Updated: September 5, 2024
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Best Health InsuranceMinnesotaBest Health Insurance in Minnesota
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Minnesota 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.
Plan data was updated with the CMS exchange data released in October for the 2023 enrollment period.
Blue Plus has a MoneyGeek rating of 70 out of 100, which makes it the overall best health insurance in Minnesota.
Blue Plus provides less expensive plan options, has costs that won't make you spend too much from your own pocket and is better than average at managing claims without denying them.
In Minnesota, 38 plans including EPO, HMO and PPO types were looked into to find out which health insurance is the top pick.
Affordable premium rates
Satisfactory out-of-pocket cost limits
Fewer claims denied
Offers a diverse range of plans
Maximum out-of-pocket costs are higher than some competitors
Potential for claim denial is average, with room for improvement
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Minnesota is Blue Plus. The provider offers five Silver PPO plans at an average plan rate of $343 per month. The average MOOP cost for these plans is $7,600.
Blue Plus provides Silver PPO plans. PPO plans often include more coverage for services outside the network. The average plan rate for Silver plans is $343 and the average maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) cost for these plans is $7,600.
Blue Plus has a denial rate of 17%. This is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans:
Blue Plus offers the best health insurance in Minnesota for low out-of-pocket costs with a MoneyGeek score of 87 out of 100. Blue Plus provides the cheapest plan options, has low out-of-pocket costs and denies fewer claims compared to the average.
In Minnesota, the analysis included 5 Gold EPO plans, 3 Gold HMO plans and 12 Gold PPO plans.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Variety of plan options
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Minnesota for low out-of-pocket costs is Blue Plus. This provider offers five Gold PPO plans, which have a reputation for low out-of-pocket costs. PPO plans provide more options for out-of-network coverage, so patients can choose from a wider range of doctors and hospitals.
It offers an average plan rate of $444 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $6,884. Blue Plus has a denial rate of about 17%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold and Platinum plans:
Blue Plus is the best cheap health insurance provider in Minnesota, earning a score of 73 out of 100. Blue Plus offers plan options with a lower average for rate, out-of-pocket expenses and it denies fewer claims than most other providers.
For this analysis, MoneyGeek evaluated a total of 38 Silver plans in Minnesota. There were 19 Silver EPO plans, 4 Silver HMO plans and 15 Silver PPO plans included. MoneyGeek put more weight on plans with lower monthly premiums when deciding the best provider, specifically noting that plans with lower premiums usually have higher out-of-pocket costs.
Affordable premium rates
Few claims denied
Wide variety of plan types
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Minnesota is Blue Plus. This provider offers five Silver plans.
The Silver plans by Blue Plus are PPO types, meaning they tend to include more coverage for out-of-network services. They offer an average plan rate of $397 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $8,230. Blue Plus has a 17% denial rate, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:
HealthPartners offers the best health insurance in Minnesota for young adults with a MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100. HealthPartners has low out-of-pocket costs and is better than average at not denying claims. These areas help show that they take good care of their customers. Remember, only people younger than 30 years old can choose a Catastrophic plan.
For this category, we looked at 21 Bronze EPO plans, 5 Bronze HMO plans, 12 Bronze PPO plans, 5 Catastrophic EPO plans and 2 Catastrophic HMO plans in Minnesota.
Very few claims denied
Low out-of-pocket costs
Broad variety of plan types
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Minnesota for young adults is HealthPartners. Younger people often choose plans with less coverage because they usually need fewer medical services. HealthPartners has six Bronze PPO plans. These plans cost about $281 per month on average, with a maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,625 each year.
HealthPartners provides PPO plans, which often include more coverage for services outside of the network. The company has a denial rate of about 6%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults:
Health insurance companies have different kinds of plans. The best providers for all plan categories are:
MoneyGeek's recommendations only included Silver plans. Silver plans balance the costs you pay every month with the costs you pay when you get care. Silver plans are good for people who go to the doctor or have medicine they need often. In Minnesota, there are 15 Silver PPO plans and 19 Silver EPO plans available.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Minnesota for Silver PPO plans is Blue Plus. They offer five Silver PPO plans. They offer an average plan rate of $397 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $8,230. The company has a denial rate of about 17%, meaning it denies fewer claims than average.
Silver PPO plans can be good because you don't need to get a referral to see specialists and they have a larger network of doctors. They are also the second most common plan type. However, they are usually more expensive than HMO plans, so they might not be the best choice if you need to watch your spending.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver PPO plans from Blue Plus:
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Minnesota for Silver EPO plans is Medica. They offer 19 different plans. They offer an average plan rate of $448 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $8,264. The provider denies fewer claims than average.
Silver EPO plans have pros and cons. One good thing is you often don't need a referral to see a specialist. They're also the third most common plan type. But, you must stay in the plan's network unless it's an emergency, which can limit your choices.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver EPO plans from Medica:
We have selected UnitedHealthcare as the best short-term health insurance provider in Minnesota, giving it a score of 85 out of 100. Getting short-term health insurance in Minnesota or elsewhere is not ideal if you’re looking for a permanent solution because these plans do not fall under the coverage of the Affordable Care Act that requires insurers to cover essential health benefits.
UnitedHealthcare is the most affordable short-term health insurance provider in Minnesota. Its average MOOP cost stands at $11,321. This company provides dental, vision and supplemental insurance. It also lets you choose from multiple term lengths, plan types, co-insurance options and deductibles.
Short-term plans from UnitedHealthcare cover urgent care visits and visits to doctors’ offices. Depending on the plan you select, you may also receive cover for hospitalization, limited preventive care and generic prescriptions.
Getting health insurance that’s best for you depends on your existing health care requirements, how much you’re willing to pay each month and the additional cost you may incur when you receive care. For example, if you pay a higher premium, you may look forward to lower out-of-pocket expenses and the reverse holds true as well.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
Health insurance plans have rules about which doctors you can see. In-network means the doctors are part of your plan's team. Out-of-network means the doctors are not on the team. Plans in Minnesota can differ for seeing doctors outside the team.
Some plans let you see more out-of network doctors, but you pay more. Other plans cost less, but you have to stay with in-network doctors. In Minnesota, there are 15 PPO plans and 19 EPO plans. HMO plans are available, with 4 options.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
For health insurance, it's important balance how much you pay each month and the most you could pay in a year. Some plans have a low monthly cost, but if you get sick, you have to pay more before the insurance pays. Other plans cost more each month, but you won't pay as much in a year.
The Silver plan called "Blue Plus Metro MN HSA Silver $3200 Plan 453" has a MOOP of $7,600 per year. This plan costs $343 monthly, which is less than some other Silver plans from Blue Plus. If a plan's monthly cost is low, the maximum you pay in a year is low and it covers a lot of services, it can be a good choice.
If you are 65 or older or you have a qualifying disability or illness, you may qualify for Medicare. You get to choose from multiple policies and costs vary accordingly. When compared to getting private health insurance, this is usually a more affordable option.
Medicare includes three parts that cover specific areas:
You also get to choose from Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans, Medicare Cost plans and Medicare Supplement policies.
Medicaid is also a government-run program and it is free of cost. Minnesota qualifies as a Medicaid expansion state, making income the sole qualifying criterion. People whose income falls below the Federal Poverty Level by 138% may consider looking at what Medicaid has to offer.
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.
The best health insurance in Minnesota for 2024 is provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield. However, the best choice for you will depend on your unique circumstances and needs.
A plan with reasonable prices and sufficient coverage is what you should be looking for. Despite offering reduced prices, some plans and companies might only offer a few services that may not suit all your medical needs. Your unique needs will determine what the best health insurance plan for you is.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
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.
