Iowa Health Insurance Carriers for 2026
These are the insurers selling individual and family health plans in Iowa for 2026, and where to buy them.
The Iowa individual market in 2026
Six insurers sell 2026 Marketplace plans in Iowa: Wellmark, Oscar, Iowa Total Care (Ambetter), UnitedHealthcare, Avera and Medica. Wellmark covers most enrollees, and Avera is new for 2026. Medica is leaving after 2026, so its members will need to switch for 2027.
Insurers selling individual plans in Iowa
| Insurer | Sells Marketplace plans | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa (Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield) | Yes | By far the largest individual-market insurer in Iowa, with about 80,000 individual members as of spring 2026. |
| Oscar Insurance Company | Yes | The second-largest Marketplace insurer in Iowa, with about 12,000 members. |
| Iowa Total Care (Ambetter) | Yes | Joined the Iowa Marketplace for 2025 and has about 7,000 individual members. |
| UnitedHealthcare of the River Valley | Yes | Joined the Iowa Marketplace for 2025 and has a small individual membership of several hundred people. |
| Avera Health Plans | Yes | New to the Iowa individual market for 2026. |
| Medica | Yes | Sells 2026 Marketplace plans in Iowa but is leaving the state's individual market on January 1, 2027, so its roughly 4,000 Iowa members will need to pick a new plan for 2027. |
Not every insurer sells in every county. Your ZIP code determines which plans you can buy.
Iowa questions
Don’t see your question? Ask a licensed agent or call (888) 214-4898.
Six: Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Oscar, Iowa Total Care (Ambetter), UnitedHealthcare of the River Valley, Avera Health Plans and Medica. Not every insurer sells in every county.
Medica is leaving Iowa's individual market on January 1, 2027. Your coverage continues through the end of 2026, and you will need to choose a new plan during open enrollment, which runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.
Filings put the weighted average increase near 5.7% before subsidies, after state review trimmed requests. Wellmark's average was about 5%, while Oscar, UnitedHealthcare, Avera and Iowa Total Care filed for roughly 12% to 17%.
Sources
Reviewed October 2026. Rules and prices change every year; a licensed agent will confirm what applies to you.
