Best Health Insurance in Tennessee (2026)

Alliant Health Plans has the best health insurance in Tennessee for people who want the lowest monthly cost. Alliant's Silver plan averages $730 a month for a 40-year-old, $432 a year less than Cigna's, which suits healthy adults who don't expect to reach a deductible.

Cigna Healthcare is the better fit for people who expect regular medical care. Cigna's $2,199 Silver deductible is the lowest of the six carriers and $911 below Alliant's, more than its $432 higher yearly premium for anyone who reaches Alliant's full $3,110 deductible.

Ambetter has the lowest Gold deductible of our three picks at $700, $613 below Alliant's $1,313. Alliant's Gold plan costs $1,284 a year less, so Ambetter's Gold plan suits Gold buyers whose doctors are in Ambetter's network and outside Alliant's.

All six carriers sell only EPO plans in Tennessee's marketplace, so out-of-network care isn't covered outside emergencies. Confirm your doctors and hospitals are in a plan's network before choosing on price.

* Figures are statewide Silver-tier averages for a 40-year-old before subsidies. MOOP is the out-of-pocket maximum, the most you pay in a year for in-network covered care. Premiums don't count toward it.

No single Tennessee carrier has the lowest figure in every column for a 40-year-old at the Silver tier. Alliant has the lowest premium at $730, Cigna the lowest deductible at $2,199 and Blue Cross Blue Shield the lowest out-of-pocket maximum at $4,910. Rates come from HealthCare.gov, are shown before subsidies and vary by age and county. Filter by age, metal level and health savings account (HSA) eligibility.

Health insurance for a 40-year-old in Tennessee averages $552 a month for Bronze, $761 for Silver, $777 for Gold and $859 for Platinum before subsidies. Moving from Bronze to Silver adds $209 a month, while moving from Silver to Gold adds only $16, the smallest step between tiers.

That $16, or $192 a year, is the average step, and at Alliant, Gold costs $40 less than Silver with a $1,797 lower deductible. Buyers who don't qualify for cost-sharing reductions should price Gold before settling on Silver.

* Statewide averages for 40-year-olds in Tennessee before subsidies. Your rates vary by age and county.

In Tennessee, check a plan's network first, its deductible second and its premium third. Every marketplace plan is an EPO, and Cigna's Silver deductible is $1,377 below Blue Cross Blue Shield's, more than the $984 yearly premium difference between Alliant and UnitedHealthcare.

Tennessee has no state exchange, so enrollment with all six carriers in our analysis, from Alliant to UnitedHealthcare, goes through the federal HealthCare.gov marketplace.

• HealthCare.gov: Where Tennessee residents compare marketplace plans, check subsidy eligibility and enroll during Open Enrollment, November 1 to January 15, or during a Special Enrollment Period after a qualifying life event.
• Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance: Lists every carrier available in each Tennessee rating area, provides consumer guides and handles coverage disputes. Call its consumer assistance line at 615-741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029.
• TennCare: Tennessee's Medicaid program for eligible low-income children, pregnant women, parents and caretakers, older adults and people with disabilities. Unlike marketplace plans, TennCare takes applications year-round.
• CoverKids: Tennessee's Children's Health Insurance Program. Covers children in families who earn above TennCare eligibility limits but can't afford private coverage. Apply through TennCare Connect at TennCareConnect.TN.gov or by calling 855-259-0701.
• Find Local Enrollment Help: Lists certified navigators in Tennessee who help you compare plans and complete a marketplace application at no cost.

Medicare covers adults 65 and older and younger people with qualifying disabilities. It operates separately from HealthCare.gov and has its own enrollment windows. Tennessee residents eligible for Medicare can add a Medicare Supplement plan to Original Medicare or choose a Medicare Advantage plan instead.

• Best Medicare Supplement Plans in Tennessee: Medicare Supplement plans, also called Medigap, work alongside Original Medicare and pay costs it leaves to you, such as deductibles, copayments and co-insurance.
• Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Tennessee: Medicare Advantage plans, sold by private insurers, are an alternative to Original Medicare. They cover the same Part A and Part B services, and each plan lists its added benefits, such as prescription drug, dental, vision and hearing coverage. They cover the same Part A and Part B services and often add prescription drug, dental, vision and hearing benefits.

MoneyGeek scored Tennessee's six marketplace carriers on three cost factors using 2026 HealthCare.gov plan data, and lower figures score higher on each factor:

• Monthly premium (60%): A lower average monthly cost gets a higher score.
• Maximum out-of-pocket (20%): The most you pay in a year for in-network covered care. Premiums don't count toward it. Lower limits score better.
• Deductible (20%): What you pay for covered care before the plan starts sharing costs. Lower deductibles score higher.

Scores are standardized within each metal tier, and the lowest figure in each factor gets 5.0. The provider cards show Silver-tier scores for a 40-year-old.

Our analysis covers every 2026 Tennessee marketplace plan at the Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum metal levels for ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Rates are for 40-year-olds before subsidies unless stated otherwise.