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How to find affordable health insurance The cost of health insurance is a combination of monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs when you use your coverage. The more you're willing to pay out of pocket for care, the lower those monthly rates will be. But not all healthcare needs can be predicted, so it's hard to guess how much you'll pay for care throughout the year. That means the most inexpensive health insurance plans for monthly premiums are those with higher deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. That makes shopping for affordable healthcare a balancing act between what you pay monthly and what you must pay if you need care. Fortunately, there are programs and plans to make affordable health insurance accessible. Individual and Affordable Care Act (ACA) plansIndividual health plans are available in the ACA marketplace and outside the marketplace. The ACA exchanges are designed to help people find the most affordable health insurance plan available while ensuring basic coverage. The exchange plans must meet specified criteria, covering ten essential health benefits, including prescription drugs, outpatient, hospitalization, and mental health. The federal government also offers low-income health insurance tax credits and subsidies. If your household income is between 100 and 400% of the federal poverty level, you are likely eligible for subsidies to make ACA health insurance cheaper. That’s about $12,880 to $51,520 for an individual and $26,500 to $106,000 for a family of four. According to Dr. Kevin Griffith, an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University's Department of Health Policy, people too often fail to take advantage of this government assistance. "Many uninsured individuals are eligible for generous subsidies but either don't realize it or do not take advantage of them," he says. You'll be asked to submit your household income information when shopping on the ACA exchange website. The tool provides subsidies where appropriate, so you’ll know what to expect to pay in premiums. Expert Advice
Kevin Griffith Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN “Many uninsured individuals are eligible for generous subsidies, but either don't realize it or do not take advantage of them.” The ACA marketplace classifies plans by metal tiers: Bronze Silver Gold Platinum The most affordable health insurance in the ACA marketplace in terms of premiums are Bronze plans, except for catastrophic plans, discussed below. These have the lowest premiums but the highest deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. A Bronze plan generally costs less initially but requires more out-of-pocket expenses than the other plans for healthcare services. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), the lowest-cost Bronze plan in 2025 averages $381 a month. Platinum plans have the highest premiums but the lowest out-of-pocket costs and deductibles. Silver plans typically have higher premiums than Bronze. However, if you qualify for subsidies, you may find a Silver plan that's cheaper than a Bronze plan. A Silver plan has lower out-of-pocket costs than a Bronze plan. So, a Silver plan might be a better bet if you qualify for subsidies. The KFF reports an average monthly cost of $486 a month for the lowest-cost Silver plan. However, if you don't qualify for subsidies, ACA plans can be more expensive than an employer-sponsored plan. In that case, you may want to look for an individual plan outside of the marketplace. Plans outside of the exchanges don't have as many requirements and can be more affordable than ACA plans. You can look for an individual plan outside of the exchanges by checking with an independent health insurance broker or going directly to area health insurers. If you shop for a plan outside of the exchanges, check the coverage so you know what to expect before signing up. To get an ACA plan: Catastrophic health plansCatastrophic health insurance offers low-cost premiums with the comprehensive coverage found in standard health insurance. Catastrophic plans cover preventive care, pregnancy, mental health, prescription drugs, rehab, labs, and outpatient and inpatient care. These plans are limited to people under 30 or facing specific hardships such as homelessness. Catastrophic plans are available through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. The plans have low premiums but high deductibles. The average monthly premium is only $195, much cheaper than other plans. However, the deductible is around $8,000. You have to pay for healthcare services until you reach your deductible, at which point the plan pays for all your healthcare costs. Catastrophic health insurance doesn't have a coinsurance portion, which differs from many other plans. To get a catastrophic health plan: Visit your state's ACA marketplace. If you're under 30, catastrophic health insurance should appear as an option. If you're facing a hardship, contact your state's marketplace directly and provide information. MedicaidMedicaid is a low-cost health insurance plan with the same benefits as an employer-sponsored health plan. Depending on your income, you pay little to nothing for Medicaid if you're eligible. The combination of low costs and comprehensive benefits makes Medicaid an excellent, affordable health insurance choice for those who qualify. Medicaid premiums are based on income, which varies by state. Thirty-eight states expanded Medicaid eligibility to up to 138% of the federal poverty level. That's $17,609 for an individual and $36,156 for a family of four. The other 12 states have stricter eligibility guidelines. One drawback is that not all providers accept Medicaid, so you may encounter issues finding a doctor who accepts Medicaid. To get Medicaid: Check with your state's Medicaid program. The state program can figure out whether you're eligible and provide options. States usually don't offer a choice for Medicaid. Instead, you enroll in the state Medicaid program or a managed Medicaid plan, which is a private insurer that contracts with the state. Short-term health plansAnother cheap health insurance option for most Americans is a short-term health plan. You can likely find a short-term health plan for much lower premiums than an employer-sponsored or individual health plan. Griffith cautions that you should look beyond price before choosing this kind of plan: "Short-term plans generally cost less than traditional insurance plans, but they are exempt from many of the ACA's consumer protections. Unlike traditional insurance plans, short-term plans do not need to cover pre-existing conditions, essential health benefits, and may have lifetime and annual benefit limits." However, these plans aren't technically considered health insurance. They provide coverage for a short period and don't have the same level of benefits you usually find in a health insurance plan. For instance, short-term health plans usually don't cover maternity, prescription drugs and mental healthcare. They also have annual coverage caps and you must pay all the costs once you reach it. Short-term health plans are available for one year and most states let you renew them twice. