States with the Lowest Average Deductibles
All states ranked by lowest average plan deductible, where out-of-pocket costs before coverage kicks in are lowest.
What This Ranking Tells Us
The deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your health plan starts covering costs (except for preventive care, which is always free). States with lower average deductibles tend to have enrollment pools that favor Gold and Silver plans over Bronze plans. Lower deductibles mean less financial risk when you need care, but they typically come with higher monthly premiums. Understanding the deductible landscape helps consumers balance premium costs against potential out-of-pocket exposure.
What the Data Reveals Across 30 States
This ranking covers 30 states and jurisdictions in the ACA marketplace. Texas tops the list at $4,481, while Michigan sits at the opposite end with $5,919. The median value across all ranked states is $5,045, giving a rough sense of where a typical state lands relative to the extremes. The spread between top and bottom - $1,438 - illustrates how unevenly this particular metric is distributed across the country.
Rankings of this kind are shaped by a mix of structural factors: issuer competition, hospital and physician pricing, whether a state expanded Medicaid (which affects who enrolls in marketplace plans vs Medicaid), state-specific benefit mandates, and the age and health profile of each state's enrollment pool. Two states with similar demographics can still post very different numbers because of marketplace design choices and regulatory posture. The figures shown here are base rates, most enrollees pay less after Advance Premium Tax Credits are applied, with subsidy size keyed to each county's benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium.
Use this ranking as a starting point for state-level comparison, not as a personalized recommendation. Your actual premium, deductible, and out-of-pocket exposure depend on age, household income, tobacco use, county of residence, and the specific plan you choose. Click any state to drill into county-level data, and always verify final pricing, provider networks, and subsidy eligibility at HealthCare.gov before enrolling. This page is informational only and is not insurance, medical, or tax advice. Source: CMS ACA Marketplace Public Use Files, Plan Year 2026.
Top 12 states - avg deductible
All states ranked by lowest average plan deductible, where out-of-pocket costs before coverage kicks in are lowest.
States with the Lowest Average Deductibles
| # | State | Avg Deductible |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas TX | $4,481 |
| 2 | Alaska AK | $4,502 |
| 3 | Wyoming WY | $4,578 |
| 4 | Oklahoma OK | $4,765 |
| 5 | Delaware DE | $4,819 |
| 6 | Nebraska NE | $4,829 |
| 7 | North Carolina NC | $4,840 |
| 8 | Hawaii HI | $4,877 |
| 9 | Kansas KS | $4,878 |
| 10 | Mississippi MS | $4,911 |
| 11 | New Hampshire NH | $4,944 |
| 12 | Florida FL | $4,963 |
| 13 | Louisiana LA | $4,974 |
| 14 | Utah UT | $5,025 |
| 15 | Alabama AL | $5,045 |
| 16 | Iowa IA | $5,045 |
| 17 | Ohio OH | $5,047 |
| 18 | Missouri MO | $5,056 |
| 19 | North Dakota ND | $5,161 |
| 20 | South Carolina SC | $5,169 |
| 21 | West Virginia WV | $5,283 |
| 22 | Wisconsin WI | $5,293 |
| 23 | Tennessee TN | $5,353 |
| 24 | Montana MT | $5,388 |
| 25 | Indiana IN | $5,418 |
| 26 | South Dakota SD | $5,443 |
| 27 | Oregon OR | $5,472 |
| 28 | Arizona AZ | $5,550 |
| 29 | Arkansas AR | $5,607 |
| 30 | Michigan MI | $5,919 |
Source: CMS ACA Marketplace Public Use Files, Plan Year 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a lower average deductible indicate?
It suggests that enrollees in that state tend to choose plans with lower out-of-pocket costs before insurance kicks in, typically Gold or Silver plans rather than Bronze or Catastrophic. This can indicate a preference for lower financial risk, availability of Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) Silver plans, or a generally wealthier enrollment pool willing to pay higher premiums for lower deductibles.
How does the deductible affect total healthcare costs?
For healthy individuals who rarely use healthcare, a high-deductible Bronze plan with lower premiums may save money overall. For those with chronic conditions or expected healthcare needs, a lower-deductible Gold or Silver plan often saves money despite higher premiums. The break-even point depends on your expected healthcare utilization.
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Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.