Updated: September 5, 2024
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Best Health InsuranceMontanaBest Health Insurance in Montana
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Montana 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 2023 for the 2024 enrollment period.
Mountain Health CO-OP scored 97 out of 100, making it the provider of the best health insurance in Montana. It has cheaper plan options, lower out-of-pocket costs and better-than-average rates of claim approvals.
We evaluated 21 health insurance plans in Montana for this analysis.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Diverse plan options
Only offers PPO plans, which typically cost more than other plan types
Mountain Health CO-OP is MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Montana. The company offers 13 Silver PPO plans at an average rate of $474 per month and an average MOOP of $7,601. It has a denial rate of 5%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Mountain Health CO-OP's Silver PPO plans tend to have more out-of-network coverage.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans:
Mountain Health CO-OP offers the best health insurance in Montana for low out-of-pocket costs with a MoneyGeek score of 97 out of 100.
The company provides cost-effective plan options, has some of the lowest out-of-pocket costs and is better than average when it comes to not denying claims.
We looked at 18 Gold plans in Montana for this study.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Offers a variety of plan types
Only offers PPO plans
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Montana for low out-of-pocket costs is Mountain Health CO-OP. They offer an average plan rate of $571 and an average MOOP of $5,520. Mountain Health CO-OP has a denial rate of about 5%, which is lower than most of the competition.
PPO plans like these usually give you more choices for doctors and hospitals outside of the network. Mountain Health CO-OP offers 12 Gold PPO plans.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following plans:
The best cheap provider of health insurance in Montana Mountain Health CO-OP, with a MoneyGeek score of 98 out of 100. The company offers plans with lower average rates and smaller average amounts for out-of-pocket expenses. It also turns down fewer claims than most other providers.
MoneyGeek reviewed 21 Silver health plans in Montana for this analysis, comprising two Silver POS plans and 19 Silver PPO plans. In choosing the best cheap health insurance, plans with lower monthly premiums were weighed more heavily, even though plans with lower premiums usually mean paying more out-of-pocket when you need care.
Cheap health insurance options can be important for saving money on monthly costs, but it's important to look at all parts of a health plan to see what is best for you.
Highly affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Very few claims denied
Wide variety of plan options
Only offers PPO plans
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Montana is Mountain Health CO-OP. It offers 13 different Silver plans. They offer an average plan rate of $501 and an average MOOP of $7,601. Mountain Health CO-OP has a denial rate of 5%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Their Silver plans are all PPO types, which usually give you more options for going to doctors outside of the network.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:
Mountain Health CO-OP provides the best health insurance in Montana for those with low income, scoring 78 out of 100. Mountain Health CO-OP has the most affordable plans and low rates of claim denials. It offers a variety of plan options.
In Montana, for this analysis, we looked at two Silver POS plans and 13 Silver PPO plans.
MoneyGeek focused on plans with low monthly premiums and included only plans with cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) to find the best option for those with low income. CSRs help bring down your maximum out-of-pocket costs and deductible if your income is below a certain level. This means you don't have to choose between paying less each month and paying less when you get medical care. While a regular Silver plan pays for about 70% of health care costs, here's what you can expect with a CSR Silver plan if you earn a certain amount each year:
Keep in mind that these income brackets will change if you have more people in your household.
Low premium rates
Very few claims denied
Diverse plan options available
Only offers PPO plans
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Montana for people with low income is Mountain Health CO-OP. The provider has cost-effective plans for those earning below 250% of the FPL. It offers seven Silver CSR plans with an average rate of $535 per month and an average MOOP of $7,305.
The company's denial rate is 5%, indicating that the company approves claims more frequently than competitors.
Plan Recommendations
Mountain Health CO-OP's top-rated plan offers lower out-of-pocket expenses for the same premium for people in different income brackets. Here are some of the lower overall out-of-pocket costs based on income levels:
Mountain Health CO-OP offers the best health insurance in Montana for young adults, with a MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100. Mountain Health CO-OP provides options that are cost-effective, have low out-of-pocket expenses and better-than-average denial rates. Only individuals under the age of 30 can purchase Catastrophic plans.
For this analysis, we evaluated three Bronze plans, 19 Expanded Bronze plans and two Catastrophic plans in Montana.
Low out-of-pocket maximum costs
Few claims denied
Multiple plan types available
Plan rates could be more competitive
Mountain Health CO-OP is MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Montana for young adults. They have plans with an average rate of $341 and an average MOOP of $8,550. They have a denial rate of about 5%, which is lower than most of the competition.
