Benchmark $660/mo · ranked 8 of 23 · median wage $56,470
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The benchmark premium for a 40-year-old in North Carolina is $660 a month for 2027, ranking 8 of 23 states published here. BLS reports a median annual wage of $56,470 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in North Carolina.
Below the cliff. At this income a single-person household remains eligible for a premium tax credit in 2027.
This occupation sits above the cliff in 2 of the 23 states reported and below it in the other 21, so the answer changes with the state.
What this figure is. It is the median annual wage BLS reports for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 21-1018) in North Carolina. BLS surveys wage and salary workers and excludes the self-employed, so it is a benchmark for the occupation in this state — not the income of a self-employed counselor. Premium tax credit eligibility is set by household modified adjusted gross income and household size, not by occupation, so treat this as a reference point rather than a determination of what you qualify for.
Why the cliff is back. The enhanced premium tax credits expired on 31 December 2025. For plan year 2027 the 400% FPL limit applies again, so household income above $63,840 ends premium tax credit eligibility outright.
Benchmark premium and median wage for this occupation, ranked by premium.
| # | State | Benchmark @40 | Median wage | vs cliff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $491 | $57,820 | below |
| 2 | Indiana | $537 | $49,280 | below |
| 3 | Virginia | $549 | $58,410 | below |
| 4 | Nevada | $565 | $59,470 | below |
| 5 | Michigan | $595 | $59,530 | below |
| 6 | Ohio | $603 | $56,990 | below |
| 7 | Colorado | $615 | $59,190 | below |
| 8 | North Carolina | $660 | $56,470 | below |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $686 | $58,610 | below |
| 10 | South Carolina | $702 | $50,720 | below |
| 11 | South Dakota | $704 | $53,400 | below |
| 12 | Illinois | $707 | $59,570 | below |
| 13 | Alabama | $712 | $48,880 | below |
| 14 | Utah | $716 | $65,920 | above |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $720 | $62,470 | below |
| 16 | Georgia | $733 | $55,320 | below |
| 17 | Texas | $737 | $60,630 | below |
| 18 | Florida | $738 | $56,830 | below |
| 19 | Kansas | $748 | $57,760 | below |
| 20 | Arkansas | $757 | $49,990 | below |
| 21 | Nebraska | $780 | $64,410 | above |
| 22 | Tennessee | $796 | $48,170 | below |
| 23 | Mississippi | $814 | $46,810 | below |
This page compares states. For North Carolina specifically — county-by-county carriers, plan data and enrollment help — that is published on Coverage by County. To check whether a plan actually covers your hospital, see Plans By City.
Put your ZIP code in and a licensed agent will show you the carriers filing in your county, what the cheapest plan costs, and what you would actually pay after any help you qualify for. No cost, and you talk to a licensed agent — not a call center.
North Carolina has 5 carriers selling 2027 plans over 100 counties, down from 6 in 2026. The list is set county by county, so start with the carriers in yours.
Price, in one number: $694 a month for the median county’s benchmark Silver at 40 in 2027, up from $686 in 2026.
Open Enrollment runs from November 1. December 15 is the date that matters: choose by then and cover starts January 1 in North Carolina and every other state.
PPOs are sold in 90 of North Carolina’s 100 counties for 2027. Whether yours has one decides how much out-of-network care a plan will pay toward.
The 2027 plans are posted and the deadline for a January 1 start is December 15. Ten minutes with your ZIP code settles which plan still fits.
Enter a ZIP and a licensed agent will tell you three things:
Most Counselors here are buying their own coverage without an employer. One ZIP is all I need to show you what is available in your part of North Carolina.
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