Best Health Insurance in Washington (2026 Picks)

Key Takeaways

Overall, Community Health Plan of Washington offers the best and most balanced coverage in Washington for health insurance.

Washington health insurance plans start at $357 monthly for Bronze, while Gold coverage reaches $568, with rates varying by age and network type.

Compare plans through Washington Healthplanfinder during Open Enrollment (November 1 to January 15, 2026) or during a special enrollment period following a qualifying life event.

Best Health Insurance Companies in Washington

Community Health Plan of Washington, Coordinated Care Corporation and Kaiser Permanente tie for the best health insurance in Washington with MoneyGeek scores of 4.5 out of 5. Community Health Plan averages $357 monthly with comprehensive coverage. If these companies aren't available near you, LifeWise Health Plan of Washington, BridgeSpan and Molina Healthcare also provide quality coverage.


Community Health Plan of Washington	$357	$10,150	$6,000	4.5	Community Health Plan of Washington Cascade Select Bronze
Coordinated Care Corporation (Ambetter)	$373	$10,150	$6,000	4.5	Ambetter Cascade Select Bronze
Kaiser Permanente	$471	$9,250	$6,000	4.5	Bronze HSA
LifeWise Health Plan of Washington	$467	$9,712	$6,231	4.2	LifeWise Cascade Select Bronze
BridgeSpan	$581	$10,150	$6,000	4.1	BridgeSpan Cascade Bronze
Molina Healthcare	$486	$10,150	$6,000	4.0	Molina Cascade Bronze

*Our analysis identifies the best health insurance companies in Washington based on Bronze-tier HMO and EPO plans for 40-year-old adults. Your rates will vary based on age, location and plan selection.

Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW)

MoneyGeek Rating

4.5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Deductible

2.5/5MOOP

Monthly Cost
$357
MOOP
$10,150
Deductible
$6,000

pros
- Premiums below market average
- HSA-eligible Bronze plans available
- Strong community health center network statewide
cons
- High deductible and MOOP for Bronze coverage
- EPO network limits out-of-network care
Community Health Plan of Washington earns our top pick for best health insurance in Washington with a 4.5 MoneyGeek score. CHPW balances affordability and financial protection. You'll pay $357 monthly with a $6,000 deductible and $10,150 maximum out-of-pocket limit. The Cascade Select plan follows Washington's public-option model, expanding coverage access across the state.

CHPW offers Gold-tier plans if you'd rather pay more upfront and less when you need care. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, members pay $0 for urgent care telehealth through CHPW Virtual Care. This helps when your doctor's schedule is full.
Explore Community Health Plan of Washington Plans for 2026:

Data filtered by:
Metal Level
Bronze
Community Health Plan of Washington Cascade Select Bronze Community Health Plan of Washington $357 Bronze EPO $10,150 $6,000 Yes


Community Health Plan of Washington Cascade Select Bronze	Community Health Plan of Washington	$357	Bronze	EPO	$10,150	$6,000	Yes

Coordinated Care

MoneyGeek Rating

4.5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Deductible

2.5/5MOOP

Monthly Cost
$373
MOOP
$10,150
Deductible
$6,000

pros
- HSA-eligible Bronze plans available
- Virtual care access around the clock for urgent needs
- Rewards program offsets out-of-pocket costs
cons
- High deductible on Bronze plans
- HMO network restricts out-of-network coverage
Coordinated Care Corporation sells Marketplace coverage in Washington, including Cascade Select public-option plans. For 40-year-olds, the HMO Bronze plan runs $373 a month with a $6,000 deductible and a $10,150 out-of-pocket maximum. Monthly costs are lower, but you'll pay more when you actually need care.

Prefer less exposure at the point of service? The Cascade Select Gold plan carries a $1,000 deductible and a $7,000 out-of-pocket maximum for a higher monthly premium. Members also get access to My Health Pays rewards, which offset eligible health expenses, plus Virtual 24/7 Care for urgent medical questions.

