Cheapest Health Insurance in New York: Affordable Plans for 2025

Independent Health's iDirect Silver Copay HSAQ Silver NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 plan costs New Yorkers the least for Silver coverage. Metal tier determines your health insurance costs. Higher tiers cover more but charge higher premiums. The most affordable plans by metal tier are:

• Catastrophic: Fidelis Care Catastrophic, Catastrophic, ST, INN, Fidelis Care HBX Network, Pediatric Dental, 3 Free PCP Visits, Free Telemedicine from Fidelis Care ($187 per month for a 26-year-old)
• Bronze: iDirect Bronze MV Bronze NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health ($363 per month)
• Silver: iDirect Silver Copay HSAQ Silver NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health ($503 per month)
• Gold: iDirect Gold Copay HSAQ Gold NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health ($615 per month)
• Platinum: FlexFit Platinum NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health ($743 per month)

Because more valuable metal tiers have lower MOOP costs, you will spend less out of pocket when you need medical attention. However, you will have higher monthly premiums.

Independent Health's iDirect Silver Copay HSAQ Silver NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 costs $503 monthly, making it New York's cheapest Silver plan. The three lowest-cost Silver plans are:

• iDirect Silver Copay HSAQ Silver NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health: $503 per month
• iDirect Silver Copay HSAQ Silver NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep29 from Independent Health: $508 per month
• Max Silver NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health: $509 per month

Silver plans balance affordable premiums with manageable out-of-pocket maximums. Qualified buyers get cost-sharing reductions. MoneyGeek recommends OON plans here because they're most accessible to New York residents.

Independent Health's iDirect Gold Copay HSAQ Gold NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 costs $615 monthly, making it New York's cheapest Gold plan. The three lowest-cost Gold plans are:

• iDirect Gold Copay HSAQ Gold NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health: $615 per month
• iDirect Gold Copay HSAQ Gold NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep29 from Independent Health: $621 per month
• iDirect Gold Copay Gold NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health: $635 per month

Gold plans cost more monthly but cover more and cap out-of-pocket expenses lower. You'll pay less when you need medical care.

Independent Health offers New York's cheapest Bronze plan. iDirect Bronze MV Bronze NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 costs $363 monthly. The three lowest-cost Bronze plans are:

• iDirect Bronze MV Bronze NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health: $363 per month
• iDirect Bronze MV Bronze NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep29 from Independent Health: $367 per month
• iDirect Bronze Coinsurance HSAQ Bronze NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health: $392 per month

Bronze plans charge the lowest monthly premiums but set high out-of-pocket maximums. They work best if you rarely need medical care.

At about $187 monthly, Fidelis Care Catastrophic, Catastrophic, ST, INN, Fidelis Care HBX Network, Pediatric Dental, 3 Free PCP Visits, Free Telemedicine is the most affordable Catastrophic plan in New York. Consider these Catastrophic plans if you want to save on premiums:

• Fidelis Care Catastrophic, Catastrophic, ST, INN, Fidelis Care HBX Network, Pediatric Dental, 3 Free PCP Visits, Free Telemedicine from Fidelis Care: $187 per month
• Secure Catastrophic, Catastrophic, ST 3PCP, INN, Circle, Dep25, Step Tracking Rewards from Oscar: $202 per month
• Base Catastrophic, ST, INN, Univera EPO Local, Pediatric Dental, Dep25 from Univera Healthcare: $249 per month

Among metal tiers, Catastrophic plans are the cheapest, but they have the highest MOOP expenses and come with age qualifiers. This tier is ideal for those in good health who only need coverage for emergencies.

The cheapest Platinum plan in New York is Independent Health’s FlexFit Platinum NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25. It costs an average of $743 per month. These are the most affordable options in this tier:

• FlexFit Platinum NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health: $743 per month
• FlexFit Platinum NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep29 from Independent Health: $750 per month
• Standard Platinum ST OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health: $794 per month

Platinum plans may have the highest monthly premiums, but you will spend the least in out-of-pocket costs for health care services.

There are two plan types available in the New York State of Health Marketplace. The most common plan type is Out-of-Network (OON), but you can also find In-Network (INN) plans.

According to our study, the cheapest Silver plans for these plan types are:

• OON plan: iDirect Silver Copay HSAQ Silver NS OON IHC Network Marketplace Dep25 from Independent Health ($503 per month)
• INN plan: Fidelis Care Silver, Silver, ST, INN, Fidelis Care HBX Network, Pediatric Dental, Dep25, Free Telemedicine from Fidelis Care ($567 per month)

The best plan type for you depends on your specific health care needs. OON plans provide flexibility in choosing health care providers who are not in the network, while INN plans restrict you to providers who have a contract with your insurance company.

