Best Health Insurance in Wisconsin (2026)

MercyCare has the best health insurance in Wisconsin and the lowest average Silver HMO premium, $547 a month for a 40-year-old. Group Health Cooperative, Aspirus Health Plan, Network Health and UnitedHealthcare cost $605 to $663.

Compare health insurance plans in Wisconsin by premium.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: October 2, 2026

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Best Health Insurance Companies in Wisconsin

MercyCare is the best health insurance provider in Wisconsin for 2026. Its Silver HMO plans average $547 per month, $134 below the $681 state average, with the lowest average out-of-pocket maximum at $4,226, the most you'll pay for covered services in a year excluding premiums. Group Health Cooperative and Network Health have the next-lowest premiums at $605 and $612, Aspirus Health Plan has the third-lowest out-of-pocket maximum at $4,332 and UnitedHealthcare has the fourth-lowest deductible at $2,389.

Security Health Plan and Quartz have the two highest Silver HMO premiums, at $766 and $715 per month, and the two highest out-of-pocket maximums, at $7,045 and $6,019, so higher premiums don't mean lower out-of-pocket costs in Wisconsin.

In a year when you reach the out-of-pocket maximum, MercyCare's plan costs $10,790 in premiums and covered care, $5,447 less than Security Health Plan's $16,237.


Mercycare Health Plans	$547	$4,226	$2,290	5
Group Health Cooperative	$605	$4,280	$2,929	4.6
Aspirus Health Plan	$644	$4,332	$3,105	4.4
Network Health	$612	$5,486	$2,948	4.3
UnitedHealthcare	$663	$5,720	$2,389	4.3
Anthem	$620	$5,664	$2,783	4.3
Dean Health Plan	$655	$5,950	$2,305	4.3
Security Health Plan	$766	$7,045	$2,332	4
Quartz	$715	$6,019	$4,200	3.6

*Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds with Silver-tier HMO plans that aren't HSA-eligible.

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 average premiums in Wisconsin across Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers
- Gold plan deductible is $1,500
- Silver plans have the lowest average out-of-pocket maximum among Wisconsin Silver HMOs
cons
- HMO plans only, which restricts network access
- Bronze plan deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums reach $7,500
MercyCare offers HMO plans across the Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers in Wisconsin. Its Silver plans without HSA eligibility average $547 per month with a $2,290 deductible, the amount you pay for most covered care before the plan starts paying, and a $4,226 out-of-pocket maximum. The HSA-eligible Silver plan, which you can pair with a tax-advantaged health savings account (HSA) for qualified medical expenses, is $551 per month with $5,025 matching deductibles and maximums.

Expanded Bronze, a Bronze plan with a lower deductible than MercyCare's $7,500 Bronze plan, is $422 per month with HSA eligibility and a $5,625 deductible. The Gold plan is $556 per month with a $1,500 deductible and a $6,150 out-of-pocket maximum.
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 specialist visits. There's no out-of-network benefit, so nonemergency care outside MercyCare's network comes entirely out of pocket. MercyCare's Bronze plan carries a $7,500 deductible and $7,500 out-of-pocket maximum, so a bad year at that tier costs up to $7,500 in covered care, compared with $4,226 on MercyCare's Silver HMO. Wisconsin residents should confirm their providers appear in MercyCare's directory before enrolling.


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 two of three Platinum plans
- Gold plan deductibles average $1,542
- Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers all available
- Premiums below Wisconsin market averages at every tier except Bronze
cons
- HMO plans only
- Bronze plan deductibles average $6,225 with $7,950 out-of-pocket maximums
Group Health Cooperative-SCW offers the cheapest Platinum plans in Wisconsin. Its Gold HMO plans are priced below state averages. Those without HSA eligibility average $586 per month, $140 below the $726 state average, with a $1,542 deductible and $4,717 out-of-pocket maximum. The HSA-eligible plans average $595 per month, $154 below the $749 HSA-eligible average, with $4,000 matching deductibles and maximums. Platinum coverage averages $635 per month with a $2,625 out-of-pocket maximum, and two of its three Platinum plans have a $0 deductible.

