Best Health Insurance in Wisconsin (2026)

MercyCare offers the best health insurance in Wisconsin. Group Health Cooperative, Aspirus Health Plan, Network Health and UnitedHealthcare also provide excellent options.

Compare top health insurance plans in Wisconsin below

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: April 29, 2026

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Key Takeaways

MercyCare leads Wisconsin health insurers on affordability and scores well across every metal tier.

When we analyzed every 2026 Silver HMO plan available in Wisconsin, MercyCare came in $58 to $219 below every other carrier for a 40-year-old, depending on which insurer you compare. The next cheapest option, Group Health Cooperative, costs $605 monthly. Security Health Plan, the most expensive in the state, runs $766.

Before enrolling, pull quotes from multiple insurers and compare coverage limits, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Confirm your doctors and hospitals are in-network.

When we analyzed every 2026 health insurance plan available in Wisconsin, three patterns changed how we think about this market.

First, premium and cost exposure move in opposite directions here. The two most expensive Silver HMO plans by monthly premium, Security Health Plan and Quartz, also carry the two highest out-of-pocket maximums. Paying more each month doesn't buy a lower financial ceiling if you have a bad health year. MercyCare is the only plan in Wisconsin where the lowest premium pairs with the lowest out-of-pocket maximum.
Second, the age cost curve is steeper than most shoppers realize. A 60-year-old pays $1,161 per month for MercyCare's Silver HMO, more than twice the $547 rate for a 40-year-old on the same plan. If you're over 50 and comparing monthly premiums without also running the numbers on your age-60 rate, you're not comparing the same thing your neighbor is.
Third, county availability matters as much as price. Wisconsin has nine carriers for 2026, all of them network-model plans. HealthPartners offers a Silver PPO at $619 monthly but ranks outside the top five on overall value, leaving most Wisconsin residents choosing between HMO and POS structures. Multiple top-five insurers serve limited geographic areas. Two people in different Wisconsin ZIP codes may have access to completely different plans at completely different prices for the same coverage tier.

Best Health Insurance Companies in Wisconsin

MercyCare achieves a perfect 5 out of 5 MoneyGeek score for the best health insurance in Wisconsin. Its Silver HMO plans cost $549 monthly on average, which is 19% to 25% below state averages across all plan types. Group Health Cooperative, Aspirus Health Plan, Network Health and UnitedHealthcare also rank among the top five providers.


Mercycare Health Plans	$547	$4,226	$2,290	5	Mercycare Silver Health Savings
Group Health Cooperative Scw	$605	$4,280	$2,929	4.6	Better Together Hmo Silver 6000 Ded/8900 Moop
Network Health	$612	$5,486	$2,948	4.3	Prestige Silver Essential + 3 Free Pcp Visits
Anthem	$620	$5,664	$2,783	4.3	Anthem Silver Pathway/Lean 4000 ($0 Pcp Visits + $0 Select Drugs + Incentives)
Aspirus Health Plan	$644	$4,332	$3,105	4.4	Hmo Hdhp Silver 5900
Dean Health Plan	$655	$5,950	$2,305	4.3	Dean Silver Share
UnitedHealthcare	$663	$5,720	$2,389	4.3	Uhc Silver Value ($0 Virtual Urgent Care, $8 Tier 2 Rx, No Referrals)
Quartz	$715	$6,019	$4,200	3.6	Quartz Gundersen Performance Silver Standard Easy Pricing
Security Health Plan	$766	$7,045	$2,332	4	Enrich $5,000 Hdhp

*Our picks reflect the best companies for 40-year-olds seeking Silver-tier HMO plans. Rates vary by age and coverage level.

When we built this table, we expected the premium and out-of-pocket maximum rankings to work the way they do in most markets we analyze, higher premiums buying lower financial exposure when you need care. That's not what we found in Wisconsin's 2026 data.

The two most expensive Silver HMO plans by monthly premium, Security Health Plan at $766 and Quartz at $715, also carry the two highest out-of-pocket maximums in the state. In Wisconsin's individual market, a higher premium doesn't buy a lower cost ceiling. It just costs more.

