Cheapest Health Insurance in Louisiana (2026)

HMO Louisiana is the cheapest health insurance company in Louisiana, averaging $646 per month, $95 below the statewide average of $741. Ambetter, AmeriHealth and Christus Health Plan are close behind, with average premiums ranging from $646 to $682 per month.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is more expensive at an average of $1,016 per month, $370 more than HMO Louisiana and $275 above the state average. Its higher average is driven by its PPO plans, the only PPO options available on Louisiana’s marketplace. PPO plans offer broader provider networks and coverage for out-of-network care.

* Average monthly costs represent the statewide mean of all plan rates for each provider, rounded to the nearest dollar. Monthly savings show the cost difference between each provider's average rate and the statewide benchmark.

We collected statewide Louisiana health insurance plan data to help you compare options that match your budget and specific needs:

AmeriHealth has the cheapest Bronze and Gold HMO plans in Louisiana, with its Bronze option averaging $502 per month for a 40-year-old. HMOs require you to use in-network providers and get referrals from a primary care doctor to see specialists. In exchange for these restrictions, premiums are lower than for PPO plans. HMOs work best for people whose preferred doctors are in-network and who don’t need out-of-network coverage.

AmeriHealth’s Bronze plan has a $7,950 deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. Christus Health Plan’s Silver HMO costs $109 more per month but lowers the deductible to $3,533. The Silver plan can cost less overall for people who use regular medical care, though actual savings depend on copays, coinsurance and covered services.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is Louisiana’s only PPO provider on the ACA marketplace. PPO plans let you see specialists without referrals, though out-of-network care costs more than in-network care. This flexibility benefits people who want to keep established specialists or need frequent care for ongoing conditions.

Blue Cross Blue Shield's average PPO premiums are $689 per month for Bronze and $1,049 for Silver. The Gold plan is worth considering because it averages $1,030 per month, $19 less than Silver, while lowering the average deductible from $2,119 to $1,313. Gold is a better value for people who expect to use their health insurance more frequently.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds.

Ambetter is the only insurer that has EPO plans in Louisiana, with options from Expanded Bronze through Gold metal tiers. EPOs cover in-network care and let smembers see specialists without referrals, but they don’t cover out-of-network care except in emergencies. This structure results in lower premiums than PPO coverage, so Ambetter is worth considering if your preferred doctors are in its network.

Expanded Bronze is the cheapest EPO tier, averaging $507 per month for a 40-year-old. But its $5,981 average deductible means you'll pay higher costs before your plan begins sharing expenses.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds.

HMO Louisiana is the state’s only insurer offering POS plans, with average monthly premiums for a 40-year-old ranging from $466 for Bronze to $702 for Gold. You can think of a POS plan as a hybrid between an HMO and a PPO: you choose a primary care doctor and need specialist referrals, but you can use out-of-network providers at a higher cost. These plans work best if you want occasional network flexibility without paying higher PPO premiums.

Deductibles decrease at higher metal levels, from $6,915 for Bronze to $1,500 for Gold. The Silver plan averages $676 per month and has a $2,450 deductible and a $5,746 out-of-pocket maximum. This maximum is the most you’ll pay annually for covered in-network care before the plan pays all remaining covered costs.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds.

HMO Louisiana’s Bronze POS plan is the cheapest option at every age in our analysis, with monthly premiums ranging from $333 at age 18 to $989 at age 60. The plan’s $6,915 deductible and $7,950 out-of-pocket maximum don’t change with age, so older adults pay more for coverage but have the same cost-sharing limits.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for the lowest-cost plan option at the given age.

HMO Louisiana has the state’s cheapest HSA-eligible plan, with its POS option averaging $466 per month. Christus Health Plan’s Expanded Bronze HMO follows at $489 per month. HSA-eligible plans have high deductibles but allow you to save pretax money in a health savings account (HSA) for qualified medical expenses now or in retirement.

All four lowest-cost options are Bronze or Expanded Bronze plans, with deductibles ranging from $5,025 to $6,915 and annual out-of-pocket maximums between $7,635 and $7,950.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds.

Beyond your monthly premium, the most affordable Louisiana health plan depends on how much medical care you expect to use over the year. HMO Louisiana’s Bronze POS plan has the lowest estimated annual cost for light healthcare users at $6,592. Ambetter’s Gold EPO costs $245 more per month but is cheaper overall for moderate and high users because of its lower cost-sharing.

We compared plans for a 40-year-old with $1,000, $5,000 and $20,000 in annual medical expenses before insurance payments. The estimated total cost combines 12 monthly premiums with out-of-pocket expenses, assuming you'll pay costs up to the deductible and 20% coinsurance afterward, capped at the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds.

Start by checking subsidy eligibility and comparing metal tiers when choosing affordable health insurance in Louisiana. HMO plans cost less than PPO options. That makes them the right starting point for most buyers.

Average health insurance costs in Louisiana range between $466 and $1,055 per month, depending on your plan type and metal level. POS plans have the lowest average rates at the Bronze and Expanded Bronze levels, while EPO plans are the most affordable at Silver and Gold. PPO plans cost the most at every metal level we in our analysis, due to their broader provider networks and out-of-network coverage.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds.

We analyzed plan and rate data from the federal health insurance marketplace for Louisiana residents, covering all available plan types and metal tiers. Our data spans five age profiles: 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60-year-olds.

Our cheapest overall rankings focus on 40-year-old premiums since this age group is the most common demographically and gives a consistent comparison point. Age-specific rankings reflect their respective premium costs. Lower premiums often come with higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, which can increase your costs when you receive care.