Cheapest Health Insurance in California (2027)

L.A. Care Health Plan has the cheapest health insurance plans in California in our analysis, with an average monthly premium of $462 for a 40-year-old nonsmoker. That's $264 below the state average of $726, which amounts to $3,168 in annual savings before subsidies.

CalOptima Health is the second-cheapest provider in the state at an average of $580 per month, followed by Molina Healthcare at $612 and Inland Empire Health Plan at $615. Anthem Blue Cross is the most expensive insurer in the state at an average of $969 per month, $507 more than L.A. Care. That's a difference of $6,084 annually, though rates reflect different plan offerings and service areas. Availability varies by county, so carefully compare insurers and plans available in your ZIP code.

* Rates shown are for a 40-year-old nonsmoker before subsidies. Each provider's average monthly premium is the average across its California plans by plan type and metal level, with Catastrophic plans excluded. The state average is the average of the provider rates.

Filter plans by age, coverage type and metal level to find the most affordable health insurance for your needs.

* Rates shown are provider averages for selected plan type, metal level, age and HSA eligibility.

L.A. Care Health Plan has the lowest HMO premiums in California at every metal tier in our analysis, averaging $386 per month for Bronze coverage for a 40-year-old. The most notable value is at the Gold tier. For $494 per month, just $59 more than its Silver plan, the deductible drops to $0 compared to Silver's $4,700 average. Over a full year, the higher Gold premium costs $708 more. If your annual out-of-pocket costs under the Silver plan would exceed $708, the Gold plan's $0 deductible would offset the premium difference.

These rates are before subsidies. Eligible shoppers can use premium tax credits to reduce monthly costs at any metal tier, but Silver plans are the only tier eligible for additional cost-sharing reductions, which can lower deductibles, copays and other out-of-pocket expenses as well. If you qualify, you should compare subsidized Silver coverage against Gold before choosing a plan.

* Rates are based on state averages for 40-year-olds.

Health Net has the lowest PPO premiums in California across all four metal tiers, averaging $579 per month for Bronze coverage for a 40-year-old. Compared with L.A. Care's Bronze HMO at $386 per month, Health Net's Bronze PPO costs $193 more. That higher premium buys greater provider flexibility, including access to specialists without referrals and some out-of-network coverage.

Health Net's Silver PPO plans average $802 monthly, while Gold coverage costs $947 and eliminates the $4,700 Silver deductible for an additional $145 per month. Its Platinum PPO plans average $1,156 per month, with a $0 deductible and $5,500 out-of-pocket maximum

* Rates are based on state averages for 40-year-olds.

Anthem Blue Cross is the most affordable EPO provider in California across every metal tier we reviewed, with an average rate of $826 per month for Bronze coverage for a 40-year-old. EPOs are the most expensive plan type in California based on our review. Anthem's Bronze EPO coverage costs $247 more per month than the cheapest Bronze PPO and $440 more than the cheapest Bronze HMO. Because EPO plans generally don't cover out-of-network care except in emergencies, it's worth considering whether the higher premium provides enough value for your healthcare needs.

* Rates are based on state averages for 40-year-olds.

L.A. Care Health Plan has the lowest average premiums in California across every age group, starting at an average of $246 per month for an 18-year-old. Premiums more than triple by age 60, increasing to $821 per month, a $575 monthly difference.

Younger adults pay lower premiums, but the cheapest Catastrophic plans have an average out-of-pocket maximum of $12,000, compared with $11,650 for Bronze plans. Lower premiums don't necessarily mean lower overall costs if you need extensive medical care.

* Rates are state averages across all plan types and metal tiers.

HSA-eligible plans are high-deductible plans that let you open a health savings account (HSA), where you can set aside pre-tax money for qualified medical expenses. L.A. Care Health Plan has the cheapest HSA-eligible HMO plan in California, with Bronze plans averaging $386 per month for a 40-year-old. Its average deductible is $5,800, with an $11,650 maximum out-of-pocket limit.

If you want broader provider access, Health Net has the cheapest HSA-eligible PPO at $579 monthly, while Anthem Blue Cross has the cheapest EPO at $826. Both plans have a $6,800 deductible and $9,725 out-of-pocket maximum.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds.

L.A. Care Health Plan's Bronze HMO has the lowest estimated total yearly cost for a 40-year-old at $1,000 in medical bills. The insurer's Gold HMO has the lowest total annual cost at $5,000 and $20,000 of medical expenses.

Estimated out-of-pocket costs assume the member pays covered expenses up to the deductible and 20% of each bill afterward (coinsurance), capped at the plan’s MOOP limit. We added this amount to annual premiums and selected the plan with the lowest estimated total annual cost for each usage level. Actual costs will vary based on copays, coinsurance, covered services and negotiated network rates.

* We compared California plans for a 40-year-old using three levels of annual medical expenses before insurance payments: $1,000 for low usage, $5,000 for moderate usage and $20,000 for high usage. We rounded each monthly premium to the nearest dollar and multiplied it by 12 to calculate annual premiums.

HMO plans are the most affordable option in California's health insurance market across every metal tier, averaging $544 per month for Bronze plans and $835 for Platinum for a 40-year-old. EPO plans are the most expensive, with Platinum coverage averaging $1,714 per month, more than double the cost of a comparable HMO. Since the difference between plan types can amount to thousands of dollars per year, compare both premiums and network rules before choosing a plan.

* Rates are state averages for 40-year-olds in California by plan type and metal tier, based on MoneyGeek's analysis of 2027 Covered California plan filings. Your actual premium will vary by age, location and plan.

The cheapest health insurance isn't always the best fit for your needs. Read our guide to the best health insurance in California to compare companies based on affordability, provider networks, coverage options and plan availability.

California offers several ways to get affordable health insurance in 2027, from free or low-cost Medi-Cal to subsidized Covered California plans. Silver premiums range from $435 to $969 monthly for a 40-year-old before subsidies, but your location, income and coverage needs determine which option costs the least.

We analyzed all 2027 individual health insurance plans available through Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace.

Data and assumptions:

• Premiums: Monthly rates for a 40-year-old nonsmoker before subsidies, unless otherwise noted.
• Plans included: All metal tiers, excluding Catastrophic plans except in age comparisons for 18- and 26-year-olds.
• Provider averages: Average monthly premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums calculated by insurer, plan type and metal tier.

How we ranked the cheapest health insurance providers:

• Primary factor: Lowest average monthly premium.
• First tiebreaker: Lower average deductible.
• Second tiebreaker: Lower average out-of-pocket maximum.

How we estimated annual medical costs:

We modeled total yearly costs at three medical spending levels: $1,000, $5,000 and $20,000. Each estimate assumes:

• 12 months of premiums.
• The member pays medical expenses up to the deductible.
• After the deductible, the member pays 20% coinsurance until reaching the plan's out-of-pocket maximum.

Limitations: Actual costs vary by age, location, plan and medical needs. Estimates don't account for differences in copays, covered services or negotiated provider rates.