With a MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island offers the best health insurance, balancing affordability, customer service and coverage. If this provider isn't available locally, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island also provides excellent coverage options.
Best Health Insurance in Rhode Island
Updated: June 24, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island offers the best and most balanced coverage in Rhode Island for health insurance.
Neighborhood Health Plan provides the best cheap health insurance in Rhode Island, with Silver-tier plans averaging $564 per month, where available.
To find the best health insurance in Rhode Island, educate yourself on companies available to you, decide coverage needs beforehand and compare plan quotes from several companies.
Best Health Insurance Companies in Rhode Island
Best Provider | MG Score | Best Plan |
|---|---|---|
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island | 90 | BlueSolutions for HSA Direct 4100/8200 |
Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island | 84 | Neighborhood COMMUNITY |
*Our picks are the best companies for 40-year-olds looking for Silver-tier plans.
Best Health Insurance in Rhode Island by Category
While we've given our top picks overall, the best company for you may differ depending on your profile and preferred plan type. So below, we've broken down the top picks for common categories to make more personalized recommendations.
Category | Best Provider |
|---|---|
Young Adults | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island |
Seniors | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island |
PPO | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island |
HMO | Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island |
Best Rhode Island Health Insurance Reviews
So that you can learn about our recommendations, we've broken down our top picks overall, for affordability and customer service reputation.
Blue Cross Blue Shield: Best Overall
pros
Second-most-affordable rates in the state
Highest customer reputation score in Rhode Island
Best overall for most in the state
cons
Largest number of in-network counties
No out-of-network coverage, unless there's a medical emergency
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
While not the most affordable in the state, Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best overall provider in Rhode Island. With a MoneyGeek score of 90, it's the overall best health insurance in the state with low out-of-pocket costs and a good track record of not denying claims. As Rhode Island's local, tax-paying nonprofit health plan serving more than 170,000 residents, BCBS RI offers extensive network access, including all Rhode Island hospitals. It also provides both individual and employer-sponsored coverage with competitive benefits.
How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in Rhode Island
The following recommendations will ensure that buying health insurance that is ideal for you is easy.
Decide on your coverage needs before buying
When looking for the best health insurance, weigh the monthly cost against the maximum out-of-pocket limits for plans. If you go to the doctor often, a plan with a higher monthly fee but lower MOOP can save you money. But you may not need as much coverage if you're not high risk. Also, compare health insurance plan types to ensure how flexible a provider will be in covering you.
Compare company offerings and reputations
Before comparing rates, understand what plans the top companies in your area offer and their terms. Also, look into company reputations through forums and industry sources like J.D. Power to ensure a smooth buying and coverage claims process.
Shop around
Comparing multiple plans from many providers ensures you get the best possible deal. We found that rates can start at $564 monthly in Rhode Island, depending on your profile and chosen plan type. Open Enrollment lasts from November 1 to January 15, but you may also qualify for Special Enrollment if you've lost your job, divorced or had a child.
Take advantage of federal programs and subsidies
Those with low income, have a qualifying disability or illness, or are 65 years old or older can receive subsidies or be eligible for Medicare plans. In some cases, depending on your details, you can have up to 100% of your premiums covered if you're low-income or have significant savings if you're eligible for Medicare. MoneyGeek also provides information for finding the top Rhode Island Medicare Supplement and best Medicare Advantage plans in Rhode Island if you want to learn more.
Best Health Insurance in Rhode Island: Bottom Line
Our top picks for Rhode Island health insurance are Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. However, the best possible health insurance plan for you will vary widely depending on your personal details and coverage needs. Compare as many plans and companies as possible to get the right fit.
Best Rhode Island Health Insurance: FAQ
Below, we've answered frequently asked questions about the best health insurance in Rhode Island:
What is the best health insurance provider in Rhode Island for 2025?
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island provides the best health insurance in Rhode Island for 2025. However, the best choice for you will depend on your unique circumstances and needs and if coverage is available in your county.
What should you look for when shopping for the best health insurance plan in Rhode Island?
When finding the best health insurance plan, compare both premium costs and coverage breadth to ensure the plan meets your specific medical needs without gaps in essential services. The ideal plan balances affordability with comprehensive coverage that aligns with your health requirements and anticipated medical expenses.
How We Chose the Best Health Insurance in Rhode Island
To rank health care insurance providers in Rhode Island, MoneyGeek researched premiums, out-of-pocket costs, claims denial rates and plan types for each available company and compared them across different categories. We then weighted each category to calculate an overall MoneyGeek score and derive rankings.
We weighted most categories as follows:
- Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) score (30%): The MOOP is the most you'll pay per year for health care costs outside of your monthly premiums. The provider with the lowest average MOOP scores the highest.
- Claims denial score (30%): How often a provider denies claims. The provider with the lowest claims denial rate scores the highest.
- Rate score (20%): How much the provider's monthly plans cost. The cheapest provider, on average, gets the highest score.
- Plan type score (20%): Providers score better if they have plan types with broader coverage. A provider with many PPO plans will get the highest score.
In some cases, we adjusted the weightings as follows:
- For the categories "Best Cheap Health Insurance in Rhode Island" and "Best Health Insurance in Rhode Island for Low Income," we increased the rate score weighting to 50%. We decreased every other category by 10%.
- For the category "Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in Rhode Island," we decreased the plan type score weighting to 0% to reflect that we are comparing providers' plans like-for-like. We increased MOOP and claims denial score weightings by 10% each.
Sample Consumer:
MoneyGeek collected data on all available plans in Rhode Island for consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Unless otherwise noted, all monthly premiums are for a 40-year-old buyer, such as the category for young adults. Plans analyzed in each section include the relevant cited metal tiers, which include Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.