Health insurance help for Iowa residents
Compare Medicare, health insurance marketplace plans and Medicaid in Iowa, with a guide for every county and each major city, reviewed by a licensed agent.
- Reviewed by Richard Lander, licensed agent (NPN 21255551)
- No cost to call
- No obligation to enroll
Medicaid is a government program that gives free or low-cost health coverage to people with limited income, such as some adults, children, pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities. Each state runs its own Medicaid program and decides who qualifies. We are an independent insurance agency, and we cannot enroll you in Medicaid or check your Medicaid.
Iowa Medicaid: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) · 1-800-338-8366 (Iowa Medicaid Member Services) · hhs.iowa.gov/medicaid
If your income is too high for Medicaid, or you want to compare health plans, call us. We can help with that.
Is your Medicare plan leaving in 2027?
39 Medicare plans are leaving at least one Iowa county for 2027. Look up your county to see which plans, and compare options before October 15th.
What is different about coverage in Iowa
Applying for Medicaid in Iowa goes through the HHS Benefits Portal, since the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services administers the program statewide, while ACA plan shopping happens on the federal HealthCare.gov site rather than a state-built exchange. Iowa Health Insurance's phone help for Iowa callers -- Medicare, ACA, life, or supplemental coverage -- costs nothing.
- Start a new Medicaid application or report a change in circumstances through the Iowa HHS Benefits Portal -- Iowa Health and Human Services is the agency behind it.
- There's no Iowa-built ACA exchange, so plan comparisons and subsidy eligibility for Iowa residents are handled entirely on HealthCare.gov.
- Iowa seniors can reach SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) at 800-351-4664 for no-cost, unbiased Medicare guidance -- a state program distinct from Iowa Health Insurance's own free phone line.
Worth knowing: SHIIP shares an office with Iowa's Senior Medicare Patrol unit, which investigates Medicare billing fraud and scams targeting older adults -- worth knowing if a call to SHIIP about plan options turns into a fraud report, since the same phone line covers both.
Coverage questions we help Iowa residents with
Iowa by county
Medicare Advantage plans and marketplace premiums are set county by county, so the plans open to you depend on where in Iowa you live. Start with your county.
Major Iowa cities
Iowa colleges and universities
- University of Iowa
- Iowa State University
- University of Northern Iowa
- Des Moines Area Community College
- Kirkwood Community College
State bird: Eastern Goldfinch
Spinus tristis. Iowa’s official state bird, shown here as a local touch.
Photo: Rodney Campbell (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia CommonsCommon Iowa questions
Where do I shop for ACA health plans in Iowa?
Iowa residents shop through HealthCare.gov (federal Marketplace) (https://www.healthcare.gov/iowa/). An independent agent such as Lander LLC can explain the plans for you, but the marketplace is the only place premium tax credits are applied.
How do I apply for Medicaid in Iowa?
Medicaid in Iowa is run through Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (https://hhs.iowa.gov/medicaid). Eligibility depends on income, household size and other factors, and it is decided by the state, not by an insurance agency.
Who regulates insurance in Iowa?
Iowa Insurance Division (https://iid.iowa.gov) regulates insurance companies and agents in Iowa. You can use it to check that an agent or company is licensed and to file a complaint.
Is there free, unbiased Medicare help in Iowa?
Yes. Iowa SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) (800-351-4664) offers free Medicare counseling through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), separate from any insurance agency.
Does Iowa Health Insurance cost anything to use?
There is no cost to call or to speak with an agent. Insurance premiums and plan costs are set by the insurance companies and are separate from our help.
Talk with a licensed agent about Iowa coverage
Call Lander LLC to go over your options. There is no cost to call or to speak with an agent, and you are never required to enroll in anything.
Call 855-367-1095 Open 8 AM-10 PM Eastern timeReviewed by Richard Lander, licensed insurance agent (NPN 21255551), Lander LLC. Last updated October 3, 2026. This page is educational and is not a quote, an offer of coverage, or legal or tax advice.