Best Health InsuranceNorth DakotaBest North Dakota Health Insurance (2023 Plans)
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Best Health InsuranceNorth DakotaBest Health Insurance in North Dakota
Best Overall in North Dakota - Sanford Health Plan
Best for Low MOOP - Sanford Health Plan
Best Cheap - Sanford Health Plan
Best for Low Income - Sanford Health Plan
Best for Young Adults - Sanford Health Plan
Best for HMO - Sanford Health Plan
Best for PPO - Blue Cross Blue Shield
Best Overall for Health Insurance in North Dakota
MoneyGeek found that Sanford Health Plan offers the best health insurance in North Dakota, scoring an average of 87 out of 100 based on our rating system. Besides offering the cheapest plans, it ranked the highest for claims management and second-highest for maximum out-of-pocket costs. It also scored well for plan types.
We rated nine Silver HMO and eight Silver PPO plans for this category.
MoneyGeek Pick: Sanford Health Plan
pros
Offers affordable plans
Has some of the lowest MOOP costs in the state
Highest claims management score, which means it rarely denies claims
Good number of plans offered
cons
Other competitors have lower MOOP costs
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Based on MoneyGeek's research, Sanford Health Plan is the best overall option for health insurance in North Dakota. The average cost of a plan with this company is $485 per month, while the maximum out-of-pocket costs are $8,538.
Sanford Health Plan has perfect scores for claims management, and its claims denial rate is only 2.6%. The scores indicate that, most likely, it won't deny the claims you file.
This insurer offers four Silver HMO and four Silver PPO plans.
Plan Recommendations
You should consider the following health plans by Sanford Health Plan, as we found them to be the best options:
- Sanford Simplicity Enhanced - Diabetes & Asthma/COPD Care Plan $3,700: approximately $520 per month; MOOP $7,050
- Sanford TRUE Enhanced - Diabetes & Asthma/COPD Care Plan $3,700: approximately $415 per month; MOOP $7,050
- Sanford Simplicity - Standardized $5,800: approximately $510 per month; MOOP $8,900
Best Health Insurance in North Dakota for Low Out-of-Pocket Costs
Sanford Health Plan offers the best health insurance for low out-of-pocket costs, earning a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100. This insurer has the lowest MOOP costs and claims denial rate among its competitors while charging the lowest premiums and offering many plan types.
We rated eight Gold PPO and eight Gold HMO plans for this category.
MoneyGeek Pick: Sanford Health Plan
pros
Charges low premiums
Ranked first for lowest maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs
Perfect claims management score and rarely denies claims.
Offers many plan types
cons
Doesn’t offer as many plan types as competitors
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
On average, Sanford Health Plan’s MOOP costs are $7,550, making it the best health insurance for low out-of-pocket costs in North Dakota. This insurer has an average plan cost of $463 per month. It has a low claims denial rate of 2.6%, which means it will approve claims in most cases.
We reviewed three Gold HMO and three Gold PPO plans from Sanford Health Plan in this analysis.
Plan Recommendations
We recommend the following plans from Sanford Health Plan:
- Sanford TRUE Enhanced - Diabetes & Asthma/COPD Care Plan $1,250: around $408 per month; MOOP $5,500
- Sanford Simplicity Enhanced - Diabetes & Asthma/COPD Care Plan $1,250: around $516 per month; MOOP $5,500
- Sanford TRUE $1,750: around $401 per month; MOOP $8,450
Best Cheap Health Insurance in North Dakota
The company offering the most affordable health insurance in North Dakota is Sanford Health Plan, with an average MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100.
For this analysis, we weighted health plans based on affordability. Choosing a plan with low monthly premiums can increase your out-of-pocket costs. However, such a plan might be sufficient if you’re in good health and don’t need much health care services.
For this category, we rated nine Silver HMO plans and eight Silver PPO plans.
