Cheapest Health Insurance in Massachusetts: Affordable Plans for 2026

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Updated: November 4, 2026

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Key Takeaways
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Wellcare Health, Fallon Health and Tufts Health Plan Direct have the cheapest health insurance in Massachusetts, with average monthly rates ranging from $614 to $627, $173 to $186 below the $800 statewide average.

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Wellcare Health offers the most affordable health insurance in Massachusetts for every age group we priced and for Silver HMO plans ($490 monthly for a 40-year-old). Silver coverage for teens averages $264 monthly, young adults $416, adults $490 and seniors $832. UnitedHealthcare has the cheapest EPO plans ($961).

Massachusetts has required health insurance coverage since 2007, three years before the Affordable Care Act became law.

The state's own marketplace, the Massachusetts Health Connector, sets standardized plan designs that carriers must offer. Eight insurers appear in our data, and every Silver-tier HMO plan carries the same $2,000 deductible and $10,150 out-of-pocket maximum, regardless of which carrier you choose. 

Silver is the second of four coverage tiers, from Bronze to Platinum. The deductible is what you pay before the plan starts sharing costs. The out-of-pocket maximum (MOOP) is the most you’d pay in a year for in-network care.

The WellSense Clarity Silver 2000 II from Wellcare Health and the Standard Silver II from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care share the same deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. One costs $490 monthly for a 40-year-old, and the other costs $905 monthly.   

The $415 monthly difference between the Wellcare Health and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care plans, $4,980 per year, buys no lower deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. The plans differ by carrier and provider network.

Cheapest Health Insurance Providers in Massachusetts

Wellcare Health is the cheapest health insurance provider in Massachusetts at $614 monthly. Fallon Health and Tufts Health Plan Direct follow at $622 and $627. All three price within $13 of each other. The next carrier costs $124 more per month than Tufts Health Plan Direct.

UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care average $960 to $991 monthly.

Wellcare Health
$614
-$186
$7,368
-$2,232
Fallon Health
$622
-$178
$7,464
-$2,136
Tufts Health Plan Direct
$627
-$173
$7,524
-$2,076
Health New England
$751
-$49
$9,012
-$588
Mass General Brigham Health Plan
$867
+$67
$10,404
+$804
UnitedHealthcare
$960
+$160
$11,520
+$1,920
Blue Cross Blue Shield
$973
+$173
$11,676
+$2,076
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
$991
+$191
$11,892
+$2,292

*Average monthly costs represent the mean of all plan rates for each provider in Massachusetts, rounded to the nearest dollar. Differences compare each provider’s average rate with the $800 statewide average. A minus sign means the provider costs less than the statewide average, and a plus sign means it costs more.   

The statewide average of $800 monthly is pulled upward by UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Compare your current plan against Wellcare Health or Fallon Health before your next renewal if it comes from one of those three carriers.

WellCare

WellCare

MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Deductible
5/5MOOP

  • Avg. Monthly Rate

    $614

  • Avg. MOOP

    $6,820

  • Avg. Deductible

    $1,710

Which Is the Cheapest Health Insurance by Age in Massachusetts?

Wellcare Health has the cheapest rates for every age group we priced in Massachusetts. Those low premiums come with the same $2,000 deductible and $10,150 out-of-pocket maximum as every other plan in the table.

TeensWellcare Health$264$3,169$10,150$2,000
Young AdultsWellcare Health$416$4,993$10,150$2,000
AdultsWellcare Health$490$5,879$10,150$2,000
HMOWellcare Health$490$5,879$10,150$2,000
SeniorsWellcare Health$832$9,981$10,150$2,000
EPOUnitedHealthcare$961$11,537$10,150$2,000

*These are average Silver-tier rates, with teens at 18, young adults at 26, adults at 40 and seniors at 60. For plan type costs, we used average rates for 40-year-olds.   

An 18-year-old pays $264 monthly for Wellcare Health's HMO plan, and a 60-year-old pays $832 for the same coverage, more than three times as much. Among adults 21 and older, Massachusetts insurers use an age rating band (the limit on how much more older adults can be charged) narrower than the 3:1 ratio the ACA allows. A 60-year-old pays twice the $416 a 26-year-old pays.

Which Is the Cheapest Health Insurance in Massachusetts by Metal Tier?

Wellcare Health has the cheapest Bronze coverage at $402 monthly and Silver at $490 for 40-year-olds. Fallon Health offers the cheapest Gold plans at $617 monthly with a $1,500 deductible. Wellcare Health has the lowest Platinum rates at $777.

BronzeWellcare Health$402$4,823$8,450$3,800
SilverWellcare Health$490$5,879$10,150$2,000
GoldFallon Health$617$7,405$6,500$1,500
PlatinumWellcare Health$777$9,326$3,000$0

Wellcare's Platinum tier is $777 monthly, which is $4,503 more per year than its Bronze tier at $402.

For a 40-year-old who expects to use healthcare regularly, Bronze's out-of-pocket maximum is $5,450 higher than Platinum's, more than the $4,503 annual premium difference.

Fallon Health's Gold plan at $617 monthly costs $127 more per month than Wellcare's Silver plan, but the deductible drops from $2,000 to $1,500 and the out-of-pocket maximum falls to $6,500.

Cheap Massachusetts Health Insurance: Personalized Picks

For a 40-year-old buying a Silver HMO, rates range from $490 (Wellcare Health) to $905 (Harvard Pilgrim Health Care). Compare Massachusetts health insurance plans by age group, coverage type and benefit level to find rates for your situation.

