Wisconsin
Cheapest ACA plans in Eau Claire, Wisconsin for 2026
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
Eau Claire is in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. 3 carriers sell 2026 ACA plans on Healthcare.gov for residents of Eau Claire County, and the cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in starts at $577/month before any subsidy. Carriers are licensed and rated at the county level, so the plans below cover everyone in Eau Claire County, including Eau Claire.
Cheapest plans by metal tier
Lowest 2026 monthly premium for a single 40-year-old in Eau Claire (Eau Claire 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 Eau Claire County |
|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | $574 | 1 |
| Expanded Bronze | $577 | 11 |
| Bronze | $612 | 1 |
| Silver | $731 | 12 |
| Gold | $797 | 9 |
The actual cheapest Bronze plan in Eau Claire
Medica Engage by Medica Bronze Share
$577/moFor a family of four (two 40-year-olds and two kids under 14): Medica Engage by Medica Bronze Share at $1,846/month before subsidies.
Carriers selling 2026 plans in Eau Claire
3 carriers sell 2026 plans on Healthcare.gov for Eau Claire County residents; 1 additional carrier offers off-exchange-only plans (not subsidy-eligible). 52 plans total in Eau Claire County.
Also selling off-exchange only
These carriers sell plans directly (not through Healthcare.gov). Off-exchange plans are not eligible for federal APTC or state subsidies.
| Carrier | Off-exchange plans |
|---|---|
| Quartz | 16 |
What you'll actually pay in Eau Claire
Estimated monthly net premium for the cheapest Bronze plan above ($577/mo before subsidy) on Healthcare.gov, after federal APTC. APTC is computed against the Eau Claire 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% | $650/mo | $0/mo |
| $40,000 | 256% | $460/mo | $117/mo |
| $60,000 | 383% | $249/mo | $328/mo |
| $100,000 | 639% | — | $577/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% | $1,827/mo | $19/mo |
| $130,000 | 404% | — | $1,846/mo |
| $200,000 | 622% | — | $1,846/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 Eau Claire, Wisconsin for 2026?
The cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in is Medica Engage by Medica Bronze Share at $577 per month before subsidies. Plans sell through Healthcare.gov. Eau Claire is in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin; carriers are licensed and rated at the county level. Data refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
How does Eau Claire's 2026 ACA pricing compare to other Wisconsin cities?
Cheapest Bronze for a 40-year-old in Eau Claire is $577 per month before subsidies. For comparison: Milwaukee at $485/mo; Madison at $353/mo; Green Bay at $418/mo. Different cities can have different cheapest plans because plans are sold per county and carrier participation varies by jurisdiction.
Does Wisconsin use Healthcare.gov?
Yes. Wisconsin participates in the federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM), so enrollment and subsidy applications run through healthcare.gov. Wisconsin does not operate a state-based exchange.
Has Wisconsin expanded Medicaid?
No, not under the ACA expansion framework. However, Wisconsin's BadgerCare Plus program covers adults up to 100% FPL (parents and childless adults alike), and adults above 100% FPL qualify for federal APTC on the Marketplace. Wisconsin is the only non-expansion state in the country without a coverage gap.
Why does Wisconsin have no coverage gap?
Other non-expansion states cap Medicaid eligibility for non-disabled adults at thresholds well below 100% FPL (or exclude childless adults entirely), leaving a gap between Medicaid's upper limit and APTC's lower limit (100% FPL). Wisconsin caps BadgerCare Plus eligibility right at 100% FPL for all adults, so there is no income range where someone is ineligible for both Medicaid and APTC.
More Wisconsin pricing
- Statewide Wisconsin pricing and metal tiers
- Milwaukee pricingcheapest Bronze $485/mo
- Madison pricingcheapest Bronze $353/mo
- Green Bay pricingcheapest Bronze $418/mo
Sources
- HealthCare.gov for enrollment, OEP dates, and federal APTC / CSR application.
- Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) for rate review, carrier filings, and consumer guidance.
- BadgerCare Plus: Wisconsin Department of Health Services for BadgerCare Plus eligibility up to 100% FPL.
- KFF: Wisconsin State Health Facts for BadgerCare Plus and Marketplace enrollment context, including the no-coverage-gap posture.
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z. Full pricing pipeline + regulatory references at methodology; ACA terminology in the glossary.