Where to Find Low-Cost Health Insurance in 2024

When buying affordable health insurance, you can either look for low out-of-pocket maximums or low premiums. You usually can’t get both unless you’re shopping for low-income health plans.

If you’re healthy and don’t anticipate a lot of care, a plan belonging to a lower metal tier (such as Catastrophic or Bronze) may be the cheapest option. But if you expect to need much care, consider purchasing a plan with higher premiums but low maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs.

MoneyGeek found the cheapest health insurance companies based on metal tiers, location and other factors. For our top picks, we defined “cheapest” by monthly premiums unless otherwise stated.

Our study analyzed providers offering plans on the federal marketplace, which houses most state-specific health insurance platforms. We found that the cheapest health insurance companies across all metal levels are, on average:

• Oscar: $470 per month
• Ambetter: $490 per month
• Cigna: $516 per month

Note that the cheapest is based on the average across metal levels of companies available in at least six states.

Of the providers that are limited to fewer than six states, the least expensive are:

• Ascension Care: $404 per month
• Kaiser Permanente: $435 per month
• Friday Health Plans: $455 per month

Cheap is often relative to the consumer. While these companies offer affordable plans with low monthly premiums, they often have high out-of-pocket maximums. If you anticipate needing much care, buying a plan in a higher metal level may make more sense. You may have higher premiums, but the tradeoff is lower MOOP costs.

The premiums shown above represent the average cost for a plan paid per month. Your actual rate may vary depending on your income, metal tier and location.

Aetna is the most affordable health insurance company for Silver plans, with an average premium of $499 per month. The top three cheapest options for this metal tier are:

• Aetna: $499 per month
• Ambetter: $505 per month
• Oscar: $512 per month

Make sure to do your due diligence and find out if these providers have poor reviews, smaller networks or limited geographic availability before purchasing a health plan.

If you’re looking for cheaper premiums than Silver plans offer, Bronze is a lower-cost option. The most affordable health insurance providers for Bronze plans are:

• Oscar: $369 per month
• Ambetter: $388 per month
• Medica: $414 per month

Bronze plans offer the lowest monthly premium outside of Catastrophic plans, which come with restrictions. The tradeoff with lower-cost Bronze premiums is higher out-of-pocket costs. Thus, this metal tier is preferable for those who don’t often need medical attention.

A Bronze plan may be ideal if you can afford routine care services but want coverage for serious illnesses or injuries. However, if you need a little more than Bronze offers but don’t necessarily want to jump to the Silver tier, Expanded Bronze is an option worth considering.

The costs and coverage of health insurance vary greatly between states and by income. The least expensive states for health insurance based on average costs across all plans are:

• New Hampshire: Anthem Silver Pathway X Enhanced HMO 5800/40% Standard ($317 per month)
• Michigan: Ascension Personalized Care Low Premium Silver ($330 per month)
• Virginia: Innovation Health - Aetna Silver S ($343 per month)

The premiums shown above are just averages. Your actual rate may differ based on various individual factors.

Health insurance costs vary not only by state but also by city. More specifically, health insurance options and costs vary by rating areas within the state. Some examples of the cheap health insurance rates for a 40-year-old shopping for a Silver plan can be found in the following cities:

Because most providers only offer health insurance plans in certain states, your options largely depend on where you live. You can narrow down your options based on your specific needs.

If affordability is your focus, choosing a Bronze HMO may be your cheapest option. However, you may find a better balance between health care coverage and costs with either a low-income plan (if you qualify) or a subsidized Silver HMO or PPO.

Keep in mind that you can also be added to someone else’s plan, including:

• Employer-based plan
• Parent’s plan
• Spouse’s plan

When looking for health insurance, it’s common to have questions about finding low-cost options. If so, you may benefit from answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about affordable health insurance.