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York don't allow short-term plans. Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington limit the plan's length. Short-term health plans can help you in between jobs or until a new employer starts covering you. These plans aren't meant as long-term health coverage. To find short-term health insurance: A Google search provides you with insurers that offer short-term health plans. Pore over the fine print to understand what the plan covers and what it doesn't. Affordable health insurance from an employerMost working-age Americans get their health insurance through an employer. A benefit of employer-sponsored health insurance is that your job helps pay for coverage. The KFF estimates employers, on average, pay 83% of health insurance costs in a single plan, and the employee picks up 17%. On average, employers pay 72% of health plan costs in a family plan and employees absorb 28%. The average annual cost of health insurance through an employer in 2024 is $8,431 for single coverage and $23,968 for a family. The downside of employer-sponsored plans is that you're limited to what your job offers and may only give you one option. Businesses increasingly look for ways to cut healthcare costs and one way is to limit health insurance to a single, high-deductible health plan. High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) have a deductible of at least $1,400 for individuals and $2,800 for families by federal law. A deductible is the amount you pay for eligible healthcare services or medications before your insurance plan begins to share the cost. Once you reach your deductible limit, the health plan begins to pay for healthcare after you pay for your coinsurance amount. HDHPs are often the cheapest employer-sponsored health insurance plans in terms of premiums but have significant deductibles and out-of-pocket costs if you need healthcare services. They also come with health savings accounts (HSA) that allow you to put aside pre-tax dollars for later medical expenses. To get employer-sponsored health insurance: Health insurance finder tool Have you become unemployed within the last 60 days and lost your health insurance?
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Back Reset result Our recommendationCOBRA
The Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act, better known as COBRA, allows you to stay on your former employer's health insurance plan to bridge the gap until you get new coverage. COBRA is expensive, as you will pay the full premium without help from your employer. It should be considered a short-term solution. You may also want to consider: Individual health insurance Back Reset result Our recommendation
Back Reset result How much is your annual household income? $0 $250,000+How many members are in your household? 1 123456 Back
Back Reset result Our recommendationMedicare
Most people over the age of 65 qualify for Medicare. Original Medicare includes Parts A and B, for medical and hospital care. Medicare Advantage plans, administered by private health insurers, are called Part C, and include everything in Parts A and B. Many Advantage plans also include extra benefits like vision, hearing and dental coverage. Medicare Part D, which covers prescription drugs, can be added to either option. Back Reset result Our recommendation
Compare and Buy Health Insurance Quotes in minutes Compare quotes Back Reset result Our recommendationMedicaid You may qualify for Medicaid based on your income. Guidelines for eligibility differ by state. To find out if you qualify in your state, contact the local Medicaid office. You may also want to consider an ACA plan. The ACA provides subsidies for lower-income people. Learn more: Affordable Care Act plans Back Reset result Our recommendation
Compare and Buy Health Insurance Quotes in minutes Compare quotes Back Reset result Our recommendationParent's employer-sponsored health insurance You can stay on your parent's health insurance plan until age 26 under the Affordable Care Act. For most people, this is the cheapest option. A dependent usually costs less to insure than a spouse or an individual. You may also want to consider: Individual health insurance Back Reset result Our recommendation
Back Reset result Our recommendationSpouse's employer-sponsored health insurance If your spouse can add you to their employer-sponsored plan, it will likely be more affordable than seeking coverage on your own. In most cases, coverage for a spouse is available, but not always. You may also want to consider: Individual health insurance Back Reset result Our recommendation
Learn more about each plan type PPO HMO HDHP EPO Back Reset result Our recommendationEmployer-sponsored health insurance Health insurance through your employer is generally the most affordable option since employers pay a large portion of the monthly premium. If an employer-sponsored plan is available, it's likely the best choice. You may have more than one plan option to choose from. You may also want to consider: Individual health insurance Back Reset result Our recommendation
