The Cheapest (and Best) Health Insurance in Sacramento, CA (2024)

Health insurance costs differ depending on factors like your location, age, plan type, health care needs and group or family size.

MoneyGeek determined the most affordable health insurance providers in Sacramento using marketplace data and evaluated the best overall options in terms of affordability, customer service ratings and the number of metal tier options.

Remember, not all metal tiers are available with every insurer, and you will need to compare the details of each plan to find the best for your needs. In addition, if only one insurer is available in your area, choose the best tier or plan for your situation.

While shopping around for health insurance, the cost of a plan should not be the only criterion to consider. To find the best cheap provider in Sacramento, other factors to consider include the cost-sharing options, customer service and available metal tiers.

MoneyGeek evaluated insurance providers in the city and determined that Blue Shield of California is the best insurer, balancing these factors. It earned a rating of 81.5 out of 100.

MoneyGeek’s evaluation shows that the best medical insurance runner-up provider in Sacramento is Kaiser Permanente, with a score of 81.5 out of 100. The insurer had above-average affordability and customer service scores but ranked lower in terms of plan options.

Insurers determine health insurance premiums based on how you split your care costs. Your total cost also varies depending on your city or state of residence.

In some situations, the most affordable insurer may not be the best for your health care needs. Nevertheless, if affordability is your primary concern, familiarizing yourself with the marketplace metal tier system plus factors like maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs, copays, co-insurance and deductibles can help you identify the cheapest option.

The metal tier system consists of Bronze as the cheapest plan and Platinum as the most expensive. Note that low-premium health insurance plans have higher out-of-pocket maximums and may not offer adequate coverage for daily health care needs.

MoneyGeek outlined plan costs in Sacramento across different metal tiers in the following table.

You may also find Expanded Bronze plans within your area. These plans offer higher coverage benefits than standard Bronze plans and provide members with a minimum of one primary health care service before they pay the deductible.

Age is one of the primary determinants of how much you pay for health insurance, regardless of where you live in Sacramento. Older members pay higher costs since they have more need for health care services than younger members.

Bronze or Expanded Bronze are generally the cheapest options. Before enrolling in these plans, evaluate the provider's network so that you don’t end up paying cash for out-of-network services.

The chart below lists the providers offering the cheapest health insurance in Sacramento by age and their Bronze plan premiums. Catastrophic plans were excluded because of their eligibility restrictions.

It is impossible to find a perfect plan in Sacramento. However, the best way to get affordable health insurance in the city is by evaluating coverage benefits and costs against your needs and choosing an option that balances both aspects.

If you anticipate little need for health care services, you may consider Catastrophic coverage and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) since they feature lower premiums. Meanwhile, a more expensive plan may be more suitable if you are likely to need regular health care.

Sacramento residents within the low-income bracket may qualify for financial assistance on their health insurance premiums. Customarily, you are eligible for a health insurance subsidy with a minimum income of 100% of the federal poverty level. While the maximum income limit for health insurance subsidies is generally capped at 400% of the FPL, the American Rescue Plan dismissed this rule, allowing more people to get financial assistance.

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) assistance are also available for low-income individuals. Income requirements for Medicaid vary between 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level, depending on the location.

Cheap health insurance is not necessarily the best choice when buying health insurance. Ultimately plans with low premiums and high deductibles could be more costly for individuals who need consistent health care.

Getting the best cheap health insurance in Sacramento can be confusing. MoneyGeek answered the following questions to help you learn more about health insurance plans in the city.