Best Kentucky Health Insurance (2024 Plans)


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Updated: September 5, 2024

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MoneyGeek Logo IconBest Health InsuranceKentucky
2024

Best Health Insurance in Kentucky

Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Kentucky directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). MoneyGeek’s scoring methodology balances costs, claims approval and plan types to find the best providers in the state.

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Plan data was updated with the CMS exchange data released in October for the 2023 enrollment period.

55Plans Analyzed
 
8Providers Compared

Best Overall for Health Insurance in Kentucky

Passport by Molina Healthcare offers the best health insurance in Kentucky with a MoneyGeek score of 74 out of 100.

Passport by Molina Healthcare has affordable plan options, does well in managing out-of-pocket costs and excels in not denying claims. We evaluated 24 Silver HMO plans in Kentucky for this analysis.

MoneyGeek Pick: Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare

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Top-tier affordability of premium rates

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Less frequent claim denials

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Offers a variety of plan types

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Higher out-of-pocket costs

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Limited variety in plan offerings.

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Kentucky is Passport by Molina Healthcare. The provider offers three Silver HMO plans at an average rate of $436 per month. The average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $7,850.

Passport by Molina Healthcare provides HMO plans which often focus on care within their network of healthcare providers. These plans typically encourage members to choose primary care physicians and get referrals for specialist visits.

They offer an average plan rate of $436 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $7,850.

Passport by Molina Healthcare's denial rate is 19%, which means they have a lower denial rate than most of the competition.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans:

  • Silver 12 250 with First 4 Primary Care Visits Included: $426 per month; MOOP $9,450
  • Silver 1 250: around $436 per month; MOOP $7,850
  • Silver 1 250 with Adult Vision Services: $440 per month; MOOP $7,850

Best Health Insurance in Kentucky for Low Out-of-Pocket Costs

Anthem Health Plans of KY (Anthem BCBS) has the highest MoneyGeek score of 63 out of 100 for health insurance with low out-of-pocket costs in Kentucky. Anthem Health Plans of KY has low out-of-pocket costs and fewer claim denials than other insurers. Using only Gold tier options, we evaluated 14 HMO plans in Kentucky for this analysis.

MoneyGeek Pick: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

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Low maximum out-of-pocket costs

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Few claims denied

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High premium rates

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Limited plan types available

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Kentucky for low out-of-pocket costs is Anthem Health Plans of KY, offering two Gold plans. Gold plans typically have lower out-of-pocket costs when you need care.

They offer an average plan rate of $706 and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $7,250. Anthem Health Plans of KY has a denial rate of 22.74%, which is lower than most of the competition.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold and Platinum plans:

  • Anthem Gold Pathway X Transition HMO 2300 ($0 Virtual PCP Visits): $677 per month; MOOP $7,250
  • Anthem Gold Pathway X HMO 2300 ($0 Virtual PCP Visits): $713 per month; MOOP $7,250

Best Cheap Health Insurance in Kentucky

Passport by Molina Healthcare received a score of 85 for providing the best cheap health insurance in Kentucky. The company offers plans with a lower rate, lower out-of-pocket expenses and denies fewer claims than most other providers.

In Kentucky, MoneyGeek evaluated a total of 24 Silver HMO plans. To decide the best option, the focus was on plans with lower monthly premiums, although these often come with higher out-of-pocket expenses.

MoneyGeek Pick: Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare

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Very few claims denied

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Affordable premium rates

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Low out-of-pocket costs

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Limited variety of plan types available

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Kentucky is Passport by Molina Healthcare. This company provides three Silver plans to choose from.

Passport by Molina Healthcare offers HMO Silver plans. HMO plans usually require choosing a primary care doctor and getting referrals to see specialists.

Passport by Molina Healthcare has an average plan rate of $434 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for their plans is $8,383.

Passport by Molina Healthcare has a denial rate of 18.6%, which is lower than most of the competition.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:

  • Silver 12 250 with First 4 Primary Care Visits Free": $426 per month; MOOP $9,450
  • Silver 1 250: $436 per month; MOOP $7,850
  • Silver 1 250 with Adult Vision Services: $440 per month; MOOP $7,850

Best Health Insurance for Young Adults in Kentucky

Wellcare Health Plans of Kentucky, Inc provides the best health insurance in Kentucky for young adults, with a MoneyGeek score of 58 out of 100.

The provider offers plans with low prices and low out-of-pocket costs. It also performs better than average when it comes to not denying claims. Only individuals under the age of 30 can purchase Catastrophic coverage plans. For this category, we evaluated two Bronze HMO plans and 15 Expanded Bronze HMO plans.

MoneyGeek Pick: Wellcare

WellCare

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Affordable premium rates

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Low maximum out-of-pocket costs

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Frequent claims denials

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Limited plan types offered

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Wellcare Health Plans of Kentucky is the top pick for young adults looking for health insurance in Kentucky. This insurer provides health plans that fit many budgets and health needs. They offer three Expanded Bronze plans and two Catastrophic plans. On average, these plans will cost you about $281 a month with a maximum out-of-pocket cost of $7,680 per year.

