Updated: October 25, 2024
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BestHealth InsuranceNew HampshireBest Health Insurance in New Hampshire
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for New Hampshire 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.
Ambetter offers the best health insurance in New Hampshire, with a MoneyGeek rating of 60 out of 100. The provider has plan options that cost less, keeps maximum out-of-pocket costs low and accepts more eligible claims than other companies.
In New Hampshire, we looked at 27 Silver EPO plans, 53 Silver HMO plans and 19 Silver PPO plans to determine which health insurance is the best.
Offers affordable premium rates
Diverse range of plan options available
Denies fewer claims than average
Higher out-of-pocket costs
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in New Hampshire is Ambetter. The provider offers eight Silver EPO plans at an average rate of $360 per month. The average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $8,450.
Ambetter's Silver EPO plans can be beneficial because they usually allow members to have a select network of doctors and see specialists without referrals. The company has a denial rate of 14.84%, lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans from Ambetter:
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care offers the best health insurance in New Hampshire for low out-of-pocket costs, with a MoneyGeek score of 52 out of 100. The provider offers the cheapest plan options and has a better claims denial score than average.
In New Hampshire, we evaluated 14 Gold EPO plans, one Platinum EPO plan, 25 Gold HMO plans, two Platinum HMO plans, eight Gold PPO plans and one Platinum PPO plan.
Affordable premium rates
Very few claims denied
Limited range of plan types offered
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in New Hampshire for low out-of-pocket costs is Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. It offers six Gold health plans, which are known for lower out-of-pocket costs. The plans cost an average of $460 per month with an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,300.
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's plans are HMO types, providing a network of doctors and hospitals to choose from. The company has a denial rate of 0%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold plans:
Ambetter offers the best cheap health insurance in New Hampshire, with a MoneyGeek score of 75 out of 100. The provider has the cheapest plan options, lower-than-average MOOP and better-than-average rates for approving claims.
For this evaluation, we considered 99 plans in New Hampshire, including 27 EPO plans, 53 HMO plans and 19 PPO plans. In determining the best cheap provider, plans with low monthly payments were given more attention, though typically, these plans may have higher costs when you need to use the insurance for health care.
Competitive premium rates
Fewer claims denied
Various types of plans offered
Moderate out-of-pocket costs
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in New Hampshire is Ambetter. It offers eight Silver EPO plans at an average rate of $368 per month and an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,450.
EPO plans like those offered by Ambetter often have lower out-of-pocket costs when you visit doctors in the plan's network. Ambetter has a 15% denial rate, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:
The best health insurance in New Hampshire for those with low income is offered by Anthem (BCBS), scoring 74 out of 100. The provider has low premium rates and out-of-pocket costs but a higher rate of denying claims than other insurers.
For our analysis, we looked at eight Silver CSR EPO plans and 15 Silver CSR HMO plans in New Hampshire.
To decide which health insurance was best for those with low income, we focused on plans with low monthly premiums that include cost-sharing reductions (CSRs). CSRs help you pay less when you go to the doctor or get medicine, even if you don't pay much for your health insurance each month. Typical Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical costs, but with CSR Silver plans, you get more of your costs paid for if you make a certain amount of money each year:
Note that the income brackets change depending on the number of people in your household.
Low premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Frequent approval of claims
Diverse range of plan types
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in New Hampshire for those with low income is Anthem (BCBS). The provider has cost-effective plans for people earning below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. It offers five Silver CSR plans, with an average monthly cost of $343. The average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $6,640.
Although Anthem (BCBS) doesn't offer PPO or POS plans, you can still benefit from EPO plans as they usually lower monthly premiums than other plan types. The company has a higher-than-average denial rate of 22.74%, which means it denies more claims than the competition.
Plan Recommendations
Anthem (BCBS)'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:
Ambetter offers the best health insurance in New Hampshire for young adults, with a MoneyGeek score of 72 out of 100. Its plans are among the most cost-friendly, with lower out-of-pocket costs. The company performs better than average when it comes to accepting eligible claims.
