Cheapest Health Insurance in North Carolina: Affordable Plans for 2026

Ambetter is the cheapest health insurance company in North Carolina at $671 per month on average, $116 below the state average of $787. AmeriHealth follows closely at $674 and Oscar Health Plan is also below the state average at $708. Switching from Cigna, the most expensive insurer on this list, to Ambetter saves you $340 per month on average, or $4,080 per year. Insurer availability and cost varies by county, so your options depend on where you live.

* Average monthly costs reflect each provider’s mean plan rate in the state, rounded to the nearest dollar. Monthly savings compare each provider’s average rate with the statewide average.

Use the comparison table below to explore North Carolina's most affordable health insurance plans based on your unique needs:

Ambetter has North Carolina's cheapest HMO plans at the Expanded Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers. Its Expanded Bronze plans average $514 per month for a 40-year-old. Ambetter's Gold plan costs just $27 more per month than its Silver plan but lowers the deductible by $2,075, from $3,369 to $1,294. If you regularly meet your deductible, the Gold plan may cost less overall. AmeriHealth has the cheapest Bronze HMO at $515 per month, with a $7,950 deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.

HMO plans cost less than PPOs because they limit coverage to a specific provider network and require referrals for specialist care. They work best for people with a trusted primary care doctor and predictable health care needs.

* Rates are based on state averages for 40-year-olds.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is the only insurer offering PPO plans in North Carolina, with Expanded Bronze premiums starting at $679 per month. The Expanded Bronze plan has a $5,750 deductible. Silver lowers it to $2,330 for an additional $186 per month in premiums. Silver is a better value than Gold for people with high medical costs. Although Gold has a lower deductible of $1,500, its $7,050 out-of-pocket maximum is higher than Silver's $6,184 limit.

PPOs cover out-of-network care at a higher cost and don't require referrals for specialist visits. They work well for people who want to keep providers or specialists outside a narrow network.

* Rates are based on state averages for 40-year-olds.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is also the only insurer with EPO plans in North Carolina. Its Expanded Bronze EPOs average $518 per month for a 40-year-old. Its Gold plans cost $25 more per month than Silver and lowers the average deductible by $830, but its out-of-pocket maximum is $915 higher. Silver costs less overall for people with high annual medical expenses.

EPO plans don't require specialist referrals but don't cover out-of-network care. They work best for people whose providers are in the BCBS network and who want direct specialist access without paying higher PPO rates.

* Rates are based on state averages for 40-year-olds.

For shoppers who want out-of-network coverage without paying PPO rates, a POS plan offers a middle ground. You choose a primary care doctor to coordinate your care but can still see out-of-network providers at a higher cost. Blue Cross Blue Shield is North Carolina's only POS insurer, so it's also the cheapest option at every metal tier.

Expanded Bronze averages $570 per month with a $5,750 deductible. Silver costs $157 more per month but lowers the average deductible by $3,420. The upgrade to Silver will pay off if you expect to use your health insurance regularly.

* Rates are based on state averages for 40-year-olds.

Ambetter's Expanded Bronze HMO is the cheapest health insurance plan in North Carolina at every age we analyzed. Monthly premiums rise from $367 at 18 to $1,091 at  60, nearly tripling over that span. The $5,981 deductible and $7,663 out-of-pocket maximum stay the same across age groups, so older shoppers pay more each month for the same cost-sharing limits.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for the most affordable plan available at each age. Your actual rate will vary based on your location and plan selection.

Ambetter has the cheapest HSA-eligible plans in North Carolina. Its Expanded Bronze HMO averages $514 per month with a $5,981 deductible. Blue Cross Blue Shield has the cheapest HSA-eligible PPO, EPO and POS plans, because it's the only provider in the state that offers those plan types.

Every Bronze and Expanded Bronze plan in North Carolina is HSA-eligible, while Silver and Gold plans are not. An HSA lets you save pre-tax money for eligible medical expenses, and unused funds roll over from year to year.

* Rates are based on state averages for 40-year-olds.

Ambetter has the lowest estimated annual cost at every healthcare usage level we analyzed, but the best metal tier depends on how much care you need. Its Expanded Bronze HMO is the cheapest option at low usage, with an estimated total cost of $7,168 for the year. The plan's lower premium saves you money when your medical expenses are limited.

For people who need more medical care, Ambetter’s Gold HMO cost less overall. You pay $153 more each month, but the plan covers more of your medical bills when you receive care. Gold is the more affordable choice if you expect regular doctor visits, prescriptions or procedures.

* Your actual costs will vary based on copays, coinsurance, covered services and negotiated network rates.

To get the most affordable health insurance, you'll need to compare deductibles, out-of-pocket limits and monthly premiums across multiple plans.

North Carolina's health insurance market has dozens of plans across multiple price points. MoneyGeek analyzed federal marketplace data to find which insurers charge the least based on age, plan type and metal level.

Research Approach

Our rate analysis pulled plan-level data from the federal Health Insurance Marketplace for all metal tiers available to North Carolina residents in 2026, covering all six carriers in the state across five age groups: 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. We reviewed Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver and Gold plans across HMO, PPO, EPO, POS and HSA-eligible plan types. North Carolina has no Platinum-tier plans in the 2026 marketplace data.

Why We Focus on 40-Year-Olds

We ranked insurers using rates for 40-year-olds, a midpoint in North Carolina’s working-age population. Using one age allows for direct comparisons without age-based pricing differences affecting the rankings.

Age-Specific Rankings

We also ranked insurers separately by age. The cheapest provider for a young adult may not offer be the cheapest for a 60-year-old, so these rankings help you find the most affordable option for your life stage.

All data comes from federal sources and includes every metal tier and plan type available to North Carolina residents through the Health Insurance Marketplace.