Updated: June 23, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Anthem has the best health insurance for kids with premiums starting at $311 per month.
Ambetter's $5,467 out-of-pocket maximum is the lowest annual cost cap among top-ranked plans.
Child-only health plans average $409 per month for an HMO and $475 for a PPO.
Medicaid and CHIP provide free or low-cost coverage for children whose families meet state income requirements.
Anthem ranks as the best health insurance for kids on the Marketplace, with average monthly premiums of $311 and broad pediatric preventive coverage in every plan. Kaiser Permanente is the closest alternative at $319 per month with a $3,100 deductible, the lowest among top-ranked insurers.
Families who may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP should check eligibility at HealthCare.gov before comparing Marketplace plans. Those programs usually cost less than any private option listed here.
Low Premiums | Anthem | $311 | $7,248 | $4,241 |
Low MOOP | Ambetter | $381 | $5,467 | $3,302 |
Low Deductible | Kaiser Permanente | $319 | $5,657 | $3,100 |
Rates shown are average Marketplace premiums for children ages 0 to 14 in 2026. Actual costs vary by age, state, plan selection and subsidy eligibility. Plans cover children ages 0 to 18 or 19 depending on the insurer.
The $8 monthly difference between Anthem and Kaiser adds up to $96 per year. Anthem's $4,241 deductible is $1,141 higher than Kaiser's $3,100. For a child with a predictable surgery or specialist visit this year, that deductible gap outweighs 12 months of premium savings. For healthy children who use routine care only, Anthem's lower monthly cost is the better starting point. Ambetter costs $70 per month more than Anthem but carries a $1,781 lower maximum out-of-pocket limit.
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HMO plans are the most affordable for child-only coverage, averaging $409 per month nationally. Families who need access to specialists without referrals benefit more from PPO plans but they cost $66 more per month. Metal tier determines how costs split between you and the insurer. Bronze plans carry lower premiums but higher per-visit costs, which add up fast for children who need frequent care. Higher metal tiers, such as Gold plans cost more per month but reduce what your child pays at each appointment.
The top-ranked insurer changes as you switch metal tiers because Bronze plans shift more cost from monthly premiums to per-visit expenses. A Bronze EPO costs less per month than a Silver HMO but requires more out-of-pocket spending at every visit. Gold plans reverse that tradeoff.
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $377 | $7,847 | $7,097 |
| Cigna Healthcare | $349 | $7,613 | $5,625 |
State availability determines which insurers a family can access. A plan ranked highly nationally may not offer child-only policies in every state, so the most cost-effective path for your family depends on where you live.
| UnitedHealthcare | $222 | $7,950 | $7,950 |
An HMO for a child averages $409 per month nationally. EPO plans average $430, POS plans average $467 and PPO plans average $475.
Child-only Marketplace plans are priced separately from adult plans under the ACA. Families who qualify for Medicaid or CHIP can cover children at little or no cost, compared to the $409 per month HMO average.
| HMO | $409 | $4,910 |
| EPO | $430 | $5,162 |
| POS | $467 | $5,606 |
| PPO | $475 | $5,696 |
The $66 monthly gap between an HMO and a PPO adds up to $792 per year. PPO plans are worth the higher premium when your child has an ongoing condition requiring specialists in multiple health systems, or when your family splits time between states.
Children can get coverage through Medicaid, CHIP, a Marketplace plan or an employer's family plan. Start by listing your child's doctors, medications and likely visits over the next 12 months. That list tells you which plans will cover what matters before you compare monthly costs. Rules and eligibility vary by state.
Medicaid for children | Medicaid is often the first stop for children in families with limited income. Kids qualify at higher income levels than adults in many states, and coverage is free or very low cost. You apply through your state’s Medicaid agency or, in many states, by starting an application on HealthCare.gov and choosing the Medicaid option when it appears. If your child qualifies, the state sends you information on how to pick a plan and use benefits. |
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | If your income is too high for Medicaid but still feels tight, CHIP can fill that gap. It covers kids and teens whose families don't qualify for Medicaid but can't easily afford private coverage. You apply through your state’s Medicaid or CHIP office or by using the application path shown on InsureKidsNow.gov, which links directly to each state. Once approved, your child is enrolled in a CHIP plan run by the state or a partner insurer. |
Health Insurance Marketplace plans | You can also buy coverage for your child through the Health Insurance Marketplace. At HealthCare.gov or your state Marketplace site, you create an account, list everyone in your household and see plan options that cover children. The same application checks if your child should be moved to Medicaid or CHIP instead, which keeps you from guessing. During Open Enrollment, or after a qualifying life event like a birth or loss of other coverage, you can choose a child-only plan or add them to a family plan. |
Coverage through an employer | If you or your co-parent has job-based insurance, adding a child through that plan is often one of the smoothest routes. You usually complete a benefits form through your employer’s HR or online portal and provide basic details like your child’s name, date of birth and Social Security number if available. Many plans give you a short window after a birth, adoption or loss of other coverage to add a child, so it helps to let HR know as soon as your situation changes. |
Buying a child-only plan directly from an insurer | Some families prefer to go straight to an insurance company or a licensed broker to buy a child-only policy outside the Marketplace. This can make sense if you want plans from a company that is not listed on your state Marketplace or you already work with a trusted agent. The insurer will walk you through an application that looks similar to what you would complete on the Marketplace, but you will not get Marketplace-based premium tax credits on these plans. |
Short-term health plans for children | Short-term health insurance is sometimes offered to cover children for a brief gap, for example between moves or while waiting for other coverage to begin. Federal rules treat these as limited, non–ACA-compliant plans, which means they do not have to follow the same benefit and consumer protection standards as Marketplace, Medicaid or CHIP coverage. Families should look closely at what these plans leave out before using them and view them as a temporary fallback, not a main source of long-term coverage. |
The right plan matches your child's expected care needs to the lowest total annual cost. Work through these eight steps before selecting a plan.
