Health insurance cost in North Carolina
If you're moving to North Carolina without job-based coverage, here's what a Marketplace plan costs before subsidies. North Carolina ranks #30 of 51 for the lowest benchmark premium.
Where to enroll for 2027 coverage
RelocateMath is an independent guide. Apply, compare current plans and confirm eligibility at HealthCare.gov, the official marketplace for North Carolina.
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Select a plan by December 15, 2026 for January 1 coverage, subject to the marketplace's payment and enrollment requirements.
Platform checked 2026-10-01; enrollment guidance checked 2026-10-01. Check official dates and instructions · Coverage start requirements. Costs below are 2026 averages, not a quote for 2027 coverage.
State average premiums and modeled costs by age
These 2026 figures compare one adult before premium tax credits. KFF weights each county's second-lowest-cost silver (benchmark) and lowest-cost bronze premiums by Marketplace plan selections. They are state averages, not a quote or the price of one plan available throughout North Carolina. Your location, plan and household details affect your premium.
| Age | Benchmark silver average | Avg. lowest bronze |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | $499 | $382 |
| 30 | $567 | $434 |
| 40 | $638 | $489 |
| 50 | $891 | $683 |
| 60 | $1,355 | $1,039 |
| 64 | $1,497 | $1,148 |
Scaled from the age-40 average with the federal default age curve, which lets insurers charge a 64-year-old up to 3× what a 21-year-old pays. Amounts at ages other than 40 are modeled from the state averages. Excludes tobacco surcharges.
The North Carolina benchmark rose 26% for 2026, in line with the 26% national increase, leaving it 2% above the U.S. average for a 40-year-old.
What is different in North Carolina
- Where to enroll
- HealthCare.gov
- Open enrollment for 2027
- November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027
- Marketplace insurers, 2026
- 6
- Medicaid expansion
- Since Dec 2023
- Penalty if uninsured
- None
- Average selected-plan premium after credits, 2026
- $180/mo
- Where and when. North Carolina uses HealthCare.gov, the federal marketplace. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Select a plan by December 15, 2026 for January 1 coverage, subject to the marketplace's payment and enrollment requirements.
- Choice of insurers. 6 insurers sell Marketplace plans in North Carolina for 2026, down from 8 in 2025. Not every insurer sells in every county, so your choices depend on where you live. 761,457 people picked a Marketplace plan here for 2026, down 22% from 2025, one of the five steepest drops in the country after the enhanced federal credits ran out.
- Average premiums for selected plans. Plans selected during open enrollment had an average monthly premium of $180 after advance premium tax credits for 2026, up 86% from the $97 average for 2025 (U.S. average: $178). Before credits, selected plans averaged $755. These averages include people without tax credits and compare different mixes of people and plans; they aren't records of premiums actually paid or a quote for your household.
- Medicaid. North Carolina expanded Medicaid in December 2023. Adults with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level can generally get Medicaid instead of a Marketplace plan. A state "trigger" law would end the expansion or force cost cuts if federal funding for it is reduced.
- Going uninsured. North Carolina doesn't charge a penalty for going without coverage, and the federal penalty ended after 2018. In 2024, 8.6% of residents had no health insurance (U.S.: 8.2%), and 6.9% bought their own coverage.
Medicaid income limits above describe the adult categories shown. Pregnancy, disability, age, household circumstances and other eligibility rules can create different pathways. Apply even if your state has not expanded Medicaid; the application checks whether you qualify under your state's rules.
Subsidies in 2026
The enhanced premium tax credits of 2021–2025 expired. Under the 2026 federal rules, household incomes generally between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level may qualify, subject to the other eligibility conditions; income alone does not establish eligibility. The expected contribution toward the benchmark plan ranges from about 2.1% to 9.96% of income, and above 400% there is no federal credit. An affordable employer offer that meets minimum value, or eligibility for certain public coverage, can affect credits even if you do not enroll in the employer plan. Confirm your eligibility and price with the official marketplace.