Find Coordinated Care Corporation Plans for 2026:

Data filtered by:


Ambetter Cascade Select Bronze	Coordinated Care Corporation	$373	Bronze	HMO	$10,150	$6,000	Yes

Kaiser Permanente

MoneyGeek Rating

4.5/ 5

4.2/5Affordability

5/5Deductible

5/5MOOP

Monthly Cost
$471
MOOP
$9,250
Deductible
$6,000

pros
- HMO and EPO plan options are both available
- Tax-free savings for medical expenses come with Bronze and Gold HSA plans
- Virtual visits and 24/7 nurse advice reach statewide
cons
- High deductibles apply before coverage kicks in on some plans
- Silver and Platinum tier plans aren't available
Kaiser Permanente sells individual and family coverage in Washington, with HMO and EPO options including HSA-compatible plans. The company's Bronze HMO plans average $471 a month with a $6,000 deductible and $9,250 maximum out-of-pocket limit; Gold HMO plans range from $590 to $611 a month depending on HSA-eligibility.

Kaiser Permanente EPO plans come in Bronze and Gold tiers, with Bronze at $478 a month, where deductibles reach $7,400 and MOOP limits reach $8,783.

For a little over $100 more a month compared to the Bronze plan, the Gold EPO plan comes with a much lower deductible (flagged in the source as $1,1623, which almost certainly means $1,623 given the "much lower than $7,400" framing, but not silently corrected here) and an $8,125 MOOP limit.

Members can access care through virtual visits, secure messaging and a 24/7 nurse advice line. The Kaiser Permanente Washington mobile app handles prescription refills, bill payments and appointment scheduling.

Kaiser Permanente Plans in Washington for 2026:

Data filtered by:


Bronze HSA	Kaiser Permanente	$466	HMO	Bronze	$7,500	$5,500	Yes
KP WA Bronze 9100	Kaiser Permanente	$472	EPO	Bronze	$9,100	$9,100	Yes
VisitsPlus Bronze	Kaiser Permanente	$474	HMO	Bronze	$10,100	$6,500	Yes
Kaiser Permanente Cascade Bronze	Kaiser Permanente	$474	HMO	Bronze	$10,150	$6,000	Yes
KP Cascade Bronze	Kaiser Permanente	$481	EPO	Bronze	$10,150	$6,000	Yes
KP WA Bronze HSA 7100	Kaiser Permanente	$481	EPO	Bronze	$7,100	$7,100	Yes

Best Washington Health Insurance by Category

The best health insurance plans in Washington vary by age, metal tier and network type. Monthly premiums range from $255 for teens to $1,648 for seniors. We compared HMO and EPO plans across age groups and metal tiers to show which insurers offer the best value for each category.

By Age

Teens: Community Health Plan of Washington has the lowest Bronze rate at $255 per month for EPO coverage. Coordinated Care Corporation's HMO Bronze option runs $267 per month.
Young Adults: Community Health Plan of Washington's EPO Bronze plan costs $286 per month. Coordinated Care Corporation covers the HMO side at $299 per month.
Adults: Community Health Plan of Washington charges $357 per month for EPO Bronze coverage. The HMO Bronze equivalent from Coordinated Care Corporation is $373 per month.
Seniors: Community Health Plan of Washington's EPO Bronze plan starts at $757 per month. Coordinated Care Corporation's HMO Bronze option is $792 per month.

By Metal Level

Bronze Plans: A 40-year-old pays $357 a month for Community Health Plan of Washington's EPO Bronze plan, with a $6,000 deductible and $10,150 out-of-pocket maximum. Coordinated Care Corporation's HMO Bronze plan costs $373 a month, with the same deductible and out-of-pocket limits.
Gold Plans: Community Health Plan of Washington charges $469 a month for EPO Gold coverage, with a $1,450 deductible and $7,900 out-of-pocket maximum. Coordinated Care Corporation's HMO Gold plan costs $505 a month, with a $1,450 deductible and a $7,808 out-of-pocket maximum.

By Network Type

HMO Plans: Coordinated Care Corporation covers HMO Bronze and Gold options for 40-year-olds, with Bronze starting at $373 a month.
EPO Plans: A 40-year-old pays $357 a month for Community Health Plan of Washington's EPO Bronze plan, with Gold coverage at $469 a month.

All rates reflect Bronze-tier averages for the specified age group unless otherwise noted. Bronze-tier rates apply to HMO and EPO plan type comparisons.