What that means depends on your situation. If you're healthy and rarely need care beyond annual checkups, the monthly premium is the number that matters most and MercyCare at $547 per month is the clear answer. If you have a chronic condition, expect surgery or anticipate heavy health care use in 2026, the out-of-pocket maximum is equally important and MercyCare's $4,226 ceiling is $2,819 lower than Security Health Plan's $7,045. For that profile, the cheapest and the safest option happen to be the same insurer.

MercyCare Health Plans

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Deductible

5/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$547
Average MOOP
$4,226
Average Deductible
$2,290

pros
- Lowest premiums in Wisconsin across all metal tiers
- Gold plan deductibles start at $1,500
- Silver plans have competitive out-of-pocket maximums
- Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers all available
cons
- HMO plans only, which restricts network access
- Bronze plan deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums reach $7,500
MercyCare offers HMO plans across all metal tiers in Wisconsin. Its two Silver plans both earned perfect MoneyGeek scores. One costs $547 per month with a $2,290 deductible and $4,226 out-of-pocket maximum. The HSA-eligible Silver plan is $551 per month with $5,025 matching deductibles and maximums.

Bronze coverage is $388 per month, $94 below the state average, but deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums reach $7,500. Expanded Bronze is $422 per month with HSA eligibility and $5,625 deductibles. Gold plans average $556 per month with $1,500 deductibles and $6,150 out-of-pocket limits.
MercyCare health insurance plans in Wisconsin:
Data filtered by:
Metal Level
Bronze
Mercycare Bronze 10,000 (1 Free Pcp Visit) $388 HMO Bronze $7,500 $7,500 Yes
MercyCare's HMO structure requires a primary care referral for every specialist visit. There's no out-of-network benefit, so care outside MercyCare's network comes entirely out of pocket, with no contribution from the plan. MercyCare's Bronze plan carries a $7,500 deductible and $7,500 out-of-pocket maximum, so the low premium at that tier comes with the highest cost ceiling in a bad year. Residents outside MercyCare's core service area should confirm their providers appear in the plan's directory before enrolling. If your providers aren't in MercyCare's directory, Group Health Cooperative-SCW's Silver HMO at $605 per month or Network Health's Silver HMO at $612 per month are the next-cheapest options in the state.


Mercycare Bronze 10,000 (1 Free Pcp Visit)	$388	HMO	Bronze	$7,500	$7,500	Yes

Group Health Cooperative-SCW

MoneyGeek Rating

4.6/ 5

4.7/5Affordability

4/5Deductible

4.9/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$605
Average MOOP
$4,280
Average Deductible
$2,929

pros
- $0 deductibles on all Platinum plans
- Gold plan deductibles start at $1,542
- Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers all available
- Premiums below Wisconsin market averages
cons
- HMO plans only
- Bronze plan deductibles are $6,225 with $7,950 out-of-pocket maximums
Group Health Cooperative-SCW is the only insurer offering Platinum plans in Wisconsin. Its two Gold HMO options are both priced well below state averages: one is $586 per month ($139 below average) with a $1,542 deductible and $4,717 out-of-pocket maximum; the HSA-eligible plan is $595 per month ($154 below average) with $4,000 matching deductibles and maximums. Platinum coverage is $635 per month with a $0 deductible and $2,625 out-of-pocket maximum.

Silver HMO plans are $605 and $641 per month. Bronze is $487 per month with HSA eligibility. Wisconsin residents who want Gold-tier value or Platinum-level protection will find fewer options elsewhere in the state.

Group Health Cooperative health insurance plans for 2026:

Data filtered by:


Partners Hmo Bronze 6000 Ded/10600 Moop Hsa	$474	HMO	Bronze	$7,950	$4,500	Yes
Partners Hmo Bronze 10600 Ded/10600 Moop Hsa	$500	HMO	Bronze	$7,950	$7,950	Yes

Group Health Cooperative-SCW is an HMO only, so specialist visits require referrals and out-of-network care isn't covered. Its Bronze plans carry a $7,950 out-of-pocket maximum, above the Wisconsin Bronze average. Enrollees who qualify for cost-sharing reductions will get stronger financial protection at MercyCare's Silver tier for $58 less per month ($547 versus $605). Platinum coverage at $635 per month with a $0 deductible is the strongest case for GHC-SCW, but only if you're in the counties where the plan is available. For Bronze coverage with lower out-of-pocket exposure, MercyCare's Bronze plan at $388 per month is a good alternative with $7,500 MOOP.

