055 counties
- 37
- 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.
Nicholas, West Virginia offers 37 ACA marketplace plans from 2 issuers for plan year 2026. Bronze plans start at $648/mo and Silver plans start at $866/mo (age 27 listed rates). Use the tables below to compare premiums, deductibles, and issuers across all metal tiers.
$914
Avg Silver Premium/mo
$897
Benchmark Premium/mo
+5.4%
Year-over-Year Change
$5,283
Avg Deductible
High-premium band
Nicholas in the high-premium third
$914/mo Silver avg sits in the top third of tracked federal-marketplace counties. Corpus place #47 of 2055 (highest Silver = #1).
Bronze starts at $648/mo; Silver spans $866–$955/mo (age 27). Benchmark (2nd-lowest Silver) is $897/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
8 plans$683/mo avg
$648 - $711
Silver
13 plans$914/mo avg
$866 - $955
Gold
13 plans$842/mo avg
$803 - $910
Platinum
2 plans$1,518/mo avg
$1,516 - $1,519
Catastrophic plan available: avg $502/mo (1 plan) - only for individuals under 30 or with a hardship exemption.
Benchmark premium & subsidies
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium in Nicholas is $897/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
2
Some competition
Benchmark Silver
$897 /mo
Sets your subsidy ceiling
Avg deductible
$5,283
Across all metal tiers
F
Marketplace Access Score
17/100
Nicholas
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
$897/mo
Benchmark Silver premium; rank #47 of 2055 tracked counties (cheapest first)
Plan Choice F
37 plans
ACA marketplace plan count; rank #1345 of 2055 tracked counties (most first)
Issuer Competition F
2 issuers
Distinct marketplace issuers; rank #1871 of 2055 tracked counties (most first)
Cost Predictability F
$5,283
Average deductible across tracked plans; rank #604 of 2055 tracked counties (lowest first)
Nicholas ACA plans by premium and deductible
Each marker is the Nicholas 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.
Nicholas ACA marketplace plans: premium vs deductible
How Nicholas's Silver premium compares nationwide
2,055 federal-marketplace counties with a tracked Silver average, banded by monthly premium.
Nicholas vs 2,055 tracked counties
Average Silver premium (age 27), CMS Marketplace Public Use Files
$914 47th of 2055 higher than 2,004 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 Nicholas
| Issuer | Plans | Avg Premium (Age 27) |
|---|---|---|
| CareSource | 22 | $901/mo |
| Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | 15 | $801/mo |
All Plans in Nicholas
| Plan Name | Metal | Type | Premium (27) | Premium (40) | Deductible | OOP Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| my Blue Access WV Major Events PPO Catastrophic 10600 - 3 Free PCP Visits Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Catastrophic | PPO | $502.40 | $612.66 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Bronze 9200 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Bronze | PPO | $647.61 | $789.74 | $9,200 | $9,200 |
| Low Premium Bronze 10600 $25 Generic Drugs CareSource | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $663.33 | $808.91 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
| Low Premium Bronze 10600 $25 Generic Drugs + Adult Vision & Fitness CareSource | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $666.65 | $812.96 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Standard Bronze 7500 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Expanded Bronze | PPO | $678.07 | $826.88 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Bronze 3800 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Expanded Bronze | PPO | $686.74 | $837.46 | $3,800 | $9,900 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Bronze 3800 + Adult Dental and Vision Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Expanded Bronze | PPO | $702.84 | $857.09 | $3,800 | $9,900 |
| Bronze 7500 $25 Generic Drugs CareSource | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $707.39 | $862.64 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Bronze 7500 $25 Generic Drugs + Adult Vision & Fitness CareSource | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $710.71 | $866.69 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Standard Silver 6000 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Silver | PPO | $865.65 | $1,055.63 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Low Premium Silver 6200 $3 Generic Drugs CareSource | Silver | HMO | $897.08 | $1,093.95 | $6,200 | $9,800 |
| Healthy Heart Silver 5000 $0 Chronic Care Drugs & Services CareSource | Silver | HMO | $900.21 | $1,097.78 | $5,000 | $9,500 |
| Low Premium Silver 6200 $3 Generic Drugs + Adult Vision & Fitness CareSource | Silver | HMO | $900.40 | $1,098.01 | $6,200 | $9,800 |
| Healthy Heart Silver 5000 $0 Chronic Care Drugs & Services + Adult Vision & Fitness CareSource | Silver | HMO | $903.54 | $1,101.83 | $5,000 | $9,500 |
| Silver 6000 $20 Generic Drugs CareSource | Silver | HMO | $903.74 | $1,102.07 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Silver 6000 $20 Generic Drugs + Adult Vision & Fitness CareSource | Silver | HMO | $907.06 | $1,106.13 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Diabetes Silver 5000 $0 Chronic Care Drugs & Services CareSource | Silver | HMO | $923.06 | $1,125.64 | $5,000 | $9,500 |
| Diabetes Silver 5000 $0 Chronic Care Drugs & Services + Adult Vision & Fitness CareSource | Silver | HMO | $926.38 | $1,129.68 | $5,000 | $9,500 |
