Best North Dakota Health Insurance (2024 Plans)


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Updated: November 21, 2024

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MoneyGeek Logo IconBest Health InsuranceNorth Dakota
2024

Best Health Insurance in North Dakota

Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for North Dakota 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.

67Plans Analyzed
 
6Providers Compared

Best Overall for Health Insurance in North Dakota

Sanford Health Plan has a MoneyGeek rating of 94 out of 100 and offers the best health insurance in North Dakota. Sanford Health Plan provides plan options with affordable rates, low out-of-pocket costs and handles claims well with fewer denials compared to other providers.

For our analysis, we evaluated a total of 19 Silver health insurance plans, including 10 Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and 9 Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans in North Dakota.

MoneyGeek Pick: Sanford Health Plan

Sanford Health Plan

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Affordable premium rates

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Low out-of-pocket costs

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Infrequent claim denials

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Variety of plan types offered

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in North Dakota is Sanford Health Plan. The provider offers both HMO and PPO Silver plans.

Sanford Health Plan's Silver HMO and PPO plans each come with benefits, including more out-of-network coverage for the PPO plans. They offer an average plan rate of $459 for HMO plans and $562 for PPO plans. The average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $7,050. Sanford Health Plan has a 5% denial rate, which is lower than most of the competition.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans:

  • Sanford Individual TRUE Standardized $5,900: $410 per month; MOOP $9,100
  • Sanford Individual TRUE $4,750: $436 per month; MOOP $9,100
  • Sanford Individual TRUE Enhanced $3,700 HSA Qualified": $459 per month; MOOP $7,050

Best Health Insurance in North Dakota for Low Out-of-Pocket Costs

Sanford Health Plan offers the best health insurance in North Dakota for low out-of-pocket costs with a MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100. The provider has low-cost plan options, low out-of-pocket costs and does a great job at not denying claims. In North Dakota, our analysis looked at 10 Gold HMO plans and 10 Gold PPO plans.

MoneyGeek Pick: Sanford Health Plan

Sanford Health Plan

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Affords competitive premium rates

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Offers lower out-of-pocket maximum costs

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Less frequent claim denials

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Variety of plan types available

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in North Dakota for low out-of-pocket costs is Sanford Health Plan. It offers four Gold PPO plans and four Gold HMO plans, which are good for keeping your costs down when you use healthcare services. PPO plans usually give you more choices for seeing doctors outside of the plan's network.

They have an average plan rate of $478 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $7,775. Sanford Health Plan has a denial rate of about 5%, which is lower than most of the competition.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold and Platinum plans:

  • Sanford Individual TRUE Enhanced Care Plan $1,250: $440 per month; MOOP $5,500
  • Sanford Individual Simplicity Enhanced Care Plan: $541 per month; MOOP $5,500
  • Sanford Individual TRUE $: $405 per month; MOOP $8,450

Best Cheap Health Insurance in North Dakota

Sanford Health Plan is the best cheap cheap health insurance provider in North Dakota, earning a score of 97 out of 100. The provider offers the most affordable plan options, has lower average out-of-pocket expenses and denies fewer claims than most other providers.

For this category, we evaluated 19 Silver plans in North Dakota. This included 10 Silver HMO plans and 9 Silver PPO plans. MoneyGeek placed more emphasis on plans that had lower monthly premiums, though plans with lower premiums often result in higher out-of-pocket costs.

MoneyGeek Pick: Sanford Health Plan

Sanford Health Plan

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Outstanding denial score with minimal claim rejections

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Competitive premium rates available

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Low out-of-pocket maximum costs

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Diverse selection of insurance plans

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Limited range of plan types available

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in North Dakota is Sanford Health Plan. They offer eight Silver plans. Sanford Health Plan provides both HMO and PPO Silver plans. PPO plans usually have more coverage when you go to a doctor outside the network.

