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MoneyGeek Logo IconBest Health InsuranceVirginia
2023

Best Health Insurance in Virginia

Best Overall for Health Insurance in Virginia

MoneyGeek found that Kaiser Permanente is the best health insurance provider in Virginia, earning a MoneyGeek score of 67 out of 100. Based on our research, this company offers the most affordable health insurance in the state, with affordable maximum out-of-pocket costs and better-than-average denial rates.

We compared data from 34 Silver HMO plans, 14 Silver EPO plans and three Silver PPO plans in Virginia to determine the winner of this category.

MoneyGeek Pick: Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente

pros

Offers the most affordable premiums in Virginia

Low maximum out-of-pocket costs

Fewer denials than average

cons

Fewer plan types than average

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Kaiser Permanente offers 11 HMO Silver plans at an average cost of $382. An HMO plan is typically more affordable. However, in order to receive services, you must remain within your provider network.

The average MOOP amount is $8,024, which is the lowest out of the companies we evaluated. This is the maximum amount, excluding any monthly premiums, that you will need to pay for covered services every year. We also found that Kaiser Permanente is less likely to deny claims.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver Kaiser Permanente plans for Virginia residents:

  • KP VA Silver 3000/30/HSA/Vision: approximately $363 per month; MOOP $6,650
  • KP VA Silver 2000/30/HSA/Vision: approximately $381 per month; MOOP $6,650
  • KP VA Silver Virtual Forward 4000: approximately $367 per month; MOOP $7,500

Best Health Insurance in Virginia for Low Out-of-Pocket Costs

Kaiser Permanente received a MoneyGeek score of 72 out of 100, making it the best health insurance company in Georgia for low out-of-pocket expenses. The cost of premiums is lower than average, and the company approves a larger share of insurance claims than its competitors do. It also offers many plan types.

In this section, we looked at 12 Gold EPO plans, 27 Gold HMO plans, three Gold PPO plans, three Platinum HMO plans, one Platinum POS plan and one Platinum PPO plan.

MoneyGeek Pick: Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente

pros

Affordable premiums

Relatively low MOOP costs

Fewer denials than average

cons

Less variety in plan types

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Nine HMO Gold plans and three HMO Platinum plans are available from Kaiser Permanente, with premiums averaging $457 per month with an average MOOP of $5,284. We also discovered that, on average, Kaiser Permanente is less likely to reject claims.

HMO plans often offer lower premiums, but that's because members are limited to consulting health care professionals who are part of the HMO's network.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold and Platinum Kaiser Permanente plans for those in Virginia:

  • KP VA Gold Virtual Forward 2000: approximately $375 per month; MOOP $5,000
  • KP VA Standard Platinum 0/10/Vision: approximately $484 per month; MOOP $3,000
  • KP VA Platinum 500/20/Vision: approximately $503 per month; MOOP $2,500

Best Cheap Health Insurance in Virginia

With a MoneyGeek rating of 75 out of 100, Kaiser Permanente offers Virginia residents the most affordable health insurance.

We prioritized affordability when scoring providers in this category. Keep in mind that out-of-pocket expenses are typically higher for plans with lower monthly premiums.

To identify the winner and recommended plans for this category, we assessed 34 Silver HMO plans, three Silver PPO plans and 14 Silver EPO plans.

MoneyGeek also analyzed the cheapest health insurance in Virginia for those who just want the cheapest rates.

MoneyGeek Pick: Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente

pros

Low-cost premiums

Affordable MOOP costs

Fewer claim denials than competitors

cons

Limited types of plans available

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Kaiser Permanente offers 11 Silver HMO plans with monthly premiums averaging $382. Although HMOs are cheaper than PPO plans, they typically offer less coverage outside of their network.

The MOOP average for these plans was the lowest for the companies we looked at, coming in at around $8,024. Additionally, we found that Kaiser Permanente denies fewer claims on average.

Plan Recommendations

For those looking for the best affordable health insurance in Virginia, MoneyGeek recommends these options:

  • KP VA Silver 3000/30/HSA/Vision: approximately $363 per month; MOOP $6,650
  • KPVA Silver Virtual Forward 4000: approximately $367 per month; MOOP $7,500
  • KP VA Silver 2000/30/HSA/Vision: approximately $381 per month; MOOP $6,650

Best Health Insurance for Low Income in Virginia

Aetna received a score of 75 out of 100 on MoneyGeek, which makes it the best health insurance provider for low-income Virginia residents.

