What is catastrophic health coverage on the Marketplace?
A catastrophic plan is a low-premium, high-deductible ACA Marketplace plan available to people under 30 or those with an approved hardship or affordability exemption; it covers essential health benefits and 3 primary-care visits per year before the deductible, per HealthCare.gov (2026), but is not eligible for the Premium Tax Credit.
More on this topic: health insurance marketplace
What the government has said, on the record
Here's how a federal official described it, on the record:
“Health plans that meet all of the requirements applicable to other Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) but don't cover any benefits other than 3 primary care visits per year before the plan's deductible is met.”
— Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (HealthCare.gov), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services), HealthCare.gov Glossary, Catastrophic Health Plan (source)
Editor's note: Official HealthCare.gov (CMS) definition. Confirm current rules at HealthCare.gov.
Who said this
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
Also asked as
- Who can buy a catastrophic ACA plan?
Sources
Last verified: 2026-07-19