Free Health Insurance Montana: Your 2027 Marketplace & Medicaid Guide
Free health insurance in Montana isn't a gimmick — it's a premium tax credit, or it's Montana Medicaid. Montana uses HealthCare.gov for 2027, and open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027. Here are the 2027 income limits, the Medicaid work requirement Montana started on July 1, 2026, and how to lock in coverage by December 15.
Get a Free 2027 Quote ↓Health Insurance in Montana for 2027: What "Free" Really Means
Quick answer: Montana adults 19–64 with income up to about 138% of the poverty level (about $22,025 for one person) may qualify for Montana Medicaid, which now has a work requirement for expansion adults who aren't excluded. Above that, premium tax credits on HealthCare.gov can bring some plans to $0. Open enrollment for 2027 runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.
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Free health insurance Montana residents can actually get comes from two places. The first is a premium tax credit on HealthCare.gov, the federally facilitated Marketplace that Montana uses for 2027. The second is Montana Medicaid, run by the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), which covers lower-income adults through its Medicaid Expansion program. If your household income falls between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL), the credit pays part or all of your monthly premium directly to the insurance company, and at lower incomes that can mean a $0-premium plan.
Here's what changed for 2027. The extra "enhanced" tax credits of 2021–2025 expired at the end of 2025, and they are not back for 2027 under current law unless Congress acts. Credits are smaller than they were in 2025, and the 400% FPL cliff is back: earn $1 over the line and your credit is $0. Montana Medicaid is changing too. DPHHS started a work (community engagement) requirement on July 1, 2026, six months ahead of the federal deadline, and six-month renewals for expansion adults begin January 1, 2027.
FreedInsure LLC is an independent brokerage; its licensed agent, Constantino Lardi (NPN 20230457), is licensed in 42 states, Montana included. We calculate your exact 2027 credit, compare the plans offered in your county, and enroll you — and our help is 100% free to you. We're a private broker, not HealthCare.gov and not a government agency. Call (844) 788-3733 or see if you qualify.
Montana Health Insurance Income Limits for 2027
Marketplace savings for 2027 coverage are based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines: $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four. The IRS sets how much of your income you're expected to pay for the benchmark Silver plan, from 2.15% to 10.22% as income rises, and the tax credit covers the rest. Here's where Montana households typically land:
| 2027 Household Income | Household of 1 | Household of 4 | What You Typically Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to ~138% FPL | Up to ~$22,025 | Up to ~$45,540 | Likely Montana Medicaid Expansion for adults 19–64, if you meet the work requirement or an exclusion (see below) |
| ~138–150% FPL | $22,025–$23,940 | $45,540–$49,500 | The biggest credits — you pay no more than 4.30% of income for the benchmark Silver plan, and 94% CSR Silver plans are available |
| 150–200% FPL | $23,940–$31,920 | $49,500–$66,000 | You pay 4.30%–6.78% of income for benchmark Silver, plus 87% CSR Silver plans that shrink deductibles |
| 200–250% FPL | $31,920–$39,900 | $66,000–$82,500 | You pay 6.78%–8.66% of income; 73% CSR Silver plans still trim cost sharing |
| 250–400% FPL | $39,900–$63,840 | $82,500–$132,000 | You pay 8.66%–10.22% of income — credits taper but still cut real dollars off the premium |
| Over 400% FPL | $63,840+ | $132,000+ | No premium tax credit for 2027 under current law — full-price plans, so shopping smart matters most |
Family-of-four figures are derived from the 2026 guidelines, so treat them as approximate. DPHHS sets the expansion limit at 133% FPL; with the standard 5% income disregard, that works out to about 138%. Medicaid uses the current year's poverty guidelines, so its dollar limits will update once the 2027 guidelines take effect. You can compare every state in our Medicaid income limits guide.
Income means your projected 2027 household income — W-2 wages, 1099 and gig income, self-employment, everything. Getting it right matters more than ever: for tax years after 2025 there is no cap on repaying excess advance credits, so a low estimate can mean paying back the full difference at tax time. Starting January 1, 2027, federal law also limits premium tax credits to fewer groups of lawfully present immigrants (green-card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants remain eligible). Want a number now? Try the 2027 ACA subsidy calculator or read our ACA income limits guide.