No PPO or POS plans are offered by this provider, but EPO plans often include lower premiums with in-network healthcare providers.

They offer an average plan rate of $297 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $7,680. Wellcare has a denial rate of about 42%, which is above the midpoint compared to the competition.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults:

  • Choice Bronze HSA": $271 per month for 18-year-olds and $304 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,250
  • Clear Silver: $306 per month for 18-year-olds and $343 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $5,400
  • Choice Bronze HSA + Vision + Adult Dental: $281 per month for 18-year-olds and $316 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,250

Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in Kentucky

Health insurance companies have different kinds of plans for people. The best providers for all plan categories in Kentucky are:

  • HMO: Passport by Molina Healthcare (MoneyGeek score: 81 out of 100)
  • HMO: Wellcare Health Plans of Kentucky, Inc (MoneyGeek score: 57 out of 100)

MoneyGeek's recommendations only looked at Silver plans. These plans are a good choice for people who go to the doctor sometimes. They don't cost too much money every month and don't make you pay too much yourself when you get care. In Kentucky, there are 24 Silver HMO plans that people can choose from.

MoneyGeek Pick for HMO: Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Kentucky for Silver HMO plans is Passport by Molina Healthcare. They offer three plans. They offer an average plan rate of $434 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $8,383. Their denial rate is about 0.19%, which means they deny fewer claims than average.

Silver HMO plans can be good because they often cost less each month than other types. But, to use these plans, you need to see doctors in the plan's network unless it's an emergency. If you want to see a specialist, you will need a note from your regular doctor first. Silver HMO plans are good if you're okay with these rules and need to pay less for your health insurance each month.

Plan Recommendations

We suggest the following Silver HMO plans from Passport by Molina Healthcare:

  • Silver 1 250: $436 per month; MOOP $7,850
  • Silver 1 250 with Adult Vision Services: $440 per month; MOOP $7,850

Best Short-Term Health Insurance in Kentucky

The best short-term health insurance in Kentucky is provided by National General Accident & Health, which received a total MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) does not apply to short-term health insurance, so it may fail to cover all necessary medical coverage. Additionally, providers have the right to reject candidates with pre-existing health conditions.

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MoneyGeek Top Pick: National General Accident & Health
National General Accident & Health

National General Accident & Health received a score of 95 out of 100, earning it first place for the best short-term health insurance in Kentucky. Its short-term health plans are flexible in terms of term duration, premiums and coverage choices.

The majority of policies from National General Accident & Health also cover out-of-network expenses, including prescriptions for generic medications. Based on the plan, waiting times may be longer. Some plans may even have costly deductibles.

How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in Kentucky

The right health insurance plan for you in Kentucky may depend on your financial situation and medical needs. Determining the ideal balance between manageable monthly rates and appropriate out-of-pocket costs is important. The key elements to think about while choosing a health insurance plan are listed below.

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    Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you

    A doctor or hospital that has a deal with your health insurance plan is in-network. Otherwise, they are out-of-network. Some plans are strict and won't pay if you go out-of-network. Others will, but it might cost you more.

    You can choose from different health plans that have these rules. Some plans let you see more doctors or visit more hospitals. Others cost less but give fewer choices. In Kentucky, there are 24 HMO plans. HMO plans prefer you stay in-network or they won't pay for your care.

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    Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care

    Fnd a plan that suits your health needs and consider monthly costs and how much you'll have to pay for medical services yourself. Some plans have low monthly payments but you might end up paying more because of high MOOPs. Picking a plan with higher monthly payments might save money because it has a lower out-of-pocket limit.

    The Silver 1 250 plan from Passport by Molina has the lowest MOOP at $7,850. This plan costs $436 a month, with a maximum out-of-pocket cost of $9,450. Plans with both low monthly payments and low MOOPs are great, especially if they cover lots of medical services.

Consider Kentucky Medicare or Medicaid if You’re Eligible

Medicare might be available to Kentucky citizens who are 65 years of age or older and have a qualifying disease or disability. It consists of three components:

  • Part A: Also referred to as hospital insurance, this provides coverage for some home medical offerings, hospice services and inpatient hospitalizations.
  • Part B: This covers visits to the doctor, outpatient treatment, required medical equipment and preventative services. Your income determines how much your Part B premium will cost.
  • Part D: This pays for the price of prescribed medications and even suggested vaccinations. The price of Part D coverage depends on the plan you choose.

Taking advantage of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans is a good way to ensure excellent coverage at affordable rates.

Kentucky is a Medicaid expansion state. Since Medicaid is free, it is the most affordable choice for those who qualify. You can qualify based solely on your income. Medicaid is available to anyone whose income is less than 138% of the federal poverty threshold.

FAQ: Kentucky Health Insurance

Finding an ideal health insurance plan can be complicated due to concerns about price and availability. MoneyGeek answers some frequently asked questions to help you research options.

What is the best health insurance provider in Kentucky for 2024?
What should you look for when shopping for the best health insurance plan in Kentucky?

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.