Where Can I Buy Health Insurance on My Own?

If you do not get coverage through an employer, you can still buy a full health insurance plan yourself. You actually have more channels than most people realise, and depending on your income you may qualify for savings that cut the price sharply. This guide covers every place you can buy coverage in 2026, how the metal tiers work, when you are allowed to enrol, and how to keep the cost down. Keep reading if you’re asking yourself: where can I buy health insurance on my own?

Quick answer

1. The ACA Marketplace at HealthCare.gov (or your state's exchange). This is the only place you can get income-based subsidies.

2. Directly from an insurer like ISO student health insurance or Kimber Health, or through a licensed broker or agent, whose help is usually free to you.

3. Medicaid or CHIP if your income is low; you can apply any time of year.

4. A student health plan through your university, if you are enrolled.

You can enrol during Open Enrollment (about November 1 to January 15) or after a qualifying life event such as moving, losing coverage, or gaining lawful immigration status. 

1. The ACA Marketplace (HealthCare.gov)

The Health Insurance Marketplace is the government-run exchange where you compare private plans, check whether you qualify for a premium tax credit, and enrol online. Most states use HealthCare.gov, while others run their own site, such as Covered California, New York State of Health, or Pennie in Pennsylvania. If you start on HealthCare.gov, it will redirect you to your state's site automatically.

The Marketplace matters most because it is the only channel where income-based financial help is available. That help comes in two forms: a premium tax credit that lowers your monthly payment, and, on Silver plans for lower incomes, extra cost-sharing reductions that shrink your deductible and copays. Everything you buy here is an ACA-compliant plan, meaning it covers the essential health benefits and cannot deny you for a pre-existing condition.

Understanding the metal tiers

Marketplace plans are grouped into four metal tiers based on how you and the plan split costs. The tier does not change the quality of care; it changes the balance between your monthly premium and what you pay when you use care.

For lower incomes, Silver is often the smartest pick because cost-sharing reductions can quietly turn a Silver plan into something closer to Gold or Platinum value, without the higher premium. If those terms are unfamiliar, Zolve's guide to US insurance terminology explains premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums in plain language.

2. Off-exchange: insurers, brokers, and agents

You can also buy an ACA-compliant plan directly from an insurance company's website or through a licensed broker or agent. These off-exchange plans cover the same essential benefits, but you cannot claim a premium tax credit on them, so if you qualify for subsidies you will usually pay more this way. Brokers and agents are typically paid by the insurer, which means their guidance usually costs you nothing. This route can make sense if you know you will not qualify for subsidies and you want a specific plan, network, or insurer that is easier to deal with directly.

3. Medicaid and CHIP (low or no cost)

Medicaid provides free or low-cost coverage to people with limited income, and CHIP covers children in families that earn a little too much for Medicaid. Unlike Marketplace plans, you can apply for Medicaid or CHIP at any time of year, not just during Open Enrollment. Eligibility depends on your state and, for many immigrants, on your immigration status and how long you have been in the US, so check your state's rules. When you apply through the Marketplace, it automatically checks whether you or your children qualify for Medicaid or CHIP.

4. Student plans, COBRA, and stopgap options

• University student health plans: If you are enrolled, your school likely offers a plan that meets its coverage requirement. Compare it against a Marketplace plan on price, network, and whether it covers care off campus and during breaks.
• COBRA: If you just left a job, you can often keep the employer plan for a limited time, but you pay the full premium yourself, which is usually expensive. It is best as a short bridge.
• Short-term plans: Cheaper but limited. They can deny pre-existing conditions and skip essential benefits, so treat them as a last-resort stopgap, not real coverage.

5. International student and newcomer health insurance plans (through Zolve)

One important catch for newcomers: if you are here on an F-1 or J-1 student visa, you generally cannot get ACA Marketplace premium subsidies, and in most states you will not qualify for Medicaid, so the Marketplace routes above may not be the practical fit. On top of that, most universities require you to carry coverage that meets specific standards, or to formally waive the school plan by proving you have equivalent coverage. This is where dedicated international-student plans come in, and where Zolve connects newcomers to established partners.

