Washington
Cheapest ACA plans in Bellingham, Washington for 2026
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
Bellingham is in Whatcom County, Washington. 7 carriers sell 2026 ACA plans on Washington Healthplanfinder for residents of Whatcom County, and the cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in starts at $391/month before any subsidy. Carriers are licensed and rated at the county level, so the plans below cover everyone in Whatcom County, including Bellingham.
Cheapest plans by metal tier
Lowest 2026 monthly premium for a single 40-year-old in Bellingham (Whatcom 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 Whatcom County |
|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | $255 | 1 |
| Expanded Bronze | $391 | 8 |
| Gold | $459 | 17 |
| Silver | $638 | 7 |
The actual cheapest Bronze plan in Bellingham
LifeWise Health Plan of Washington LifeWise Cascade Select Bronze
$391/moFor a family of four (two 40-year-olds and two kids under 14): LifeWise Health Plan of Washington LifeWise Cascade Select Bronze at $1,251/month before subsidies.
Carriers selling 2026 plans in Bellingham
7 carriers sell 2026 plans on Washington Healthplanfinder for Whatcom County residents. 45 plans total in Whatcom County.
| Carrier | On-exchange plans |
|---|---|
| Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington | 10 |
| LifeWise Health Plan of Washington | 8 |
| Coordinated Care Corporation | 6 |
| Regence BlueShield | 6 |
| BridgeSpan Health Company | 1 |
| Molina Healthcare of Washington, Inc. | 1 |
| Community Health Plan of Washington | 1 |
What you'll actually pay in Bellingham
Estimated monthly net premium for the cheapest Bronze plan above ($391/mo before subsidy) on Washington Healthplanfinder, after federal APTC. APTC is computed against the Whatcom 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% | $553/mo | $0/mo |
| $40,000 | 256% | $363/mo | $28/mo |
| $60,000 | 383% | $152/mo | $239/mo |
| $100,000 | 639% | — | $391/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% | $1,519/mo | $0/mo |
| $130,000 | 404% | — | $1,251/mo |
| $200,000 | 622% | — | $1,251/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 Bellingham, Washington for 2026?
The cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in is LifeWise Health Plan of Washington LifeWise Cascade Select Bronze at $391 per month before subsidies. Plans sell through Washington Healthplanfinder. Bellingham is in Whatcom County, Washington; carriers are licensed and rated at the county level. Data refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
How does Bellingham's 2026 ACA pricing compare to other Washington cities?
Cheapest Bronze for a 40-year-old in Bellingham is $391 per month before subsidies. For comparison: Seattle at $358/mo; Spokane at $354/mo; Tacoma at $335/mo. Different cities can have different cheapest plans because plans are sold per county and carrier participation varies by jurisdiction.
What makes Washington different from other states when buying ACA coverage?
Two things. Washington requires carriers to offer standardized Cascade Care plans at Bronze, Silver, and Gold; cost-sharing is identical across carriers at the same metal tier, so you compare on price and network alone. Washington also runs Cascade Select, a state-contracted public option that typically prices toward the lower end in most counties.
What is Cascade Care Savings and do I qualify?
Cascade Care Savings is a Washington state premium subsidy that stacks on top of federal APTC. For 2026, households at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level enrolled in a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan get an extra $55 per member per month. Income-eligible but APTC-ineligible enrollees (including undocumented Washingtonians) get $250 per member per month. You must apply for and accept any federal APTC you qualify for.
Is Cascade Select (the public option) available where I live?
Cascade Select covers 37 of Washington's 39 counties for 2026, including all major population centers (King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, Clark, Thurston). The two historical gap counties are Grays Harbor and Lincoln. Three carriers participate: Community Health Plan of Washington, Coordinated Care, and LifeWise.
More Washington pricing
- Statewide Washington pricing and metal tiers
- Seattle pricingcheapest Bronze $358/mo
- Spokane pricingcheapest Bronze $354/mo
- Tacoma pricingcheapest Bronze $335/mo
Sources
- Washington Healthplanfinder for SBE enrollment, OEP dates, and Apple Health eligibility.
- WAHBE Cascade Care Savings program for PY2026 $55 / $250 PMPM subsidy amounts and eligibility.
- WA HCA Cascade Select (public option) for public-option carriers, county footprint, and program design.
- WA OIC: 14 carriers approved for 2026 for approved PY2026 plan count and carriers.
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z. Full pricing pipeline + regulatory references at methodology; ACA terminology in the glossary.