Data filtered by:
HMO
Silver
40
No
Wellcare HealthStandard High Silver: WellSense Clarity Silver 2000 II$490HMOSilver$10,150$2,00040No
Fallon HealthStandard Silver: Community Care Connector High Silver II$491HMOSilver$10,150$2,00040No
Tufts Health Plan DirectStandard High Silver: Tufts Health Direct Silver 2000 II$527HMOSilver$10,150$2,00040No
Health New EnglandStandard Silver: HNE Silver A II$651HMOSilver$10,150$2,00040No
Mass General Brigham Health PlanStandard Silver: Select HMO 2000 25/60 II$673HMOSilver$10,150$2,00040No
Mass General Brigham Health PlanStandard Silver: Complete HMO 2000 25/60 II$795HMOSilver$10,150$2,00040No
Blue Cross Blue ShieldStandard Silver: HMO Blue Basic II$900HMOSilver$10,150$2,00040No
Harvard Pilgrim Health CareStandard Silver II$905HMOSilver$10,150$2,00040No

How to Get Cheap Health Insurance in Massachusetts

For a 40-year-old, carrier choice alone moves the Silver premium by up to $415 a month. Use these strategies to get low-cost coverage that works for your healthcare needs.

  1. 1
    Compare multiple metal tiers

    In MoneyGeek's Massachusetts rate data, Wellcare Health's Bronze plan carries a $3,800 average deductible. Silver-tier plans from Wellcare Health cost $88 more per month ($490 compared with $402) but carry a $2,000 deductible. Under the Health Connector's standardized plan designs, Silver's out-of-pocket maximum is $10,150, which is $1,700 higher than Bronze's $8,450. Bronze wins if you go an entire year with no medical bills. 

    Silver-tier plans also qualify for cost-sharing reductions (lower deductibles and copays) if your income falls within the eligibility range, which Bronze plans don't.

  2. 2
    Evaluate your actual healthcare needs

    Pull your explanation of benefits (the claim statements your insurer sends) from last year before choosing a plan. A 40-year-old switching from Silver to Platinum with Wellcare pays $3,444 more annually in premiums. The out-of-pocket maximum drops by $7,150, from $10,150 to $3,000. Platinum would have cost less if last year's bills reached Silver's $10,150 out-of-pocket maximum. Two routine visits and nothing else would have made Bronze the cheaper choice.

  3. 3
    Consider HMO plans

    Wellcare Health, Fallon Health and Tufts Health Plan Direct, the three cheapest carriers in Massachusetts, all sell HMO plans. In MoneyGeek's Massachusetts rate data, the cheapest EPO option, UnitedHealthcare at $961 monthly on average for a 40-year-old, costs $5,652 more per year than Wellcare's Silver HMO plan.

    That premium buys the ability to see in-network specialists without a referral. Like an HMO, an EPO covers out-of-network care only in emergencies. For residents who regularly see a specialist in UnitedHealthcare's EPO network but not in any HMO network, or who split time between Massachusetts and another state, an EPO is worth pricing if its network includes the providers they use. For everyone else, the $5,652 annual difference is hard to justify.

  4. 4
    Check for subsidies

    Premium tax credits through the Massachusetts Health Connector cut your monthly cost based on household income. The statewide average plan costs $800 monthly before any subsidy. Households earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level, an income measure HHS sets by household size, can qualify for a premium tax credit. Check your eligibility through the Health Connector before buying a plan, because tax credits apply only to plans purchased through the Connector.

  5. 5
    Shop during Open Enrollment

    Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in Massachusetts lasts from October 23, 2026, to January 23, 2027, with dates the Health Connector sets each year. Enroll by December 23, 2026, for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. Missing the window means waiting until next year unless a qualifying life event, such as losing job-based coverage, having a child or getting married, opens a special enrollment period. MassHealth, the state Medicaid program, and ConnectorCare accept applications year-round for eligible residents.

Cheapest Health Insurance in Massachusetts: Bottom Line

Wellcare Health is the cheapest health insurance provider in Massachusetts at $614 monthly, followed by Fallon Health at $622 and Tufts Health Plan Direct at $627. For Massachusetts residents who use healthcare rarely and don't qualify for cost-sharing reductions, Wellcare's Bronze HMO is the lowest-cost option.

Seniors and anyone with regular specialist visits should check the personalized table above before selecting a plan, because the $5,658 annual difference between the cheapest Silver HMO and the cheapest EPO is the largest single decision.

Compare Insurance Rates

Make sure you're getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from major insurance companies.

Affordable Health Insurance in Massachusetts: FAQ

Our Methodology

We collected premium data for every plan available to Massachusetts residents. The data covers ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60 across all metal tiers and plan types.

Research Approach

Massachusetts has eight insurers in MoneyGeek's Massachusetts rate data. UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care price $346, $359 and $377 above Wellcare Health respectively. Wellcare Health, Fallon Health and Tufts Health Plan Direct cluster within $13 of each other, then the next carrier costs $124 more per month than Tufts Health Plan Direct.

Why We Focus on 40-Year-Olds

Our primary affordability rankings use 40-year-old rates because this age is at the midpoint of the working-age population in Massachusetts. 

Age-Specific Rankings

We ranked providers by average monthly rate across all plans within each tier, then separately by age group, plan type and metal level. A provider ranking first overall may not rank first for your age or plan type. Use the personalized table to find the most accurate rate for your situation.

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About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed P&C Insurance Expert, MoneyGeek

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.

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