The most affordable health insurance Utah households can get usually comes from Medicaid (income up to 138% of the poverty level) or a subsidized HealthCare.gov plan (100% to 400%). Open Enrollment for 2027 runs Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027. Utah’s larger-than-average families raise those income limits.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by a licensed agent.
- Three paths to lower-cost coverage
- 2027 income limits for Utah households
- What you pay for a benchmark plan
- Silver plans and cost-sharing reductions
- When Medicaid or CHIP is cheaper
- Clinics and hospital financial assistance
- A five-step renewal plan
- Utah cities
- Low-price plans to read carefully
- Frequently asked questions
Three paths to affordable health insurance Utah families can use
Lower-cost coverage in Utah comes from three places: Utah Medicaid and CHIP, the federal premium tax credit on HealthCare.gov, and smart plan choices once you know your numbers. Which one fits depends almost entirely on your household size and your estimated 2027 income.
- Medicaid: adults up to 138% of the federal poverty level, since Utah fully expanded Medicaid in 2020.
- Premium tax credit: households from 100% to 400% of poverty who don’t qualify for Medicaid or affordable job-based coverage.
- Plan choice: picking the right metal tier, network and deductible for how you actually use care.
For statewide dates, insurers and rules, see our full Utah health insurance guide. For the national picture, read how to find affordable health insurance.
2027 income limits for Utah households
For 2027 coverage, the Marketplace uses the 2026 federal poverty guidelines published by HHS. Utah adults up to 138% generally qualify for Medicaid; above that, a premium tax credit is available up to 400%. Utah families tend to be larger than the national average, per Census QuickFacts, so we include households of five and six.
| Household size | 100% FPL | 138% FPL (Medicaid limit) | 400% FPL (subsidy cliff) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $22,025 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $29,863 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $37,702 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $45,540 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $53,378 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $61,217 | $177,440 |
Household size follows your tax return, not who lives under your roof. Count yourself, a spouse if you file jointly, and every dependent you claim. Use modified adjusted gross income, which for most people is close to the adjusted gross income on Form 1040.
Big-family math: each extra person adds $5,680 to the poverty line and $22,720 to the 400% cliff. A Utah family of six can earn quite a bit more than a family of three and still get help with affordable health insurance. Utah premiums are worth re-checking every time your family grows.
What you pay for a benchmark plan in 2027
The premium tax credit limits what you pay for the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area, called the benchmark, to a fixed share of household income. The enhanced credits expired at the end of 2025, so the 2027 percentages below, set by IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26, are higher than many Utahns saw in 2025.
| Income (% of poverty level) | Expected contribution, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Under 133% | 2.15% |
| 133% – 150% | 3.23% – 4.30% |
| 150% – 200% | 4.30% – 6.78% |
| 200% – 250% | 6.78% – 8.66% |
| 250% – 300% | 8.66% – 10.22% |
| 300% – 400% | 10.22% |
| Over 400% | No subsidy |
You can apply the credit to any metal tier. Spend it on a Bronze plan and your premium drops further; spend it on Gold and you pay more each month but less when you use care. Full rules are in our 2027 subsidies guide, including the new immigrant eligibility limits that start January 1, 2027.
Honesty.AI applies your credit to every Utah plan in your ZIP code and shows the trade-offs in plain English.
Silver plans and cost-sharing reductions
If your income is at or below 250% of the poverty level, a Silver plan comes with cost-sharing reductions: a lower deductible, lower copays and a lower out-of-pocket maximum than the standard Silver plan. That extra help exists only on Silver, which is why Silver often beats Bronze for lower-income households who expect to see a doctor.
Without that help, the 2027 out-of-pocket maximum for any Marketplace plan is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family. Cost-sharing reductions cut that ceiling sharply. Our guide on how to choose a health plan walks through Bronze vs. Silver with examples.
For healthy people who mostly want protection from a big bill, a Bronze plan paired with a health savings account can make sense. Those who qualify for affordable health insurance Utah subsidies should still price both before choosing.
When Medicaid or CHIP is the cheaper answer
For adults up to 138% of the poverty level, Medicaid is almost always the lowest-cost option in Utah. Apply through the Department of Workforce Services; the Marketplace application will also route you there if you look eligible.
Two 2027 changes matter. Starting January 1, 2027, most expansion adults ages 19 to 64 must meet Utah’s Community Engagement Requirement (work, school, training or volunteering), and renewals move to every six months. Losing Medicaid opens a Special Enrollment Period, so you can move straight into a subsidized plan.
