Best Health Insurance in Virginia (2026)

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.

In our 2026 Virginia analysis, monthly Silver-tier HMO premiums range from $478 to $643 across rated carriers, a $165 monthly gap. Comparing all available carriers on HealthCare.gov takes under an hour and captures the full spread.

Virginia's health insurance market is almost entirely HMO-based. Of the five carriers available on the 2026 marketplace, only Blue Cross Blue Shield offers PPO coverage and it charges 40-year-olds more than double what Kaiser Permanente charges for Silver-tier plans. That pricing gap is the most striking finding in our analysis: PPO flexibility costs $528 more per month than Kaiser Permanente's HMO Silver plans for a 40-year-old buyer.

For most Virginia residents without out-of-state care needs, an HMO delivers coverage at a fraction of the PPO cost. The more interesting comparison is within the HMO tier. Kaiser Permanente leads our rankings with a MoneyGeek score of 4.6 out of 5, but Sentara Health Plans costs $27 less per month at the Silver tier. That gap flips at Gold: Sentara's Gold plans cost $472 monthly, $6 less than its own Silver plans.

For anyone expecting regular medical expenses in 2026, Sentara's Gold pricing structure is worth running the math on before defaulting to Silver.

Best Health Insurance Companies in Virginia

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.


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 earns the top MoneyGeek score not by being the cheapest carrier, but by pairing the second-lowest Silver premium ($505 monthly) with the lowest MOOP ($8,400) of any HMO provider in Virginia's 2026 market. Sentara undercuts Kaiser by $27 per month at Silver, but its MOOP runs $767 higher. That trade-off is worth pricing out based on your expected annual care.

Kaiser Permanente

MoneyGeek Rating

4.6/ 5

4.8/5Affordability

3.7/5Deductible

5/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$505
Average MOOP
$8,400
Average Deductible
$4,833

pros
- Below-average monthly premiums across all metal tiers
- Lower deductibles than state average
- HSA-eligible plans
cons
- HMO plans only (no PPO or EPO flexibility)
- Requires staying within Kaiser's provider network for coverage
Kaiser Permanente offers HMO plans across all metal tiers but no PPO or EPO options in Virginia. At age 40, you'll pay around $373 monthly for Bronze coverage with a $7,150 deductible, while Silver plans cost $505 monthly with lower $4,833 deductibles. Gold plans drop to $476 monthly with just $1,625 deductibles and Platinum coverage starts at $594 with no deductible. MOOP ranges from $5,200 on Platinum plans to $8,875 on Bronze. Kaiser Permanente also offers Catastrophic plans for eligible younger adults seeking minimal coverage.

Our verdict: Kaiser Permanente is the right default for most Virginia HMO shoppers in 2026. Its Gold plan deserves a close look. At $476 monthly with a $1,625 deductible, it costs $29 less than its own Silver plan while cutting the deductible by more than $3,200. For anyone who expects to meet their deductible, Gold math beats Silver math here. The KP VA Silver Virtual Forward 4000 Ded is the plan that earns Kaiser its top ranking in our analysis, pairing a $489 monthly premium with a $4,000 deductible and $8,000 MOOP.
Kaiser Permanente's HMO model works until you need care outside its network. The insurer covers only care delivered or authorized by Kaiser providers, which means out-of-state travel, specialist referrals and emergency care outside Virginia can generate large out-of-pocket costs. Patients who see specialists regularly, manage conditions requiring second opinions, or split time between Virginia and another state will find that HMO-only coverage creates friction. HealthKeepers, Inc. offers Silver-tier HMO plans starting at $479 monthly on the Anthem HealthKeepers Silver X DED 3700 Tiered PCP plan and is worth comparing as an alternative.

Kaiser Permanente health insurance plans in Virginia:

Data filtered by:


KP VA Silver Virtual Forward 4000 Ded	$489	HMO	Silver	$8,000	$4,000	No
KP VA Silver 4500 Ded/Vision	$518	HMO	Silver	$8,300	$4,500	No
KP VA Standard Silver 6000 Ded/Vision	$508	HMO	Silver	$8,900	$6,000	No

HealthKeepers, Inc.

