Updated: October 9, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Wellcare Health and Ambetter have the cheapest health insurance in New Hampshire, with average monthly rates of $415 and $502 against a state average of $651. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care averages $708.
Wellcare offers the most affordable health insurance in New Hampshire across all age groups we priced and HMO plans ($389 monthly). Silver coverage ranges from $233 monthly for children to $826 for seniors. Ambetter is the cheapest for EPO plans ($455) and Anthem for PPO plans ($747).
New Hampshire's federal marketplace has four carriers covering the full market: Wellcare Health, Ambetter, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Anthem. New Hampshire also has a state reinsurance program, like those in Maine and Alaska, that reimburses insurers for high-cost claims.
In New Hampshire, the cheapest carrier (Wellcare Health at $415) and the most expensive carrier (Anthem at $716) are $301 apart each month. All four carriers sell through the federal marketplace at HealthCare.gov.
Wellcare Health offers the cheapest health insurance in New Hampshire with an average monthly premium of $415, $236 below the state average of $651. Ambetter ranks second, while Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Anthem price above the state average. Wellcare Health sells only HMO plans, which limit coverage to in-network providers except in emergencies. If you need out-of-network coverage, skip to Anthem's PPO. For a plan that lets you open a health savings account (HSA), any Bronze or Catastrophic plan qualifies in 2026, including Wellcare Health's $319 Expanded Bronze plan, its lowest-cost Bronze option.
| Wellcare Health | $415 | $236 | $4,980 | $2,832 |
| Ambetter | $502 | $149 | $6,024 | $1,788 |
| Harvard Pilgrim Health Care | $708 | $-57 | $8,496 | $-684 |
| Anthem | $716 | $-65 | $8,592 | $-780 |
*Average monthly costs represent the mean of all plan rates for a 40-year-old with each provider in New Hampshire, rounded to the nearest dollar. Monthly savings show the cost difference between each provider's average rate and the state average of $651.
Wellcare Health and Anthem are $301 apart each month, the widest difference among New Hampshire's four carriers.
Avg. Monthly Rate
Avg. MOOP
Avg. Deductible
Finding the best health insurance provider depends on your age and plan needs. WellCare ranks as the most affordable option in every age group. WellCare has the cheapest HMO options, with Silver plans at $389 a month.
New Hampshire's four carriers split into three network models. HMO plans require you to choose a primary care doctor and get referrals before seeing a specialist. Out-of-network care isn't covered except in emergencies. EPO plans drop the referral requirement but still limit coverage to in-network providers. PPO plans also cover out-of-network care, though you pay a larger share of those bills.
Children | Wellcare Health | $233 | $2,793 | $6,031 | $1,714 |
Teens | Wellcare Health | $278 | $3,333 | $6,031 | $1,714 |
Young Adults | Wellcare Health | $312 | $3,738 | $6,031 | $1,714 |
Adults | Wellcare Health | $389 | $4,666 | $6,031 | $1,714 |
Seniors | Wellcare Health | $826 | $9,908 | $6,031 | $1,714 |
HMO | Wellcare Health | $389 | $4,666 | $6,031 | $1,714 |
EPO | Ambetter | $455 | $5,454 | $5,169 | $3,538 |
PPO | Anthem | $747 | $8,961 | $9,150 | $3,625 |
With Health Savings Account Eligibility | Anthem | $520 | $6,238 | $7,248 | $4,241 |
*Wellcare Health's age and HMO rows show Silver-plan rates, with teens at 18, young adults at 26, adults at 40 and seniors at 60. EPO, PPO and HSA rows are averages across all metal levels. MOOP is the out-of-pocket maximum. For plan type costs, we used average rates for 40-year-olds. The HSA row covers plans flagged HSA-eligible in the CMS data. Every Bronze and Catastrophic plan also works with an HSA starting in 2026.
Wellcare Health wins the HMO category but offers no EPO or PPO plans. Ambetter's EPO at $455 monthly covers only in-network care outside emergencies. New Hampshire residents who travel regularly or see specialists outside a local network should look at PPOs, where Anthem's $747 average is the cheapest in MoneyGeek data.
