- 2carriers selling 2027 marketplace plans in Kanawha County
- 20plans on the Kanawha shelf, from 7 bronze to 8 gold
- $1,197benchmark silver for a 40 year old in Kanawha, full price per month
Who sells marketplace plans in Kanawha County
Kanawha County and Berkeley County, the two West Virginia counties I track, have the same number of carriers, two each. Across all 79 counties and parishes I track, 69 have more carriers than Kanawha. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia alone accounts for 17 of the 20 plans in Kanawha, 85 percent of the shelf, so a lot of what you see when you shop is one company's lineup in different metal levels.
| Carrier | Plans | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Network types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia | 17 | 6 | 3 | 7 | PPO 17 |
| Peak Health Insurance New for 2027 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | EPO 3 |
Kanawha plan counts from the CMS 2027 landscape file (county FIPS 54039, 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 changed in Kanawha County for 2027
CareSource sold 22 of the 37 plans in Kanawha County in 2026 and has no plans here in the 2027 CMS file. If you were enrolled with CareSource, you should have a notice by now. If you do nothing you are moved to a replacement plan picked on price and metal level, and nothing in that process checks your doctors or prescriptions. New in Kanawha for 2027: Peak Health Insurance. Kanawha now has two carriers and 20 plans, against two carriers and 37 plans in 2026.
What it costs in Kanawha County before any subsidy
These are the full monthly prices, before any premium tax credit, for the cheapest Kanawha 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 Kanawha 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 | $693 | $886 | $1,882 | $1,773 | $2,834 |
| Lowest silver | $921 | $1,177 | $2,499 | $2,354 | $3,762 |
| Benchmark silver (second lowest) | $936 | $1,197 | $2,541 | $2,393 | $3,826 |
| Lowest gold | $836 | $1,069 | $2,270 | $2,138 | $3,417 |
Benchmark silver is the second lowest of the 4 silver premiums listed for Kanawha. The last column is two adults aged 40 plus two children.
What these numbers mean if you live in Kanawha County
The gold row is the surprise in Kanawha County. The cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old, $1,069 a month, is $108 cheaper than the cheapest silver plan at $1,177. That happens because West Virginia 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 Kanawha shelf, and a gold deductible here tops out at $2,500.
In Kanawha County the benchmark is $310 above the cheapest bronze at age 40, and only two 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 $1,197 benchmark minus what the government expects you to pay from your income. A 40 year old in Kanawha whose expected share is $310 a month or less would pay nothing for the cheapest bronze. At 60 the Kanawha gap grows to $659 and at 21 it shrinks to $243, which is why older enrollees are the ones most likely to find a $0 plan.
Berkeley County, around Martinsburg, is the other West Virginia county I track. Compared with Berkeley County, the Kanawha benchmark is $164 higher at 40 and the cheapest bronze is $121 higher. The same two carriers sell in both, so moving between Kanawha and Berkeley changes the price you pay but not the companies you can pick from.
Kanawha plans by metal level, network and deductible
| Metal level | Plans | $0 deductible | Deductible range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | 1 | 0 | |
| Bronze | 1 | 0 | $9,500 to $9,500 |
| Expanded Bronze | 6 | 2 | $0 to $7,500 |
| Silver | 4 | 2 | $0 to $6,400 |
| Gold | 8 | 2 | $0 to $2,500 |
| Total | 20 | 6 |
By network type the 20 Kanawha plans break down as 17 PPO and 3 EPO. PPOs are the majority here, 17 of the 20, and they come from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia, so a plan that lets you see specialists without a referral is easy to find in Kanawha. 6 plans in Kanawha have a $0 medical deductible (2 gold, 2 expanded bronze and 2 silver). The 2 bronze ones among them still have out of pocket maximums of $11,700, so a $0 deductible does not mean a small bill.
Every Kanawha price on this page is before subsidies, and most enrollees pay less. For a 40 year old in Kanawha the premium tax credit is measured against the $1,197 benchmark. Estimate your own subsidy, or send me your ZIP and I will run the Kanawha numbers for you.
2027 plans for Kanawha County
These are the 2027 plans and prices for Kanawha County, from the CMS plan file released at the end of October 2026. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in West Virginia runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and December 15 is the last day to pick a plan that starts January 1. If you already have a Kanawha plan, compare before you let it renew, because your carrier and your benchmark may both have changed.
Questions about Kanawha County coverage
How many health insurance companies sell marketplace plans in Kanawha County, West Virginia?
For 2027, two carriers sell individual marketplace plans in Kanawha County: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia and Peak Health Insurance. Together they offer 20 plans across the metal levels, according to the CMS plan landscape file.
What is the cheapest health insurance in Kanawha County?
At full price before any subsidy, the cheapest bronze plan in Kanawha County is $693 a month for a 21 year old, $886 at 40 and $1,882 at 60. In Kanawha a couple both aged 40 pays $1,773 for the cheapest bronze, and two 40 year olds with two children pay $2,834. Catastrophic plans in Kanawha, open only to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, start at $566 at age 21. Most people in Kanawha who qualify for a premium tax credit pay less than these prices.
What is the benchmark silver plan premium in Kanawha County for 2027?
The second lowest cost silver plan, the benchmark your subsidy is calculated from, is $1,197 a month for a 40 year old in Kanawha County before subsidies. In Kanawha it is $936 at age 21 and $2,541 at age 60, and the lowest silver plan is $1,177 at 40.
Which insurance companies left Kanawha County for 2027?
CareSource sold 22 plans in Kanawha County in 2026 and has no plans there in the 2027 CMS plan file. Carriers still selling from the 2026 lineup: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia. New for 2027: Peak Health Insurance.
Can I get a PPO or a $0 deductible plan in Kanawha County?
Yes to both. 17 of the 20 plans in Kanawha are PPOs, all from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia, and 6 plans have a $0 medical deductible. The cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old in Kanawha is $1,069 a month before subsidies.
More for Kanawha County residents
- Health insurance brokers in West Virginia, how to choose one and what it costs
- Every 2027 carrier change in West Virginia
- How Kanawha compares with the other 78 counties and parishes I track
- Estimate a Kanawha subsidy
Get your Kanawha County quote
Send me your ZIP and who needs coverage and I will compare every Kanawha 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 2027 (public use file), Kanawha County rows
- HealthCare.gov, Health plan information for individuals and families
- healthinsurance.org, ACA open enrollment deadlines