Providers that offer plans with cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) and prioritize low monthly rates were evaluated. In Virginia, this included 14 Silver EPO plans, 27 Silver HMO plans and two Silver PPO plans for this evaluation.

If your income is below 250% of the federal poverty line (FPL), CSRs lower your MOOP and deductible, helping you avoid the trade-off between higher out-of-pocket costs and cheaper premiums. Cost-sharing is higher for CSR plans than it is for conventional Silver policies, which cover roughly 70% of medical expenses. In Virginia:

  • Those earning $27,180 to $33,975 per year (201% to 250% of the FPL) are eligible for a plan that covers roughly 73% of medical expenses
  • Those earning $20,385 to $27,180 per year (151% to 200% of the FPL) are eligible for a plan that covers roughly 87% of medical expenses
  • A plan that covers approximately 94% of medical expenses is available to those with annual incomes under $20,385 (up to 150% of the FPL)

These brackets change according to the size of your household.

MoneyGeek Pick: Aetna

Aetna Medicare

pros

Zero denials

Most affordable plan rates

cons

Limited plan types

Higher MOOP rates

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Aetna might be the best option for those in Virginia with limited income. Its low-income health plans for those below 250% of the FPL cost around $375 per month with a MOOP of around $7,191. It also has a 100% claims approval rate.

Aetna offers two Silver EPO plans and four Silver PPO plans with cost-sharing reductions.

Plan Recommendations

The Innovation Health - Aetna Silver 2 (Telehealth and $0 MinuteClinic Visits at CVS) ranks as the best health insurance plan from Aetna. Those in lower income brackets can get access to lower overall out-of-pocket costs for the same premium:

  • 201% to 250% of the FPL: $358 per month; MOOP $6,800
  • 151% to 200% of the FPL: $358 per month; MOOP $2,700
  • Up to 150% of the FPL: $358 per month; MOOP $2,700

Best Health Insurance for Young Adults in Virginia

Aetna has the best health insurance for young adults in Virginia, earning a MoneyGeek score of 63 out of 100.

We evaluated providers offering Bronze or Catastrophic policies, which typically have the lowest premiums and the highest out-of-pocket expenses, in order to identify the top firms for young adults. Only individuals under the age of 30 can get Catastrophic coverage.

We evaluated the following number of plan levels and types in Virginia for this category:

  • Bronze: Seven HMO and three EPO plans
  • Expanded Bronze: 24 HMO and 16 EPO plans
  • Catastrophic: One EPO plan and three HMO plans

MoneyGeek Pick: Aetna

Aetna Medicare

pros

Doesn’t deny claims

cons

More expensive premiums

Fewer plan types available

Higher MOOP than competitors

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Aetna offers health insurance plans for young adults in Virginia at an average rate of $218 per month and an $8,400 MOOP. This company denies zero insurance claims, which is unique among insurers.

Metal tiers dictate the amount of coverage you’ll have. Catastrophic, Bronze and Expanded Bronze tend to be popular among younger adults in good health who don’t need much coverage.

Aetna offers three Expanded Bronze HMO plans.

Plan Recommendations

These are Aetna’s top health plans for young adults:

  • Innovation Health - Aetna Bronze (Low Premium + Telehealth + Low-Cost MinuteClinic Visits at CVS): approximately $200.34 per month for 18-year-olds and $224.69 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,100
  • Innovation Health - Aetna Bronze (Low Premium + Telehealth + $0 MinuteClinic Visits at CVS): approximately $186.23 per month for 18-year-olds and $208.87 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $9,100
  • Innovation Health - Aetna Bronze S (Low Premium + Telehealth + $0 MinuteClinic Visits at CVS): approximately $197.50 per month for 18-year-olds and $221.51 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $9,000

Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in Virginia

Health insurance companies offer several coverage options. Listed below are Virginia's top-rated providers for each category:

  • EPO: Aetna (MoneyGeek score: 100 out of 100)
  • PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield (MoneyGeek score: 100 out of 100)
  • HMO: Kaiser Permanente (MoneyGeek score: 70 out of 100)

Please take note that we only provide recommendations for Silver plans. This metal tier is ideal for those seeking quality medical insurance with affordable MOOPs.

There are 34 Silver HMO, 3 Silver PPO and 14 Silver EPO plans available in Virginia.

