Updated: May 22, 2024
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Best Health InsuranceRhode IslandBest Health Insurance in Rhode Island
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Rhode Island 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.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island has a MoneyGeek score of 78, making it the overall best health insurance in the state. This provider has low out-of-pocket costs and a good track record of not denying claims.
We looked at nine health plans in Rhode Island to determine which health insurance was the best.
Minimal claim denials
Low out-of-pocket maximum costs
Offers a diverse array of plan types
Expensive premium rates
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island is MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Rhode Island. The provider offers three Silver PPO plans, with an average plan rate of $486 per month and an average MOOP cost of $7,267. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island has a denial rate of 17%, which is lower than most of the competition.
The Silver PPO plans from this provider generally have more out-of-network coverage.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island provides the best health insurance in Rhode Island for low out-of-pocket costs, with a MoneyGeek score of 79. This company does well when it comes to keeping out-of-pocket costs low and approving claims.
MoneyGeek looked at two Gold HMO plans, three Gold POS plans, four Gold PPO plans and two Platinum PPO plans in Rhode Island for this review.
Very low out-of-pocket maximum costs
Denies very few claims
Offers a variety of plan types
Expensive premium rates
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Rhode Island for low out-of-pocket costs is Blue Cross Blue Shield. It offers four Gold PPO plans and two Platinum PPO plans, which are good choices for lower out-of-pocket costs. PPO plans tend to include more out-of-network coverage, so you can pick from a wider pool of doctors and hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers an average plan rate of $564 and an average MOOP cost of $4,414. It has a denial rate of 17.38%, lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold and Platinum plans:
Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island is the best cheap health insurance provider in Rhode Island, earning a score of 74 out of 100.
The provider offers the cheapest plan options and denies fewer claims than the average, yet it does not score well in keeping out-of-pocket expenses low.
For this category, MoneyGeek evaluated nine Silver plans in Rhode Island. They comprised two Silver HMO plans, three Silver POS plans and four Silver PPO plans. In determining the best provider, plans with lower monthly premiums were given more weight, although plans with lower premiums typically come with higher out-of-pocket costs.
Low rate of claim denials
Affordable premium rates
Offers many different plan types
Limited out-of-pocket cost coverage
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Rhode Island is Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. It offers two Silver plans that can fit different budgets. The average plan rate is $394 with an average MOOP cost of $8,500. It also has a 5% denial rate, which is lower than most of the competition.
The Silver plans provided are HMO types. HMO plans often encourage getting care within their network of doctors and hospitals to keep costs down.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island provides the best health insurance in Rhode Island for young adults with a MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100. It has lower out-of-pocket expenses and denies fewer claims than average.
For this category, we evaluated two Bronze HMO plans and two Bronze PPO plans. Only individuals under the age of 30 can get Catastrophic coverage.
Low MOOP costs
Fewer denied claims
Diverse plan options available
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island is MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance for young adults. It offers an average plan rate of $261 and an average MOOP cost of $8,050. It also has a lower denial rate than most of the competition, at 17%.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island offers PPO plans, which often give you more choices for where you can get medical care, including places that are not in the insurer's network. This insurer also offers two Bronze plans for those who may need infrequent medical services. It also offers one Catastrophic plan that could be right for very healthy young adults.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults:
Health insurance companies have different plan types. The best providers for all plan categories are:
MoneyGeek's recommendations are based on Silver plans, which help with costs for people who visit the doctor or need medicine often. The following types of Silver plans are available in Rhode Island: two HMO plans, three POS plans and four PPO plans.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Rhode Island for Silver PPO plans is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. It offers three Silver PPO plans, with an average plan rate of $505 and an average MOOP cost of $7,800. The provider denies fewer claims than average.
Silver PPO plans let you pick your own doctors without needing a referral for specialists. These plans are common but usually cost more than other plans. If spending more is acceptable to you, they offer considerable flexibility.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver PPO plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island:
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Rhode Island for Silver POS plans is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. It offers two Silver POS plans, with an average plan rate of $442 and an average MOOP cost of $7,350. The company's denial rate is around 17.38%, which means it denies fewer claims than average.
Silver POS plans are helpful because you can choose to get care in or out of the network. If you see a doctor outside the network, it will cost more. These plans can be good if you want the choice to see different doctors and still have cheaper options with in-network care.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver POS plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island:
Finding the best health insurance in Rhode Island depends on balancing your health care needs and your budget preferences. If you prioritize lower monthly premiums or prefer to pay less when you need care, first understand the coverage provided by different plan types available in Rhode Island.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
Different plan types have varying networks of health care providers. In-network providers have negotiated rates with the insurance company, resulting in lower out-of-pocket costs for policyholders. Out-of-network providers may result in higher costs, and coverage levels can vary.
In Rhode Island, at the Silver tier, there are two HMO and three POS plans. There are also four PPO plans, which give you more choices for doctors, even if they're out-of-network.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
When you look for insurance, the best plan for you balances your monthly premium and your MOOP cost. Plans with low monthly costs often have higher maximum limits on what you pay for covered services in a year. If you don't use medical services much, this might be acceptable. If you go to the doctor frequently, you might want to pay more each month for a plan with a lower yearly limit.
In Rhode Island, the Silver plan called BlueCHiP Direct Advance 4950/9900 from Blue Cross Blue Shield costs $410 a month. This is lower than the average monthly cost for Silver plans from the same company, at $480. If the plan has good services, a low monthly cost and a low yearly limit are important factors to consider.
Medicare eligibility is based on age or certain qualifying conditions. Individuals aged 65 and older are generally eligible for Medicare coverage. Additionally, individuals under 65 who have specific illnesses or disabilities may also qualify for Medicare.
Medicare typically includes:
Medicaid eligibility is generally based on income levels, with low-income individuals and families meeting the criteria for coverage. Additional qualifiers may exist, and the state's Medicaid page can provide specific guidance on eligibility requirements.
For individuals seeking health insurance, it's common to have questions regarding costs and availability. We answered some frequently asked questions to help you find the right coverage for your needs.
The best health insurance provider in Rhode Island for 2024 is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. Keep in mind that the best insurer for you will vary on your unique needs, health profile and budget.
When shopping for the best health insurance plan in Rhode Island, it's important to consider the balance between the cost of premiums and the cost of care. Different plan types treat in-network and out-of-network coverage differently, so understand the trade-offs first. Factors to consider include the network of providers, referral requirements and the extent of coverage for out-of-network care.
Evaluating the plan's monthly premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums can help determine the best fit for your health care needs and budget.
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.