They offer an average plan rate of $493 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $8,588. Sanford Health Plan has a denial rate of 4.7%, which is lower than most of the competition.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:

  • Sanford Individual TRUE Enhanced $3,700 HSA Qualified High Deductible Health Plans: $459 per month; MOOP $7,050
  • Sanford Individual TRUE Standardized $5,900: $410 per month; MOOP $9,100
  • Sanford Individual TRUE $4,750: $436 per month; MOOP $9,100

Best Health Insurance for Low Income in North Dakota

Sanford Health Plan offers the best health insurance in North Dakota for those with low income, scoring 97 out of 100. Sanford Health Plan has affordable plan options, low out-of-pocket costs and a low percentage of claim denials. In North Dakota, we evaluated a total of 19 Silver CSR plans: 10 HMO plans and 9 PPO plans.

MoneyGeek placed extra emphasis on plans with low monthly premiums and included only those with cost-sharing reductions (CSRs). CSRs reduce your out-of-pocket costs and deductible if your income is below a certain amount. This helps you not have to choose between lower monthly costs and paying more when you need care. With a standard Silver plan, about 70% of health care costs are covered. However, for CSR Silver plans these numbers are different:

  • If you make between $27,180 and $33,975 per year (201–250% of the federal poverty level), you can expect 73% of health care costs to be covered.
  • If your income is $20,385 to $27,180 per year (151–200% of the federal poverty level), you can expect to have 87% of your costs covered.
  • If you make less than $20,385 per year (up to 150% of the federal poverty level), you can expect to have 94% of your costs covered.

These income brackets will change if there are more or fewer people living in your home.

MoneyGeek Pick: Sanford Health Plan

Sanford Health Plan

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Low premium rates

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Low out-of-pocket costs

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Infrequent claim denials

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Diverse plan offerings

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in North Dakota for those with low income is Sanford Health Plan. It has cost-effective plans for people who earn less than 250% of the FPL. The provider offers eight Silver CSR plans with an average monthly cost of $493. The average MOOP cost for these plans is $6,800.

Sanford Health Plan provides EPO plans, which usually have lower premiums due to the network restrictions. The company's denial rate is 4.75%, meaning they approve claims more frequently than competitors. Sanford Health Plan's top-rated plan offers lower out-of-pocket expenses for the same premium for people in different income brackets.

Plan Recommendations

Here are some of the lower overall out-of-pocket costs based on income levels:

  • 201-250% of the FPL: $459 per month; $5,500 MOOP
  • 151-200% of the FPL: $459 per month; $1,950 MOOP
  • Up to 150% of the FPL: $410 per month; $1,800 MOOP

Best Health Insurance for Young Adults in North Dakota

Sanford Health Plan offers the best health insurance in North Dakota for young adults with a MoneyGeek score of 87 out of 100. Sanford Health Plan is known for its affordable plan options, low out-of-pocket costs and better than average denial rate. Remember, Catastrophic plans are available only to individuals under the age of 30.

For this research, we reviewed 3 Bronze HMO plans, 13 Expanded Bronze HMO plans, 6 Expanded Bronze PPO plans, 4 Catastrophic HMO plans and 2 Catastrophic PPO plans in North Dakota.

MoneyGeek Pick: Sanford Health Plan

Sanford Health Plan

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Affordable premium rates.

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Low out-of-pocket maximum.

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Very few claims denied.

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Diverse plan options available.

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Limited plan types available

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in North Dakota for young adults is Sanford Health Plan. They offer one Catastrophic plan and eight Expanded Bronze plans. They offer an average plan rate of $219 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $8,926.

Sanford Health Plan provides both PPO and HMO plans. PPO plans often give you a wider choice of doctors and hospitals. Sanford has a denial rate of about 5%, which is lower than most of the competition.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults:

  • Sanford Individual Simplicity $7,100 HSA Qualified: $264 for 18-year-olds and $296 for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,100
  • Sanford Individual TRUE $7,100 HSA Qualified: $218 for 18-year-olds and $244 for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,100
  • Sanford Individual Simplicity $9,450: $159 for 18-year-olds and $178 for 26-year-olds; MOOP $9,450

Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in North Dakota

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

  • HMO: Sanford Health Plan (MoneyGeek score: 100 out of 100)
  • PPO: Sanford Health Plan (MoneyGeek score: 100 out of 100)

MoneyGeek's recommendations only include Silver plans. Silver plans balance how much you pay each month with how much you pay when you visit the doctor. They work well for people who go to the doctor or need medical services often.

