Buncombe County, NC · Plan year 2027 at 2026 prices · Updated October 24, 2026
Buncombe County, North Carolina: what you'll pay in 2027
A 45-year-old in Buncombe County earning $35,000 would pay $43 a month for the cheapest bronze plan or $219 for the benchmark silver plan in 2027, after a premium tax credit of about $575 a month. Those figures use 2026 prices, because CMS had not published 2027 county prices as of this update.
Monthly cost after the 2027 credit
What each household would pay per month for the cheapest plan at each level, and for the benchmark silver plan, after the premium tax credit. Credit percentages are the 2027 IRS figures; premiums are Buncombe County's 2026 prices.
| Household | Income | % of poverty line | Credit | Bronze | Silver | Benchmark | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, 27 | $25,000 | 157% | $480 | about $0 | $96 | $96 | $116 |
| Single, 27 | $45,000 | 282% | $214 | $234 | $362 | $362 | $382 |
| Single, 45 | $35,000 | 219% | $575 | $43 | $219 | $219 | $246 |
| Single, 45 | $60,000 | 376% | $283 | $335 | $511 | $511 | $538 |
| Single, 45 | $70,000 | 439% | $0 | $617 | $793 | $794 | $820 |
| Single, 60 | $35,000 | 219% | $1,273 | about $0 | $218 | $219 | $269 |
| Single, 60 | $60,000 | 376% | $981 | $180 | $511 | $511 | $561 |
| Single, 60 | $70,000 | 439% | $0 | $1,160 | $1,491 | $1,492 | $1,542 |
| Couple, 62 and 60 | $50,000 | 231% | $2,740 | about $0 | $330 | $331 | $435 |
| Couple, 62 and 60 | $85,000 | 393% | $2,347 | $42 | $723 | $724 | $828 |
| Couple, 62 and 60 | $95,000 | 439% | $0 | $2,388 | $3,070 | $3,071 | $3,174 |
| Family: 40, 38, kids 10 and 7 children likely on Medicaid | $50,000 | 152% | $1,205 | about $0 | $182 | $182 | $229 |
| Family: 40, 38, kids 10 and 7 | $90,000 | 273% | $1,525 | $208 | $702 | $703 | $778 |
| Family: 40, 38, kids 10 and 7 | $140,000 | 424% | $0 | $1,733 | $2,227 | $2,228 | $2,303 |
Cheapest plan at each level and the benchmark (second-lowest-cost silver) for the people who'd be on a marketplace plan; children who'd likely qualify for Medicaid are left out of the price. Non-smokers. Estimates, not quotes.
The math for one household
The 45-year-old earning $35,000, step by step:
- The 2026 poverty guideline for one person, used for 2027 coverage, is $15,960. $35,000 is 219% of it.
- At 219%, the 2027 IRS table expects 7.51% of income toward the benchmark plan: $219 a month.
- The benchmark silver plan in Buncombe County costs a 45-year-old $794 a month at 2026 prices.
- The credit is the difference: $794 minus $219, or $575 a month.
- Applied to the cheapest bronze plan, it leaves $43; to the cheapest gold, $246.
The 400% line matters most at 60. A 60-year-old earning $70,000 is $6,160 over the $63,840 limit and gets no credit. Under the line, the credit here would be worth about $11,375 a year.
Prices in Buncombe County
| Benchmark silver, age 40 | $702 a month |
|---|---|
| Cheapest bronze, age 40 | $546 a month |
| Cheapest silver, age 40 | $702 a month |
| Cheapest gold, age 40 | $726 a month |
| Insurers and plans | 5 insurers, 59 plans |
| Benchmark rank in North Carolina | 53 of 100 counties, cheapest first |
6 other counties have exactly the same 2026 prices: McDowell County, Transylvania County, Madison County, Polk County, Yancey County, Mitchell County. The figures on this page apply there too.
If your income is low
North Carolina expanded Medicaid, so adults earning up to 138% of the poverty line (about $22,025 a year for one person) usually get Medicaid instead of a credit. Children qualify for Medicaid at higher incomes. Full limits are on the North Carolina page.
Get a reminder before North Carolina's 2027 deadlines
Email onlySources: CMS individual market plan file on data.healthcare.gov, plan year 2026; IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26; HHS 2026 poverty guidelines; CMS default age curve; U.S. Census Bureau county population estimates, Vintage 2025 (to choose which counties get a page). Methods.
Questions people ask
How much is health insurance in Buncombe County for 2027?
It depends mostly on income. At 2026 prices, a 45-year-old earning $35,000 would pay $43 a month for the cheapest bronze plan and $219 for the benchmark silver plan after the 2027 premium tax credit of about $575 a month. Before any credit, the benchmark silver plan costs a 40-year-old $702 a month.
How many insurers sell marketplace plans in Buncombe County?
5 insurers offered 59 individual-market plans in 2026, according to CMS plan data.