Silver HMO plans are $605 and $641 per month without and with HSA eligibility. Bronze is $487 per month with HSA eligibility. Wisconsin residents who want Gold-tier value or Platinum-level protection will pay less at Group Health Cooperative-SCW than at most insurers 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 nonemergency out-of-network care isn't covered. Its Bronze plans carry a $7,950 out-of-pocket maximum, above the $7,500 maximum on Aspirus Health Plan's Wisconsin Bronze HMO. Whether or not you qualify for cost-sharing reductions, which lower deductibles and copays on Silver plans for lower-income enrollees, MercyCare's Silver tier costs $58 less per month, $547 compared with $605. Platinum coverage averaging $635 per month, with $0 deductibles on two of three plans, is the strongest case for GHC-SCW, but only if you're in the counties where the plan is available.

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 average $1,763
- Bronze and Silver tiers available in both HMO and POS structures
- POS plans offer greater network flexibility than HMO-only carriers, with limited out-of-network coverage
cons
- Gold tier is HMO only
Aspirus offers HMO plans from Catastrophic through Gold and POS plans from Bronze through Silver. Its Catastrophic HMO is $393 per month, $101 below the $494 state average for Catastrophic HMOs, with $10,600 deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. HMO Bronze is $493 per month with HSA eligibility, and POS Bronze is $572 per month with greater network flexibility. Silver HMO averages $644 per month without HSA eligibility and $661 with it, and Silver POS is $716 per month. Gold HMO averages $682 per month with $1,763 average deductibles, but Gold is not available in POS.

Aspirus is the strongest option for eligible Wisconsin residents, those under 30 or with a hardship exemption, who want Catastrophic coverage at a low price.
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' HMO HDHP Silver 5900 is an HSA-eligible high-deductible plan. HSA eligibility means you can pair it with a tax-advantaged savings account for qualified medical expenses, which lowers the plan's after-tax cost for higher earners who can fund an HSA fully. But Aspirus' 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' Gold HMO at $682 per month and carries a $221 lower deductible. For POS plans at the Silver tier, Anthem's Silver POS at $860 per month is the next-cheapest alternative if Aspirus' 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

Wisconsin's Silver HMO market charges a 60-year-old more than twice what a 40-year-old pays at every insurer in our rate data. A 60-year-old pays $1,161 a month for MercyCare's Silver HMO, $614 more than a 40-year-old on the same plan, and its $4,226 out-of-pocket maximum doesn't change with age, so a bad year costs a 60-year-old up to $18,158 in premiums and covered care. MercyCare is the cheapest at every age below, and Dean Health Plan's EPO and HealthPartners' PPO cost about 5% and 13% more at each age, so the cheapest network type at 40 is also the cheapest at 60.

By Age:

Teens (18): MercyCare HMO ($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 follow network access, so the cheapest plans are HMOs and the priciest are POS plans. Wisconsin's HMOs restrict you to a defined network with no out-of-network coverage, EPO plans drop the referral requirement but still have no out-of-network benefit and POS plans add limited out-of-network access.

HMO: MercyCare's Silver HMO is the most affordable at $547 a month.
EPO: Dean Health Plan sells Silver-tier coverage at $576 a month.
PPO: HealthPartners' Silver PPO costs $619 a month.
POS: Aspirus Health Plan's Silver POS costs $716 a month, with a $3,100 deductible and $5,657 out-of-pocket maximum.

Wisconsin residents who get all their care within a regional provider network get the full benefit of HMO pricing. Paying more for an EPO only frees you from referrals, and a POS plan, at $169 more a month than MercyCare's HMO, is worth it only if you regularly use out-of-network providers or specialists outside HMO networks.

Compare Health Insurance Companies in Wisconsin

Health insurance costs in Wisconsin vary by provider, metal tier, age and HSA eligibility. At the Silver HMO level for a 40-year-old, price and deductible don't move together, because Security Health Plan charges the most at $766 but has the third-lowest deductible at $2,332, while Quartz charges $715 with the highest deductible at $4,200 and MercyCare charges $547 with the lowest at $2,290. Use the table below to compare plans based on your unique needs.