Metal tiers determine your premium and out-of-pocket costs. Anthem offers the cheapest Catastrophic coverage at $278 monthly for 40-year-olds, though Catastrophic plans are sold only to people under 30 or with a hardship or affordability exemption. Wellcare Health is cheapest at the Expanded Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers, and its Gold plan has the lowest deductible shown in the table at $1,500. For maximum coverage, Anthem's Platinum plans cost $752 monthly.
| Catastrophic | Anthem | $278 | $3,331 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
| Expanded Bronze | Wellcare Health | $319 | $3,833 | $7,050 | $5,400 |
| Silver | Wellcare Health | $389 | $4,666 | $6,031 | $1,714 |
| Gold | Wellcare Health | $417 | $4,999 | $6,150 | $1,500 |
| Platinum | Anthem | $752 | $9,025 | $3,500 | No Data |
*Average monthly rates for a 40-year-old across each tier's plans.
My recommendation for most working-age New Hampshire residents is to start with the Silver tier before comparing Bronze. Wellcare Health's Silver plan at $389 monthly carries a $1,714 deductible, $3,686 less than the Expanded Bronze deductible of $5,400. Silver costs $70 more per month than Expanded Bronze.
Filter New Hampshire plans by age, metal tier and plan type to find your best rates. Younger adults pay less across all coverage levels, while subsidies reduce premiums for households earning $15,650 to $62,600 annually for a single person for 2026 coverage.
| Wellcare Health | Wellsense Clarity Nh Silver 3400 + $0 Rx List + 24/7 Nurse Advice | $388 | HMO | Silver | $6,414 | $2,043 | 40 | No |
| Wellcare Health | Wellsense Clarity Nh Silver 6000 + $0 Rx List + 24/7 Nurse Advice | $388 | HMO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Wellcare Health | Wellsense Clarity Nh Silver 0 Deductible + $0 Rx List + 24/7 Nurse Advice | $390 | HMO | Silver | $6,021 | $0 | 40 | No |
| Anthem | Anthem Silver Pathway X Enhanced 6000/40% ($0 Virtual Pcp + $0 Select Drugs) Standard | $415 | HMO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Anthem | Anthem Silver Pathway X Enhanced 5500/20% ($0 Virtual Pcp + $0 Select Drugs) | $440 | HMO | Silver | $5,200 | $3,093 | 40 | No |
| Anthem | Anthem Silver Pathway X Enhanced 4500/20% Hsa | $445 | HMO | Silver | $2,425 | $1,350 | 40 | No |
| Anthem | Anthem Heart Healthy Silver Pathway X Enhanced 4000/0% ($0 Virtual Pcp + $0 Select Drugs) | $478 | HMO | Silver | $5,464 | $2,400 | 40 | No |
| Anthem | Anthem Silver Pathway X Hmo 5000/30%/9000 Value | $480 | HMO | Silver | $9,000 | $5,000 | 40 | No |
| Anthem | Anthem Silver Pathway X Hmo 4000/30%/9000 Value | $490 | HMO | Silver | $9,000 | $4,000 | 40 | No |
| Anthem | Anthem Silver Pathway X Hmo 3000/30%/9000 Value | $504 | HMO | Silver | $9,000 | $3,000 | 40 | No |
Shop strategically and use available financial help to lower your health insurance costs in New Hampshire. Time your purchase for open enrollment, check your subsidy eligibility and compare plans that fit your budget and health care needs.
MoneyGeek data shows Wellcare Health's Silver plan at $389 monthly carries a $1,714 deductible, while its Expanded Bronze plan averages $319 with a $5,400 deductible. The $70 monthly premium difference equals $840 per year.
Bronze works for residents who are healthy and won't need care beyond annual preventive visits, which all ACA plans, including Bronze and Silver-tier plans, cover at no cost.
Pull your explanation of benefits (the statements your insurer sends after each claim) from last year before comparing plans. For a 40-year-old in New Hampshire, Wellcare Health's Silver 0 Deductible plan averages $390 a month with no deductible. Its Silver 6000 plan averages $388 but carries a $3,100 deductible, with a $5,657 out-of-pocket maximum that's $364 than the $0-deductible plan's $6,021.
