Best Health InsuranceMontanaBest Montana Health Insurance (2023 Plans)
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Best Health InsuranceMontanaBest Health Insurance in Montana
Best Overall in Montana - Mountain Health CO-OP
Best for Low MOOP - Mountain Health CO-OP
Best Cheap - Mountain Health CO-OP
Best for Low Income - Mountain Health CO-OP
Best for Young Adults - Mountain Health CO-OP
Best for HMO - Blue Cross Blue Shield
Best for PPO - Mountain Health CO-OP
Best Short-Term Insurance - National General Accident & Health
Best Overall for Health Insurance in Montana
Mountain Health CO-OP offers the best health insurance in Montana, receiving a perfect MoneyGeek score of 100 out of 100. Compared to the other two insurers that we evaluated, it offers the most affordable monthly premiums and lowest out-of-pocket costs. It also offers the most variety of plan types and has the highest claims approval rating.
In this category, we only evaluated providers in Montana for their Silver plan options. This included two Silver HMO plans and 20 Silver PPO plans.
MoneyGeek Pick: Mountain Health CO-OP
pros
Less likely than other insurers to deny applications
Has the lowest MOOP cost out of the providers we reviewed
Offers the most affordable monthly premium compared to its competitors
Has a variety of plan options
cons
Only offers PPO plans, which typically cost more than other plan types
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
With its affordable premiums and low MOOP costs, Mountain Health CO-OP provides the best health insurance in Montana. You can obtain health insurance from this company for $468 per month with an average MOOP cost of $7,139.
It offers 14 Silver Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. A PPO plan provides more coverage, as it covers medical benefits outside of an insurer’s network of health care providers.
Furthermore, its denial rate is less than 6% — the lowest among the insurers that we evaluated in Montana. This means that your claim has a higher chance of being approved by this provider.
Plan Recommendations
The following are our top three recommendations for Silver plans from Mountain Health CO-OP:
- Plus SG Silver MT HD: $436 per month; MOOP $5,000
- Access SG Silver MT HD: $475 per month; MOOP $5,000
- Connect SG Silver MT HD: $475 per month; MOOP $5,000
Best Health Insurance in Montana for Low Out-of-Pocket Costs
Mountain Health CO-OP offers the best health insurance in Montana with low out-of-pocket costs. It received a MoneyGeek score of 100 out of 100.
It received a perfect score of 5 out of 5 for its monthly rates, MOOP costs, low denial rate and plan offerings. In our comparison group of three insurers, its plans feature the most affordable monthly premiums and the lowest MOOP costs. It also has a low claims denial rate, meaning your claims are more likely to be approved.
We analyzed data from two Gold HMO plans and 15 Gold PPO plans to find the best insurer.
MoneyGeek Pick: Mountain Health CO-OP
pros
Has the cheapest monthly premiums
Has the lowest MOOP costs
Has the lowest denial rate
Offers a variety of plan options
cons
Only offers PPO plans
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Mountain Health CO-OP offers health insurance with the lowest out-of-pocket costs in Montana. Plans with this insurance have an average monthly cost of $530 and an average MOOP cost of $6,166. This is the cheapest MOOP cost in our comparison group of providers.
Under the Gold tier, this company has 11 PPO plans. These plans offer more flexibility because you don’t need a referral for health care services and can receive coverage for out-of-network providers.
With a denial rate of less than 6%, it’s very likely that your claims will be approved by Mountain Health CO-OP health insurance.
Plan Recommendations
We recommend the following Gold PPO plans from Mountain Health CO-OP for the lowest out-of-pocket costs:
- Plus SG Gold MT HD: $502 per month; MOOP $3,000
- Rocky Mountain Ind Gold MT: $516 per month; MOOP $6,000
- Plus SG Gold MT: $500 per month; MOOP $7,000
Best Cheap Health Insurance in Montana
Mountain Health CO-OP offers the best cheap health insurance in Montana, receiving an impressive MoneyGeek score of 100 out of 100.
For this category, we weighted the affordability of insurers’ monthly premiums higher in our overall score. It’s important to recognize, however, that plans with low monthly premiums tend to have higher MOOP costs.
We looked at two Silver HMO plans and 20 Silver PPO plans from different providers to find the best cheap health insurance in Montana.
MoneyGeek also analyzed the cheapest health insurance in Montana for those who just want the cheapest rates.
MoneyGeek Pick: Mountain Health CO-OP
pros
Low claims denial rate of approximately 6%
Has most affordable average monthly premium
Has the lowest out-of-pocket costs
cons
Only offers PPO plans, which typically cost more than other plan types
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Mountain Health CO-OP is the best and cheapest health insurance company in Montana. On average, the cost of health insurance from this company is $468 per month and features a MOOP cost of $5,000.
