- 3carriers selling 2026 marketplace plans in Linn County
- 38plans on the Linn shelf, from 14 bronze to 13 gold
- $490benchmark silver for a 40 year old in Linn, full price per month
Who sells marketplace plans in Linn County
Linn County has fewer carriers than Polk County, the other Iowa county I track, three against four. Across all 79 counties and parishes I track in 24 states, 62 have more carriers than Linn. Ambetter Health alone accounts for 16 of the 38 plans in Linn, 42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambetter Health | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | HMO 16 |
| Medica Leaving for 2027 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | EPO 12 |
| WellmarkWellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | HMO 10 |
Linn plan counts from the CMS 2026 landscape file (county FIPS 19113, Rating Area 6). Bronze includes expanded bronze, and companies CMS lists under more than one legal issuer are grouped with the legal names underneath.
Leaving Linn County for 2027
Medica sells 12 of the 38 plans in Linn County this year. Medica is leaving the Iowa individual marketplace for 2027. After that exit, two carriers are left from the 2026 Linn lineup: Ambetter Health and Wellmark. If you are enrolled with Medica in Linn, you will get a notice this fall. 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.
What it costs in Linn County before any subsidy
These are the full monthly prices, before any premium tax credit, for the cheapest Linn 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 Linn 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 | $352 | $748 | $704 | $1,126 |
| Lowest silver | $381 | $486 | $1,033 | $973 | $1,555 |
| Benchmark silver (second lowest) | $384 | $490 | $1,042 | $981 | $1,568 |
| Lowest gold | $340 | $435 | $924 | $870 | $1,390 |
Benchmark silver is the second lowest of the 11 silver premiums listed for Linn. The last column is two adults aged 40 plus two children.
What these numbers mean if you live in Linn County
The gold row is the surprise in Linn County. The cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old, $435 a month, is $51 cheaper than the cheapest silver plan at $486. That happens because Iowa 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 Linn shelf, and a gold deductible here tops out at $2,500.
In Linn County the benchmark is $138 above the cheapest bronze at age 40, and 15 of the other 78 counties and parishes I track have a narrower one. That gap decides whether bronze can be free, because your subsidy is the $490 benchmark minus what the government expects you to pay from your income. A 40 year old in Linn whose expected share is $138 a month or less would pay nothing for the cheapest bronze. At 60 the Linn gap grows to $294 and at 21 it shrinks to $108, which is why older enrollees are the ones most likely to find a $0 plan.
Polk County, around Des Moines, is the other Iowa county I track. Compared with Polk County, the Linn benchmark is $31 higher at 40 and the cheapest bronze is $10 higher. Oscar sells in Polk County and not in Linn.
Linn plans by metal level, network and deductible
| Metal level | Plans | $0 deductible | Deductible range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded Bronze | 14 | 2 | $0 to $8,450 |
| Silver | 11 | 0 | $3,500 to $6,300 |
| Gold | 13 | 0 | $800 to $2,500 |
| Total | 38 | 2 |
There is not a single PPO on the 2026 marketplace in Linn County. The 38 plans split into 26 HMO and 12 EPO. Outside emergencies, the 12 EPO and 26 HMO plans in Linn generally pay nothing out of network, so the network list matters more than the premium. 2 plans in Linn have a $0 medical deductible (2 expanded bronze). The 2 bronze ones among them still have out of pocket maximums of $10,500, so a $0 deductible does not mean a small bill.
Every Linn price on this page is before subsidies, and most enrollees pay less. For a 40 year old in Linn the premium tax credit is measured against the $490 benchmark. Estimate your own subsidy, or send me your ZIP and I will run the Linn numbers for you.
2027 plans for Linn County
These are the 2026 plans and prices for Linn County. The 2027 plans and prices are published around November 1, 2026, and I will update this page with the new Linn numbers then. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in Iowa 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 Linn County coverage
How many health insurance companies sell marketplace plans in Linn County, Iowa?
For 2026, three carriers sell individual marketplace plans in Linn County: Ambetter Health, Medica and Wellmark. Together they offer 38 plans across the metal levels, according to the CMS plan landscape file.
What is the cheapest health insurance in Linn County?
At full price before any subsidy, the cheapest bronze plan in Linn County is $276 a month for a 21 year old, $352 at 40 and $748 at 60. In Linn a couple both aged 40 pays $704 for the cheapest bronze, and two 40 year olds with two children pay $1,126. No catastrophic plan is sold in Linn for 2026. Most people in Linn who qualify for a premium tax credit pay less than these prices.
What is the benchmark silver plan premium in Linn County for 2026?
The second lowest cost silver plan, the benchmark your subsidy is calculated from, is $490 a month for a 40 year old in Linn County before subsidies. In Linn it is $384 at age 21 and $1,042 at age 60, and the lowest silver plan is $486 at 40.
Which insurance companies are leaving Linn County for 2027?
Medica is leaving the Iowa individual marketplace for 2027. In 2026 it sells 12 plans in Linn County. Two carriers from the 2026 Linn lineup remain: Ambetter Health and Wellmark. The full 2027 lineup and prices are published around November 1, 2026.
Can I get a PPO plan in Linn County?
Not on the 2026 marketplace. All 38 plans in Linn County are HMO or EPO plans. 2 of them have a $0 medical deductible, and the cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old in Linn is $435 a month before subsidies.
More for Linn County residents
- Health insurance brokers in Iowa, how to choose one and what it costs
- Every 2027 carrier change in Iowa
- How Linn compares with the other 78 counties and parishes I track
- Estimate a Linn subsidy
Get your Linn County quote
Send me your ZIP and who needs coverage and I will compare every Linn 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), Linn County rows
- HealthCare.gov, Health plan information for individuals and families
- ACA Signups, Iowa 2027 rate filings and carrier withdrawals
- healthinsurance.org, ACA open enrollment deadlines