MoneyGeek Pick for HMO: Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Kaiser Permanente offers 11 Silver HMO plans with an average cost of $382 per month and an average MOOP of $8,024 MOOP. While it offers fewer plan types than other providers, it scored highly in terms of rates.

The most common type of health insurance policy is known as an HMO plan. They have lower premiums than other plans but limit you to receiving care from a select group of doctors and hospitals. A reference is also required before seeing a specialist.

Plan Recommendations

For Silver-tier HMO plans, we recommend the following:

  • KP VA Silver 3000/30/Vision/HSA: approximately $363 per month; MOOP $6,650
  • KP VA Silver 2000/30/HSA/Vision: approximately $381 per month; MOOP $6,650

MoneyGeek Pick for PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia

Blue Cross Blue Shield
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia provides three different PPO Silver plans for an average monthly cost of $627 and a MOOP of $7,567. Health insurance claims from this company are rarely denied, and the MOOP costs are minimal.

PPO plans are often more expensive than HMOs, but they allow more provider network flexibility and do not require referrals to see specialists.

Plan Recommendations

Consider the following PPO Silver plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield:

  • BluePreferred PPO HSA Silver 3000: approximately $852 per month; MOOP $6,500
  • BluePreferred PPO HSA/HRA Silver 2750 80%/60%: approximately $521 per month; MOOP $7,500

MoneyGeek Pick for EPO: Aetna

Aetna Medicare
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Aetna offers two EPO Silver plans in Virginia at an average rate of $376 per month with a MOOP average of $8,800. This insurer denies zero claims and has low MOOPs.

EPOs are less expensive than PPOs because they operate on exclusive networks like HMOs, but they do not require referrals as HMOs do.

Plan Recommendations

Consider the following EPO Silver plans from Aetna:

  • Silver 2: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + telemedicine + $0 MinuteClinic visits at CVS: approximately $385 per month; MOOP $8,700
  • Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + telemedicine + $0 MinuteClinic visits at CVS: approximately $366 per month; MOOP $8,900

How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in Virginia

Your budget and coverage needs will determine which health insurance company in Virginia is the best fit for you. The following are some tips that can be useful when buying health insurance.

  • doctor icon

    Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you

    PPO plans allow customers to get health care services from providers outside their network, while HMO plans require policyholders to stay within the HMO's network in order to obtain coverage. The premiums for the former are typically more expensive. EPOs offer a blend of HMO and PPO features. There are 125 HMO plans, 60 EPO plans, one POS plan and nine PPO plans available in the state of Virginia when evaluating all metal tiers and income levels.

  • money2 icon

    Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care

    Higher deductibles and copayments are often the norm for cheaper health plans. This means you may pay more in the long run even though it seems like you are paying less each month. For reference, the VA Silver 3000/30/HSA/Vision plan from Kaiser Permanente has a monthly average premium of $363 and an annual MOOP of $6,650. Choosing a more expensive plan might help you access a lower MOOP.

Consider Virginia Medicare or Medicaid if You’re Eligible

Virginia residents who are 65 or older or who have a disability or sickness that meets certain requirements may be eligible for Medicare. Medicare recipients still have to pay insurance premiums, though the cost of their coverage is far lower than that of a policy from a private provider.

  • Part A is your hospital insurance, and it pays for medical care received in a hospital, nursing home or hospice.
  • Part B is your health insurance, and it pays for things like doctor's appointments, outpatient care and preventative services.
  • Part D offers coverage for vaccines and other medications obtained through a doctor's prescription, which is the drug benefit.

Medicare coverages have restrictions, so read your policy carefully before enrolling.

Some residents of Virginia may also qualify for Medicaid, which provides free health coverage. Those with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty threshold and who are residents of expansion states are eligible to enroll in Medicaid.

Frequently Asked Questions About Health Insurance in Virginia

When comparing health insurance options, it’s normal to have questions regarding price and coverage availability. We address some common questions.

About Brenna Kelly, Licensed Health Insurance Agent


Brenna Kelly, Licensed Health Insurance Agent headshot

Brenna Kelly is a licensed health insurance agent and health insurance content manager at MoneyGeek. Licensed in Florida, Brenna is qualified to advise on medical insurance, disability, long-term care, critical illness, Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage Plans. She combines her experience in content production with expert insight into state, regional and local health insurance markets and policies. Brenna has also earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Applied Sociology from the University of Central Florida.