Your Guide to the Kentucky Healthcare Marketplace

Known as a health insurance exchange, and as kynect in Kentucky, the health insurance Marketplace is where non-incarcerated U.S. citizens living in the U.S. or legal residents of the U.S. can purchase ACA-compliant individual/family health insurance plans. Qualified households are able to receive income-based subsidies with or without cost-sharing reductions to make coverage and care more affordable.

These are the ten essential benefits covered by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and included in Marketplace plans. Some may be available to you at no cost.

• Ambulatory patient services (outpatient services) 

• Emergency services 

• Hospitalization 

• Maternity and newborn care 

• Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment 

• Prescription drugs 

• Rehabilitative and habilitative services (those that help patients acquire, maintain, or improve skills necessary for daily functioning) and devices 

• Laboratory services 

• Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management 

• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

Formerly called the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange, kynect is the online Marketplace through which you can purchase individual/family health insurance in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Qualified households are able to receive income-based subsidies with or without cost sharing reductions, to make coverage and care more affordable.

• kynectors

Authorized health insurance navigators who assist consumers and small businesses with eligibility, enrollment forms, and applying for Medicaid and Qualified Health Plans (QHPs). 

• Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) 

Insurance plans that are certified by the Health Insurance Marketplace, and therefore provide essential health benefits, follow established limits on cost-sharing (like deductibles, co-payments, and out-of-pocket maximum amounts), and meet other requirements under the Affordable Care Act.

• Only way to purchase individual plans in Kentucky

• Limited number of carriers

• Only Bronze, Silver, and Gold HMO plans available

• HSA linked plans may be available

• Plans on the Marketplace are eligible for premium subsidies and cost sharing reductions for qualified enrollees

Learn more about Kentucky’s marketplace plans: Visit https://kynect.ky.gov or call 1-855-459-6328. 

kynect Qualified Health Plan insurance carriers in 2025: 

• Caresource

• Wellcare

• Anthem

• Passport/Molina

To see which carriers offer plans in which Kentucky counties, visit: https://khbe.ky.gov/Plans/Pages/Health_Insurance_Companies.aspx

kynect Marketplace Tiers

Bronze, Silver, Gold (No Platinum on Kentucky’s Marketplace)

Tiers refer to the level of benefits. As a rule, the lower the tier, the lower the premiums and the higher the deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums

Learn how to enroll in a kynect plan, view the different types of available coverage, eligibility, and more: https://kynect.ky.gov/healthcoverage

The Marketplace generally considers your household to be you, your spouse if you are married, and your tax dependents. Your eligibility for savings is generally based on the income of all household members, even those who do not need insurance.

A premium tax credit is a tax credit, or subsidy, used to lower your monthly insurance payment (called your premium). The amount of tax credit is based on household income and is only available on insurance plans purchased on the Marketplace. As a rule, the lower your household income, the greater the subsidy. Subsidies do not apply to group or employer-sponsored health care coverage. They can be applied to any available tier of coverage.

A discount for Marketplace plans that lowers the amount you must pay for deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance. If you qualify for CSRs, you must enroll in a plan in the Silver category to get these extra savings.