Best Health InsuranceIowaBest Iowa Health Insurance (2023 Plans)
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Best Health InsuranceIowaBest Health Insurance in Iowa
Best Overall in Iowa - Oscar Insurance Company
Best for Low MOOP - Oscar Insurance Company
Best Cheap - Oscar Insurance Company
Best for Low Income - Oscar Insurance Company
Best for Young Adults - Oscar Insurance Company
Best for HMO - CareSource
Best for EPO - Oscar Insurance Company
Best Short-Term Insurance - National General Accident & Health
Best Overall for Health Insurance in Iowa
With a MoneyGeek score of 77 out of 100, Oscar offers the best health insurance in Iowa.
To rank the best overall insurance provider in Iowa, we examined 15 Silver EPO plans and seven Silver HMO plans.
MoneyGeek Pick: Oscar
pros
Has the cheapest available premiums of the four providers evaluated in this study
One of the lowest average MOOP costs
Denial rate is better than the average (claims are somewhat likely to be approved)
cons
Offers limited plan types
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
In Iowa, Oscar offers 12 Silver EPO health insurance plans for an average MOOP cost of $8,850 and an average monthly premium of $472. The provider has an excellent record for claims management and usually approves requests.
Oscar only offers EPO plans, which can be a drawback. EPO plans provide in-network coverage at a reasonable price, but policyholders usually need to stay within their network, unless it’s an emergency.
Plan Recommendations
If you’re considering a policy with Oscar, browse the following Silver plans:
- Silver Simple - For Diabetes: $475 per month; MOOP $8,550
- Silver Simple - PCP Saver: $458 per month; MOOP $8,900
- Silver Classic: $479 per month; MOOP $8,650
Best Health Insurance in Iowa for Low Out-of-Pocket Costs
Oscar offers the best private health insurance in Iowa for a low out-of-pocket cost, earning a MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100. In addition to its low out-of-pocket costs, the insurer offers extremely affordable monthly premiums and has a better-than-average claims approval rate.
For this category, we evaluated 12 EPO Gold plans and eight Gold HMO plans.
MoneyGeek Pick: Oscar
pros
Has the least expensive average MOOP
Has the cheapest monthly premium rate of the evaluated insurers
Has a better-than-average claims management rating
cons
Only offers EPO plans
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
In Iowa, Oscar is MoneyGeek’s top medical insurance company for health insurance that has a low out-of-pocket cost. Its plans have an average monthly premium of $473 and a MOOP cost of $7,100. The company also approves more claims than the average lender.
Plan Recommendations
We recommend the following low-MOOP cost health plans from Oscar:
- Gold Elite: $497 per month; MOOP $5,500
- Gold Classic - Standard: $449 per month; MOOP $8,700
Best Cheap Health Insurance in Iowa
Our analysis found that Oscar is the cheapest health insurance provider in Iowa, garnering a MoneyGeek score of 86 out of 100.
To select the best insurer for this category, MoneyGeek placed a greater weighting on affordability. Plans with cheaper monthly premiums typically have higher out-of-pocket costs, which can be advantageous if you don’t need medical care often.
We evaluated 15 Silver EPO plans and seven Silver HMO plans to find the insurer with the cheapest monthly rate.
MoneyGeek also analyzed the cheapest health insurance in Iowa for those who just want the cheapest rates.
MoneyGeek Pick: Oscar
pros
Offers the cheapest monthly premium
Received the second-highest denial rate score, which is better than the average competitor
Has a relatively low MOOP cost
cons
Only offers EPO plans
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Oscar provides the most affordable medical insurance plans in Iowa at an average monthly premium cost of $472 and a MOOP cost of $8,850. The insurer offers 12 Silver EPO plans in the state.
We specifically highlighted Silver plans that offer moderate coverage for a reasonable rate, making them more common among policyholders. Note that EPO plans require policyholders to stay in network for coverage except in emergency cases. You may or may not need a referral to see a specialist if you have an EPO plan.