Aspirus Health Plan

MoneyGeek Rating

4.4/ 5

4.5/5Affordability

3.7/5Deductible

4.9/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$644
Average MOOP
$4,332
Average Deductible
$3,105

pros
- Gold plan deductibles start at $1,763
- Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers available in both HMO and POS structures
- POS plans offer greater network flexibility than HMO-only carriers
cons
- Bronze tier out-of-pocket maximums are above average
Aspirus offers HMO plans from Bronze through Gold and POS plans from Bronze through Silver. Its Catastrophic HMO is $393 per month, $100 below the state average, with $10,600 deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. HMO Bronze is $493 per month with HSA eligibility. POS Bronze is $572 per month with perfect MoneyGeek scores and greater network flexibility. Silver HMO is $644 to $661 per month. Silver POS is $716 per month. Gold HMO is $682 per month with $1,763 deductibles. Gold is not available in POS.

Aspirus is the strongest option for Wisconsin residents who want Catastrophic coverage at a low price or need the flexibility of both HMO and POS plan types.
Aspirus Health Plan health insurance plans for 2026:
Data filtered by:
Plan Type
HMO
Metal Level
Bronze
Hmo Bronze 10000 $493 HMO Bronze $7,500 $7,500 Yes
Aspirus's top-scoring Silver plan is the HMO HDHP Silver 5900, an HSA-eligible high-deductible plan. HSA eligibility means you can pair it with a tax-advantaged savings account for qualified medical expenses, which changes the cost calculation for higher earners who can fund an HSA fully. But Aspirus's Gold tier is HMO only. Shoppers who want Gold-level cost sharing with POS flexibility can't get both from Aspirus. Group Health Cooperative-SCW's Gold HMO at $586 per month with a $1,542 deductible is $96 less per month than Aspirus's Gold HMO at $682 per month and carries a $221 lower deductible. For POS plans at the Silver tier, Anthem's Silver POS at $716 per month is the alternative if Aspirus's Silver POS network doesn't cover your providers.


Hmo Bronze 10000	$493	HMO	Bronze	$7,500	$7,500	Yes

Best Wisconsin Health Insurance by Category

The age cost curve in Wisconsin's Silver HMO market is one of the steepest in our data. A 60-year-old pays $1,161 per month for MercyCare's Silver HMO, $614 more than a 40-year-old on the same plan. For a 60-year-old comparing plans, the monthly premium alone understates the real decision. Out-of-pocket maximums matter just as much, because a high-premium, high-MOOP combination compresses the financial margin from both ends.

By Age:

Teens (18): MercyCareHMO ($391 monthly), Dean Health Plan EPO ($411), HealthPartners PPO ($442)
Young adults (26): MercyCare HMO ($438 monthly), Dean Health Plan EPO ($461), HealthPartners PPO ($496)
Adults (40): MercyCare HMO ($547 monthly), Dean Health Plan EPO ($576), HealthPartners PPO ($619)
Seniors (60): MercyCare HMO ($1,161 monthly), Dean Health Plan EPO ($1,222), HealthPartners PPO ($1,314)

By Network Type (40-year-olds):
The network type rankings shift for a specific reason. HMO plans are cheaper in Wisconsin because they restrict you to a defined network with no out-of-network coverage. EPO plans cost more and offer no referral requirement but still have no out-of-network benefit. POS plans add limited out-of-network access.

HMO: MercyCare offers the most affordable option at $547 monthly
EPO: Dean Health Plan provides Silver-tier coverage for $576 monthly
PPO: HealthPartners delivers comprehensive benefits at $619 monthly
POS: Anthem has the best POS plans in Wisconsin at $716 per month, with $3,100 deductibles and $5,657 MOOP limits.

For most Wisconsin residents who receive all their care within a regional provider network, the HMO premium advantage is real and the flexibility trade-off is theoretical. The decision to pay more for EPO or POS structure only makes financial sense if you regularly use out-of-network providers or specialists who don't participate in HMO networks.

Compare Health Insurance Companies in Wisconsin

Health insurance costs vary widely between providers and metal tiers in Wisconsin. The comparison table below breaks down plans by age, coverage level and HSA eligibility to help you find suitable options.