Learn more about each plan type PPO HMO HDHP EPO Back Reset result Employer plans are often one of these types of four plans. Click on each one to find out more. PPO HMO HDHP EPO Preferred-provider Organization (PPOs) Pay higher premiums with a lower deductible You have access to more providers, but pay much more for health insurance You don't want to choose a primary care physician You don't want to get a referral You want the ability to get out-of-network care Preferred-provider organization (PPOs) plans are the most common type of employer-based health plan. PPOs have higher premiums than HMOs and HDHPs, but those added costs offer you flexibility. A PPO allows you to get care anywhere and without primary care provider referrals. You may have to pay more to get out-of-network care, but a PPO will pick up a portion of the costs.Find out more about the differences between plans Health maintenance organization (HMO) Pay higher premiums with a lower deductible Restricted network of providers with lower premiums You want to choose a primary care physician You don't mind getting a referral You don't care about the ability to get out-of-network care Health maintenance organization (HMO) plans have lower premiums than PPOs. However, HMOs have more restrictions. HMOs don't allow you to get care outside of your provider network. If you get out-of-network care, you'll likely have to pay for all of it. HMOs also require you to get primary care provider referrals to see specialists.Find out more about the differences between plans High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) Pay lower premiums with a higher deductible High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) have become more common as employers look to reduce their health costs. HDHPs have lower premiums than PPOs and HMOs, but much higher deductibles. A deductible is what you have to pay for health care services before your health plan chips in money. Once you reach your deductible, the health plan pays a portion and you pay your share, which is called coinsurance.Find out more about the differences between plans Exclusive provider organization (EPO) Restricted network of providers with lower premiums You don't want to choose a primary care physician You don't want to get a referral You don't care about the ability to get out-of-network care Exclusive provider organization (EPO) plans offer the flexibility of a PPO with the restricted network found in an HMO. EPOs don't require that members get a referral to see a specialist. In that way, it's similar to a PPO. However, an EPO requires in-network care, which is like an HMO.Find out more about the differences between plans Back Reset result
Compare and Buy Health Insurance Quotes in minutes Compare quotes Back Reset result Individual insurance
You should compare individual insurance plans, including those on the health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). ACA plans have no restrictions on pre-existing conditions and must include certain coverage basics. Back Reset result
To learn more about ACA plans, choose the option that best fits your needs Back Reset result Individual insurance
The Affordable Care Act created insurance exchanges that allow people to compare
plans. The health law also requires insurers to accept everyone and not charge them
exorbitant rates. People who make below 400% of the federal poverty level qualify
for subsidies to help pay for an ACA plan. These plans have lower monthly premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs Back Reset result
Silver Bronze Silver plans provide a good balance of monthly premiums with out-of-pocket costs. Coinsurance is 70% with a silver plan, meaning you will pay 30% of the costs after your deductible is met, up to the out-of-pocket limit. Silver plans are a good choice for people who are in generally good health but don't want high out-of-pocket costs if something goes wrong. Bronze plans are a popular choice with those who value low monthly premiums and are willing to pay more when they need care. Coinsurance is set at 60%, meaning you will pay 40% if you do need care, up to the out-of-pocket limit. Bronze plans are good for those who don't expect to need many services outside of preventative care throughout the year.
Compare and Buy Health Insurance Quotes in minutes Compare quotes Back Reset result Individual insurance
The Affordable Care Act created insurance exchanges that allow people to compare
plans. The health law also requires insurers to accept everyone and not charge them
exorbitant rates. People who make below 400% of the federal poverty level qualify
for subsidies to help pay for an ACA plan. These plans have higher monthly premiums with lower out-of-pocket costs Back Reset result
Platinum Gold ACA platinum plans have the highest monthly premiums, but the lowest out-of-pocket costs. You'll pay more monthly in return for lower deductibles, copays and coinsurance amounts. Coinsurance with platinum plans is 90%, which means you pay 10% after the deductible, up to your out-of-pocket limit. Platinum plans are good for those who anticipate a lot of medical needs throughout the year. Gold plans cost a little less than platinum plans, and come with higher out-of-pocket costs. The coinsurance amount on a gold plan is 80%, which means you pay 20% after the deductible, up to your out-of-pocket limit. A gold plan is a good idea if you think you'll need a lot of care throughout the year, but don't want to pay platinum premiums.
Compare and Buy Health Insurance Quotes in minutes Compare quotes How do I get cheap health insurance?Regardless of how you shop for an affordable health insurance plan, you'll want to examine the numbers and make sure your doctors accept the plan. Otherwise, you may have to pay more or all of the costs for visits to those doctors. Compare the premiums, copays, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Also, determine what costs are most important. Finally, ask yourself if you'd prefer lower premiums or lower out-of-pocket costs. Michael Daugherty, vice president of sales at GetInsured, advises that very low-premium plans can have higher price tags because of out-of-pocket costs. "Purchasing a plan with a low premium can be a pitfall if it ends up having a high deductible,” he says. “Also, short-term plans may appear to be cheap, but they only cover you in a catastrophic situation and generally exclude expenses that may result from pre-existing conditions. It's important to buy health insurance from a reputable, qualified broker who can explain your options and tell you what the real cost of a health insurance plan is." Deborah Gordon, author of "The Healthcare Consumer's Manifesto: How to Get the Most for Your Money," says the best plan depends on your specific circumstances. "If you don't expect to need a lot of healthcare services, that trade-off may work out well for you,” Gordon explains “But, if you're worried about unanticipated expenses or wouldn't be able to handle medical bills, consider a plan that protects you a little better." Sources: KFF. "Average Marketplace Premiums by Metal Tier Accessed August 2025 Business.com. "Healthcare Employer and Employee Costs in 2025." Accessed August 2025 In case you missed it August 26, 2025 Health insurance for college students and young adults (2025) (责任编辑：) |