Children can qualify even when parents don’t. Utah CHIP covers kids in families that earn too much for Medicaid, and you can apply any time of year.
Clinics and hospital financial assistance
Insurance is the main tool, but it isn’t the only one. Utah’s community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income, and large hospital systems run charity-care programs that can reduce bills for insured and uninsured patients alike.
- Intermountain Health offers full financial assistance below 250% of the poverty level and a sliding discount up to 500%, per its financial assistance policy.
- University of Utah Health has a financial assistance application for patients who struggle with a bill.
- Community health centers such as Mountainlands in Provo and Community Health Centers, Inc. in Salt Lake County serve patients on a sliding fee scale.
These programs help with bills, but they don’t replace coverage you can use anywhere. If you qualify for a subsidy, compare that first.
A five-step plan for your 2027 renewal
A little preparation before November 1 makes Open Enrollment faster and keeps you from overpaying. These steps work whether you’re new to the Marketplace or renewing a 2026 plan.
- Estimate 2027 income. Use last year’s tax return as a starting point, then adjust for raises, a new job, a baby or side income.
- List your household. Write down everyone on your tax return and anyone with an offer of job-based coverage.
- Gather your doctors and prescriptions. You’ll need names and drug doses to check networks and formularies.
- Compare at least three plans. Look at premium after the credit, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum and network for each.
- Enroll by December 15. That keeps coverage continuous on January 1, 2027.
Utah cities: local help with lower-cost coverage
The subsidy rules above apply statewide, but local hospitals, clinics and jobs shape the best choice. Our city guides go deeper:
- Salt Lake City: Salt Lake County’s community health centers and Fourth Street Clinic, Intermountain and University of Utah Health financial assistance, U of U student coverage, and an earthquake-season paperwork tip.
- Provo: Utah County’s big young households, BYU’s student-plan rule (it isn’t minimum essential coverage), UVU students who shop on HealthCare.gov, and Mountainlands Community Health Center.
Low-price plans to read carefully
Some plans advertised as affordable health insurance in Utah aren’t ACA Marketplace plans. Short-term medical plans, fixed-indemnity plans and discount programs can cost less up front but may exclude pre-existing conditions, cap benefits or skip maternity and mental health care. They also don’t qualify for the premium tax credit.
Alternative and ancillary plans have a place, for example dental, vision or accident coverage alongside a Marketplace plan, or a bridge when you truly can’t enroll. Honesty compares ACA, alternative and ancillary plans side by side and tells you what each one doesn’t cover before you buy.
When you look for affordable health insurance Utah wide, start with the subsidy check. A subsidized Marketplace plan often costs less than people expect, and it comes with full ACA protections.
Find your lowest-cost 2027 Utah option
Honesty.AI, the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent, checks Medicaid, CHIP and subsidies and compares every plan for your family 24/7 by chat, voice or text. Honesty Is Your Best Policy®.
Frequently asked questions
What is the income limit for Utah Medicaid in 2027?
Utah covers adults up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Using the 2026 guidelines, that is about $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for a family of four. Most expansion adults must also meet the Community Engagement Requirement starting January 1, 2027.
Who qualifies for a premium tax credit in Utah for 2027?
Households with income from 100% to 400% of the poverty level who don’t qualify for Medicaid or affordable job-based coverage. For a family of four, 400% is $132,000. Above that line there is no credit for 2027.
Is a Silver or Bronze plan more affordable in Utah?
It depends on income and how much care you use. At or below 250% of the poverty level, Silver plans include cost-sharing reductions that lower deductibles and copays, so Silver is often the better value. Healthy higher-income shoppers may prefer Bronze.
Can my kids get coverage if I don’t qualify for Medicaid?
Often, yes. Utah CHIP covers children in families that earn too much for Medicaid. Apply through the Department of Workforce Services at jobs.utah.gov at any time of year.
Are short-term plans a good way to save in Utah?
Read them carefully. Short-term and fixed-indemnity plans are not ACA Marketplace plans, may exclude pre-existing conditions and don’t qualify for the premium tax credit. Check whether you qualify for a subsidy first.
Keep learning: read our Utah health insurance guide, the local guides for Salt Lake City and Provo, our 2027 subsidies guide, and tips on how to choose a health plan.