MoneyGeek Pick: Sanford Health Plan
pros
Offers affordable rates
2.6% claims denial rate, which shows it rejects very few claims
Has many plans to choose from
Reasonable MOOP costs
cons
Other companies may offer more plans
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Sanford Health Plan charges an average of $485 per month for a health plan in North Dakota. Its maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs average at $8,538, which is not the lowest compared to other insurers analyzed by MoneyGeek.
With a 2.6% claims denial rate, you won’t have to worry about Sanford Health Plan rejecting your filed claims.
We analyzed four Silver HMO and four Silver PPO plans from Sanford Health Plan.
Plan Recommendations
Sanford Health Plan’s following plans might suit you if you want affordable health insurance in North Dakota:
- Sanford TRUE Enhanced - Diabetes & Asthma/COPD Care Plan $3,700: approximately $415 per month; MOOP $7,050
- Sanford TRUE - Standardized $5,800: approximately $401 per month; MOOP $8,900
- Sanford Simplicity Enhanced - Diabetes & Asthma/COPD Care Plan $3,700: approximately $520 per month; MOOP $7,050
Best Health Insurance for Low Income in North Dakota
Sanford Health Plan is the best option for North Dakota’s low-income residents. It has a MoneyGeek score of 97 out of 100.
To determine the best insurer, MoneyGeek only assessed providers that offer plans with cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) and charge low monthly premiums. This included nine Silver HMO plans and eight Silver PPO plans.
Individuals in a certain income bracket can lower their MOOP costs and deductibles by taking advantage of cost-sharing reductions, which can help them avoid the trade-off of lower premiums with high out-of-pocket costs.
You generally have 70% coverage of health care costs with a Silver health plan. However, a Silver CSR plan allows higher cost-sharing. For example:
- Annual income between $27,180 and $33,975 (201% to 250% of the FPL) qualifies for a plan that pays about 73% of health costs
- Annual income between $20,385 and $27,180 (151% to 200% of the FPL) qualifies for a plan that pays around 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
These income brackets may change based on the number of people in a household.
MoneyGeek Pick: Sanford Health Plan
pros
Provides affordable plans
Scored the highest for maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs.
Denies the lowest number of claims and has a perfect claims management score.
Offers many plan types
cons
Other insurers offer more plans
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
For those who fall below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, Sanford Health Plan offers plans at an average cost of $485 per month. The company’s average MOOP costs are $6,875. It has a perfect claims management score, meaning it doesn’t deny many claims.
The company offers four Silver HMO and four Silver PPO plans.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek analyzed that Sanford TRUE Enhanced - Diabetes & Asthma/COPD Care Plan $3,700 plan by Sanford Health Plan might suit low-income individuals in North Dakota. Note that your MOOP costs vary based on your income level. For example:
- 201% to 250% of the FPL: $415 per month; MOOP $5,800
- 151% to 200% of the FPL: $415 per month; MOOP $1.950
- Up to 150% of the FPL: $415 per month; MOOP $1,400
Best Health Insurance for Young Adults in North Dakota
The company that offers the best health insurance for young adults in North Dakota is Sanford Health Plan, with an average MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100.
Our analysis included companies that provide Catastrophic or Bronze plans with lower premiums but high out-of-pocket costs. You must be under 30 to buy a Catastrophic plan. MoneyGeek evaluated three Bronze HMO plans, four Bronze HMO plans, two Bronze PPO plans, 13 Bronze HMO plans and seven Bronze PPO plans for this analysis.
MoneyGeek Pick: Sanford Health Plan
pros
2.6% claims denial rate, which shows it most likely won’t reject a valid claim
The cheapest option out of three competitors
Offers numerous plan types
cons
Doesn’t rank well for maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
On average, a health plan with Sanford Health Plan costs $228 per month. Its average maximum out-of-pocket costs are $8,640. The company’s claims denial rate is 2.6%, which is low and indicates that your claims will most likely be approved.
We evaluated four Expanded Bronze HMO plans, four Expanded Bronze PPO plans, one Catastrophic HMO plan and one Catastrophic PPO plan from Sanford Health Plan.