Plan Recommendations
The top three best and cheapest Oscar plans are:
- Silver Simple - PCP Saver: $458 per month; MOOP $8,900
- Silver Classic - Standard: $462 per month; MOOP $8,900
- Silver Simple - For Diabetes: $475 per month; MOOP $8,550
Best Health Insurance for Low Income in Iowa
Oscar offers the best health insurance in Iowa to those with low incomes. The insurer received a Money Geek score of 79 out of 100 due to its affordable average monthly premium.
Our analysis for this category only included insurers that provide plans with cheap premiums and cost-sharing reductions (CSRs). Based on these criteria, we reviewed seven Silver HMO and 15 Silver EPO plans offered in Iowa.
With CSRs, you can obtain a lower MOOP and deductible if your income is below 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Thus, you can avoid getting a higher out-of-pocket cost that usually comes with cheaper premiums.
A standard Silver plan covers roughly 70% of medical care expenses; however, the percentage covered is usually higher for CSR Silver plans. In Iowa, individuals can expect the following cost-sharing percentages based on their income:
- Annual income between $27,180 and $33,975 (201%–250% of the FPL) qualifies for a plan that pays about 73% of health costs
- Annual income between $20,385 and $27,180 (151%–200% of the FPL) qualifies for a plan that pays about 87% of health costs
- Annual income below $20,385 (up to 150% of the FPL) qualifies for a plan that pays about 94% of health costs
The number of people in your household may cause these brackets to shift.
MoneyGeek Pick: Oscar
pros
Has the lowest monthly premium among the evaluated insurers
Has a lower denial rate than other insurers
cons
MOOP cost is more expensive than other insurers
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Iowa residents with lower incomes may get the best health insurance from Oscar. Those in the 201%–250% of the FPL bracket may receive health insurance for $472 per month with a MOOP cost of $7,183. Though higher than other insurers, Oscar’s claims denial rate of 6% is still very low. This indicates that most medical claims filed with this insurer are approved.
Those in Iowa with low incomes can choose between 12 Silver EPO plans from Oscar.
Plan Recommendations
Iowans with limited income can consider Oscar’s Silver plans. For the same monthly premium, individuals who fall in lower income brackets might be able to secure a lower average MOOP:
- 201%–250% of the FPL: $458 per month; MOOP $7,200
- 151%–200% of the FPL: $458 per month; MOOP $3,000
- Up to 150% of the FPL: $458 per month; MOOP $1,550
Best Health Insurance for Young Adults in Iowa
The best health insurance for young adults in Iowa is Oscar, obtaining a MoneyGeek score of 58 out of 100.
We surveyed all providers that have Bronze, Expanded Bronze or Catastrophic metal tiers, plans that typically have the cheapest rates but most expensive out-of-pocket costs. Keep in mind that only individuals under the age of 30 can purchase Catastrophic plans.
MoneyGeek listed the number of plan tiers and types available to young adults in Iowa:
- Bronze: Seven EPO plans and two HMO plans
- Expanded Bronze: 20 EPO plans and seven HMO plans
- Catastrophic: Six EPO plans
MoneyGeek Pick: Oscar
pros
Low claims denial rate
Offers the cheapest average monthly premium of the evaluated providers
cons
Has the second-most expensive MOOP cost among the evaluated providers
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Young adults in Iowa will get the best health insurance from Oscar. The insurer offers one Catastrophic EPO plan, two Bronze EPO plans and five Expanded Bronze EPO plans. Its plans have an average monthly premium cost of $278 and a MOOP cost of $8,881. Oscar has a low claims denial rate of 6%, meaning that the majority of claims are approved.
Catastrophic, Bronze and Expanded Bronze plans are meant for young people, typically between the ages of 18 and 26, who are in good health. Though inexpensive, they offer little coverage.
Plan Recommendations
For young adults in Iowa, we recommend the following health insurance plans from Oscar:
- Bronze Simple - HSA: $291 per month; MOOP $7,450
- Secure: $219 per month; MOOP $9,100
- Bronze Simple - Standard: $254 per month; MOOP $9,100
Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in Iowa
Insurers offer different plan types. In Iowa, the best HMO and EPO plans are available from the following insurers:
- HMO: CareSource Iowa Co. (MoneyGeek score: 60 out of 100)
- EPO: Oscar (MoneyGeek score: 60 out of 100)
Our top picks are limited to Silver plans, since these typically offer the best balance of cost and coverage. Those shopping for health insurance in Iowa can choose from 15 Silver EPO plans and seven Silver HMO plans.