Zolve is not itself an insurer or broker; the coverage is provided by third-party partners. What Zolve adds is a way to buy a plan without a US Social Security Number, with an instant digital health card issued after payment, and options for students, working professionals, and dependents. Its two featured health partners are ISO and Kimber Health.

Check out health insurance options on Zolve

ISO Student Health Insurance

ISO (isoa.org) has specialised in international-student coverage and describes itself as the largest manager of international-student insurance, with more than a million students insured over the years. Its plans are designed to meet university requirements, and ISO provides hands-on help with the waiver process so your school will accept the plan. There are plans for F-1 students, J-1 scholars, F-1 OPT and STEM OPT graduates, and F-2/J-2 dependents, with premiums that start around $31 a month via Zolve.

Kimber Health

Kimber Health is a New York-based agency, an authorised partner of the New York State of Health, that focuses on affordable coverage for international students and immigrants. Kimber offers affordable student and OPT plans, along with plan matching by school, age, and immigration status, and waiver support. Prices and eligibility change, so confirm current details on Kimber's site.

When can you actually enrol?

Tips for Newcomer

Becoming a US citizen or gaining lawfully present immigration status is itself a qualifying life event that opens a Special Enrollment Period. You do not have to wait for the next Open Enrollment to get covered. You usually have 60 days from the event to enrol. 

How to get affordable coverage in 2026?

Affordability changed in 2026. The enhanced premium tax credits that had lowered Marketplace costs since 2021 expired at the end of 2025, so KFF estimates the average subsidised enrollee's premium payment roughly doubled, rising about 114% on average. Insurers also raised rates. Congress was still debating whether to restore the enhanced credits through the middle of 2026, so it is worth rechecking your subsidy each time you shop. Even with the changes, financial help did not disappear, and lower-income enrollees can still find affordable plans.

• Always start on the Marketplace and enter your income, so you see any tax credit you qualify for before comparing prices.
• Look hard at Silver plans if your income is modest; cost-sharing reductions can make a Silver plan's deductible far lower than a Bronze plan's.
• Check Medicaid first if your income is low, since it is usually the cheapest route by far.
• Compare total cost, not just premium: add the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum to the monthly price. A cheap premium with a huge deductible can cost more overall.
• Reshop every year during Open Enrollment instead of auto-renewing, because the cheapest plan and your subsidy can both change.

How to apply for health insurance?

1. Go to HealthCare.gov (or your state exchange) and create an account.
2. Enter your household size and expected income for the year you want coverage.
3. Review your results: you will see any premium tax credit and whether you or your children qualify for Medicaid or CHIP.
4. Compare plans by metal tier, monthly premium, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and provider network. Confirm your doctors and prescriptions are covered.
5. Enrol, then pay your first premium. Coverage does not start until that first payment is made, so do not skip it.

Mistakes to avoid while buying health insurance

• Choosing a plan on premium alone and ignoring the deductible and network.
• Buying off-exchange when you actually qualify for a subsidy on the Marketplace.
• Missing Open Enrollment and assuming you can buy any time (you usually need a qualifying event).
• Forgetting to pay the first premium, which leaves you technically uninsured.
• Not updating your income mid-year, which can mean paying back part of a subsidy at tax time.

How does Zolve fit in?

For international students and new arrivals, Zolve offers health insurance options built for newcomers through its partners ISO and Kimber Health, providing an instant digital health card, alongside US banking and a credit card. If you are still learning how the system works, start with Zolve's overview of navigating the US healthcare system.

FAQ

Can I buy health insurance online by myself? 

Yes. You can enrol entirely online through HealthCare.gov, your state exchange, or an insurer's website.

How do I buy health insurance on my own if I miss Open Enrollment? 

You need a qualifying life event for a Special Enrollment Period, or you can apply for Medicaid or CHIP at any time if you are eligible.

Is Marketplace coverage cheaper than buying direct? 

Only the Marketplace offers income-based subsidies, so if you qualify, it is usually cheaper. If you do not qualify, prices are similar on or off exchange.

Do I need a Social Security Number to apply? 

Lawfully present immigrants can apply for Marketplace coverage; provide an SSN if you have one. Eligibility for subsidies depends on immigration status, so check the immigrant coverage page.