Montana Medicaid in 2027: Expanded, With a Work Requirement Already in Place
Montana has expanded Medicaid. DPHHS runs the program, and the adult expansion group, which DPHHS calls "Medicaid Expansion," operates under the Montana HELP Act (Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership). In 2025 the Montana Legislature passed HB 245, which removed the program's sunset date. DPHHS describes the expansion group as covering adults with income up to approximately 138% FPL. On the 2026 poverty guidelines, that works out to about $22,025 a year for one person, or $45,540 for a family of four.
Children, pregnancy and parents
Children are covered through Healthy Montana Kids Plus (Medicaid) up to 143% FPL and Healthy Montana Kids (CHIP) up to 261% FPL, under DPHHS standards effective April 1, 2025. Pregnancy coverage reaches 157% FPL (effective April 1, 2026). Parents and caretaker relatives have their own monthly income standards, effective April 1, 2025: $313 for a household of one, $423 for two, $533 for three and $643 for four. You can apply for Medicaid or Healthy Montana Kids any time of year.
The work requirement: in effect since July 1, 2026
On July 1, 2026, under the federal law known as H.R. 1, Montana introduced a community engagement requirement for Medicaid Expansion adults ages 19–64 who don't qualify for an exclusion. New Medicaid Expansion applications filed on or after that date must meet it or have a verified exclusion. Current members must meet it at their next redetermination, starting with cases due on August 31, 2026. DPHHS says CMS advised Montana it could implement the requirement through a State Plan Amendment, and that Montana's separate Section 1115 work-requirement waiver is still pending approval from CMS.
The standard is 80 hours a month of work, school at least half-time (6 credit hours), community service or volunteering with a nonprofit, or an approved workforce or job-readiness program — or a mix of these. Work can also be shown by household income of at least $580 a month, and seasonal workers can average their income over six months. At application, DPHHS looks at the month before you apply; at renewal, it looks for at least 3 months (not necessarily in a row) since your last redetermination.
Who is excluded: former foster youth under 26; people who are medically frail or whose health affects their ability to work; parents, guardians, caretaker relatives or family caregivers of a child under 14 or a person with a disability; people in drug or alcohol treatment; people meeting TANF work requirements or subject to SNAP work requirements; and pregnant or postpartum people (up to 12 months). People on SSI or SSDI don't have to meet the requirement. DPHHS checks existing data first and asks for forms and documents only if that doesn't settle it. Under the federal law, someone denied Medicaid for not meeting the requirement isn't eligible for Marketplace tax credits either, so don't ignore a DPHHS notice.
Applying through HealthCare.gov? Since October 1, 2026, Montanans who apply for Medicaid Expansion through the federal Marketplace are subject to the same requirement. DPHHS says HealthCare.gov won't evaluate it and may show that you've been approved on income alone; DPHHS then checks the requirement itself. Watch your mail from DPHHS before you assume you're covered.
More Montana Medicaid changes
Starting January 1, 2027, Medicaid Expansion members renew every six months (this doesn't apply to American Indians and Alaska Natives). DPHHS says some cases will be pulled forward for an early renewal, and it intends to give at least 30 days' notice. Retroactive coverage also shrinks on January 1, 2027, to 1 month for the expansion group and 2 months for other groups (it was 3). And since October 1, 2026, federal Medicaid funding covers only US citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA migrants; DPHHS says other qualified noncitizens, such as refugees and asylees, are no longer eligible.
How to apply: online at apply.mt.gov, by phone through the Public Assistance Helpline at 1-888-706-1535, in person at your local Office of Public Assistance, or through HealthCare.gov (1-800-318-2596).
Straight talk: Montana Medicaid is a state program, not something we sell. If it's your best option, we'll tell you exactly that and point you to the DPHHS application — no charge, no strings. And if your income sits above the Medicaid line, that's precisely where marketplace credits take over, and where a side-by-side comparison of every plan in your county matters most.
Income near the line? Montanans with seasonal work, gig income, or variable hours can move between Medicaid and the marketplace from year to year. In most cases, losing Medicaid eligibility opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period for marketplace coverage. Don't guess at the boundary; a 10-minute call maps it.
Montana Marketplace Insurance: Plans & Prices for 2027
Montana's marketplace runs on HealthCare.gov, and every plan sold there is ACA-compliant: the 10 essential health benefits, no pre-existing condition exclusions, and preventive care at no cost. Montana's insurance regulator, the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) in the Montana State Auditor's office, continues to handle plan management for insurers on the federal exchange in 2027. Carriers vary by county and change from year to year, so the only lineup that matters is the one for your ZIP code. We confirm which carriers actually offer 2027 plans in your county, and check them against your doctors and prescriptions, before recommending anything. (See our carrier partners.)
