Iowa · 2026 plan year
Gold health insurance plans in Iowa
There are 36 Gold plans on the Iowa Marketplace from 6 insurers, and they are not interchangeable — premiums run from $338 to $584 a month for the same metal tier. Here is what separates them.
36
Gold plans
6
Insurers
99
Counties covered
$338
Cheapest premium
$1,651
Average deductible
These are benchmark premiums, not your price. Every dollar figure here is the individual rate at age 21 for a non-tobacco user, before any premium tax credit — the standard way plans are compared like for like. What you actually pay depends on your age, county, household and income. Estimate your real cost.
Iowa Gold premiums rank 3rd cheapest of 30.
Averaged across all 36 plans, Gold coverage in Iowa costs $468 a month before subsidies — 3rd lowest of the 30 states with federal-marketplace data. Premiums vary far more by county and age than this single number suggests.
Metal tiers describe roughly what share of covered costs a plan pays, not the quality of its care or network. How the metal tiers actually differ walks through the trade, and how ACA subsidies work explains why the prices below are rarely what anyone pays.
Lowest premiums
The cheapest Gold plans in Iowa
| Plan | Premium / mo (age 21, pre-subsidy) | Deductible | Out-of-pocket max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellmark Gold Primary Care | UnityPoint HealthWellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | $338 | $2,300 | $8,000 |
| Gold Classic Standard | MercyOneOscar Insurance Company | $340 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Gold Elite | MercyOneOscar Insurance Company | $361 | $550 | $6,000 |
| Wellmark Gold Traditional HMOWellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | $376 | $1,750 | $7,500 |
| Wellmark Standard Gold HMOWellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | $383 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
Showing 5 of 36. See all Iowa Gold plans →
Who sells here
Gold plans by insurer
| Insurer | Gold plans | Cheapest | Tier average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medica | 15 | $425 | $536 |
| Ambetter Health | 6 | $384 | $401 |
| Avera Health Plans | 4 | $454 | $468 |
| Oscar Insurance Company | 4 | $340 | $387 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 4 | $460 | $475 |
| Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. | 3 | $338 | $366 |
Other tiers in Iowa
How Gold compares to the rest
Nearby on price
States with similar Gold premiums
Common questions
Iowa Gold plans, answered
What are the copays on a Iowa Gold plan?
Copays vary plan by plan rather than by tier — the metal level sets roughly what share of total care costs the plan covers, not the individual amounts. Across the 36 Gold plans in Iowa, deductibles average $1,651 and the out-of-pocket maximum averages $7,794. Open any plan below to see its full cost-sharing schedule, including primary care, specialist and prescription tiers.
Who is eligible for a Gold plan in Iowa?
Any Iowa Marketplace shopper can choose Gold. It suits people who expect steady ongoing care, since the higher premium buys a much lower deductible — averaging $1,651 in this tier. If your income qualifies you for cost-sharing reductions, compare against Silver before deciding, since those only apply to Silver.
What is the deductible on a Iowa Gold plan?
The average across all 36 Gold plans in Iowa is $1,651, with an average out-of-pocket maximum of $7,794. The range within the tier is wide, so two plans at a similar premium can differ by thousands in what you would actually pay during a year with significant care. Deductible is usually a better basis for comparison than premium alone.
Are Gold plans available in my Iowa county?
Gold plans are sold in 99 Iowa counties, from 6 insurers. Which specific plans you can buy depends on where you live — a plan offered in a metro county is often not sold in a rural one. Enter your ZIP code to narrow the list to plans actually available to you.
When can I enroll in a Iowa Marketplace plan?
Iowa uses the federal Marketplace, so open enrollment runs November 1 to January 15. Outside that window you need a qualifying life event — losing job-based coverage, moving, marriage, or a birth — to open a special enrollment period. Cheapest Gold premiums in Iowa start at $338 a month before any subsidy.
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