Use expected household income for the year you want coverage, including income before and after a job change, rather than only your new job's annual salary. These are 2026 subsidy and premium figures; select the appropriate coverage year at HealthCare.gov when applying. Eligibility guidance checked October 21, 2026.
Moving outside open enrollment
A move to a new ZIP code or county may create a Special Enrollment Period if it changes the plans available to you. Moving only for a vacation or medical treatment does not qualify.
Generally, a moving SEP requires qualifying coverage for at least one day in the 60 days before the move, and enrollment within 60 days after it. Exceptions include a move from abroad or a U.S. territory. Keep proof of your old coverage, move date and new address. The marketplace decides eligibility and when coverage starts; do not cancel existing coverage until the replacement start date is confirmed.
Check whether you may qualify at HealthCare.gov. For HealthCare.gov enrollment, ask the official marketplace about your move.
Sources: HealthCare.gov moving guidance and CMS moving-SEP requirements. Checked September 30, 2026.
Plan your Marketplace coverage transition
Already using Marketplace coverage, or planning to apply after moving? Choose the states and coverage year to see the application steps. Employer plans, Medicare and Medicaid have their own transition rules; confirm those directly with the plan or program.
New York to North Carolina: 2027 Marketplace checklist
New-state application: For an interstate Marketplace move, start a new 2027 application and enroll through HealthCare.gov for North Carolina. Having an application at NY State of Health for New York does not transfer your plan. If applying on HealthCare.gov, select the coverage year and your new state.
Origin-state marketplace for 2027: NY State of Health. Destination-state marketplace for 2027: HealthCare.gov. Select 2027 on the official application. If your old plan covers a different year, switch the year to find its recorded marketplace or contact that plan directly.
Tick each item after you have checked it. Ticks stay only on this page and reset when you change the states or year. We do not ask for your income, medical details or exact coverage dates.
For an interstate Marketplace move, start a new 2027 application and enroll through HealthCare.gov for North Carolina. Having an application at NY State of Health for New York does not transfer your plan. If applying on HealthCare.gov, select the coverage year and your new state.
Confirm the new plan's effective date, any first-premium payment and the old plan's end date with the marketplace. Do not cancel current coverage before the replacement start date is confirmed. This worksheet does not determine those dates.
Estimate expected household income for 2027, including the part of the year before a job change—not only the new job's annual salary. Use the official household-income guidance. An affordable employer offer that meets minimum value, or eligibility for certain public coverage, can affect credits. Check employer-coverage conditions.
Confirm your doctors, hospitals and prescriptions with the new plan. Compare premiums, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and out-of-pocket limits; a state-average premium is not a household quote. Compare total health care costs.
Outside open enrollment, ask the marketplace whether the move qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period. Generally, moving-SEP rules require qualifying coverage for at least one day in the preceding 60 days, with exceptions, and enrollment within 60 days after the move. Keep proof of prior coverage, the move and new address. Check the official SEP rules and CMS prior-coverage requirements and exceptions.
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This is an application checklist, not an eligibility decision, enrollment confirmation, quote or guaranteed coverage date. Official same-state and interstate move instructions. Guidance checked 2026-10-21. Premium averages elsewhere on this page remain 2026 data; this checklist does not estimate 2027 prices.
Frequently asked questions
How much is health insurance in North Carolina in 2026?
For one 40-year-old before premium tax credits, the state average benchmark silver premium is $638 a month and the average lowest-cost bronze premium is $489. KFF weights each county's second-lowest-cost silver and lowest-cost bronze premiums by plan selections. The benchmark average is up 26% from 2025. Your ZIP code and plan can give a different quote.
How much does health insurance cost for a 60-year-old in North Carolina?
The modeled state average benchmark silver premium is about $1,355 a month before premium tax credits, scaled from the age-40 average using the federal default age curve. Your location and plan determine the actual quote.
Did North Carolina expand Medicaid?
North Carolina expanded Medicaid in December 2023. Adults with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level can generally get Medicaid instead of a Marketplace plan. A state "trigger" law would end the expansion or force cost cuts if federal funding for it is reduced.