It has 14 PPO plans to choose from, allowing prospective policyholders to choose a plan that’s customized to their needs. Though PPO plans have a wider network of health professionals than HMO plans, they typically cost more. However, this added cost allows policyholders to use out-of-network health services.
The insurer’s denial rate is about 6% — the lowest among the companies we analyzed in this category. With a Mountain Health CO-OP health insurance plan, you can save money on health care, with its low average monthly premiums and MOOP costs.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver PPO plans from Mountain Health CO-OP to get quality coverage at an affordable cost:
- Plus SG Silver MT HD: $436 per month; MOOP $5,000
- Plus SG Silver MT: $429 per month; MOOP $8,550
- Connect SG Silver MT HD/Access SG Silver MT HD: $475 per month; MOOP 5,000
Best Health Insurance for Low Income in Montana
Mountain Health CO-OP is the best health insurance company in Montana for those with low incomes. It received a MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100.
For this category, MoneyGeek only looked at companies that had cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) and placed a higher preference on those that offered lower monthly premiums. This included two Silver HMO plans and 13 Silver PPO plans.
CSRs can help reduce your MOOP and deductible, depending on your income bracket. This means you can qualify for a plan with the same monthly premium at a lower MOOP cost.
While a regular Silver plan covers around 70% of your medical expenses, the coverage provided by CSR Silver plans varies based on your annual income bracket. In Montana, for example:
- If you earn between $27,180 and $33,975 per year (201%–250% of the federal poverty level), approximately 73% of your health insurance costs can be covered
- If your annual income is between $20,385 and $27,180 per year (151%–200% of the FPL), 87% of your health insurance costs can be covered
- If your annual income is below $20,385 (up to 150% of the FPL), approximately 94% of your health insurance costs can be covered
These income brackets may change depending on the number of people in your household.
MoneyGeek Pick: Mountain Health CO-OP
pros
Has the lowest denial rate
Offers the most affordable premiums
Offers PPO plans
cons
Has the highest average MOOP cost
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Mountain Health CO-OP is the best option for individuals with low incomes, as it balances affordability and MOOP costs. This insurer’s low-income plans have an average monthly cost of $509 per month and an average MOOP of $6,800. The rates reflect annual incomes below 250% of the FPL.
The insurer offers seven Silver PPO plans. These plans can be more expensive than HMO plans, but they offer more coverage. Unlike HMO plans, you can receive coverage for out-of-network providers.
This company has the lowest denial rate of the insurers that we evaluated, which means that your medical claims will likely be approved by this insurer.
Plan Recommendations
We recommend the Silver POS plan, Rocky Mountain Ind Silver MT, from Mountain CO-OP. Depending on your annual income, you may qualify for this plan at a lower MOOP cost:
- 201%–250% of the FPL: $463 per month; MOOP $6,400
- 151%–200% of the FPL: $463 per month; MOOP $4,700
- Up to 150% of the FPL: $463 per month; MOOP $950
Best Health Insurance for Young Adults in Montana
Mountain Health CO-OP is the best health insurance company for young adults in Montana. It received a MoneyGeek score of 100 out of 100. Its plans feature a broad network of medical professionals for an affordable cost.
MoneyGeek gathered information about companies that offer Bronze or Catastrophic plans. Although these plans have higher MOOP costs, they typically feature cheaper premiums. Catastrophic plans are only available for those who are 30 years old and younger.
For this category, we rated the following numbers of plan tiers and types in Montana:
- Bronze: One HMO plan, three PPO plans
- Expanded Bronze: Two HMO plans, 23 PPO plans
- Catastrophic: Two PPO plans
MoneyGeek Pick: Mountain Health CO-OP
pros
Offers the cheapest premiums
Has the lowest MOOP cost
Lowest denial rate
cons
Only offers PPO plans
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Health insurance from Mountain Health CO-OP costs an average of $319 per month and features an average MOOP cost of $7,896. Even though plans under this category can have higher MOOP costs as a trade-off for cheaper rates, this company also has the lowest average MOOP cost in Montana.
Mountain Health CO-OP company offers PPO plans, which are great if you don’t mind paying slightly more for additional coverage options. That being said, even with only offering PPO plans, this company still has the cheapest average premium among its competitors.
PPO plans have a wider network compared to HMOs, and you don’t need to secure a referral before seeing a medical professional. Mountain Health CO-OP has 17 Expanded Bronze plans and one Catastrophic plan.
The denial rate for this company is also less than 6% — the lowest out of the three companies we analyzed for this state. This means your claims will likely be approved.