MoneyGeek Pick for HMO: CareSource Iowa Co
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
We selected CareSource Iowa Co. as the top-performing provider for HMO plans in Iowa. It offers eight Silver-tier HMO plans that have an average monthly premium of $473 and a MOOP cost of $9,000. With a 0% denial rate, the company rarely, if ever, denies a medical claim.
HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plans are commonly offered by insurers. These plans feature lower monthly premiums than other plan types, but policyholders are usually restricted to using in-network providers. Additionally, most of these plans require a referral to see a specialist.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following HMO plans from CareSource Iowa Co.:
- CareSource Marketplace Standard Silver: $472 per month; MOOP $8,900
- CareSource Marketplace Standard Silver Dental, Vision, & Fitness: $480 per month; MOOP $8,900
MoneyGeek Pick for EPO: Oscar
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Oscar shines as the best provider of EPO plans in Iowa, offering 12 Silver-tier EPO plans at an average cost of $472 per month and $8,850 MOOP. The company even has the lowest denial rate in our study at 6%. This means it’s very likely that your claims will be approved.
EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization) plans are relatively affordable, but you need to stay within your provider’s network for coverage. However, a referral isn’t always needed for a specialist visit.
Plan Recommendations
We recommend the following Silver EPO plans from Oscar:
- Silver Simple - For Diabetes: $475 per month; MOOP $8,550
- Silver Classic: $479 per month; MOOP $8,650
Best Short-Term Health Insurance in Iowa
National General Accident & Health is MoneyGeek’s top pick for short-term health insurance in Iowa — the company earned a MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100. Short-term health insurance best suits those who need to bridge brief coverage lapses since it doesn’t cover all essential medical benefits compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
National General Accident & Health
National General Accident & Health is an outstanding health insurance company in Iowa, offering insurance for accidents, critical illness and dental needs. The provider has flexible term lengths and coverage limits as well as low-cost co-insurance and application fees. Most policies even include prescription drugs and out-of-network coverages.
How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in Iowa
Your budget and health care needs should determine the best private health insurance in Iowa for you. When you’re shopping for health insurance, it’s important to consider how much you’re willing to pay each month based on the amount of medical care you need.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
HMO plans, which are usually the cheapest and most common plan type, typically restrict coverage to in-network providers. PPO plans, on the other hand, provide more coverage outside your network but usually have pricier premiums. EPO plans are the third most common plan type. These plans are similar to HMOs in that you have to use an in-network provider even in emergency situations. However, with EPOs, you may not need a referral to see a specialist.
Residents in Iowa can choose from 75 EPO plans and 31 HMO plans.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
Generally, if you have a lower average monthly premium, you’ll pay more out of pocket. For instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Wellmark Silver Primary Care plan has an average monthly premium cost of $452 and a MOOP cost of $8,900, while its Wellmark Silver Traditional HMO Plan has a higher average monthly cost of $514 and lower MOOP cost of $8,700.
Consider Iowa Medicare or Medicaid if You’re Eligible
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that subsidizes medical care for individuals with a qualifying illness or disability as well as adults who are age 65 and older.
Medicare is split into three parts, which are:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers care for those who need inpatient hospital, hospice and home medical care. Nursing facilities are also included.
- Part B (Medical Insurance): Helps pay for doctor’s visits, diagnostic tests and medical supplies.
- Part D (Prescription drug coverage): This can offset expenses for prescription drugs and vaccines.
MoneyGeek also identified the best Medicare Advantage and best Medicare Supplement plans in Iowa. Medicaid is another government-backed program for those below a state-specific income threshold. Iowans whose incomes are below 138% of the FPL can qualify for affordable, or sometimes free, health insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Health Insurance in Iowa
If you’re in the market for health insurance, it’s typical to have questions about cost and availability. MoneyGeek answers the most commonly asked questions below.
About Brenna Kelly, Licensed Health Insurance Agent