HMO plans in New Hampshire average $389 monthly through Wellcare Health's Silver plans, compared to $455 for Ambetter's EPO and $747 for Anthem's PPO across all metal levels. The difference between the HMO and PPO averages is $4,296 per year.
HMO plans require referrals for specialist visits and don't cover out-of-network care except in emergencies. That limit doesn't affect routine care for New Hampshire residents whose regular providers all belong to the HMO's network.
Premium tax credits are available to New Hampshire households earning $15,650 to $62,600 annually for a single person for 2026 coverage. The credit caps what you pay for the benchmark plan, the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your county, at a share of your income, so your net cost for a $389 monthly Wellcare Health Silver premium depends on your income and county.
Check your eligibility before choosing a plan based on the unsubsidized rate. For 2027 coverage bought during open enrollment, the single-person range is $15,960 to $63,840, based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.
Open enrollment in New Hampshire lasts from November 1 through January 15. Enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1, or by January 15 for coverage starting February 1. New Hampshire has no state-run marketplace, so all enrollment goes through HealthCare.gov.
Missing the window means waiting until next year unless you have a qualifying life event such as job loss, marriage or birth of a child. Qualifying events trigger a 60-day special enrollment window.
My recommendation for most New Hampshire residents is to start with Wellcare Health's Silver-tier plans and model your actual out-of-pocket costs before moving to Ambetter or Anthem. Wellcare Health's $389 monthly Silver rate carries a $1,714 deductible, compared with $5,400 for its Expanded Bronze plan.
If you need out-of-network access, choose a PPO. Anthem's PPO is the cheapest in MoneyGeek data, and Ambetter's EPO covers only in-network care outside emergencies. For an HSA-eligible plan, any Bronze or Catastrophic plan qualifies in 2026, including Wellcare Health's Expanded Bronze plan at $319.
Shop during open enrollment (November 1 to January 15) and compare plans from Wellcare Health, Ambetter and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care across multiple metal tiers. Check your eligibility for premium tax credits through the Health Insurance Marketplace. HMO plans cost less than PPO options in New Hampshire. Wellcare Health's Silver HMO averages $389 monthly, and Anthem's PPO averages $747 across metal levels.
Health insurance in New Hampshire costs an average of $651 monthly ($7,812 annually) across all plan types and metal levels. For a 40-year-old, average monthly rates range from $278 for Anthem's Catastrophic plan to $752 for its Platinum plan, and rates rise with age.
New Hampshire doesn't require health insurance. The federal individual mandate penalty ended in 2019, so you won't owe a federal tax penalty for going uninsured. Coverage helps pay high medical costs and covers preventive care and treatment.
Wellcare Health's HMO plans cover only in-network New Hampshire providers. Out-of-state care isn't covered except in a medical emergency. If you travel regularly or spend time in another state, look at PPO plans, where Anthem's $747 monthly average is the cheapest in MoneyGeek data. Ambetter's EPO at $455 monthly also covers only in-network care outside emergencies.
Open enrollment in New Hampshire is from November 1 through January 15. Missing that window means you can't buy marketplace coverage until the next enrollment period unless you have a qualifying life event.
Health insurance shopping in New Hampshire means sorting through multiple providers with different rate structures across age groups and plan types. We analyzed every available plan from federal marketplace data to find which insurers have the lowest premiums for New Hampshire residents.
Research Approach
We collected premium data for children and for five adult ages: 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. These ages show how rates change from childhood through near-Medicare eligibility. That range captures the full cost spectrum New Hampshire residents face at different life stages.
All rate data comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services federal marketplace, accessed May 2026. We pulled every plan available to New Hampshire residents across all metal tiers and plan types, then calculated averages by age bracket to remove the distortion of plans unavailable to certain age groups.
Why We Focus on 40-Year-Olds
Our primary affordability rankings use 40-year-old rates because 40 falls near the middle of the adult ages we priced, 18 to 60. One consistent age removes age as a variable, so comparisons across providers stay clear.
Age-Specific Rankings
We also ranked insurers separately at each age bracket. These age-specific rankings show the cheapest carrier for your life stage.
All data comes from federal sources and covers metal tiers and plan types available to New Hampshire residents through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
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.