Plan Recommendations
We recommend the following three plans from Mountain Health CO-OP for young adults:
- Plus Ind Bronze MT HD: $266 per month for 18-year-olds and $298 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,050
- Plus SG Bronze MT HD: $280 per month for 18-year-olds; $314 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,050
- Rocky Mountain SG Bronze MT HD: $288 per month for 18-year-olds; $323 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,000
Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in Montana
Health insurance companies offer different plan types. The following are the best health insurance companies in Montana for each plan type:
- HMO: Blue Cross Blue Shield (MoneyGeek score of 100 out of 100)
- PPO: Mountain Health CO-OP (MoneyGeek score of 100 out of 100
Our recommendations are limited to Silver plans because they offer the best balance of monthly costs and MOOP costs. We analyzed two Silver HMO plans and 20 Silver PPO plans that are offered in Montana.
MoneyGeek Pick for HMO: Blue Cross Blue Shield
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best health insurance company for Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans. Its two Silver HMO plans have an average monthly premium of $449 and a MOOP cost of $9,000.
An HMO plan is the most commonly offered type of plan among health insurance companies. Though affordable, these plans don’t provide coverage for out-of-network services — only in-network providers are covered. Because of this, it’s important to make sure that there are in-network providers in your area.
This company’s denial rate is about 18%, which is the lowest among the other companies in Montana that offer HMO plans.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Blue Cross Blue Shield plans:
- Blue Focus Silver POSSM 706: $449 per month; MOOP $8,900
- Blue Focus Silver POSSM 206: $449 per month; MOOP $9,100
MoneyGeek Pick for PPO: Mountain Health CO-OP
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Mountain Health CO-OP is the best health insurance company for Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. This insurer’s plans have an average cost of $468 per month and a MOOP of $7,139.
Mountain Health CO-OP offers 14 Silver PPO plans. A PPO plan can cost more than an HMO plan, but you have access to a wider network of providers. You also don’t need a referral to see a medical professional, making it easier for you to receive care.
The denial rate of this company is approximately 6%, which is the lowest of the other PPO providers in the state. In comparison to its competitors, your medical claims are more likely to be approved by this insurer.
Plan Recommendations
We recommend the following Silver plans from Mountain Health CO-OP:
- Plus SG Silver MT HD: $436 per month; MOOP $5,000
- Access SG Silver MT HD: $475 per month; MOOP $5,000
Best Short-Term Health Insurance in Montana
The best short-term health insurance in Montana is from National General Accident & Health. It received a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100.
Short-term health insurance typically lacks basic benefits included in plans that comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements. Because of this, we don’t recommend short-term health insurance for your long-term health needs.
National General Accident & Health
National General Accident & Health offers policies that last from three months to three years. Aside from short-term health insurance, it also offers medical and dental insurance. Compared to other companies, National General Accident & Health has low out-of-pocket limits and co-insurance. These features help reduce the cost of your policy, although you might have a high deductible.
How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in Montana
The best health insurance for you depends on your needs and budget. Those who receive constant medical care may have different health insurance preferences than those who are young and in relatively good health. When shopping for health insurance, consider how much you’re willing to pay, per month and out-of-pocket, for the coverage you need.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
Your health insurance plan can cover both in-network and out-of-network services, depending on the type of plan you obtain. Some plans, like HMO plans, only provide coverage for in-network services, while other plans, like PPO plans, offer coverage for out-of-network services. It’s important to note, however, that this added coverage included in PPO plans typically comes with a higher price tag.
In Montana, you can choose from two Silver HMO plans and 20 Silver PPO plans.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
Cheap premiums could mean high out-of-pocket costs. For example, a Plus SG Silver MT HD plan from Mountain Health CO-OP costs $436 per month, while a Plus SG Silver MT plan only costs $429 per month. However, the former plan has a MOOP cost of only $5,000, while the latter has a MOOP cost of $8,550.
Because of this, your budget, needs and preferences can play a huge role when shopping for health insurance. If you can afford to pay more each month, you may pay less out of pocket for medical care. Likewise, if you don’t expect to require medical attention, you can save money by choosing a plan with a lower monthly premium.
Consider Montana Medicare or Medicaid if You’re Eligible
Adults in Montana who are aged 65 and older, or those who have a qualifying disability or illness, can qualify for Medicare. This is a federal government program designed to subsidize the cost of medical care for eligible individuals.
Medicare has three parts:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance): This is free for most qualified adults. It includes inpatient hospital stays, hospice care and specific home health care.
- Part B (Medical Insurance): Unlike Part A, this comes with a monthly premium. It covers outpatient care, doctors' services, preventive services and medical supplies.
- Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage): This coverage includes prescription drugs and vaccines.
If you aren’t eligible for Medicare, you may be eligible for Medicaid, another federally-funded program designed to offset the cost of medical services. Take note that Montana is an expansion state for Medicaid. This allows eligible residents to qualify for the program based solely on income. To qualify, your income needs to be below 138% of the FPL.
Frequently Asked Questions About Health Insurance in Montana
Shopping for health insurance can leave you with several questions about cost and availability. We answered some of the most frequently asked questions to help you find the best policy for your needs.
About Brenna Kelly, Licensed Health Insurance Agent
