Kaiser WA offers the best health insurance plans in Washington, balancing affordability, customer service and coverage. If Kaiser WA isn't available in your area, consider Kaiser Northwest, Molina, UnitedHealthcare of Oregon or BridgeSpan for excellent coverage options.
Best Health Insurance in Washington for 2025
Updated: November 3, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, Kaiser WA offers the best and most balanced coverage in Washington for health insurance.
UnitedHealthcare of OR provides the best cheap health insurance in Washington, with Silver-tier plans averaging $511 monthly.
To find the best health insurance in Washington, educate yourself on companies available to you, decide coverage needs beforehand and compare plan quotes from several companies.
Best Health Insurance Companies in Washington
| Kaiser WA | $576 | $6,911 | $9,197 |
| BridgeSpan | $643 | $7,717 | $9,200 |
| Kaiser Northwest | $593 | $7,113 | $9,250 |
| LifeWise WA | $587 | $7,045 | $8,770 |
| Molina | $501 | $6,010 | $8,463 |
| PacificSource | $590 | $7,075 | $8,475 |
| Premera | $770 | $9,238 | $8,075 |
| Regence BlueCross BlueShield of OR | $537 | $6,439 | $9,200 |
| Regence BlueShield | $576 | $6,914 | $9,200 |
| UnitedHealthcare of OR | $511 | $6,128 | $8,525 |
*Our picks are the best companies for 40-year-olds looking for Silver-tier plans.
Best Washington Health Insurance Reviews
So that you can learn about our recommendations, we've broken down our top picks overall, for affordability, and customer service reputation.
Kaiser WA: Best Overall
pros
Best health insurance company in Washington with $576 monthly Silver HMO rate
Just 8% denial rate, meaning the fewest authorization rejections among Washington insurers
No referrals needed within the Kaiser network and you can see specialists directly
cons
HMO structure means you must use Kaiser facilities and doctors
Limited service area
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Kaiser WA delivers the best health insurance in Washington at $576 monthly for Silver HMO coverage. Washington Permanente Medical Group ranks as the highest-quality medical group in the state and among the lowest-cost providers, which explains why members stay nearly three times longer than with other health plans.
Our data shows Kaiser denies just 8% of prior authorizations, meaning 92 out of 100 requests get approved immediately. Kaiser members survive colorectal cancer at rates 52% higher and heart disease at rates 33% higher than national averages. Over half of members avoided ER or urgent care trips by using video visits, saving time and copays.
UnitedHealthcare of OR: Best Cheap Overall
pros
Best cheap health insurance in Washington at $511 monthly for Silver EPO coverage
Access to 1.7 million physicians and 7,000 hospitals nationwide
Plans with $0 medical deductibles and predictable copays available
Prescriptions starting at $8 at over 40,000 network pharmacies
cons
32% denial rate for prior authorizations - highest among Washington insurers
Must use in-network providers except emergencies
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
UnitedHealthcare delivers the best cheap health insurance in Washington at $511 monthly for Silver EPO coverage, beating competitors by $92 per month. UnitedHealthcare offers plans with $0 medical deductibles and predictable copays, plus adult dental and vision coverage with a $150 glasses frame allowance. The company also earned an A+ Superior rating from AM Best for financial stability.
Best Health Insurance in Washington by Category
While we've given our top picks overall, the best company for you may differ depending on your profile and preferred plan type. So below, we've broken down the top picks for common categories to make more personalized recommendations.
| Young Adults | Regence BlueShield |
| Seniors | Regence BlueShield |
| HMO | Kaiser Permanente |
| EPO | Regence BlueShield |
How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in Washington
The following recommendations will ensure that buying health insurance that is ideal for you is easy.
Decide on your coverage needs before buying
When looking for the best health insurance, weigh the monthly cost against the maximum out-of-pocket limits for plans. If you go to the doctor often, a plan with a higher monthly fee but lower MOOP can save you money. But you may not need as much coverage if you're not high risk. Also, compare health insurance plan types to ensure how flexible a provider will be in covering you.
Compare company offerings and reputations
Before comparing rates, understand what plans the top companies in your area offer and their terms. Also, look into company reputations through forums and industry sources like J.D. Power to ensure a smooth buying and coverage claims process.
Shop around
Comparing multiple plans from many providers ensures you get the best possible deal. We found that rates can start at $501 monthly in Washington, depending on your profile and chosen plan type. Open Enrollment lasts from November 1 to January 15, but you may also qualify for Special Enrollment if you've lost your job, divorced or had a child.
Take advantage of federal programs and subsidies
Those with low income, have a qualifying disability or illness, or are 65 years old or older can receive subsidies or be eligible for Medicare plans. In some cases, depending on your details, you can have up to 100% of your premiums covered if you're low-income or have significant savings if you're eligible for Medicare. MoneyGeek also provides information for finding the top Washington Medicare Supplement and best Medicare Advantage plans in Washington if you want to learn more.
Best Health Insurance in Washington: Bottom Line
Overall, our top three picks for Washington health insurance are Kaiser WA, BridgeSpan and UnitedHealthcare of Oregon, Inc. However, the best possible health insurance plan for you will vary widely depending on your personal details and coverage needs. Compare as many plans and companies as possible to get the right fit.
Best Washington Health Insurance: FAQ
Below, we've answered frequently asked questions about the best health insurance in Washington:
What is the best health insurance provider in Washington for 2025?
Kaiser WA provides the best health insurance in Washington for 2025. However, your best choice will depend on your unique circumstances and needs and if coverage is available in your county.
What should you look for when shopping for the best health insurance plan in Washington?
When finding the best health insurance plan, compare both premium costs and coverage breadth to ensure the plan meets your specific medical needs without gaps in essential services. The ideal plan balances affordability with comprehensive coverage that aligns with your health requirements and anticipated medical expenses.
How We Chose the Best Health Insurance in Washington
To rank health care insurance providers in Washington, MoneyGeek researched premiums, out-of-pocket costs, claims denial rates and plan types for each available company and compared them across different categories. We then weighted each category to calculate an overall MoneyGeek score and derive rankings.
We weighted most categories as follows:
- Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) score (30%): The MOOP is the most you'll pay per year for health care costs outside of your monthly premiums. The provider with the lowest average MOOP scores the highest.
- Claims denial score (30%): How often a provider denies claims. The provider with the lowest claims denial rate scores the highest.
- Rate score (20%): How much the provider's monthly plans cost. The cheapest provider, on average, gets the highest score.
- Plan type score (20%): Providers score better if they have plan types with broader coverage. A provider with many PPO plans will get the highest score.
In some cases, we adjusted the weightings as follows:
- For the categories "Best Cheap Health Insurance in Washington" and "Best Health Insurance in Washington for Low Income," we increased the rate score weighting to 50%. We decreased every other category by 10%.
- For the category "Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in Washington," we decreased the plan type score weighting to 0% to reflect that we are comparing providers' plans like-for-like. We increased MOOP and claims denial score weightings by 10% each.
Sample Consumer:
MoneyGeek collected data on all available plans in Washington for consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Unless otherwise noted, all monthly premiums are for a 40-year-old buyer, such as the category for young adults. Plans analyzed in each section include the relevant cited metal tiers, which include Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like 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.