Updated: September 9, 2024
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Best Health InsuranceTennesseeBest Health Insurance in Tennessee
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Tennessee 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 Tennessee, with a MoneyGeek rating of 84 out of 100. It has good plan options that are more affordable, offers lower out-of-pocket costs and has better-than-average claim denial rates.
We looked at 45 Silver EPO plans in Tennessee for this analysis.
Low premiums relative to others
Few out-of-pocket expenses
Infrequent claims denial
Limited plan types available
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Tennessee is Ambetter. The provider offers 10 Silver EPO plans at an average plan rate of $525 per month. The average MOOP cost for these plans is $5,400.
Ambetter's Silver EPO plans offer benefits like no need for referrals to see specialists. It provides an average plan rate of $525, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $5,400. Ambetter has a denial rate of 14.84%, which is lower than much of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans:
Oscar is the best health insurance in Tennessee for low out-of-pocket costs, with a MoneyGeek score of 86 out of 100.
It offers the cheapest plan options, provides plans with low out-of-pocket costs and is better at approving claims than most other insurers.
In Tennessee, we looked at 26 Gold EPO plans for this analysis.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Limited variety of plan types offered
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Tennessee for low out-of-pocket costs is Oscar. It offers three Gold EPO plans, which are known for their strong network of doctors and facilities that you can visit without needing a referral. The insurer provides an average plan rate of $642, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $6,567.
Oscar has a denial rate of 11.72%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold and Platinum plans:
Ambetter is the best provider for cheap health insurance in Tennessee, with a score of 86 out of 100. It provides cheaper plan options, has lower out-of-pocket costs and denies fewer claims than many other providers.
For this analysis, MoneyGeek assessed 45 Silver EPO plans in Tennessee. The evaluation placed a heavier emphasis on plans with lower monthly premiums, although typically plans with lower premiums may result in higher out-of-pocket costs when needing care.
Affordable premiums
Excellent MOOP score for lower out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied, demonstrating reliability
Limited plan types available
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Tennessee is Ambetter. It offers 11 different Silver plans, offering choices for people looking for lower-cost health care options.
Ambetter provides Silver plans that are of the EPO type. EPO plans typically give you lower out-of-pocket costs when you see doctors or go to hospitals in the plan's network.
The insurer offers an average plan rate of $541, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $7,910.
Ambetter has a denial rate of 15%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:
-Standard Silver SELECT: $466 per month; MOOP $9,100 -Clear Silver: $525 per month; MOOP $5,400 -Clear Silver + Vision + Adult Dental: $543 per month; MOOP $5,400
Ambetter offers the best health insurance in Tennessee for those with low income, scoring 85 out of 100. It has lower-than-average rates for plans, minimal out-of-pocket costs and fewer claim denials compared to others.
In Tennessee, we evaluated 45 Silver CSR EPO plans for this analysis. These plans are designed to be affordable for people with lower incomes who need good coverage.
MoneyGeek focused more on plans with low monthly premiums that include cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) to decide the best option for low-income individuals. CSRs help you pay less when you see the doctor or get medicine if you don't make much money. Silver plans usually cover about 70% of your health costs, but with CSRs, you get more of your bills paid by the insurance if you don't earn a lot.
Remember, these amounts change if you have more or fewer people living in your home.
Low premium rates
Minimal out-of-pocket costs
Variety of insurance plans available
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Tennessee for those with low income is Ambetter. The provider offers cost-effective plans for individuals earning below 250% of the FPL. Ambetter has 11 Silver CSR plans at an average rate of $541 per month and an average MOOP cost of $6,673.
Ambetter provides exclusively EPO plans, which generally have lower premiums. The company denies claims more frequently than competitors.
Plan Recommendations
Ambetter'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 Tennessee for young adults, with a MoneyGeek score of 74 out of 100. It has plans with low out-of-pocket costs and better-than-average denial rates for claims. Only individuals under the age of 30 can get Catastrophic coverage.
For this category, we evaluated seven Bronze EPO plans, 35 Expanded Bronze EPO plans and one Catastrophic EPO plan in Tennessee.
