Anthem's $440 silver makes Indiana one of the cheapest silver markets we serve — and unlike most states, Indiana's silver prices are honest, because the state spreads cost-sharing loads across every tier. Here's what Hoosiers actually pay in 2026, and how to keep it low.
Based on 2026 rate analyses, Anthem has the cheapest silver plan in Indiana at about $440 a month for a 40-year-old — among the lowest silver prices in any state we serve. Ambetter runs a close second at $461 and takes the lead in several southern counties near Louisville.
Five carriers sell 2026 plans: Anthem, Ambetter (Coordinated Care), CareSource, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. Aetna left after 2025, and Cigna has announced it exits all marketplace states after 2026 — so this fall, Cigna members should actively pick a replacement.
The statewide price leader and Indiana's biggest marketplace name — cheapest in most counties with the network depth budget carriers can't match.
Within $21 of Anthem statewide and the cheaper pick in several Louisville-border counties (around $482 there). Narrower network — verify your doctors first.
The Medicaid-rooted nonprofit — a solid middle option if its network matches your providers, especially for households moving between HIP and the marketplace.
Figures are approximate, from 2026 rate analyses for a 40-year-old on silver plans. Cigna ($534) and UnitedHealthcare ($599) also compete but exit or trail on price. Your rate varies by county, age, household size, tobacco use, and income.
Anthem versus Ambetter versus CareSource is a genuinely different answer depending on your county and your doctors. A licensed agent can run all five carriers for your ZIP code, age, and income — free, in about 10 minutes.
No cost. No obligation to enroll. Licensed in 23 states, including Indiana.
Before subsidies, silver plans for a 40-year-old Hoosier average about $558 a month in 2026, with Anthem from $440. The average approved increase was 26.5%; subsidized enrollees — the large majority — pay an average of $137 a month.
| Carrier | 2026 position | Approved rate increase |
|---|---|---|
| Anthem | Cheapest silver ~$440; statewide leader | +26.5% avg market |
| Ambetter (Coordinated Care) | ~$461; cheapest in Louisville-border counties | +26.5% avg market |
| CareSource | ~$532; nonprofit, Medicaid-rooted | +26.5% avg market |
| Cigna | ~$534; exits all marketplaces after 2026 | +26.5% avg market |
| UnitedHealthcare | ~$599; joined the market in 2025 | +26.5% avg market |
Approximate 2026 figures from Indiana rate filings and public rate analyses, before premium tax credits; Indiana published a combined 26.5% weighted average rather than final per-carrier increases. Availability and pricing vary by county.
ACA rates follow the federal age curve — a 64-year-old can be charged up to three times a 21-year-old's rate. Using a ~$560 Indiana silver average at age 40:
| Age | Approx. monthly premium (silver) | vs. age 21 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | ~$440 | 1.0× |
| 30 | ~$495 | 1.1× |
| 40 | ~$560 | 1.3× |
| 50 | ~$780 | 1.8× |
| 60 | ~$1,185 | 2.7× |
Illustrative — applies the federal default age factors to an approximate 2026 Indiana silver average. Subsidies are age-aware, so older enrollees with moderate incomes often receive much larger credits.
Indiana's 2026 is a big-increase, cheap-baseline year — with one structural quirk worth understanding:
The enhanced premium tax credits that capped marketplace premiums from 2021–2025 ended December 31, 2025 — the single biggest driver of this year's rate jump. The original ACA credits are still in place for households between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (roughly up to $62,600 single, $128,600 family of four).
Most states pile unfunded cost-sharing-reduction costs onto silver plans only ("silver loading"), inflating silver stickers. Indiana is one of just two states (with Mississippi) that spreads those costs across every metal tier. Net effect: Indiana's silver plans look cheap because they genuinely are — but the flip side is that subsidies (keyed to the silver benchmark) run smaller, and gold almost never undercuts silver here.
Aetna left after 2025, UnitedHealthcare arrived in 2025 and stayed, and Cigna exits every marketplace state after 2026. If you're on Cigna, treat this fall's open enrollment as mandatory shopping, not a formality.
Sources: healthinsurance.org Indiana marketplace guide, MoneyGeek, HealthCare.gov.
Anthem sets the price floor across most of Indiana, but the map has pockets worth knowing:
Indiana's spread between carriers ($440 to $599 for the same 40-year-old) is really a network-versus-price menu — which is why the right answer depends on which doctors you're keeping.
Tell me your ZIP code, ages, and household income — I'll compare every carrier filed in your area (and check Medicaid eligibility while we're at it), then show you what you'd actually pay after subsidies.
Free comparison. No pressure, no obligation.
Metal tiers are about how you split costs with the insurer — not the quality of care. Indiana's broad-loading rule changes the usual tier advice in one important way:
Lowest premium, ~$10,600 deductible. Pure emergency protection — no subsidy eligibility.
