The Cheapest (and Best) Health Insurance in Seattle, WA (2024)

Your health care needs, location, age, plan type and the number of people in your plan all affect how much your health insurance will cost.

MoneyGeek set out to find the cheapest health insurance companies in Seattle. Adding customer service ratings and plan options into the equation, we also found the best health insurance in Seattle.

Plan types and metal tiers are unique to each company. Finding the right plan involves shopping around for policies in your area. In addition to selecting the best and cheapest company in Seattle, choose a plan or tier that works best for you.

When reviewing health insurance plans, shoppers should look at cost, plan options, cost-sharing choices and customer service.

MoneyGeek reviewed health insurance companies in Seattle and determined that Kaiser Permanente offers the best combination of cost, plan options and customer service. It gained the overall highest score of 74 out of 100, based on the MoneyGeek scoring system.

For those looking for a policy elsewhere in the state, refer to our guide to the most affordable health insurance in Washington.

The second-best health insurance in Seattle is from Molina, which earned a score of 73 out of 100. This insurer is also the cheapest health insurance in Seattle, making it suitable for shoppers on a budget.

Insurance companies calculate your premiums by determining how you intend to split health care costs. This will vary based on the city and state where you live.

However, the best company is not always the cheapest. If you want to save as much as possible, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the marketplace metal system and how premiums and maximum out-of-pocket costs are related to each other. Factors like deductibles, copays and co-insurance will also affect your overall cost.

The marketplace health insurance plans in Washington range from Bronze to Gold. These metal tiers refer to the percentage of health care costs paid by the policyholder compared to those paid by the insurer. Bronze plans offer the lowest monthly premiums but are countered by high out-of-pocket maximums. These plans could be helpful during catastrophic events but provide little coverage for routine health care.

Without considering location as a factor, a policyholder’s age will affect the cost of their health insurance. Cost increases with age as it adapts to the health care needs of the insured individual.

The most affordable options you can find in Washington are typically Bronze plans. Ensure that the physicians and health care institutions you prefer are within your provider’s network. Choosing a plan that includes your health care providers in its network allows you to maximize your coverage.

MoneyGeek listed the cheapest medical insurance companies in Seattle for different ages to show how premiums increase as you age.

There is no one perfect plan that fits all kinds of health care needs. The plan should have a balance between the right coverage that you need and pricing that fits your budget.

Those in generally great health may prefer to pay low premiums for a plan with a high deductible, as this can often save money compared to paying higher monthly premiums for increased coverage that they won’t actually use. In this case, Catastrophic coverage and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) with lower monthly premiums and high deductibles may be more suitable.

Meanwhile, those with extensive expected health care needs throughout the entire policy year might want to get a plan with a higher monthly premium, as this can actually save them money in the long run compared to meeting a high deductible.

The poverty threshold for individuals in Washington is an income that is below $13,590. A family of four whose income is below $27,750 is considered to be living in poverty.

Health insurance subsidies and income-based assistance are offered to individuals whose incomes are at least 100% of the federal poverty level. Subsidies were previously capped at 400% of the FPL. However, the American Rescue Plan suspended the income limits for health insurance subsidies in 2022, giving more people access to such subsidies and, therefore, to affordable health insurance.

Individuals whose income does not meet these requirements may be able to qualify for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). To qualify for Medicaid, your income should fall between 100% and 150% of the FPL.

In Seattle, the cheapest health insurance option is not always the best policy. For example, a person expecting high medical costs who chooses a plan with low premiums and high deductibles might end up paying more throughout the policy year.

To help you learn more about your options, MoneyGeek answered frequently asked questions about the best and cheapest health insurance plans in Seattle.