They offer one Catastrophic plan and 11 Expanded Bronze plans. Mountain Health CO-OP only offers PPO plans, which tend to have more out-of-network coverage, giving you flexibility in choosing where to get medical care.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults:
Health insurance companies have many kinds of plans. The best providers for all plan categories are:
MoneyGeek's recommendations are based on Silver plans, which are a good choice for people who only sometimes need to go to the doctor. The monthly cost and MOOP cost are both not too high.
Montana has two Silver POS plans and 19 Silver PPO plans available.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Montana for Silver POS plans is Blue Cross Blue Shield, with two options available. They offer an average plan rate of $474 and an average MOOP of $9,275. The provider denies fewer claims than average.
Silver POS plans allow you to choose both in-network and out-of-network providers, though seeing out-of-network providers costs more. These plans are good if you want the flexibility to pick any doctor and also want to save money with in-network coverage in certain situations. However, they are not as common as other plans.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver POS plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield:
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Montana for Silver PPO plans is Mountain Health CO-OP, which offers 13 Silver PPO plans.
Their average plan rate is $501 and an average MOOP of $7,601. The company has a denial rate of about 5%, which means it denies fewer claims than average.
Silver PPO plans give you more choice for doctors, and you don't need to get a referral to see a specialist. But, these plans can cost more than some other types of plans, like HMOs.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver PPO plans from Mountain Health CO-OP:
The best short-term health insurance in Montana is from National General Accident & Health. It received a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100.
Short-term health insurance typically lacks basic benefits included in plans that comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements. Because of this, we don’t recommend short-term health insurance for your long-term health needs.
National General Accident & Health offers policies that last from three months to three years. Aside from short-term health insurance, it also offers medical and dental insurance. Compared to other companies, National General Accident & Health has low out-of-pocket limits and co-insurance. These features help reduce the cost of your policy, although you might have a high deductible.
The best health insurance for you depends on your needs and budget. Those who receive constant medical care may have different health insurance preferences than those who are young and in relatively good health. When shopping for health insurance, consider how much you’re willing to pay, per month and out-of-pocket, for the coverage you need.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
Health plans often have lists of doctors and hospitals that are in-network. This means they have deals with the health plan. If you see a doctor on this list, you'll spend less. Out-of-network refers to doctors or hospitals not on the list, and visiting them costs more. Some plans let you use out-of-network places, but you pay extra; other plans only allow you go in-network.
In Montana, there are 19 PPO plans. These let you get health care in- or out-of-network. The state also has two POS plans, in which your primary care physician refers you to other doctors in- or out-of-network.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
When you look for health insurance, find the best fit for your needs. Think about how much you pay every month and your MOOP for doctor visits and medicine.
If you don't go to the doctor a lot, you might pick a plan with a lower monthly cost, but if you go often, it's better to choose a plan with a higher monthly cost but a lower MOOP.
Mountain Health CO-OP offers a Silver plan with a low MOOP, called the ROCKY MOUNTAIN SILVER HDHP and it has a MOOP of $5,500. It costs $423 each month. In comparison with other Silver plans from Mountain Health CO-OP, this plan's monthly cost is less but it has the same MOOP. So, if this plan's doctors and services are good for you, it might be a very good choice.
Adults in Montana who are aged 65 and older, or those who have a qualifying disability or illness, can qualify for Medicare. This is a federal government program designed to subsidize the cost of medical care for eligible individuals.
Medicare has three parts:
If you aren’t eligible for Medicare, you may be eligible for Medicaid, another federally-funded program designed to offset the cost of medical services. Take note that Montana is an expansion state for Medicaid. This allows eligible residents to qualify for the program based solely on income. To qualify, your income needs to be below 138% of the FPL.
Shopping for health insurance can leave you with several questions about cost and availability. We answered some of the most frequently asked questions to help you find the best policy for your needs.
The best health insurance company in Montana is Mountain Health CO-OP. But the best health insurance for you may be from a different company, depending on your budget and coverage needs. It’s important to prioritize your personal circumstances when looking for a policy.
Generally, you should look for a policy that fits your budget and provides enough coverage for your needs. Typically, a more expensive premium means lower out-of-pocket costs, while a cheaper premium could mean higher out-of-pocket costs.
The amount of coverage you need will also affect your choice of insurer because companies offer different types of plans (like EPO, PPO and HMO) and different metal tiers (Catastrophic, Expanded Bronze, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum).
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.