Bronze
Lowest premiums — they can be $0 after credits at lower incomes — with the highest deductibles. Exchange bronze plans now count as HSA-eligible, and the 2027 HSA limit is $4,500 for self-only coverage.
Silver
The sweet spot for most subsidy-eligible households. Under ~250% FPL, Cost-Sharing Reductions can cut a 2027 out-of-pocket maximum from $12,000 to as low as $4,000 for one person. CSRs come only with Silver.
Gold
Higher premium, lower out-of-pocket. The smart pick when you know care is coming — a planned procedure, a pregnancy, ongoing prescriptions.
Add-Ons
Dental & vision, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans stack alongside your ACA plan — often the difference between covered and comfortable.
Why Montana prices move: CSI says Montana's Section 1332 waiver extension lets the state run a reinsurance program in the individual market for plan years 2025 through 2029, and insurers file their 2027 rates both with and without it. CSI reviews ACA rates, but says it doesn't have the authority to approve or deny them in the individual and small group markets. Translation: premiums and your credit change every year, so re-shop instead of auto-renewing.
Every ACA plan for 2027 caps in-network out-of-pocket costs at $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family. If you only need a stopgap, short-term health insurance in Montana is a different product: it isn't a Marketplace plan, doesn't come with tax credits, and can exclude pre-existing conditions. We also help Montanans with term life insurance — all through one licensed advisor.
One honest warning: a $0 premium is not $0 care. Free bronze plans carry real deductibles, and a 2027 marketplace plan can have an out-of-pocket maximum as high as $12,000 for one person. If your income is under ~250% FPL, a CSR Silver plan is often the far better deal than the "free" one. That's the judgment call a broker exists for.
Obamacare Montana Open Enrollment 2027: Key Dates
Montana uses the federal Marketplace, so the HealthCare.gov calendar applies: Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027. Montana isn't changing exchanges for 2027. The HealthCare.gov call center, 1-800-318-2596, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except holidays), and you can compare every state on our 2027 open enrollment deadlines by state page.
November 1, 2026
Open enrollment opens on HealthCare.gov. Compare 2027 plans, premiums, and your new credit amount.
December 15, 2026
Last day to enroll or change plans for coverage that starts January 1, 2027, as long as you pay your first premium. This is the deadline that matters most.
January 15, 2027
Open enrollment ends. Enroll between December 16 and January 15 and coverage starts February 1, 2027 — a one-month gap.
After January 15
You'll need a qualifying life event (losing job coverage, losing Medicaid, moving, marriage, or a birth) to open a 60-day Special Enrollment Period. Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids take applications year-round.
Enrolling through FreedInsure takes about 15 minutes: (1) we project your 2027 income and calculate the exact credit, (2) we compare the plans in your county against your doctors and prescriptions, and (3) we submit the enrollment and stay on as your advisor all year. Same plans, same prices as going direct — plus a human who answers. Call (844) 788-3733 or check your Montana eligibility. For the national picture, read our Open Enrollment 2027 guide.
Straight talk on auto-renewal: if you do nothing, most enrollees are automatically re-enrolled in the same or a similar plan. But with credits smaller and premiums changing, last year's plan at last year's assumptions can be this year's overpay. Never let a plan auto-renew without a 15-minute re-shop — and do it before December 15 so any change starts January 1.
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Free Health Insurance Montana FAQ: 2027 Answers
Official Sources for This Guide
- HealthCare.gov: Dates and deadlines for 2027 coverage
- Montana DPHHS: Changes to Medicaid
- Montana DPHHS: Medicaid Changes FAQs (community engagement requirement)
- Montana DPHHS: Apply for Health Coverage
- Montana CSI: Plan Year 2027 Form, Rate and Network Adequacy Filing Requirements
- IRS: Rev. Proc. 2026-26 (2027 premium tax credit percentages)
- Montana DPHHS Tables of Standards: ACA Adult income (ACA 007), parent and caretaker income (ACA/FMA 003), Healthy Montana Kids income (FMA 005), pregnancy income (ACA 004)
- Montana Legislature: HB 245 (2025), enrolled bill
- Montana CSI: Statement on anticipated ACA rate increases (2025)
- CMS: States by Marketplace Type for Plan Year 2027
- CMS: 2027 out-of-pocket maximum and cost-sharing reduction limits
- HHS ASPE: Federal poverty guidelines
- IRS: Questions and answers on the premium tax credit (repayment rules)
- IRS: Rev. Proc. 2026-24 (2027 HSA limits)
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