Kaiser Permanente is the best health insurance company in Virginia. Other top options include HealthKeepers, Inc., Sentara Health Plans, Optimum Choice, Inc. and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Best Health Insurance in Virginia (2026)
Updated: January 27, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Kaiser Permanente is the top Virginia health insurance company, with a MoneyGeek score of 4.6 out of 5, balancing premiums, deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP).
Sentara Health Plans offers the most affordable health insurance in Virginia, but its MOOP is higher than average.
Compare quotes from at least three Virginia providers to find coverage matching your needs and budget.
Best Health Insurance Companies in Virginia
| Kaiser Permanente | $505 | $8,400 | $4,833 | 4.6 | KP VA Silver Virtual Forward 4000 Ded |
| HealthKeepers, Inc. | $511 | $9,562 | $4,018 | 4.5 | Anthem HealthKeepers Silver X DED 4300 |
| Sentara Health Plans | $478 | $9,167 | $5,633 | 4.2 | Sentara Standard M Silver 6000 Ded |
| Optimum Choice, Inc. | $643 | $9,513 | $4,000 | 4.0 | UHC Silver Copay Focus |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $576 | $8,900 | $6,000 | 3.9 | BlueChoice HMO Standard Silver 6000 Med Ded 25 Dent Ded VisionPlus |
*Our picks are the best health insurance options for 40-year-olds looking for Silver-tier HMO plans.
Kaiser Permanente
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
3.7/5Deductible
5/5MOOP
Average Monthly Rate
$505Average MOOP
$8,400Average Deductible
$4,833
HealthKeepers, Inc.
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
5/5Deductible
2.9/5MOOP
Average Monthly Rate
$511Average MOOP
$9,562Average Deductible
$4,018
Sentara Health Plans
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
5/5Affordability
2.5/5Deductible
3.3/5MOOP
Average Monthly Rate
$478Average MOOP
$9,167Average Deductible
$5,633
Best Health Insurance in Virginia by Category
Virginia health insurance rates vary widely by age, plan type and metal tier. Monthly premiums range from $361 to $1,136 across Silver-tier plans. Our analysis of Silver plans shows:
By Age:
- Teens (18): Kaiser Permanente HMO plans cost $361 monthly, Cigna Healthcare EPO plans cost $381, and Blue Cross Blue Shield offers the only PPO option at $738.
- Young adults (26): Kaiser Permanente leads HMO coverage at $405 monthly. Cigna Healthcare charges $427 for EPO plans, while Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO coverage costs $827.
- Adults (40): Kaiser Permanente HMO plans cost $505 monthly, Cigna Healthcare EPO plans run $533, and Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans cost $1,033.
- Seniors (60): Kaiser Permanente charges $1,072 monthly for HMO plans, Cigna Healthcare charges $1,136 for EPO coverage, and Blue Cross Blue Shield charges $2,199 for PPO plans.
By Plan Type:
- PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield is Virginia's only PPO provider, charging 40-year-olds $1,033 monthly with a $6,000 deductible and $8,900 MOOP.
- HMO: Kaiser Permanente offers the best HMO coverage for 40-year-olds at $505 monthly with a $4,833 deductible and $8,400 MOOP.
- EPO: Cigna Healthcare charges 40-year-olds $533 monthly with a $5,125 deductible and $8,600 MOOP.
*All rates are averages based on Silver plans for the given category.
Compare Virginia Health Insurance Providers
Monthly premiums, deductibles and MOOP vary across Virginia insurers. Filter by age, metal level, plan type and HSA eligibility to compare costs.
Data filtered by:
HMO
Silver
40
No
| Kaiser Permanente | $505 | HMO | Silver | $8,400 | $4,833 | 40 | No |
| HealthKeepers, Inc. | $511 | HMO | Silver | $9,562 | $4,018 | 40 | No |
| Sentara Health Plans | $478 | HMO | Silver | $9,167 | $5,633 | 40 | No |
| Optimum Choice, Inc. | $643 | HMO | Silver | $9,513 | $4,000 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $576 | HMO | Silver | $8,900 | $6,000 | 40 | No |
How to Choose the Best Health Insurance in Virginia
Choosing health insurance in Virginia means weighing premiums against deductibles, network access and coverage limits.
