Kentucky
Cheapest ACA plans in Paducah, Kentucky for 2026
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
Paducah is in McCracken County, Kentucky. 2 carriers sell 2026 ACA plans on kynect for residents of McCracken County, and the cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in starts at $549/month before any subsidy. Carriers are licensed and rated at the county level, so the plans below cover everyone in McCracken County, including Paducah.
Cheapest plans by metal tier
Lowest 2026 monthly premium for a single 40-year-old in Paducah (McCracken County), on-exchange, before any subsidy. Per-age figures derived from the CMS QHP Landscape file using the HHS standardized age-rating curve (45 CFR 147.102).
| Tier | Cheapest age 40 monthly | Plans in McCracken County |
|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | $537 | 1 |
| Expanded Bronze | $549 | 10 |
| Bronze | $565 | 1 |
| Silver | $660 | 13 |
| Gold | $735 | 5 |
The actual cheapest Bronze plan in Paducah
WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky Everyday Bronze
$549/moFor a family of four (two 40-year-olds and two kids under 14): WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky Everyday Bronze at $1,757/month before subsidies.
Carriers selling 2026 plans in Paducah
2 carriers sell 2026 plans on kynect for McCracken County residents. 41 plans total in McCracken County.
| Carrier | On-exchange plans |
|---|---|
| WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky | 16 |
| Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, Inc. | 14 |
What you'll actually pay in Paducah
Estimated monthly net premium for the cheapest Bronze plan above ($549/mo before subsidy) on kynect, after federal APTC. APTC is computed against the McCracken Countybenchmark Silver per 26 USC §36B. Approximate; exact net varies by plan's EHB% and child-rate structure.
Single 40-year-old
| Annual income | FPL % | Federal APTC | Cheapest Bronze net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | 160% | $575/mo | $0/mo |
| $40,000 | 256% | $385/mo | $164/mo |
| $60,000 | 383% | $174/mo | $375/mo |
| $100,000 | 639% | — | $549/mo |
Family of 4 (two 40-year-olds, two children)
| Annual income | FPL % | Federal APTC | Cheapest Bronze net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | 124% | — | Medicaid likely |
| $80,000 | 249% | $1,589/mo | $168/mo |
| $130,000 | 404% | — | $1,757/mo |
| $200,000 | 622% | — | $1,757/mo |
FPL = Federal Poverty Level. APTC = Advance Premium Tax Credit (the federal subsidy). Off-exchange and Catastrophic plans are not APTC-eligible. Enter your real income on the home page to see plan-specific net premium with the per-plan EHB-percent cap applied.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest ACA plan in Paducah, Kentucky for 2026?
The cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in is WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky Everyday Bronze at $549 per month before subsidies. Plans sell through kynect. Paducah is in McCracken County, Kentucky; carriers are licensed and rated at the county level. Data refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
How does Paducah's 2026 ACA pricing compare to other Kentucky cities?
Cheapest Bronze for a 40-year-old in Paducah is $549 per month before subsidies. For comparison: Louisville at $451/mo; Lexington at $449/mo; Bowling Green at $502/mo. Different cities can have different cheapest plans because plans are sold per county and carrier participation varies by jurisdiction.
Is Kentucky on Healthcare.gov?
No. Kentucky runs its own state-based exchange, kynect. kynect was originally launched in 2014, discontinued in 2016 when the state moved to Healthcare.gov, and relaunched as a full SBE for PY2022. Healthcare.gov no longer serves Kentucky.
Has Kentucky expanded Medicaid?
Yes, effective January 1, 2014. Kentucky was among the first-wave expansion states and saw one of the largest declines in its uninsured rate post-ACA. Adults 19-64 with income up to 138% FPL qualify regardless of parental status or disability, so there is no coverage gap in Kentucky.
What is the history of kynect?
Kentucky originally launched kynect in 2014 under Gov. Steve Beshear as a state-based exchange. Gov. Matt Bevin discontinued kynect in 2016 and moved the state to Healthcare.gov. Gov. Andy Beshear (Steve Beshear’s son) then relaunched kynect as a full SBE for PY2022, and it has operated as an SBE since.
More Kentucky pricing
- Statewide Kentucky pricing and metal tiers
- Louisville pricingcheapest Bronze $451/mo
- Lexington pricingcheapest Bronze $449/mo
- Bowling Green pricingcheapest Bronze $502/mo
Sources
- kynect for SBE enrollment, OEP dates, and APTC application.
- Kentucky Department of Insurance for rate review, carrier filings, and consumer guidance.
- Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: Medicaid for Medicaid eligibility and expansion enrollment.
- KFF: Kentucky State Health Facts for Medicaid expansion, enrollment, and benchmark premium context.
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z. Full pricing pipeline + regulatory references at methodology; ACA terminology in the glossary.