Plan Recommendations
Based on MoneyGeek’s recommendations, you should opt for the following plans from this insurer:
- Sanford Simplicity $6,900 HSA/HDHP: $274.51 per month for a 26-year-old and $244.75 per month for an 18-year-old; MOOP $6,900
- Sanford TRUE $6,900 HSA/HDHP: $216.52 per month for a 26-year-old and $193.05 per month for an 18-year-old; MOOP $6,900
- Sanford Simplicity $9,100: $164.07 per month for a 26-year-old and $146.29 per month for an 18-year-old; MOOP $9,100
Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in North Dakota
Health insurance companies may offer various plan types. MoneyGeek found the following best insurers for all available plan types in North Dakota:
- HMO: Sanford Health Plan (MoneyGeek score of 100 out of 100)
- PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield (MoneyGeek score of 60 out of 100)
Our recommendations are limited to Silver Plans, which usually offer a balance between out-of-pocket costs and monthly premiums. There are nine Silver HMO plans and eight Silver PPO plans in North Dakota.
MoneyGeek Pick for HMO: Sanford Health Plan
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
With an average cost of $424 per month, Sanford Health Plan offers the best Silver HMO plan in North Dakota. This plan's average MOOP costs are $8,538. This insurer ranks well for claims management and has a low claims denial score.
HMO plans are generally cheaper than other plan types. However, these plans have drawbacks, including restrictions on out-of-network coverage and the requirement of a referral to see a specialist. Sanford Health Plan offers four HMO plans.
Plan Recommendations
We recommend the following plans by Sanford Health Plan:
- Sanford TRUE Enhanced - Diabetes & Asthma/COPD Care Plan $3,700: approximately $415 per month; MOOP $7,050
- Sanford TRUE - Standardized $5,800: approximately $401 per month; MOOP $8,900
MoneyGeek Pick for PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers four Silver PPO plans at an average cost of $529 per month with an average maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) cost of $8,443. Its claim denial score is 17.8%, which shows that it can reject your claims.
PPO plans are flexible as you can get care from a wider network; however, these plans are more expensive.
Plan Recommendations
Following are the best plans by Blue Cross Blue Shield:
- BlueDirect 80 Silver: approximately $548 per month; MOOP $7,000
- DakotaBlue Altru Silver 60: approximately $459 per month; MOOP $9,100
How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in North Dakota
Finding the best health insurance provider in North Dakota involves understanding your needs and how much monthly premium you can afford. MoneyGeek explained the factors you need to know before shopping for health insurance.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
Various providers in North Dakota offer PPO and HMO plans. You should know that HMO plans restrict getting care from an out-of-network provider. It’s also mandatory to have a referral to see a specialist unless it’s an emergency. PPO plans do not have these restrictions, but these plans cost more.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
Plans that have lower monthly costs usually have high out-of-pocket expenses, so if you need medical care, you might end up paying more if you opt for a plan with higher MOOPs. For instance, Sanford Health Plan charges an average of $485 per month for a plan. However, its maximum out-of-pocket costs are $8,538. By purchasing a more expensive plan, you might get a lower MOOP.
Consider North Dakota Medicare or Medicaid if You’re Eligible
Medicare is a federal-run health care program that is more affordable than traditional health insurance plans. You might qualify for Medicare if you’re 65 or older or are a younger adult with a disability or illness. It has three parts:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance): Provides coverage for hospital stays, hospice care and other health care services.
- Part B (Medical Insurance): It offers coverage for medical supplies, preventative treatment and certain doctor’s services.
- Part D (Prescriptions Drug Coverage): Part D covers prescription drugs and recommended vaccines.
You can benefit from Medicaid, another government health care program, if your family income falls below 138% of the federal poverty level.
Frequently Asked Questions About Health Insurance in North Dakota
You might have questions about plan costs and availability when looking for health insurance in North Dakota. MoneyGeek answered the following frequently asked questions to help you find the right insurer for your needs.
About Brenna Kelly, Licensed Health Insurance Agent