Cheapest subsidized tier. Pair an HSA-eligible bronze plan with tax-free savings if you're healthy.
The sweet spot for most Hoosiers — and in Indiana, silver's price is honest (no state silver load), starting around $440 with Anthem.
Elsewhere gold sometimes sneaks under silver; Indiana's broad loading makes that rare. Buy gold for richer coverage, not as a pricing trick.
Highest premium, lowest out-of-pocket. Rarely offered in Indiana.
Indiana's safety net is broader than its neighbors' — anchored by one of the country's longest-running expansion programs:
Turning 65 soon? Marketplace plans stop making sense once Medicare kicks in — see your Medicare options instead.
They're $21 apart statewide, but the order flips in the Louisville-border counties and the networks differ everywhere. The cheapest of the two for your doctors is a coin-flip you should actually check.
Indiana expanded Medicaid through the Healthy Indiana Plan — under roughly 138% of the poverty level you likely qualify for coverage with nominal costs, year-round.
Credits are based on this year's income estimate, and the math changed for 2026. A mid-year income change, a new baby, or a household change can unlock help immediately.
Cost-sharing reductions only attach to silver plans. They can cut a multi-thousand-dollar deductible to a few hundred dollars — a benefit bronze and gold buyers give up.
Aetna is gone, Cigna leaves after 2026, and the market repriced 26.5% on average. If you're on a departing carrier, pick your replacement actively — auto-mapping optimizes for continuity, not price.
Premiums are regulated: you pay the same whether you enroll alone or with an agent. The difference is having someone who runs all five carriers, does the math on the whole year — premiums plus deductibles — and answers the phone after you enroll.
Based on 2026 rate analyses, Anthem has the cheapest silver plan in Indiana at about $440 a month for a 40-year-old — among the lowest silver prices in any state we serve. Ambetter runs about $461 statewide and beats Anthem in several southern counties near Louisville (around $482 there). CareSource, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare fill out the market at $532–$599.
Before subsidies, silver plans for a 40-year-old Hoosier average about $558 a month in 2026, ranging from Anthem's $440 to UnitedHealthcare's $599. Premiums rose 26.5% on average for 2026, but subsidized enrollees pay an average of about $137 a month after tax credits.
Yes. Indiana uses the federal marketplace — you shop and enroll at HealthCare.gov, and a licensed agent can quote and enroll you through it at no extra cost. Plans, prices, and subsidies are identical either way.
Yes. The original ACA premium tax credits are still in place for households earning between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level — roughly up to $62,600 for a single person or $128,600 for a family of four. What expired at the end of 2025 were the enhanced subsidies, which had capped premiums and extended help above 400% of poverty.
If you've had a qualifying life event in the last 60 days — losing other coverage, moving, marriage, a new baby, certain income changes — you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period on HealthCare.gov and can enroll now. Medicaid and CHIP enrollment (for those who qualify) is open year-round. Otherwise, open enrollment for 2027 coverage begins November 1, 2026.
Yes. Indiana expanded Medicaid through the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) — adults with household income up to 138% of the federal poverty level (roughly $21,600 for a single person) qualify regardless of whether they have children, with small POWER-account contributions for many members. Children are covered through Hoosier Healthwise. Enrollment is year-round.
Almost never. States like Texas and Arkansas load unfunded cost-sharing costs onto silver plans only, which inflates silver and lets gold sneak underneath. Indiana spreads those costs across every tier ("broad loading"), so silver stays honestly priced — around $440–$560 for a 40-year-old — and gold costs more because it genuinely covers more. In Indiana, buy the tier that matches how much care you use.
No. Premiums are filed with regulators and are identical whether you enroll through HealthCare.gov yourself, directly with the carrier, or with a licensed agent. Agents are paid by the insurance companies, so the guidance costs you nothing extra.
Premium figures on this page are approximate averages drawn from 2026 individual-market rate filings and analyses, including healthinsurance.org, MoneyGeek, and ValuePenguin, checked July 2026. They are illustrations, not quotes: your premium depends on your region, age, household, tobacco use, income, and the plan you choose. Official plan pricing is available at HealthCare.gov or through any licensed agent.
Zuriel is licensed in 23 states. Explore cost guides for other states we serve:
Talk with Zuriel Kinlock, a licensed insurance agent, and get a real comparison of every 2026 plan filed in your Indiana region — free, with zero obligation.
Important: This page is for general information and reflects approximate 2026 figures from public sources; it is not a quote, and submitting information or speaking with a licensed insurance agent does not guarantee enrollment, eligibility, savings, approval, or specific benefits. There is no obligation to enroll. Smooth Health Solutions is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, CMS, HealthCare.gov, or any government agency. Plan availability, benefits, premiums, and eligibility vary by plan, carrier, location, and individual circumstances.