| Low Deductible Silver 5000 $3 Generic Drugs CareSource | Silver | HMO | $928.17 | $1,131.87 | $5,000 | $9,250 |
| Low Deductible Silver 5000 $3 Generic Drugs + Adult Vision & Fitness CareSource | Silver | HMO | $931.49 | $1,135.92 | $5,000 | $9,250 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Premier Silver 0 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Silver | PPO | $939.00 | $1,145.08 | $0 | $9,700 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Premier Silver 0 + Adult Dental and Vision Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Silver | PPO | $955.09 | $1,164.71 | $0 | $9,700 |
| Healthy Heart Gold 3000 $0 Chronic Care Drugs & Services CareSource | Gold | HMO | $803.31 | $979.61 | $3,000 | $8,500 |
| Healthy Heart Gold 3000 $0 Chronic Care Drugs & Services + Adult Vision & Fitness CareSource | Gold | HMO | $806.63 | $983.65 | $3,000 | $8,500 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Standard Gold 2000 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Gold | PPO | $807.02 | $984.14 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Diabetes Gold 3000 $0 Chronic Care Drugs & Services CareSource | Gold | HMO | $812.36 | $990.64 | $3,000 | $8,500 |
| Diabetes Gold 3000 $0 Chronic Care Drugs & Services + Adult Vision & Fitness CareSource | Gold | HMO | $815.69 | $994.70 | $3,000 | $8,500 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Standard Gold 2000 + Adult Dental and Vision Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Gold | PPO | $823.11 | $1,003.75 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Gold 2000 $15 Generic Drugs CareSource | Gold | HMO | $836.03 | $1,019.50 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Gold 2000 $15 Generic Drugs + Adult Vision & Fitness CareSource | Gold | HMO | $839.34 | $1,023.55 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Gold 1700 HSA Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Gold | PPO | $840.58 | $1,025.06 | $1,700 | $7,100 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Gold 0 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Gold | PPO | $872.17 | $1,063.58 | $0 | $7,500 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Gold 0 + Adult Dental and Vision Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Gold | PPO | $888.26 | $1,083.21 | $0 | $7,500 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Premier Gold 0 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Gold | PPO | $893.96 | $1,090.16 | $0 | $7,000 |
| my Blue Access WV PPO Premier Gold 0 + Adult Dental and Vision Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | Gold | PPO | $910.05 | $1,109.78 | $0 | $7,000 |
| Platinum Zero $5 Generic Drugs CareSource | Platinum | HMO | $1,516.15 | $1,848.89 | $0 | $5,200 |
| Platinum Zero $5 Generic Drugs + Adult Vision & Fitness CareSource | Platinum | HMO | $1,519.47 | $1,852.95 | $0 | $5,200 |
Silver Premium Trend (2022-2026)
| Year | Avg Premium | Min | Max | Plans | Issuers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $684/mo | $622 | $773 | 9 | 2 |
| 2023 | $715/mo | $687 | $745 | 9 | 2 |
| 2024 | $723/mo | $699 | $759 | 13 | 2 |
| 2025 | $798/mo | $760 | $819 | 13 | 2 |
| 2026 | $914/mo | $866 | $955 | 13 | 2 |
What this means for Nicholas
Use Nicholas's own numbers here, not a national average, before you enroll.
- $914/mo Silver average sits in the top third of tracked counties nationally -- run the metal-tier math before defaulting to Silver. Compare metal tiers
- 37 plans from 2 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 Nicholas's Silver premium in the high band?
Nicholas ranks #47 of 2055 tracked federal-marketplace counties by average Silver premium (highest = #1; CMS PUF sort). Local Silver avg is $914/mo. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How many ACA plans are available in Nicholas, WV?
There are 37 ACA marketplace plans available in Nicholas from 2 insurance issuers for plan year 2026.
What is the floor premium in high-cost Nicholas?
The lowest-premium plan in Nicholas starts at $648/mo (Bronze tier, age 27). Silver plans start at $866/mo. Actual premiums vary by age and may be reduced by premium tax credits.
How does the Nicholas benchmark premium affect subsidies?
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium in Nicholas is $897/mo for a 27-year-old. This amount determines how much premium tax credit subsidy you may be eligible for.
Why did Nicholas premiums rise +5.4% year-over-year?
The average age-27 premium in Nicholas changed by +5.4% between plan years 2025 and 2026, measured across Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Catastrophic plans. Premium trends are tracked from 2022 to 2026.
How limited is issuer competition in Nicholas?
Only 2 issuers sell marketplace plans in Nicholas (CareSource and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia). Narrow competition often correlates with higher benchmark premiums.
Which insurance companies offer plans in Nicholas?
There are 2 insurance issuers offering ACA marketplace plans in Nicholas, including CareSource, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia. 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 Nicholas, WV's $897/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 Nicholas, WV, both outside WV 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 ($897/mo here).
Similar issuer competition
Nearest other-state counties by issuer count (2 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.