Before subsidies, the benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old in Wake County cost about $591 a month for 2026, and the North Carolina average for 2027 is $660 a month. Premium tax credits bring that down for many households, depending on income and family size. 4 insurers offered marketplace plans in Wake County for 2026. Below you'll find how coverage works in Raleigh, the local agencies with the strongest reviews, and where to get free help.
Top-rated health insurance agencies near Raleigh
Licensed agents can compare plans available in Wake County, check your doctors and estimate your premium tax credit. Free to you.
Call 866-645-8540Health insurance at a glance: Raleigh, NC
| Where to enroll | HealthCare.gov |
|---|---|
| Average benchmark silver, age 40 (2027) | $660/mo before subsidies |
| Wake County benchmark (2026) | $591/mo |
| Plans offered in Wake County (2026) | 44 |
| Plan types | HMO, EPO |
| Marketplace insurers in North Carolina (2027) | 5 |
| Medicaid expansion | Yes |
| Short-term plans | Sold with state limits (not ACA-compliant) |
Sources: CMS plan data, KFF, state marketplace and insurance department pages.
Local health care in Raleigh
- Raleigh's three networks worth checking before you pick a plan are WakeMed (Raleigh Campus, North Hospital and Children's Hospital), UNC Health (UNC REX Hospital and the North Carolina Heart & Vascular Hospital) and Duke Health (Duke Raleigh Hospital). Source
- UNC Health's main Raleigh hospital is UNC REX Hospital. Source
- Duke Health operates Duke Raleigh Hospital in the city. Source
- Public health in Raleigh is handled by Wake County Public Health, which runs health clinics and immunization services out of the Wake County Public Health Center. Source
Before you choose a plan, check that the hospitals and doctors you use are in its network. An agent can look that up for each plan you compare.
A quick checklist
- Write down the enrollment deadline and confirm your first premium payment.
- Check that the agent's license is active with the state regulator.
- Compare total yearly cost (premiums plus deductible), not just the monthly premium.
- Have a realistic estimate of next year's household income; subsidies are based on it.
Free enrollment help in North Carolina
HealthCare.gov Marketplace assisters: CMS-funded Navigator organizations plus Certified Application Counselors, who give free, impartial help applying and enrolling; consumers search for nearby help with the HealthCare.gov Find Local Help tool. You can search for in-person help on the official find-help page. If you'd rather have someone compare plans and recommend one, a licensed agent can do that at no cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much is health insurance in Raleigh?
Before subsidies, the benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old in Wake County cost about $591 a month for 2026, and the North Carolina average for 2027 is $660 a month. Premium tax credits bring that down for many households, depending on income and family size. 4 insurers offered marketplace plans in Wake County for 2026. A licensed agent can quote your exact price.
Which insurers sell marketplace plans in North Carolina?
For 2027, marketplace plans in North Carolina come from 5 insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Ambetter (Centene), AmeriHealth Caritas, Oscar Health and UnitedHealthcare. Not every insurer sells in every county.
Can I get coverage outside open enrollment?
Only with a qualifying life event, unless you qualify for North Carolina Medicaid. Some people also look at short-term or fixed-indemnity plans, which are not ACA-compliant coverage.
Health insurance in nearby cities
- Knightdale, NC 9 miles
- Garner, NC 10 miles
- Cary, NC 10 miles
- Morrisville, NC 11 miles
- Wake Forest, NC 12 miles
- Rolesville, NC 12 miles
- Wendell, NC 14 miles
- Apex, NC 15 miles
- Clayton, NC 16 miles
- Holly Springs, NC 17 miles