MoneyGeek Rating

4.5/ 5

4.8/5Affordability

5/5Deductible

2.9/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$511
Average MOOP
$9,562
Average Deductible
$4,018

pros
- Below state average monthly premiums
- Small premium gap ($10 monthly) between Silver and Gold tiers
- Catastrophic plans for younger adults
cons
- HMO plans only
- No Platinum tier plans
HealthKeepers, Inc. offers HMO plans across Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers with competitive deductibles. Forty-year-olds pay $417 monthly for Bronze plans with $6,716 deductibles and $10,060 MOOP. Silver tier premiums average $511 monthly with $4,018 deductibles, while Gold coverage costs $521 with $1,500 deductibles and $8,885 MOOP. The $10 monthly difference between HealthKeepers' Silver and Gold tiers is the smallest such gap in Virginia's 2026 market.

Our analysis puts that $10 monthly gap in practical terms: Gold's average deductible is $1,500, which is $2,518 lower than Silver's $4,018. You'd recover the $120 annual premium difference after a single moderate medical event. For most buyers who anticipate more than one or two doctor visits per year, Gold is the stronger financial choice at HealthKeepers. The Anthem HealthKeepers Silver X DED 4300 is the plan that earns HealthKeepers its second-place ranking, with a $516 monthly premium, $4,300 deductible and $8,550 MOOP.
HealthKeepers is an HMO-only carrier with no Platinum-tier plans in Virginia's 2026 market. Buyers who want Platinum coverage, who need care outside a defined network or who prefer to see a specialist without a referral won't find those options here. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the only Virginia carrier offering PPO access, though at $576 monthly for Silver-tier coverage it costs $65 more per month than HealthKeepers' comparable Silver plans.

Virginia health insurance plans from HealthKeepers, Inc.:

Data filtered by:


Anthem HealthKeepers Silver X DED 4300	$516	HMO	Silver	$8,550	$4,300	No
Anthem HealthKeepers Silver X DED 3700 Tiered PCP	$479	HMO	Silver	$10,150	$3,700	No
Anthem HealthKeepers Silver X DED 6000 Standard	$511	HMO	Silver	$8,900	$6,000	No
Anthem HealthKeepers Silver X DED 3200	$509	HMO	Silver	$10,150	$3,200	No
Anthem HealthKeepers Silver X DED 2450	$514	HMO	Silver	$10,600	$2,450	No

Sentara Health Plans

MoneyGeek Rating

4.2/ 5

5/5Affordability

2.5/5Deductible

3.3/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$478
Average MOOP
$9,167
Average Deductible
$5,633

pros
- Below state average monthly premiums
- Gold plans cost less than Silver plans while providing better coverage
- HSA-eligible plans
cons
- HMO plans only
- No Catastrophic or Platinum tier plans
Sentara Health Plans provides HMO coverage across Bronze, Silver and Gold metal tiers. At age 40, you'll pay $377 monthly for Bronze plans with $7,830 deductibles and $10,060 MOOP. Silver coverage runs $478 monthly with $5,633 deductibles, while Gold plans cost $472 monthly with $2,175 deductibles and $8,025 MOOP.

Sentara's rates climb as you age. Silver premiums increase 94% to $929 for age 60 compared to age 40. Sentara includes HSA-compatible options for pairing high-deductible health plans with tax-advantaged savings, though the insurer doesn't offer Platinum or Catastrophic tier plans in Virginia.

Sentara is the only Virginia carrier where Gold costs less than Silver. At $472 monthly for Gold vs. $478 for Silver, the difference is $6 per month. But the coverage gap is large: Gold's average deductible of $2,175 is $3,458 lower than Silver's. In our review, Sentara's Gold plan is the stronger financial choice for any buyer not prioritizing the lowest possible monthly premium. The Sentara Standard M Silver 6000 Ded anchors Sentara's Silver-tier offering at $480 monthly with a $6,000 deductible and $8,900 MOOP.
Sentara's age-based premium increases are steeper than its competitors. Silver premiums climb 94% between age 40 and age 60, from $478 to $929 monthly. Buyers in their 50s should model their 2027 and 2028 premiums before committing to this carrier. Kaiser Permanente and HealthKeepers may carry a lower long-term cost even if Sentara appears cheaper today.

Sentara Health Plans options in Virginia:

Data filtered by:


Sentara Standard M Silver 6000 Ded	$480	HMO	Silver	$8,900	$6,000	No
Sentara M Silver 6500 Ded	$475	HMO	Silver	$8,950	$6,500	No
Sentara M Silver 4400 Ded	$480	HMO	Silver	$9,650	$4,400	No

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.

