CMS Marketplace ranking · Plans
States with the Most Plan Options
All states ranked by total number of ACA marketplace plans available, where consumers have the widest selection.
Data updated 2026-08-30
- 834
- #1 Texas
- 30
- States ranked
- 85
- Median value
- 15
- Last: Alaska
What This Ranking Tells Us
The total number of available plans reflects both issuer competition and product variety within each market. States with more plan options give consumers greater ability to find a plan that matches their specific needs, whether that means a narrow network plan with lower premiums, a broad network plan for those who want flexibility, or a high-deductible plan paired with an HSA. More options can be overwhelming, but they generally indicate a healthy, competitive marketplace.
What the Data Reveals Across 30 States
This ranking covers 30 states and jurisdictions in the ACA marketplace. Texas tops the list at 834, while Alaska sits at the opposite end with 15. The median value across all ranked states is 85, giving a rough sense of where a typical state lands relative to the extremes. The spread between top and bottom - 819 - 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 - plans
All states ranked by total number of ACA marketplace plans available, where consumers have the widest selection.
The Bar to Make This List
Where the top-12 cutoff sits among all 30 ranked states
Every ranked state's plans, bucketed by 105
117 12th of 30 higher than 18 of 30 states
all 30 ranked states, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. 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 ACA Marketplace Public Use Files, Plan Year 2026
| # | State | Plans |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas TX | 834 |
| 2 | Florida FL | 410 |
| 3 | Wisconsin WI | 311 |
| 4 | North Carolina NC | 206 |
| 5 | Arizona AZ | 199 |
| 6 | Ohio OH | 189 |
| 7 | Oklahoma OK | 186 |
| 8 | Nebraska NE | 164 |
| 9 | Tennessee TN | 158 |
| 10 | South Carolina SC | 125 |
| 11 | Iowa IA | 121 |
| 12 | Missouri MO | 117 |
| 13 | Michigan MI | 116 |
| 14 | Louisiana LA | 100 |
| 15 | Montana MT | 90 |
| 16 | Indiana IN | 80 |
| 17 | South Dakota SD | 67 |
| 18 | Kansas KS | 64 |
| 19 | North Dakota ND | 59 |
| 20 | Oregon OR | 59 |
| 21 | Utah UT | 57 |
| 22 | Alabama AL | 54 |
| 23 | Arkansas AR | 52 |
| 24 | Mississippi MS | 48 |
| 25 | New Hampshire NH | 46 |
| 26 | Delaware DE | 40 |
| 27 | West Virginia WV | 37 |
| 28 | Wyoming WY | 23 |
| 29 | Hawaii HI | 17 |
| 30 | Alaska AK | 15 |
Source: CMS ACA Marketplace Public Use Files, Plan Year 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does more plans mean better options?
Generally yes, but with diminishing returns. Research suggests that having 5-10 meaningful choices (varying by network, cost-sharing, and premium) is optimal. Beyond that, additional plans may only differ in minor details and can create "choice overload" that makes decision-making harder without improving outcomes.
How do I choose among hundreds of plans?
Focus on three key factors: 1) Check if your preferred doctors and hospitals are in-network, 2) Estimate your total annual cost (premiums + expected out-of-pocket based on your health needs), and 3) Compare the metal levels (Bronze for low utilization, Silver for moderate, Gold for high). Healthcare.gov tools can filter and sort plans by these criteria.
Explore More Rankings
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.