North Dakota has nine Silver PPO plans and 10 Silver HMO plans. People in North Dakota can choose from these options for their health care.

MoneyGeek Pick for PPO: Sanford Health Plan

Sanford Health Plan
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in North Dakota for Silver PPO plans is Sanford Health Plan. They offer four Silver PPO plans. They offer an average plan rate of $535 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $8,588. The provider has a denial rate of about 5%, which is good as it denies fewer claims than average.

PPO plans like these give you more choice in picking your doctors and you don't need a special okay to see experts. But they can cost more than other plans, so they might not be the best if you need to watch your spending.

Plan Recommendations

We suggest the following Silver PPO plans from Sanford Health Plan:

  • Sanford Individual Simplicity Enhanced Care Plan: $562 per month; MOOP $7,050
  • Sanford Individual Simplicity Standardized $5,900: $503 per month; MOOP $9,100

MoneyGeek Pick for HMO: Sanford Health Plan

Sanford Health Plan
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in North Dakota for Silver HMO plans is Sanford Health Plan. They offer an average plan rate of $437 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $8,588. The provider has a denial rate of about 4.7%, meaning it denies fewer claims than average.

Silver HMO plans often have lower monthly payments and work well if you can see doctors in your network. They are quite popular because they can cost less. However, you need to get a referral to see specialists and you have to stay inside your network except for emergencies.

Plan Recommendations

We suggest the following Silver HMO plans from Sanford Health Plan:

  • Sanford Individual TRUE Enhanced $3,700 HSA Qualified: $459 per month; MOOP $7,050
  • Sanford Individual TRUE Standardized $5,900: $410 per month; MOOP $9,100

How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in North Dakota

Your budget and medical needs — including how much you're willing to spend each month versus when you receive care — will determine which health insurance provider in North Dakota is right for you. The following pointers can be useful when planning to get health insurance.

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    Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you

    When you have health insurance, some doctors and hospitals are in your plan's network. This means they agreed with your insurance to charge certain prices. If you go to places outside your network, it might cost more, and your plan might not pay. Some plans in North Dakota let you see doctors outside the network, but others don't.

    In North Dakota, there are 9 PPO plans that let you use doctors outside the network. There are 10 HMO plans that might cost less, but need you to use doctors inside the network.

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    Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care

    You should think about balancing the cost per month and how much you might pay for health care in a year. Some insurance plans have low monthly costs but high max out-of-pocket limits. However, paying more each month could reduce how much you pay in a year if you need lots of health care.

    For example, in North Dakota, the Silver plan with the lowest max out-of-pocket costs has a Plan Rate of $459 a month. This plan is Sanford Individual TRUE Enhanced $3,700 HSA Qualified High Deductible Health Plan. This monthly cost is lower than other Silver plans from the same company. If this plan also offers good health care services, it might be a great choice.

Consider North Dakota Medicare or Medicaid if You’re Eligible

Medicare is a federal-run health care program that is more affordable than traditional health insurance plans. You might qualify for Medicare if you’re 65 or older or are a younger adult with a disability or illness. It has three parts:

  • Part A (Hospital Insurance): Provides coverage for hospital stays, hospice care and other health care services.
  • Part B (Medical Insurance): It offers coverage for medical supplies, preventative treatment and certain doctor’s services.
  • Part D (Prescriptions Drug Coverage): Part D covers prescription drugs and recommended vaccines.

You can benefit from Medicaid, another government health care program, if your family income falls below 138% of the federal poverty level.

FAQ: North Dakota 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 North Dakota for 2024?
What should you look for when shopping for the best health insurance plan in North Dakota?

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.