Compare Washington Health Insurance Companies

Monthly premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums vary across Washington health plans. Compare costs by age, metal tier, plan type and HSA eligibility to find health insurance plans that best fit your budget and unique needs.

Data filtered by:

How to Find the Best Health Insurance in Washington

Finding the right health insurance in Washington means comparing coverage needs, plan networks and enrollment timing.

Decide on your coverage needs before buying
Compare monthly premiums against deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket limits. Frequent doctor visits make higher monthly premiums worthwhile when lower deductibles reduce your costs per appointment. Bronze plans cost less monthly but come with high deductibles and are best for people with emergency savings who rarely need medical care. Also, review health insurance plan types to ensure how flexible a provider will be in covering you. HMOs require referrals for specialists, while EPOs skip referrals but limit you to network providers.
Compare company offerings and reputations
Research which insurers serve your area through Washington Healthplanfinder. Check customer service records through your state's Office of the Insurance Commissioner complaint data and verify your doctors and hospitals accept the plan you're considering. Call the provider directly to confirm. Online directories aren't always current.
Shop around
Open Enrollment runs from November 1 through January 15, 2026, so enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1, 2026. Special Enrollment periods let you enroll outside this window if you've lost coverage, had a baby, gotten married or moved to Washington.
Check eligibility for Apple Health and subsidies
Washington's Apple Health (Medicaid) covers adults ages 19-64 with household income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. That's roughly $20,783 for individuals or $43,056 for a family of four in 2026. Cascade Care plans reduce premiums for moderate-income families, with some eligible for $0 monthly costs. Washingtonians 65 and older qualify for Medicare and can explore Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plans for additional coverage.

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Washington?

Health insurance costs in Washington depend on plan type, metal tier, age and location. HMO plans cost less, with Bronze coverage averaging $449 monthly and Gold reaching $568. EPO plans start at $515 monthly for Bronze and climb to $696 for Gold. Bronze and Gold plans are the only metal tiers available in the state, with no Silver or Platinum options.


EPO	$515	$696
HMO	$449	$568

*These are average monthly premiums for 40-year-olds in Washington by plan type. Your rates will vary depending on your age and location.

Best Health Insurance in Washington: Bottom Line

Overall, the best Washington health insurance companies are Community Health Plan of Washington, Coordinated Care Corporation and Kaiser Permanente. 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:

Community Health Plan of Washington provides the best health insurance in Washington for 2026. However, your best choice will depend on your unique circumstances and needs and if coverage is available in your county.

Compare premiums across plans, but don't stop there. Check what each plan covers and whether preferred doctors are in-network. A lower monthly rate won't save money if the deductible is high or key services aren't covered.

There's no state-level health insurance mandate in Washington. Without coverage, the full cost of any medical care falls out of pocket.

How We Chose the Best Health Insurance in Washington

Washington's health insurance market has no shortage of options, but cost varies more than most residents expect. Premiums differ between urban Seattle and rural counties, and deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums can shift total annual spend considerably. MoneyGeek scored insurers on the three cost factors that shape what someone actually pays throughout the year.

MoneyGeek's Scoring Framework

Monthly premium (60%): Premiums are the highest single cost in most people's annual health care spending. Insurers with lower average monthly costs score highest.
Maximum out-of-pocket (20%): MOOP caps total annual costs beyond the premium. Lower average MOOPs score higher, since they limit how much someone can owe in a single year from unexpected medical bills.
pecial Enrollment Period, giving you 60 days to enroll in a Marketplace plan outside of open enrollment. A sharp drop in income may also qualify you for premium ta A lower deductible means insurance starts covering costs sooner. Insurers with lower average deductibles score higher on this factor.

Scores are set within each plan category. For Bronze-tier HMO and EPO plans, the top-scoring provider receives a 5 out of 5, and other insurers get ranked from there.

Sample Consumer Analysis

MoneyGeek collected data on all available 2026 Washington health plans for people ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Monthly premiums reflect rates for 40-year-olds on individual plans unless noted otherwise. The analysis covers Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum metal tiers across every plan type on Washington's marketplace.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.

Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

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Best Health Insurance in Washington for 2026

Best Health Insurance Companies in Washington