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Private Health Insurance vs. Obamacare in your state: An Honest Comparison
We sell both, so we have no reason to spin this. Here's the honest comparison for your state.
Where Obamacare (the marketplace) is better
Guaranteed acceptance regardless of health. Subsidies for qualifying incomes — the biggest discount available anywhere. Full coverage of pre-existing conditions with no exclusions. Medicaid expansion varies by state — in non-expansion states such as Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida, adults under the poverty line can fall into a coverage gap. These are not small advantages; for a lot of people they're decisive.
Where private plans are better
Price, for healthy people above the subsidy line — often 30–50% less. National PPO networks on Cigna, Aetna and PHCS PPO versus local HMOs. Year-round enrollment. Month-to-month flexibility.
Where private plans are worse
Underwriting: you can be declined or have a condition excluded. No subsidies, ever. Some plans have caps on specific services — read the summary of benefits. Rules, carriers and prices vary by state — pick your state on our quoter to see exactly what's available where you live.
The rule we use
Subsidy → Obamacare. No subsidy + healthy → private, after we check your doctors are in the network. No subsidy + serious condition → Obamacare at full price, and we'll help you find the best one. A few states (New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, DC) have their own individual mandate; most don't.
Want both numbers for your situation? Check your options.