Prioritize coverage for well-child visits, vaccines, sick visits, urgent care and mental health services. If your child needs therapies or specialist care, confirm those are covered before selecting a plan. Medicaid and CHIP plans cover a broad set of preventive and treatment services, including dental and vision in most states.
Don't focus only on the monthly premium. A plan with a low premium can cost more over 12 months if every visit or prescription carries a high bill. Estimate your family's likely medical use for the year and compare plans on total annual cost, not just what's due each month.
Confirm your child's pediatrician, specialists and the nearest children's hospital are in the plan's network. In-network care costs less. Also check office location, hours and whether your child is comfortable with the provider.
If your child takes a regular medication or uses an inhaler, insulin, an EpiPen or medical equipment, look up the drug on the plan's formulary. Confirm it's covered and check the copay tier. For children with allergies, asthma, diabetes or another ongoing condition, this check has a direct effect on annual costs.
Consider how often your child sees doctors and how far you're willing to travel for care. An HMO's limited network works for families whose doctors are in one clinic. Families who split time between locations need a PPO's broader network, which costs $66 more per month on average.
If your child spends part of the year in another state for school or extended visits, check how the plan covers urgent and emergency care away from home and whether telehealth visits with their regular doctor are included.
Federal and state Marketplaces show star ratings for member experience, clinical quality and customer service. When plans are similar on price and network, these ratings are a reliable way to identify which option treats families better when a problem comes up.
Factor in upcoming milestones: sports seasons, mental health support, planned procedures, orthodontics or evaluations for learning and developmental needs. A Gold-tier plan's higher premium but lower per-visit costs may work out cheaper overall than a Bronze plan for a year with multiple specialist visits.
Anthem's $311 per month premium is the right starting point for healthy children with routine care needs. At $8 more per month, Kaiser costs $96 extra per year. Kaiser's $3,100 deductible is $1,141 lower than Anthem's $4,241. For a child with a planned procedure or specialist visits, that deductible gap outweighs the annual premium difference.
Ambetter is the right choice when a high-care year is likely. At $381 per month, it costs $840 more per year than Anthem, but its $5,467 maximum out-of-pocket limit is $1,781 below Anthem's $7,248 cap. For families whose children need frequent care, Ambetter's annual cost ceiling does more work than a lower monthly premium.
Child-only Marketplace plans range from $409 per month for an HMO to $475 for a PPO. Check eligibility at HealthCare.gov before comparing plans. Families whose income qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP pay less than any Marketplace option.
We've answered the most frequently asked questions about health insurance for kids below, covering CHIP eligibility, plan types, child-only coverage and how to choose between public and private options:
Health insurance covers pediatric specialist visits, emergency services and routine checkups. Without coverage, a single unexpected medical event generates bills you pay in full before any plan begins covering costs. A plan limits that exposure to your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.
Anthem is the top pick for cost-focused families at $311 per month, the lowest average premium among top-ranked plans. Ambetter has a lower out-of-pocket maximum at $5,467, which limits total annual spending more aggressively for families whose children need frequent care.
Child-only health insurance is available through HealthCare.gov, directly from insurers and through Medicaid and CHIP programs. Child-only plans are often less expensive than adding a child to existing family coverage and include the full range of pediatric benefits.
HMO plans carry the lowest average premium at $409 per month. EPO plans average $430 per month. For families who qualify, Medicaid and CHIP are the lowest-cost path: coverage is free or nearly free. The most affordable health insurance for a given child depends on income, state and available plan types.
CHIP income thresholds vary by state and are set as a percentage of the federal poverty level. Many states extend eligibility well above the federal baseline. Check current thresholds for your state at HealthCare.gov or InsureKidsNow.gov.
HMO and EPO plans are the right choice for families prioritizing lower premiums and coordinated care. PPO plans are the better fit for families who need specialist access without referrals. Check whether your pediatrician participates in the plan's network and what your child needs medically.
Start by checking Medicaid and CHIP eligibility for free or low-cost coverage based on your income. If you don't qualify, compare Marketplace plans on monthly premiums and out-of-pocket maximums. Make sure your child's pediatrician and hospital are in network before choosing a plan.
We compared plans on three factors weighted by relevance to families with children.
How We Score Different Plan Types and Metal Tiers
We normalized scores within each category for fair comparisons. The top insurer in each group receives a 5 out of 5, with others scored proportionally.
We used Silver HMO plans to identify our best for low premiums, best for medical care and best for low MOOP. Each plan type (HMO, PPO, EPO and POS) and metal tier (Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum) is scored independently.
Sample Consumer
MoneyGeek collected plan-level data for children ages 0 to 14 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2026 exchange data release. Plans are available for ages 0 to 18 or 19 depending on the insurer, so actual costs may vary outside this range. We scored every available Marketplace plan on five dimensions: monthly premium, deductible, maximum out-of-pocket, Quality Rating System score and denial rate. The top insurer in each scoring group receives a 5 out of 5, with others scored proportionally. We pulled data from federal and state Marketplace files updated with the November 2025 CMS enrollment-period release. Source access dates in our citations reflect the original government data collection; plan data is current as of the June 2026 page update.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). His career began in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
