- 3carriers selling 2026 marketplace plans in Dane County
- 49plans on the Dane shelf, from 15 bronze to 15 gold
- $548benchmark silver for a 40 year old in Dane, full price per month
Who sells marketplace plans in Dane County
Dane County and Milwaukee County, the two Wisconsin counties I track, have the same number of carriers, three each. Across all 79 counties and parishes I track in 24 states, 62 have more carriers than Dane. The biggest lineup in Dane belongs to Quartz with 19 plans, about 39 percent of everything on offer.
| Carrier | Plans | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Network types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz | 19 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | HMO 19 |
| Dean Health Plan | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | EPO 9, HMO 9 |
| Group Health Cooperative-SCW | 12 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | HMO 12 |
Dane plan counts from the CMS 2026 landscape file (county FIPS 55025, Rating Area 2). Bronze includes expanded bronze, and companies CMS lists under more than one legal issuer are grouped with the legal names underneath.
What it costs in Dane County before any subsidy
These are the full monthly prices, before any premium tax credit, for the cheapest Dane plan at each metal level. I show the sticker price because it is what your subsidy is subtracted from, and most people who enroll in Dane pay less, often a lot less.
| Monthly premium, full price | Age 21 | Age 40 | Age 60 | Couple, both 40 | Couple 40 + 2 kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest bronze | $276 | $353 | $749 | $706 | $1,128 |
| Lowest silver | $425 | $543 | $1,152 | $1,085 | $1,735 |
| Benchmark silver (second lowest) | $429 | $548 | $1,164 | $1,096 | $1,752 |
| Lowest gold | $416 | $531 | $1,128 | $1,063 | $1,699 |
| Lowest platinum | $476 | $608 | $1,292 | $1,216 | $1,945 |
Benchmark silver is the second lowest of the 15 silver premiums listed for Dane. The last column is two adults aged 40 plus two children.
What these numbers mean if you live in Dane County
The gold row is the surprise in Dane County. The cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old, $531 a month, is $11 cheaper than the cheapest silver plan at $543. That happens because Wisconsin carriers load the cost of the extra silver discounts into silver premiums. If your income is too high for those discounts, silver is the worst value on the Dane shelf, and a gold deductible here tops out at $4,000.
In Dane County the benchmark is $195 above the cheapest bronze at age 40, and 27 of the other 78 counties and parishes I track have a wider one. That gap decides whether bronze can be free, because your subsidy is the $548 benchmark minus what the government expects you to pay from your income. A 40 year old in Dane whose expected share is $195 a month or less would pay nothing for the cheapest bronze. At 60 the Dane gap grows to $414 and at 21 it shrinks to $153, which is why older enrollees are the ones most likely to find a $0 plan.
Milwaukee County, around Milwaukee, is the other Wisconsin county I track. Compared with Milwaukee County, the Dane benchmark is $115 lower at 40 and the cheapest bronze is $132 lower. Dean Health Plan, Group Health Cooperative-SCW and Quartz sell in Dane and not in Milwaukee County. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Network Health and UnitedHealthcare sell in Milwaukee County and not in Dane.
Dane plans by metal level, network and deductible
| Metal level | Plans | $0 deductible | Deductible range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | 1 | 0 | |
| Expanded Bronze | 15 | 3 | $0 to $10,150 |
| Silver | 15 | 0 | $3,500 to $9,000 |
| Gold | 15 | 0 | $700 to $4,000 |
| Platinum | 3 | 2 | |
| Total | 49 | 5 |
There is not a single PPO on the 2026 marketplace in Dane County. The 49 plans split into 40 HMO and 9 EPO. Outside emergencies, the 9 EPO and 40 HMO plans in Dane generally pay nothing out of network, so the network list matters more than the premium. 5 plans in Dane have a $0 medical deductible (3 expanded bronze and 2 platinum). The 3 bronze ones among them still have out of pocket maximums of $10,400 to $10,600, so a $0 deductible does not mean a small bill.
Every Dane price on this page is before subsidies, and most enrollees pay less. For a 40 year old in Dane the premium tax credit is measured against the $548 benchmark. Estimate your own subsidy, or send me your ZIP and I will run the Dane numbers for you.
2027 plans for Dane County
These are the 2026 plans and prices for Dane County. The 2027 plans and prices are published around November 1, 2026, and I will update this page with the new Dane numbers then. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in Wisconsin runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and December 15 is the last day to pick a plan that starts January 1.
Questions about Dane County coverage
How many health insurance companies sell marketplace plans in Dane County, Wisconsin?
For 2026, three carriers sell individual marketplace plans in Dane County: Quartz, Dean Health Plan and Group Health Cooperative-SCW. Together they offer 49 plans across the metal levels, according to the CMS plan landscape file.
What is the cheapest health insurance in Dane County?
At full price before any subsidy, the cheapest bronze plan in Dane County is $276 a month for a 21 year old, $353 at 40 and $749 at 60. In Dane a couple both aged 40 pays $706 for the cheapest bronze, and two 40 year olds with two children pay $1,128. Catastrophic plans in Dane, open only to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, start at $359 at age 21. Most people in Dane who qualify for a premium tax credit pay less than these prices.
What is the benchmark silver plan premium in Dane County for 2026?
The second lowest cost silver plan, the benchmark your subsidy is calculated from, is $548 a month for a 40 year old in Dane County before subsidies. In Dane it is $429 at age 21 and $1,164 at age 60, and the lowest silver plan is $543 at 40.
Is any insurance company leaving Dane County for 2027?
None of the three carriers selling in Dane County in 2026 has announced it is leaving Wisconsin for 2027, as far as I have been able to confirm. Smaller changes can still happen, so read your renewal notice. The 2027 carrier lineup and prices for Dane are published around November 1, 2026, and I will update this page then.
Can I get a PPO plan in Dane County?
Not on the 2026 marketplace. All 49 plans in Dane County are HMO or EPO plans. 5 of them have a $0 medical deductible, and the cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old in Dane is $531 a month before subsidies.
More for Dane County residents
- Health insurance brokers in Wisconsin, how to choose one and what it costs
- Every 2027 carrier change in Wisconsin
- How Dane compares with the other 78 counties and parishes I track
- Estimate a Dane subsidy
Get your Dane County quote
Send me your ZIP and who needs coverage and I will compare every Dane plan you qualify for with your subsidy applied, free and with no pressure.
Get my free quote → Or book a callSources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, QHP Landscape Individual Market Medical, plan year 2026 (public use file), Dane County rows
- HealthCare.gov, Health plan information for individuals and families
- healthinsurance.org, ACA open enrollment deadlines