Cheapest Idaho Health Insurance Plans (2023)

Molina Healthcare offers Idaho state’s cheapest Silver and Gold HMO plans, while Blue Cross Blue Shield has the cheapest Bronze HMO and Silver POS plans. SelectHealth, Inc. provides the cheapest option for PPOs.

You can choose from several available health insurance plans in Idaho, but HMO plans are the most common plan type. Each metal tier plan type has its own specific premiums, maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs and deductibles. Note that costs can vary depending on your age, income and coverage level.

If you are looking to balance monthly premiums with quality claims and coverage, MoneyGeek analyzed the best health insurance in Idaho.

The Constant Care Silver 11 250 plan from Molina Healthcare is the cheapest Silver HMO health insurance plan in Idaho, costing $439 monthly. More valuable metal tiers, such as Gold and Platinum, offer broader coverage, but these also typically cost more.

These are the most affordable health insurance in the state by metal tier:

• Catastrophic: Mountain Health CO-OP’s Link Ind Catastrophic ID ($199 per month for a 26-year-old)
• Bronze: Blue Cross Blue Shield’s CPN North Central Bronze 7500 ($291 per month)
• Silver: SelectHealth, Inc.’s BrightPath Silver 3000 ($411 per month)
• Gold: Molina Healthcare’s Confident Care Gold 1 ($450 per month)

Generally, more valuable metal tiers like Gold plans are more expensive. These also have lower maximum out-of-pocket costs, which can help you save in the long run if you require more medical care.

The cheapest Silver plan in Idaho is the Constant Care Silver 11 250 plan from Molina Healthcare which costs $439 per month, on average. The most affordable Silver plans in Idaho are:

• Constant Care Silver 11 250 from Molina Healthcare: $439 per month
• Constant Care Silver 1 250 from Molina Healthcare: $443 per month
• Constant Care Silver 1 250 + Vision from Molina Healthcare: $450 per month

Silver plans provide coverage that’s sufficient for most people while offering affordable premiums and low MOOP expenses. Silver plans also allow low-income individuals to qualify for cost-sharing reductions. That said, Silver plans can be much more expensive than Bronze plans, which are typically the cheapest option.

The recommendations in this section are HMO plans, which are the most accessible type in Idaho. Note, however, that they are not necessarily the cheapest options available.

The Confident Care Gold 1 from Molina is the cheapest Gold plan in Idaho, costing only $450 per month. These are the three most affordable gold plans in the state:

• Confident Care Gold 1 from Molina: $450 per month
• BrightPath Gold 1000 - no deductible for office visits from SelectHealth, Inc.: $455 per month
• Confident Care Gold 1 + Vision from Molina: $456 per month

Gold plans tend to cost more than lower metal tier plans, but they also come with lower maximum out-of-pocket costs, allowing you to save when you receive health care. This type of health plan is good for buyers who expect to use their health insurance coverage frequently, such as those with medical issues.

The CPN North Central Bronze 7500 from Blue Cross Blue Shield is the cheapest Bronze plan in Idaho, at an average cost of $291 per month. The most affordable Bronze plans are:

• CPN North Central Bronze 7500 from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $291 per month
• Link Ind Bronze ID from Mountain Health CO-OP: $300 per month
• St. Luke’s Health Plan Expanded Bronze from St. Luke’s Health Plan: $302 per month

Bronze plans are usually the cheapest widely available plans in the marketplace. However, low premiums and high maximum out-of-pocket costs often go hand-in-hand. With this type of plan, you’ll have to spend a considerable amount for your health care needs before your insurance provider starts footing the bill.

The Link Ind Catastrophic ID from Mountain Health CO-OP is the most affordable Catastrophic plan in Idaho, at an average premium of $199 per month for a 26-year-old buyer. These are the cheapest Catastrophic plans in the state:

• Link Ind Catastrophic ID from Mountain Health CO-OP: $199 per month
• Access Ind Catastrophic ID from Mountain Health CO-OP: $205 per month
• KCN North Catastrophic 9100 from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $220 per month

Catastrophic plans are typically the cheapest marketplace plans. However, these have very high MOOP costs, so you’ll end up paying most of your routine medical expenses before your deductible kicks in. To qualify, you’ll have to be under 30 years of age or have an affordability or hardship exemption.

The most common plan type in Idaho is a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan, but the health insurance exchange also offers other plan types, such as point of service (POS) and preferred provider organization (PPO) plans. These are the cheapest Silver plans for the different plan types:

• HMO: Constant Care Silver 11 250 from Molina ($439 per month)
• POS: IAFN Silver 6500 POS from Blue Cross Blue Shield ($422 per month)
• PPO: BrightPath Silver 3000 from SelectHealth, Inc. ($411 per month)

Compared to HMO plans, POS and PPO plans generally offer greater flexibility, but they also tend to cost more. With a POS or PPO plan, you won’t be asked for a referral before seeing a specialist. You must always make sure to balance your needs and preferences with your budget to determine the best plan for you.

Not all health insurance plans are available in all parts of Idaho, and rates may vary in different counties. Browse the table below to learn about the available Silver plans in each Idaho county and its average premium.

Your health insurance premium largely depends on your plan’s metal tier. For example, these are the average monthly cost for each metal tier for the average 40-year-old in Idaho:

• Catastrophic: $267 per month
• Bronze: $364 per month
• Silver: $471 per month
• Gold: $498 per month

Please note that we used a 26-year-old sample profile for the Catastrophic plan due to eligibility restrictions.

Monthly premiums typically get more expensive as you move from less valuable to more valuable metal tiers. There’s also a trade-off between monthly premiums and MOOP costs. Gold plans tend to cost more than Bronze plans, but these also have significantly lower MOOP costs, so you’re likely to hit your deductible earlier.

Health insurance becomes more expensive as you age. A Silver plan costs around $341 per month for an 18-year-old, but this rate goes up to roughly $547 per month for seniors.

To find the most affordable health insurance plans in Idaho, MoneyGeek gathered data from different private health insurance providers and compared their average rates. These plans are available for purchase during the open enrollment period.

There are government-sponsored programs that are likely to be cheaper than marketplace plans, but you need to meet certain eligibility requirements. Low-income individuals may also be eligible for Medicaid, while seniors and people with disabilities may qualify for Medicare.

You can purchase a private health insurance plan in Idaho during the open enrollment period, which starts on November 1 and goes through January 15. However, we recommend signing up for a plan before December 15 if you want your health insurance coverage to begin on January 1.

Medicaid is a government-sponsored program that provides affordable health insurance catering to individuals who find even the cheapest marketplace plans out of their budget. You may qualify if your family income falls below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Given that Idaho is a Medicaid expansion state, its residents are eligible to receive free Medicaid if you meet the income requirement.

Medicare gives affordable health care to eligible individuals. To qualify for this federal program, you have to be over 65 or have a qualifying disability or sickness. Medicare requires you to pay for certain services. It has three components, including:

• Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers hospital stays, nursing care, hospice care and some home-based care.
• Part B (Medical Insurance): Covers outpatient care, physician visits, preventive care and medical supplies.
• Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage): Covers prescription drugs and required vaccinations.

We’ve updated our MoneyGeek recommendations for the best Medicare Advantage plans in Idaho and the best Medicare Supplement plans in Idaho to help you with your purchase.

Many insurance shoppers have concerns about plan cost and availability. We answered the most common questions about health insurance plans in Idaho to help you find the best option for your needs.