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Policymage

Data Sources & Methodology

How Policymage fetches, processes, and displays health insurance plan data.

Data Sources

Policymage aggregates health insurance plan data from two primary sources:

  • CMS Healthcare.gov Marketplace API — Used for all states that participate in the federal exchange (HealthCare.gov). This is the same underlying data powering the official federal marketplace. API documentation: developer.cms.gov/marketplace-api
  • HealthSherpa API — Used for states that operate their own exchanges (California, New York, Washington, Colorado, and others). HealthSherpa aggregates state-based exchange data under a unified API.

Premium Calculations

State overview pages (e.g., Texas health insurance plans) display benchmark premium estimates with the following assumptions:

  • Single adult, age 30
  • Non-tobacco user
  • No income-based subsidies applied
  • Representative ZIP code near the state's most populous city

Personalized compare tool (/compare) — When you enter your actual ZIP code, ages, household size, and annual income, premiums are fetched for your specific profile. APTC (Advance Premium Tax Credit) subsidies are estimated and applied to show your actual expected monthly cost.

APTC Subsidy Estimates

APTC estimates are calculated using the federal eligibility endpoint from the CMS Marketplace API. Inputs used: household size, ages, annual income, and county FIPS code. Subsidy amounts are based on the federal Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines published annually by HHS.

Disclaimer: APTC estimates are informational only and may differ from final IRS calculations at tax time. Consult a licensed insurance professional or tax advisor for personalized guidance.

Data Freshness

State overview pages are statically generated and refreshed every 24 hours via Next.js Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR). Personalized results from the compare tool are fetched live from the API at the time of your search.

Plan availability and premiums are set annually during the ACA plan year. Mid-year changes are uncommon but possible. Always verify current plan details on the official marketplace before enrolling.

Quality Ratings

CMS quality star ratings (1–5 stars) are sourced directly from the federal marketplace API. Ratings assess clinical quality, member experience, and plan efficiency using methodology from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Not all plans have quality ratings — newer plans and some regional plans may show as "not rated."

What Policymage Does Not Do

  • We do not recommend, rank, or endorse any specific plan or insurance carrier.
  • We do not process enrollments — enrollment is completed on the official marketplace.
  • We do not sell or share your personal data with insurers or brokers.
  • We are not a licensed insurance broker, agent, or advisor.

Limitations

  • Premium data for state overview pages reflects a 30-year-old benchmark — your actual premium will differ based on age.
  • Some plans available in rural counties may not appear if our representative ZIP is in a different county.
  • Dental and vision benefits, where listed, reflect the plan's ACA Essential Health Benefits — standalone dental/vision plans are not included.

Last methodology review: January 2026. Data sourced from CMS Marketplace API v1 and HealthSherpa API. For questions, visit our contact page.