Data filtered by:


Mercycare Health Plans	$547	HMO	Silver	$4,226	$2,290	40	No
Group Health Cooperative Scw	$605	HMO	Silver	$4,280	$2,929	40	No
Network Health	$612	HMO	Silver	$5,486	$2,948	40	No
Anthem	$620	HMO	Silver	$5,664	$2,783	40	No
Aspirus Health Plan	$644	HMO	Silver	$4,332	$3,105	40	No
Dean Health Plan	$655	HMO	Silver	$5,950	$2,305	40	No
UnitedHealthcare	$663	HMO	Silver	$5,720	$2,389	40	No
Quartz	$715	HMO	Silver	$6,019	$4,200	40	No
Security Health Plan	$766	HMO	Silver	$7,045	$2,332	40	No

*Some providers offer multiple plans of the same type and tier. Rates are based on company averages across all available plans for the given age, plan type and metal tier.

The most useful filter in this table isn't the metal tier selector, it's the age input. Run your actual age before using any premium figure elsewhere on this page. A 60-year-old and a 40-year-old looking at the same Silver HMO plan see premium differences of more than $600 per month at the same insurer. The carrier rankings hold across most age groups, but the dollar gaps between cheapest and most expensive widen substantially as age increases. At 60, the premium spread across Silver HMO plans in Wisconsin is wider than at any other age in our data.

How to Find the Best Health Insurance in Wisconsin

Finding the right health insurance in Wisconsin requires comparing your coverage needs, checking insurer reputations and exploring enrollment options.

Decide on your coverage needs before buying

In our analysis of Wisconsin Silver plans, the gap between the lowest and highest out-of-pocket maximum is $2,819, from $4,226 at MercyCare to $7,045 at Security Health Plan.

A lower-premium Bronze plan may look attractive, but MercyCare's Silver plan at $547 per month carries a $2,290 deductible. MercyCare's own Bronze plan carries a $7,500 deductible. That $5,210 deductible gap between Bronze and Silver at the same insurer means Silver is the stronger value if you expect to use more than $2,290 in covered services in a year.

Bronze makes more sense if you're healthy and use services only at the preventive care level, which is covered at $0 on all metal tiers under ACA rules.

Compare company offerings and reputations

Nine insurers sell individual ACA plans in Wisconsin for 2026, but not all nine are available in every county. Availability varies by insurer and geographic area. Confirm which plans are available at your ZIP code on HealthCare.gov before comparing premiums. A plan that doesn't serve your county won't appear in your quote results regardless of its MoneyGeek score, so checking availability first saves time and avoids comparing plans you can't enroll in.

Shop around

Wisconsin's Open Enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15. When we compared the cheapest and most expensive Silver HMO plans in the state, the premium spread was $219 per month between MercyCare at $547 and Security Health Plan at $766. That gap is $2,628 per year for the same metal tier. Comparing at least three carriers before enrolling is the single highest-value action a Wisconsin resident can take during open enrollment.

Take advantage of federal programs and subsidies

Depending on your income, age or health condition, you may qualify for federal subsidies through Wisconsin's federal marketplace. Some residents may be eligible for $0 premium plans or expanded Medicaid coverage. Those 65 and older can explore Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans for additional coverage options beyond original Medicare.

Average Health Insurance Cost in Wisconsin

Wisconsin health insurance costs change based on plan type, metal tier, age and location. HMO plans are the most affordable choice overall, with Bronze coverage averaging $569 monthly and Platinum at $836. EPO plans cost more, ranging from $655 for Bronze to $1,157 for Platinum. PPO options are only available in Silver and Gold tiers, at $610 and $712 respectively, while POS plans are the most expensive in the state, ranging from $717 for Bronze to $1,364 for Platinum plans.


PPO	No Data	$610	$712	No Data
HMO	$569	$710	$738	$836
EPO	$655	$755	$775	$1,157
POS	$717	$939	$1,122	$1,364

*Average monthly premiums for 40-year-olds in Wisconsin by plan type. Rates vary by age and location.

The most striking shift in Wisconsin's cost data is what happens between Bronze and Platinum within HMO plans. Bronze HMO averages $569 per month and Platinum HMO averages $836 per month, a $267 monthly gap or $3,204 per year. Whether that gap is worth paying depends entirely on how much health care you actually use. A Platinum plan saves money for enrollees who consistently hit their deductible. For healthy enrollees who rarely need care beyond preventive visits, paying $3,204 more per year for Platinum structure is rarely the right call.

