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

When it comes to health insurance premiums, location, age, plan type, personal health/health care needs and the number of people on your plan impact your costs.

MoneyGeek evaluated marketplace data to identify the cheapest health insurers in San Jose. We also researched the best health insurance companies based on a balance of customer service, affordability and plan options.

Not every insurer offers all plan types or metal tiers. Shop around to find the right plan for your situation.

Furthermore, if there is only one insurance company in your area, buy the plan or tier that is right for you.

The cost of coverage shouldn’t be the only consideration when buying health insurance. Plan options, cost-sharing choices and customer service are also important to consider. MoneyGeek’s scoring system determined that Valley Health Plan ranked as the best overall health insurance in San Jose for balancing these factors. It earned a score of 83.5 out of 100.

Kaiser Permanente is the second-best health insurance company in San Jose. This insurance provider obtained good scores in affordability and customer satisfaction but lower scores in plan options. It earned a MoneyGeek score of 79.5 out of 100.

Generally, health insurance premiums are determined by how you want to divide care costs with your insurance provider. Costs change depending on which city or state you are in.

Remember, the best insurer may not be the most affordable. However, if cost is a critical factor for you, it’s best to know the marketplace metal tier and how insurance premiums and other fees relate. Factors like deductibles, maximum out-of-pocket costs, copays and co-insurance influence your health care expenses.

The metal tiers include plan levels from Bronze to Platinum. Bronze tiers provide the cheapest premiums but may have high maximum out-of-pocket costs. They may protect you from catastrophic events but don’t offer much coverage for regular health care.

Examples of plan costs for metal tiers in San Jose are provided in the table below.

In addition, Expanded Bronze plans might be available in some areas. These differ from regular Bronze plans because Expanded Bronze plans offer slightly more coverage and pay for at least one major service before the deductible is met.

Wherever you live, age is a critical factor in determining the health insurance cost. While it’s a fact that health care needs increase as you age, monthly premiums also rise to provide the necessary services.

Bronze or Expanded Bronze plans are considered the most reasonable for anyone looking for health insurance. Before picking from either of these plans, check if the insurer’s network offers their services in your area. If not, you may pay more for out-of-network coverage and not utilize most of your health insurance plan.

As a result of the restrictions on eligibility for Catastrophic plans, we didn’t include them in our cheapest company table below.

There is no perfect health insurance plan in San Jose. Compare coverages against costs to determine what’s best for you. To find the best coverage, evaluate what you can afford based on your medical needs.

Catastrophic coverage and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) may only be suitable if you are in great health. You’ll likely pay out of pocket all year, but this might end up being cheaper.

Otherwise, a more expensive plan could be cheaper overall if it covers your medical needs.

Your income bracket may affect your eligibility for financial assistance or health insurance subsidies. These are available to those whose income falls at least 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Customarily, subsidies are capped at 400% of the FPL, but the American Rescue Plan discontinued this rule for 2022.

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) could be viable options for those individuals ineligible for subsidies. You may qualify for Medicaid if your income lies between 100% and 150% of the FPL, but this depends on your state.

Looking for the cheapest health insurance plans may seem enticing. However, its low monthly premiums and high deductibles may mean more out-of-pocket costs. This may happen if you need health care regularly or doctor consultations often.

To help you in your journey to find the best coverage for your needs, MoneyGeek answered the most commonly asked questions to help you find health insurance in San Jose.