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

How to Find the Best Health Insurance in Wisconsin

To find the right health insurance in Wisconsin, match a metal tier to your coverage needs, check which insurers serve your county and compare premiums during open enrollment.

Decide on your coverage needs before buying
Among Wisconsin Silver HMO plans, the difference 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, and MercyCare's Bronze plan does cost $159 less a month than its $547 Silver plan, or $1,908 a year, but it carries a $7,500 deductible compared with $2,290 on Silver. If you reach the out-of-pocket maximum, Bronze costs $12,156 for the year in premiums and covered care, compared with $10,790 on Silver, so Silver is the stronger value if you expect to reach that maximum.

Bronze is the better choice if you're healthy and use services only at the preventive care level, which is covered at $0 in-network on all metal tiers under ACA rules.
Compare company offerings and reputations
Twelve insurers sell individual Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans in Wisconsin for 2026, but not all 12 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, so checking availability first saves time and avoids comparing plans you can't enroll in.
Shop around
Wisconsin's open enrollment is from November 1 to January 15. When we compared the cheapest and most expensive Silver HMO insurers in the state for a 40-year-old, the premium difference was $219 per month between MercyCare at $547 and Security Health Plan at $766. The difference adds up to $2,628 per year for the same metal tier. Compare at least three carriers before enrolling, because the difference grows with age and reaches $5,592 a year at 60.
Take advantage of federal programs and subsidies
Depending on your income and age, you may qualify for federal subsidies through Wisconsin's federal marketplace. Some residents may be eligible for $0 premium plans or BadgerCare Plus, Wisconsin's Medicaid program. Those 65 and older can compare Medicare Supplement plans, which add to Original Medicare, and Medicare Advantage plans, which replace it.

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin health insurance costs vary by plan type and metal tier. HMO plans cost less than EPO and POS plans at every tier.

EPO plans cost more than HMOs but less than POS plans at every tier, and POS plans have the highest average premiums, from $862 for Bronze to $1,364 for Platinum.

PPO plans are available only at the Silver and Gold tiers in this table, at $619 and $712 per month. PPOs cost less on average than HMOs at both tiers, $619 against $681 at Silver and $712 against $726 at Gold, but MercyCare's $547 Silver HMO still costs $72 less than HealthPartners' $619 Silver PPO, so compare individual insurers before choosing a plan type.


PPO	N/A	$619	$712	N/A
HMO	$655	$681	$726	$836
EPO	$731	$697	$750	$1,157
POS	$862	$869	$1,065	$1,364

*Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds in Wisconsin on plans without HSA eligibility. Security Health Plan is the only Wisconsin insurer that sells Bronze plans without HSA eligibility, so the Bronze column shows its rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Wisconsin's health insurance open enrollment begins November 1 and ends January 15. You must select your plan by December 15 to start coverage on January 1.

Wisconsin residents who meet income requirements can qualify for free coverage through BadgerCare Plus, the state's Medicaid program. Many others qualify for federal marketplace subsidies that reduce or eliminate monthly premiums for middle-income families.

How We Chose the Best Health Insurance in Wisconsin

We ranked health insurance plans on three cost factors:

Monthly premium (60%): Plans with the lowest average monthly costs score highest.
Maximum out-of-pocket (20%): The most you'll pay for covered services in a year, excluding premiums. Lower MOOP limits score better.
Deductible (20%): The amount you pay for most covered care before the plan starts paying. Lower deductibles score higher.

We standardized all scores within each plan category. Within each category, such as Silver-tier HMO plans, the highest-scoring plan receives a 5.0, and other plans are scored relative to it.

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, which are Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

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.

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

Decide on your coverage needs before buying

Compare company offerings and reputations

Shop around

Take advantage of federal programs and subsidies

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Wisconsin?

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Related Pages

About Mark Fitzpatrick