The most striking pattern in our age-based analysis is how far costs diverge at age 60. Kaiser Permanente's HMO Silver-tier plan costs $1,072 monthly for a 60-year-old, more than double the 40-year-old rate. Blue Cross Blue Shield's PPO reaches $2,199 for the same age group. For older Virginia buyers, PPO flexibility costs $1,127 more per month than Kaiser Permanente's HMO at age 60. That gap is worth weighing against any out-of-network care needs before choosing a plan type. 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:


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.

1
Assess your health care needs
Review your current medications, planned procedures and how often you visit doctors to determine which coverage level makes sense. In our Virginia data, a buyer who expects to meet their deductible saves more by choosing Sentara's Gold plan at $472 monthly than its Silver plan at $478 monthly, a result that runs counter to what most buyers assume. Past medical expenses are the most reliable guide to whether a lower-premium or lower-deductible plan saves you more.
2
Compare quotes from multiple insurers
In our Virginia analysis, the monthly premium gap between the lowest and highest HMO Silver-tier plans for a 40-year-old is $165, which is $1,980 per year. Getting quotes from all available carriers takes less than an hour on HealthCare.gov and captures the full range of that difference
3
Check provider networks
Verify your preferred doctors, specialists and hospitals accept plans you're considering. All five Virginia carriers in our 2026 analysis offer HMO plans, which require you to stay within a defined provider network. Out-of-network care on an HMO plan is generally not covered except in emergencies. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the only carrier offering PPO access, at $576 monthly for Silver-tier coverage.
4
Review out-of-pocket maximums and deductibles
In Virginia's 2026 HMO Silver-tier market, the gap between the lowest and highest average deductible across our five rated carriers is $2,000 from $4,000 at Optimum Choice, Inc. to $6,000 at Blue Cross Blue Shield. That gap matters most in years you need care. Run your expected annual medical expenses against each plan's deductible before choosing based on premium alone. Your MOOP caps annual expenses, limiting your total costs.
5
Evaluate plan types
HMOs, PPOs and EPOs are the plan types available in Virginia's 2026 market. HMOs require referrals but cost less: Kaiser Permanente's HMO Silver averages $505 monthly for a 40-year-old. The only PPO option, Blue Cross Blue Shield, averages $1,033 monthly for the same profile, more than double the HMO rate. Cigna Healthcare's EPO sits between at $533 monthly and allows specialist visits without a referral.
6
Explore federal programs
Subsidies and Medicare Advantage plans make health insurance more affordable for eligible buyers. On Virginia's 2026 marketplace, cost-sharing reductions are available on Silver-tier plans for buyers earning between 100% and 250% of the federal poverty level. If you're 65 or older or have a qualifying disability, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans are separate from the marketplace plans in our analysis and should be compared on their own terms.

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.

The EPO tier is worth comparing against HMO options. Cigna Healthcare's EPO Silver-tier plans average $533 monthly for 40-year-olds, $28 more than Kaiser Permanente's HMO Silver. EPO plans let you see specialists without a referral, which HMOs don't. For buyers who see specialists regularly but don't need full PPO flexibility, that $28 monthly difference is worth pricing out.

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?

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.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for almost a decade, first with LendingTree and now with MoneyGeek, conducting original research on hundreds of insurance companies and millions of insurance rates for insurance shoppers.

He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek, breaking down complex topics so people can have confidence in their purchase. Like all MoneyGeek analysts, Mark collects and analyzes independent cost and consumer experience data on insurance companies to provide objective recommendations in our content that are independent of any of MoneyGeek's insurance company partnerships.

His insights — on products ranging from car, home and renters insurance to health and life insurance — have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR among others.

Mark holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He started his career working in financial risk management at State Street before transitioning to analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

Read Full Bio »

Best Health Insurance in Virginia (2026)

Best Health Insurance Companies in Virginia

Kaiser Permanente

HealthKeepers, Inc.

Sentara Health Plans

Best Health Insurance in Virginia by Category

Compare Virginia Health Insurance Providers

How to Choose the Best Health Insurance in Virginia

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Virginia?

Best Health Insurance in Virginia: Bottom Line

Best Virginia Health Insurance: FAQ

How do I get health insurance in Virginia?

Are you required to have health insurance in Virginia?

Can you have multiple health insurance plans in Virginia?

Our Review Methodology

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