- 1Assess your health care needs
Review your current medications, planned procedures and how often you visit doctors to determine which coverage level makes sense. Past medical expenses help predict future costs and guide your deductible choice.
- 2Compare quotes from multiple insurers
Request rates from at least three Virginia health insurance companies to spot price differences and coverage variations.
- 3Check provider networks
Verify your preferred doctors, specialists and hospitals accept plans you're considering. Out-of-network care costs more and may require full payment upfront.
- 4Review out-of-pocket maximums and deductibles
Higher deductibles lower monthly premiums but increase upfront costs when you need care. Your MOOP caps annual expenses, limiting your total costs.
- 5Evaluate plan types
HMOs, PPOs, EPOs and POS plans each offer different trade-offs. HMOs require referrals but cost less, while PPOs offer flexibility to see specialists without approval at higher premiums. EPOs and POS plans fall between these options.
- 6Explore federal programs
Subsidies and Medicare plans make health insurance more affordable. If you have a low income, a qualifying disability or are 65 or older, explore Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement options.
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Virginia?
HMO plans offer the most affordable Bronze coverage in Virginia at $404 monthly. EPO has the lowest Silver coverage at $526. HMO is also the only plan type with a Platinum option, at $594 per month. PPO plans cost more, with Silver and Gold averaging over $1,000 monthly. EPO plans cost less than PPO coverage while offering more flexibility than HMO plans. No providers offer POS plans.
EPO | $412 | $526 | $508 | N/A |
HMO | $404 | $560 | $520 | $594 |
PPO | N/A | $1,046 | $1,073 | N/A |
*Rates are averages for 40-year-olds in Virginia. Your rates will vary based on your age and location.
Best Health Insurance in Virginia: Bottom Line
The top Virginia health insurance companies for the 2026 plan year are Kaiser Permanente, HealthKeepers, Inc. and Sentara Health Plans. Kaiser Permanente balances low premiums with comprehensive coverage, while Sentara offers the lowest monthly costs with higher deductibles.
Best Virginia Health Insurance: FAQ
Virginia residents often ask about enrollment periods, state insurance requirements and how multiple plans work together.
How do I get health insurance in Virginia?
Buy health insurance through Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace during open enrollment (November 1 to January 15), directly from insurers or through licensed brokers. You may qualify for a special enrollment period after marriage, job loss or moving. Many employers also offer group coverage options.
Are you required to have health insurance in Virginia?
Virginia doesn't require health insurance, and there's no penalty for going uninsured. Without coverage, you'll pay full price for medical care. A single emergency room visit can cost thousands of dollars.
Can you have multiple health insurance plans in Virginia?
Yes, you can have multiple health insurance plans in Virginia through coordination of benefits. Your primary plan pays first, and the secondary plan covers remaining eligible costs. This works well when both spouses have employer coverage or when combining Medicare with supplemental insurance.
Our Review Methodology
Virginia's health insurance market leans heavily toward HMO plans. We weighted monthly premiums most heavily because they represent your consistent financial commitment, then factored in the financial protection caps (MOOP) and upfront costs (deductibles) that determine your total annual expenses.
Our Scoring System
We weighted three cost factors:
Monthly premium (60%): Your recurring payment matters most for long-term affordability. Lower average premiums earn higher scores.
Maximum out-of-pocket (20%): Your MOOP caps annual expenses beyond premiums. Lower average MOOP earns higher scores.
Deductible (20%): Your upfront costs before coverage kicks in. Lower average deductibles earn higher scores.
We normalized scores within each filter combination. When analyzing Silver-tier HMO plans, the top-rated provider receives 5 out of 5, with remaining providers scored proportionally.
Sample Consumer Profile
We collected data on all available 2026 Virginia plans for consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Unless otherwise noted, monthly premiums reflect 40-year-old buyers. Our analysis covers Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum metal tiers where available.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.