UnitedHealthcare is Iowa's cheapest overall health insurance provider, with an average monthly premium of $313. Availability can vary, so check out Oscar, Ambetter and Blue Cross Blue Shield for affordable health plans.
Most Affordable Health Insurance in Iowa
Updated: June 8, 2025
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Key Takeaways
UnitedHealthcare offers Iowa's most affordable health insurance, saving policyholders an average of $238 per month compared to the state average.
Blue Cross Blue Shield provides top-rated full coverage Gold plans, with affordable pricing starting at $401 monthly.
Finding the cheapest health insurance starts with selecting a coverage level within your budget, checking your subsidy eligibility and comparing plans from several companies.
Most Affordable Health Insurance Companies in Iowa
| UnitedHealthcare | $313 | $238 |
| Oscar | $349 | $202 |
| Ambetter | $410 | $141 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $426 | $125 |
*These plans reflect rates for 40-year-olds who are not considered low-income.
Cheapest Iowa Health Insurance Plans by Profile
While we've summarized the cheapest companies for most residents, the most affordable plan for you will differ widely depending on your desired coverage tier and age. Below are the cheapest companies by category for most in the area:
- Cheapest For Young Adults: Ambetter ($328 monthly)
- Cheapest For Seniors: Ambetter ($870 monthly)
- Cheapest Catastrophic Plan: Oscar ($269 monthly)
- Cheapest Expanded Bronze Plan: Blue Cross Blue Shield ($303 monthly)
- Cheapest Silver Plan: Ambetter ($410 monthly)
- Cheapest Gold Plan: Blue Cross Blue Shield ($401 monthly)
While these are a good measure of the most affordable plans, they only represent the cheapest for 40-year-olds (26-year-olds for young adults and 60 for seniors), and your cheapest company and plan may differ for your profile. So below, we've created a filterable table that you can modify by plan tier and age to find your lowest rate match.
Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Select
Plan Level:Silver
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Age:40
| Ambetter | Standard Silver | $410 | $88 | $8,000 |
Cheapest Health Insurance Plans by County in Iowa
While UnitedHealthcare ranks the cheapest provider overall, Blue Cross Blue Shield stands out in affordability and availability for Silver plans in most counties. Below, you can review which company and plan are most affordable in your area.
| Adair | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Adams | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Allamakee | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Appanoose | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Audubon | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Benton | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Black Hawk | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Boone | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Bremer | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Buchanan | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Buena Vista | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Butler | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Calhoun | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Carroll | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Cass | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Cedar | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Cerro Gordo | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Cherokee | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Chickasaw | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Clarke | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Clay | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Clayton | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Clinton | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Crawford | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Dallas | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Davis | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Decatur | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Delaware | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Des Moines | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Dickinson | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Dubuque | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Emmet | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Fayette | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Floyd | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Franklin | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Fremont | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Greene | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Grundy | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Guthrie | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Hamilton | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Hancock | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Hardin | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Harrison | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Henry | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Howard | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Humboldt | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Ida | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Iowa | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Jackson | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Jasper | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Jefferson | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Johnson | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Jones | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Keokuk | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Kossuth | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Lee | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Linn | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Louisa | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Lucas | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Lyon | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Madison | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Mahaska | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Marion | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Marshall | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Mills | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Mitchell | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Monona | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Monroe | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Montgomery | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Muscatine | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| O'Brien | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Osceola | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Page | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Palo Alto | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Plymouth | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Pocahontas | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Polk | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Pottawattamie | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Poweshiek | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Ringgold | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Sac | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Scott | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Shelby | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Sioux | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Story | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Tama | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Taylor | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Union | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Van Buren | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Wapello | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Warren | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Washington | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Wayne | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Webster | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $411 | Wellmark Silver Primary Care | UnityPoint Health |
| Winnebago | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Winneshiek | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Woodbury | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Worth | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
| Wright | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $438 | Wellmark Standard Silver HMO |
How to Find the Cheapest Health Insurance in Iowa
Follow these steps to find affordable health insurance in Iowa:
- 1
Determine coverage plan needs and affordability
Your coverage plan type and tier will differ widely depending on your personal health circumstances and income. Calculate how much income you can set aside for monthly premiums, considering your current health and risk for injury or disease based on location, age and lifestyle.
- 2
Find out your subsidy eligibility
People earning between $14,580 and $54,000 may qualify for premium tax credits, reducing costs by 40% to 100%. Those with incomes below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level ($36,450) can access cost-sharing reductions, decreasing out-of-pocket expenses up to 73%.
- 3
Consider federal programs for eligible age groups
If you're of suitable age, explore Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans. These plans may offer more affordable and flexible alternatives to traditional plans.
- 4
Review prescription formularies
Check insurers' prescription coverage for medications you regularly take. Choosing plans with lower-tier placements and reduced copays for your medications can optimize savings and ensure consistent and affordable access to necessary prescriptions, saving you hundreds of dollars each year.
- 5
Compare plans during Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15, but you may qualify for Special Enrollment due to life events like job loss, divorce or childbirth. Evaluate plan types, costs, customer reviews and network availability to find the most suitable and affordable coverage for your circumstances.
MONEYGEEK TIP: MAKE SURE TO APPLY PROMPTLY
To avoid technical issues, apply for coverage at least five days before the enrollment deadline. Prepare your income verification, Social Security numbers and immigration documents to ensure a smooth application process.
Most Affordable Health Insurance in Iowa: Bottom Line
UnitedHealthcare, Oscar, Ambetter and Blue Cross Blue Shield are Iowa's most affordable health insurance companies. While we recommend these affordable options, you should compare as many plan types and tier quotes as possible from multiple companies to get the best deal.
Cheap Iowa Health Insurance: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about finding affordable health insurance in Iowa:
What is the cheapest health insurance in Iowa?
UnitedHealthcare offers the cheapest health insurance in Iowa, with Silver plans starting at $313 per month for 40-year-olds. Your ideal option may vary, so consider exploring Ambetter, Oscar and Blue Cross Blue Shield based on your income and coverage preferences.
What are the downsides of a cheap health insurance plan?
Compared to higher-priced plans, cheap health insurance has higher out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles and copays. More expensive plans reduce out-of-pocket expenses and offer more extensive health care coverage.
How We Decided the Cheapest Health Insurance Companies in Iowa
MoneyGeek obtained data directly from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on available health insurance plans in Iowa based on consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60.
We considered the cheapest overall to be those with the lowest monthly premium costs for 40-year-olds, as most in the state are near this age demographic, and for simplicity. However, cheaper plans tend to have higher out-of-pocket maximums and deductibles, meaning you may pay more if you receive care.
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!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.