WISCONSIN HEALTH PLAN TYPES

Wisconsin's 2026 ACA marketplace offers four plan structures. Your network access and referral requirements differ by type.

HMO: Referral required for specialists. No out-of-network coverage. Lowest premiums in Wisconsin.
EPO: No referral needed, but all care must stay in-network. Costs more than HMO plans at every tier.
POS: Referral required like an HMO, with limited out-of-network coverage added. Highest premiums in the state.
PPO: No referral needed and out-of-network care is covered, though at a higher cost. Availability in Wisconsin is limited, check HealthCare.gov for your ZIP code.

Best Health Insurance in Wisconsin: Bottom Line

MercyCare is the right starting point for most Wisconsin shoppers in 2026. It's the only insurer in the state where the lowest monthly premium, $547 for a Silver HMO, also pairs with the lowest average out-of-pocket maximum at $4,226. In my analysis of every 2026 plan in Wisconsin, no other insurer paired its premium rank with a cost ceiling that low.
That combination matters most for enrollees who are both cost-sensitive on monthly cash flow and want meaningful protection against a high-use year.

Group Health Cooperative-SCW is the only path to Platinum coverage in Wisconsin, with a $0 deductible at $635 per month and offers the state's strongest Gold HMO value at $586 per month with a $1,542 deductible. It's the plan to run as a direct comparison if you use health care regularly enough that lower cost-sharing in-year outweighs the $58 higher monthly premium versus MercyCare's Silver HMO.

Before you finalize any plan, confirm it's available at your ZIP code on HealthCare.gov. Multiple top-five carriers in Wisconsin serve limited geographic areas. The lowest rate you see in this analysis may not be a rate you can actually buy.

Best Wisconsin Health Insurance: FAQ

Top questions about finding the best health insurance in Wisconsin:

Is health insurance required in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin doesn't require residents to have health insurance. The state has no mandate or penalty for being uninsured. You can still get federal subsidies through the health insurance marketplace to make coverage more affordable if you qualify based on income.

When is open enrollment in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin's open enrollment for 2026 health coverage begins November 1, 2025, and ends January 31, 2026. You must select your plan by December 31, 2025, to start coverage on January 1, 2026.

Can you get free health insurance in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin residents can qualify for free health insurance through BadgerCare Plus, the state's Medicaid program, if they meet income requirements. Many others receive subsidies through the federal marketplace that reduce or eliminate monthly premiums, making coverage more affordable for middle-income families.

How We Chose the Best Health Insurance in Wisconsin

Our ranking system evaluates health insurance plans based on three cost factors: monthly premiums, maximum out-of-pocket limits and deductibles.

Scoring breakdown:

Monthly premium (60%): Plans with the lowest average monthly costs receive the top ratings.
Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) score (20%): This represents the most you'll pay for covered services in a year, excluding premiums. Plans with lower MOOP limits earn better scores.
Deductible (20%): The amount you pay for covered services before insurance begins paying. Plans requiring lower deductibles receive higher ratings.

We standardized all scores within each plan category. The highest-scoring Silver-tier HMO plan receives a 5.0 rating, with other plans scored relative to this benchmark.

MoneyGeek analyzed every 2026 health insurance plan available to Wisconsin residents ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Premium costs reflect 40-year-old rates unless stated otherwise. Our review covers all available metal tiers: Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

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 the analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

Read Full Bio »

Best Health Insurance in Wisconsin (2026)

Best Health Insurance Companies in Wisconsin

MercyCare Health Plans

Group Health Cooperative-SCW

Aspirus Health Plan

Best Wisconsin Health Insurance by Category

Compare Health Insurance Companies in Wisconsin

How to Find the Best Health Insurance in Wisconsin

Average Health Insurance Cost in Wisconsin

Best Health Insurance in Wisconsin: Bottom Line

Best Wisconsin Health Insurance: FAQ

Is health insurance required in Wisconsin?

When is open enrollment in Wisconsin?

Can you get free health insurance in Wisconsin?

How We Chose the Best Health Insurance in Wisconsin

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