For this category, we looked at one Bronze HMO plan, one Catastrophic HMO plan, eight Expanded Bronze EPO plans, eighteen Expanded Bronze HMO plans and two Expanded Bronze PPO plans in New Hampshire. Only young adults under 30 can purchase Catastrophic plans.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Diverse plan options
Few claims denied
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in New Hampshire for young adults is Ambetter. It offers two Catastrophic plans and six Bronze plans, including the Expanded Bronze tier. These plans cost an average of $238 per month, with an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,633. Young adults might choose these plans since they usually need less medical care.
Ambetter provides EPO plans, which generally offer a good network of doctors and specialists within the plan’s network coverage. The company's denial rate is 14.84%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults in New Hampshire:
Health insurance companies have many kinds of plans. New Hampshire residents can choose from Silver plans, including 27 Silver EPO plans, 53 Silver HMO plans and 19 Silver PPO plans. The best providers for the available plan categories are:
MoneyGeek's recommendations use only Silver plans, which are a choice for people who go to the doctor sometimes. These plans are inexpensive, and you don't have to pay too much when visiting the doctor.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in New Hampshire for Silver PPO plans is Anthem (BCBS). It offers 19 Silver PPO plans at an average rate of $593 per month and an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,313. Anthem (BCBS) has a denial rate of 22.74%, a higher-than-average rate of denying claims.
Silver PPO plans can be a good choice if you want the flexibility to choose your own doctors and visit specialists without a referral. They're quite common but can cost more than other types of plans, like HMOs. It's important to consider if the higher price fits into your budget.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver PPO plans from Anthem (BCBS):
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in New Hampshire for Silver EPO plans is Ambetter. It offers eight Silver EPO plans at an average monthly plan rate of $368 and an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,450. The company has a denial rate of about 15%, which means it denies fewer claims than average.
Silver EPO plans have good and bad points. They are pretty common, and you often don't need to ask for referrals to see specialists. However, you have to see doctors in the plan's network unless there is an emergency. This can limit who you can go to for health care.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver EPO plans from Ambetter:
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in New Hampshire for Silver HMO plans is Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. It offers plans at an average monthly rate of $410 and an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,640. The company has a 0% denial rate, which means it processes all eligible claims.
Silver HMO plans can be more affordable than other types of health plans. Since you have to see doctors in the network, it's easier to manage costs. However, you need a referral to see specialists, and you might not have coverage if you go outside the network, except in an emergency. These plans suit people who want to pay less each month and those who are okay with getting a referral for specialists.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver HMO plans from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care:
Which health insurance in New Hampshire is best for you will depend on your financial situation and medical needs. Are you willing to pay more if you need care in exchange for lower premiums? Or do you know you will need lots of medical care and are willing to pay higher premiums for lower out-of-pocket costs?
The following advice can be helpful in getting health insurance.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
With health insurance, you can go to "in-network" doctors and hospitals. They have a deal with your insurance company to charge certain rates. If you go to medical providers that are not in the network, they don't have an agreement with your insurance company, so it can cost more to see them.
Some plans let you see any doctor, but others might only pay if you select in-network providers. Plans with these features are available in New Hampshire, including 27 EPO plans, 53 HMO plans and 19 PPO plans. EPO and HMO plans might be suitable if you want to pay less per month and are okay with having fewer choices for health care providers. On the other hand, PPO plans give you more options, but they might cost more.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
When looking for health insurance, finding a balance between the monthly premium and the maximum amount you will have to pay for medical services in a year is important. Plans with low monthly costs might have higher out-of-pocket limits, while a plan with a higher monthly fee could mean a lower out-of-pocket limit.
Take the Standard Silver plan offered by Ambetter as an example. It costs $347 per month and has a higher out-of-pocket limit of $9,100. The Focused Silver plan from the same provider costs more at $353 per month, but the maximum out-of-pocket cost is lower at $8,000. The Focused Silver plan could save you money if you visit the doctor often.
Those who are 65 years or older in New Hampshire or who have a qualifying disease or disability might be eligible for Medicare. This is a federal health insurance program that gives savings on medical care to those who qualify. Medicare is made up of three parts:
MoneyGeek offers details on where to find the best Medicare Supplement in New Hampshire and the top New Hampshire Medicare Advantage plans.
Individuals and families in New Hampshire who satisfy the eligibility standards can be served by the federal and state-funded health care program known as NH Medicaid (Medical Assistance).
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 New Hampshire for 2024 is provided by Ambetter. 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.