Few claims denied, ensuring reliable coverage
Low maximum out-of-pocket costs for financial ease
Variety of plan options available
Less competitive plan rates
Ambetter is the top pick for young adults seeking health insurance in Tennessee. The insurer offers nine Expanded Bronze plans. It provides an average plan rate of $348, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $8,806.
Ambetter does not offer any PPO or POS plans, but EPO plans usually let you have lower out-of-pocket costs if you use doctors and hospitals in the network.
The denial rate for Ambetter is about 15%, which is a lower denial rate than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults:
Health insurance companies have different kinds of plans. The best providers for all plan categories in Tennessee are:
MoneyGeek's analysis focused on Silver plans only. Silver plans are good for people who use health services often because they balance the cost every month with how much you pay when you get care.
In Tennessee, there are 45 Silver EPO plans available.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Tennessee for Silver EPO plans is Ambetter. It offers 11 different plans. Ambetter has an average plan rate of $541, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost for these plans is $7,910. The insurer has a denial rate of 14.84%, which means it denies fewer claims than average.
Silver EPO plans have both good and not-so-good points. They are quite popular — the third most chosen kind. You don't need a referral to see a specialist, which is really helpful. But you must stay with the doctors and hospitals in the plan’s network unless it's a real emergency, which can limit your choices.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver EPO plans from Ambetter:
National General Accident & Health offers the best short-term health insurance in Tennessee, earning an impressive MoneyGeek rating of 90 out of 100.
Short-term health insurance should only be used to fill brief gaps in coverage and shouldn’t be a permanent replacement for standard health insurance. Short-term plans don’t comply with the Affordable Care Act and typically fail to cover essential health benefits.
National General Accident & Health is MoneyGeek’s top pick for the affordability of its premiums and the wide range of plan options that it offers. With this insurer, you have the flexibility to choose a term length ranging anywhere from three months to three years.
The best health insurance for you depends on a combination of your health care needs and your budget for monthly premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. Here’s MoneyGeek’s expert advice when shopping for health insurance.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
In health insurance, doctors and hospitals in the network agree on prices with the insurance company. If you get care from a doctor outside of the network, it may cost more. Some plans let you see any doctor, and others restrict which doctors you can see.
Insurance plans that let you see more doctors often cost more each month. Plans that only cover doctors in the network can cost less. People choose different plans based on what they need and how much they want to spend.
Tennessee has 45 EPO plans.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
When choosing health insurance, it's important to think about the monthly cost and the maximum out-of-pocket costs. Each person must find what works best for their needs.
Some health plans with lower monthly costs might have higher maximum out-of-pocket costs. Higher monthly costs often mean lower maximum out-of-pocket costs, which could help save money for people who go to the doctor a lot.
The Silver plan with the lowest maximum out-of-pocket cost is the Clear Silver with a cost of $5,400. Its monthly cost is $525, which is about the same as the average for Silver plans from Ambetter.
If a Silver plan has both a low monthly cost and a low maximum out-of-pocket cost, it is a really good choice, especially if the plan includes good services.
Medicare is a federal insurance program that subsidizes health care services. Adults who are 65 years and older and younger individuals who have a qualifying disability or illness are eligible.
Medicare has three components:
We’ve also outlined the best Medicare Advantage plans in Tennessee and the best Medicare Supplement plans in Tennessee to help you find the right plan that matches your needs.
Medicaid is another federal program that provides health coverage for low-income individuals. Elderly adults, pregnant women, children in low-income families and those with disabilities may also qualify.
Most shoppers for health insurance are mainly concerned about cost and availability. Here are MoneyGeek’s answers to some of the frequently asked questions about health insurance in Tennessee.
The best health insurance in Tennessee for 2024 is provided by Ambetter. However, the best choice for you will depend on your unique circumstances and needs.
You must look for a plan that gives the best balance between affordability and coverage. You are in the best position to determine what you can afford and which coverages you need. If you require significant medical care or want greater protection, consider purchasing a plan that has a low MOOP and offers broad out-of-network coverage.
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.