The availability and cost of health insurance plans can vary based on location. The most affordable option in one county may not be the cheapest in another.

For instance, here are the average monthly premiums for the cheapest Silver plans in the largest county in New York (Kings County) and a much smaller county (Oneida County, ranking 17th for population by county in New York):

• Kings County: SilverPlus-S1, ST, INN, Pediatric Dental, Dep25, Healthy Living Rewards, Metro-MP from Metroplus Health ($690 per month)
• Oneida County: Fidelis Care Silver, Silver, ST, INN, Fidelis Care HBX Network, Pediatric Dental, Dep25, Free Telemedicine from Fidelis Care ($490 per month)

Use the table below to explore the available Silver plans in your county.

To find the most affordable health insurance in New York, we gathered data from private health insurance plans and compared their monthly costs. These plans are usually available during the open enrollment period and can accommodate buyers with different coverage levels and health care needs.

If you have a low income, you may qualify for government-sponsored health programs like Medicaid or Medicare. Medicaid eligibility is based on income, while Medicare is available for seniors or those with a disability.

Private health insurance plans in New York are available for purchase during the open enrollment period, which runs from November 1 until January 15. Keep in mind that if you enroll in a plan before December 15, your coverage will start on January 1.

Health insurance plans in the Marketplace are grouped into metal tiers to determine how costs are split between members and insurance providers. The less valuable metal tiers often have cheaper premiums but higher out-of-pocket expenses and vice versa.

New York offers these metal tiers for health insurance:

• Catastrophic: Lowest monthly premiums but highest out-of-pocket maximums. Best for healthy people under 30 who need emergency-only coverage. Also available with hardship or affordability exemptions.
• Bronze: Cheaper premiums but high deductibles. Works for people who want low monthly costs and rarely need medical care.
• Silver: Mid-range premiums with decent coverage. Qualified buyers can get cost-sharing reductions.
• Gold: Higher premiums but lower out-of-pocket maximums. Best for people needing regular medical care.
• Platinum: Highest premiums in New York but lowest out-of-pocket costs. Works for people with frequent, expensive medical needs.

Medicaid covers health care costs for low-income families and individuals through federal and state funding. You qualify if your income falls below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. People 65 or older, blind or permanently disabled individuals and pregnant women can also qualify.

New Yorkers 65 or older qualify for Medicare, as do those with certain qualifying illnesses. This government program charges premiums but costs less than private Marketplace plans.

Medicare has the following parts:

• Part A: Also known as hospital insurance, this covers the cost of inpatient hospital stays, hospice care and certain forms of home health care.
• Part B: Known as medical insurance, this part of Medicare covers outpatient medical expenses, medical supplies and specific doctor services.
• Part D: This helps pay for prescription drugs, including vaccines and other recommended shots.

We compiled our recommendations for New York's best Medicare Advantage plans and the best Medicare Supplement plans in New York.

Independent Health dominates New York's health insurance market with the most affordable plans across Bronze ($363), Silver ($503), Gold ($615) and Platinum ($743) tiers for 26-year-olds. Your actual costs depend on your county, age and health needs. Silver plans offer most New Yorkers the best balance of premiums and coverage, while Bronze plans suit healthy individuals prioritizing low monthly costs.

When shopping around for health insurance in New York, you may have some concerns about the availability and cost of plans. We answered some commonly asked questions to help you gain more valuable insight:

MoneyGeek hand-collected health insurance data on all available plans in New York for consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60 by visiting the state marketplace and accessing each plan manually. All monthly premiums are for a 40-year-old buyer by default, but we provide users with the option to see rates for the age closest to their own. Plans analyzed in each section include the relevant cited metal tiers, which include Catastrophic, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. 

In this analysis, MoneyGeek defines the cheapest as those plans which have the lowest monthly premium. However, plans with cheaper premiums tend to have higher deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) expenses, potentially resulting in higher costs overall if you need frequent medical services. Those with incomes of less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) could lower their deductibles and MOOP through plans that offer cost-sharing reductions. 

We used OON as the default recommendation for determining the cheapest Silver plan because it is the most common plan type in New York. You can explore other plan types in the “Cheapest by Plan Type” section of this guide.