Health insurance cost in Virginia
If you're moving to Virginia without job-based coverage, here's what a Marketplace plan costs before subsidies. Virginia ranks #4 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 Virginia's Insurance Marketplace, the official marketplace for Virginia.
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 29, 2027. The closing date is not necessarily the deadline for January 1 coverage. Ask Virginia's Insurance Marketplace about the required plan-selection and payment dates.
Platform checked 2026-10-01; enrollment guidance checked 2026-10-12. Check official dates and instructions. 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 Virginia. Your location, plan and household details affect your premium.
| Age | Benchmark silver average | Avg. lowest bronze |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | $356 | $274 |
| 30 | $404 | $312 |
| 40 | $455 | $351 |
| 50 | $636 | $490 |
| 60 | $966 | $746 |
| 64 | $1,068 | $824 |
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 Virginia benchmark rose 22% for 2026, less than the 26% national increase, leaving it 27% below the U.S. average for a 40-year-old.
What is different in Virginia
- Where to enroll
- Virginia's Insurance Marketplace
- Open enrollment for 2027
- November 1, 2026 – January 29, 2027
- Marketplace insurers, 2026
- 7
- Medicaid expansion
- Since Jan 2019
- Penalty if uninsured
- None
- Average selected-plan premium after credits, 2026
- $215/mo
- Where and when. Virginia runs its own marketplace, Virginia's Insurance Marketplace, so you apply there rather than at HealthCare.gov. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 29, 2027. The closing date is not necessarily the deadline for January 1 coverage. Ask Virginia's Insurance Marketplace about the required plan-selection and payment dates.
- Choice of insurers. 7 insurers sell Marketplace plans in Virginia for 2026, down from 8 in 2025. Not every insurer sells in every county, so your choices depend on where you live. 370,086 people picked a Marketplace plan here for 2026, down 5% from 2025.
- Average premiums for selected plans. Plans selected during open enrollment had an average monthly premium of $215 after advance premium tax credits for 2026, up 59% from the $135 average for 2025 (U.S. average: $178). Before credits, selected plans averaged $575. 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. Virginia expanded Medicaid in January 2019. 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. Virginia doesn't charge a penalty for going without coverage, and the federal penalty ended after 2018. In 2024, 6.8% of residents had no health insurance (U.S.: 8.2%), and 4.9% bought their own coverage.
- Virginia Premium Savings (2027). For 2027 coverage, qualifying Virginia residents with household income between 138% and 250% of the poverty level may receive state premium help through an eligible Marketplace health plan. Applicants must meet citizenship or lawful-presence requirements, not be incarcerated, and not be enrolled in or eligible for other minimum essential coverage. Catastrophic and stand-alone dental plans are excluded. If eligible for federal advance premium tax credits, you must use the full amount first. State assistance is first-come, first-served; the Marketplace determines eligibility and savings during the 2027 application. This program is not available for 2026 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 Virginia's Insurance Marketplace 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 Virginia's Insurance Marketplace enrollment, ask the official marketplace about your move.
Sources: HealthCare.gov moving guidance and CMS moving-SEP requirements. Checked September 30, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much is health insurance in Virginia in 2026?
For one 40-year-old before premium tax credits, the state average benchmark silver premium is $455 a month and the average lowest-cost bronze premium is $351. KFF weights each county's second-lowest-cost silver and lowest-cost bronze premiums by plan selections. The benchmark average is up 22% from 2025. Your ZIP code and plan can give a different quote.
How much does health insurance cost for a 60-year-old in Virginia?
The modeled state average benchmark silver premium is about $966 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 Virginia expand Medicaid?
Virginia expanded Medicaid in January 2019. 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.