The Cheapest Health Insurance in 2027: Bronze, HSA and Catastrophic Plans Compared
The cheapest plan depends on your income and how much care you use. Here is what actually costs less in 2027, and what only looks cheaper.
The short answer
The cheapest real health insurance in 2027 depends on one number: your household income compared with the federal poverty level. Below 400% of it (about $63,840 for one person or $132,000 for a family of four), the cheapest coverage is almost always a Marketplace plan with the premium tax credit. Above it, you are choosing among bronze, catastrophic and narrow-network plans at full price.
Either way, the plan with the lowest premium is not always the one that costs least over a year. That depends on how much care you use.
If you qualify for a premium tax credit
Your credit is set so that the second-lowest-cost silver plan costs you a fixed share of income, up to 10.22% in 2027. You can apply that credit to any metal level:
- Bronze with the credit applied often lands at $0 or close to it for lower incomes, because the credit is sized to a more expensive silver plan.
- Silver with cost-sharing reductions is usually the best deal under 250% of the poverty level (about $39,900 for one person). The deductible and copays drop sharply, and those reductions only exist on silver.
Use the ACA subsidy calculator to see your credit, or the 2027 income limits chart to see where you land.
Bronze plus an HSA
Since 2026, every bronze and catastrophic plan counts as HSA-compatible. For 2027 you can put in up to $4,500 for self-only coverage or $9,000 for a family, plus $1,000 at 55 or older. Contributions are tax-deductible, grow tax-free and pay for qualified care tax-free. They also lower your MAGI, which can increase your credit.
The trade-off is the deductible. Bronze plans pay less until you hit it, and the out-of-pocket limit for 2027 can be as high as $12,000 for one person. If you can keep that amount in your HSA or savings, bronze is often the cheapest plan over a full year for people who rarely need care.
Catastrophic plans: no longer just for under 30
Catastrophic plans have the lowest premiums on the Marketplace. They cover three primary care visits and preventive care before the deductible, then very little until the out-of-pocket limit.
- Who qualifies: anyone under 30, plus anyone with a hardship exemption. That now includes people whose income makes them ineligible for premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions, generally below 100% or above 250% of the poverty level. The 2027 rules made this permanent in every state.
- The catch: tax credits cannot be applied to catastrophic plans. If you qualify for a credit, a subsidized bronze plan is usually cheaper.
- New for 2027: insurers may offer multi-year catastrophic plans with terms of up to 10 years. Few are expected in the first year, so ask before you count on one.
In Florida and other states that did not expand Medicaid, adults under 100% of the poverty level usually get neither Medicaid nor a credit. A catastrophic plan through the hardship exemption is often the most affordable real coverage for them.
Narrow networks cost less
Within the same metal level, HMO and EPO plans usually cost less than PPOs because they only cover in-network care (except emergencies). If your doctors are in the network and you stay mostly local, that is a real saving. If you travel for work, the gap can cost more than the premium difference. HMO vs PPO.
Plans that only look cheaper
These products show up near the top of most searches for cheap health insurance. They cost less because they cover less, and none of them qualifies for a premium tax credit.
- Short-term plans can decline you for pre-existing conditions, exclude whole categories of care and cap benefits.
- Fixed indemnity plans pay a set dollar amount per day or per service, not your actual bill.
- Health care sharing ministries are not insurance and do not guarantee payment.
They can make sense as a short bridge for healthy people. They are not a cheaper version of a Marketplace plan. How private and ACA plans compare.
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| Option | Premium | Who it fits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze with credit | Lowest for many subsidized buyers, often $0 | Lower incomes, light users of care | High deductible |
| Silver with cost-sharing reductions | Low with credit | Income under 250% of poverty level | Only on silver; check the network |
| Bronze + HSA | Low, plus tax savings | Healthy people who can save for the deductible | Out-of-pocket limit up to $12,000 |
| Catastrophic | Lowest full-price premium | Under 30, or no credit due to income | No tax credit; little coverage before the limit |
| HMO / EPO | Lower than PPO at the same tier | People whose care is local | No routine out-of-network care |
| Short-term / indemnity / sharing | Low | A brief bridge, if healthy | Not ACA coverage; pre-existing conditions |
Open Enrollment for 2027 runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Choose by December 15 for January 1 coverage. Already on a plan? Check your renewal notice first.
Sources: KFF analysis of 2027 ACA rate filings (Aug 2026); Florida Office of Insurance Regulation filings as reported by WLRN (Sep 2026); KFF insurer participation tracker for 2027 (Sep 2026); CMS 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters; IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-24 and Notice 2026-5; 2026 HHS poverty guidelines. Figures checked 4 October 2026. Rates are proposals until each state finalizes them.
Frequently asked
What is the cheapest health insurance in 2027?
For most people it is a Marketplace plan with the premium tax credit applied, because the credit is money no other option can match. Many people under about 150% of the poverty level can still find a $0 or near-$0 bronze plan. If you do not qualify for a credit, the lowest premiums are usually catastrophic plans and HMO or EPO bronze plans.
Who can buy a catastrophic health plan in 2027?
People under 30, and anyone who qualifies for a hardship exemption. Since 2026, that includes people whose income makes them ineligible for premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions, generally income below 100% or above 250% of the poverty level. The 2027 rules made this permanent in every state.
Can I open an HSA with a bronze plan?
Yes. Since January 1, 2026, all bronze and catastrophic plans are treated as HSA-compatible, whether bought on or off the Marketplace. For 2027 you can contribute up to $4,500 for self-only coverage or $9,000 for family coverage, plus $1,000 if you are 55 or older.
Is short-term health insurance cheaper?
It usually has a lower premium because it covers less. Short-term plans can decline people with pre-existing conditions, exclude whole categories of care, cap what they pay and do not qualify for premium tax credits. They can work as a short bridge between plans, but they are not a lower-priced version of a Marketplace plan.
What is the most I can pay out of pocket in 2027?
The 2027 legal limit for an ACA plan is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family, not counting premiums. Some bronze plans may go above it as long as the insurer also offers a bronze plan within the limit. Check the out-of-pocket maximum on any low-premium plan, because that is what a bad year costs.
Are health care sharing ministries insurance?
No. Sharing ministries are not insurance, are not regulated as insurance and do not guarantee payment of claims. Members share costs under the ministry's own rules, which often exclude pre-existing conditions. They do not qualify for premium tax credits.