Sanford Health Plan offers the cheapest health insurance in North Dakota at $511 monthly. That's $77 less than pricier carriers. Blue Cross Blue Shield costs $637 monthly with $49 in savings, while Medica charges $693 monthly and saves you $105 despite having the highest annual cost at $8,316. Compare these rates alongside deductibles, network size and plan benefits before choosing coverage.
Cheapest Health Insurance in North Dakota: Affordable Plans for 2026
Updated: January 29, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Sanford Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medica have the cheapest health insurance in North Dakota, with average monthly rates ranging from $511 to $693.
Sanford Health Plan offers the most affordable health insurance in North Dakota across most demographics, HMO plans ($484 monthly) and PPO plans ($591). Coverage for children averages $289 monthly, teens $345, young adults $387, adults $484 and seniors $1,027. Blue Cross Blue Shield leads for HSA-eligible plans ($731).
Cheapest Health Insurance Providers in North Dakota
| Sanford Health Plan | $511 | $77 | $6,132 | $924 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $637 | $49 | $7,644 | $588 |
| Medica | $693 | $105 | $8,316 | $1,260 |
*Average monthly costs represent the mean of all plan rates for each provider in North Dakota, rounded to the nearest dollar. Monthly savings show the cost difference between each provider's average rate and the statewide benchmark.
Sanford Health Plan
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
5/5Affordability
2.5/5Deductible
5/5MOOP
Avg. Monthly Rate
$511Avg. MOOP
$6815Avg. Deductible
$4173
Most Affordable North Dakota Health Insurance By Category
Sanford Health Plan offers the best health insurance in North Dakota for affordability across age groups. Kids pay $289 monthly. Adults at 40 pay $484, while seniors at 60 face $1,027 monthly despite sharing identical $2,748 deductibles. HMO plans save you $107 monthly over PPO but limit provider choices. HSA-eligible plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield start at $731 monthly.
| Children | Sanford Health Plan | $289 | $3,474 | $5,881 | $2,748 |
| Teens | Sanford Health Plan | $345 | $4,146 | $5,881 | $2,748 |
| Young Adults | Sanford Health Plan | $387 | $4,650 | $5,881 | $2,748 |
| Adults | Sanford Health Plan | $484 | $5,803 | $5,881 | $2,748 |
| HMO | Sanford Health Plan | $484 | $5,803 | $5,881 | $2,748 |
| PPO | Sanford Health Plan | $591 | $7,091 | $5,867 | $2,748 |
| With Health Savings Account Elligibility | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $731 | $8,772 | $7,500 | $3,500 |
| Seniors | Sanford Health Plan | $1,027 | $12,323 | $5,881 | $2,748 |
*These are average rates for all plan types and metal levels, 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.
Most Affordable North Dakota Health Insurance By Metal Level
Sanford Health Plan sweeps all four metal tiers in North Dakota for 40-year-olds. Catastrophic coverage starts at just $315 monthly, but the $10,600 deductible makes it practical only for emergency-only protection when you want the absolute lowest premium and rarely visit doctors. Silver costs $484 with a $2,748 deductible. Gold runs just $25 more at $509 but drops your deductible to $1,406. No Platinum plans available.
| Catastrophic | Sanford Health Plan | $315 | $3,779 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
| Expanded Bronze | Sanford Health Plan | $358 | $4,290 | $6,738 | $5,300 |
| Silver | Sanford Health Plan | $484 | $5,803 | $5,881 | $2,748 |
| Gold | Sanford Health Plan | $509 | $6,104 | $6,450 | $1,406 |
Cheap North Dakota Health Insurance: Personalized Picks
Filter plans by age, metal tier, plan type and other criteria. You'll see costs for children, teens, young adults, seniors and specific plan types like HMO, PPO and HSA-eligible coverage options, all with detailed breakdowns of monthly premiums, annual costs, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Compare carefully before choosing.
Data filtered by:
HMO
Silver
40
No
| Sanford Health Plan | Sanford Individual True $3,500 | $466 | HMO | Silver | $5,993 | $2,214 | 40 | No |
| Sanford Health Plan | Sanford Individual True Standardized $6,000 | $485 | HMO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Sanford Health Plan | Sanford Individual True $4,750 | $500 | HMO | Silver | $5,993 | $2,929 | 40 | No |
| Medica | Essentia Choice Care With Medica Silver $0 Copay Pcp Visits | $579 | HMO | Silver | $6,457 | $1,964 | 40 | No |
| Medica | Essentia Choice Care With Medica Silver Share | $595 | HMO | Silver | $5,736 | $1,850 | 40 | No |
| Medica | Essentia Choice Care With Medica Silver Standard | $598 | HMO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Medica | Altru Prime By Medica Silver $0 Copay Pcp Visits | $649 | HMO | Silver | $6,457 | $1,964 | 40 | No |
| Medica | Altru Prime By Medica Silver Share | $667 | HMO | Silver | $5,736 | $1,850 | 40 | No |
| Medica | Altru Prime By Medica Silver Standard | $670 | HMO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Medica | Medica Individual Choice Silver Standard | $806 | HMO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
How to Get Cheap Health Insurance in North Dakota
Health insurance premiums in North Dakota differ based on your age, income and plan choice. Compare options during open enrollment to lower your costs.
- 1Compare multiple metal tiers
Don't default to the cheapest Bronze or Catastrophic plan. Silver and Gold plans provide better value when you factor in lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, especially if you need regular medical care.
- 2Evaluate your actual health care needs
Review last year's health care spending. If you only visited the doctor twice and didn't need prescriptions, a high-deductible plan saves money. For example, if you spent $500 last year on two routine doctor visits and one urgent care trip, a Bronze plan with a $6,000 deductible might save you $150 monthly compared to a Gold plan.
- 3Consider HMO plans
HMO plans cost less than PPO options in North Dakota. You'll need to stay within the provider network, but Sanford Health Plan and other HMO providers save you $100 or more monthly.
- 4Check for subsidies
Premium tax credits from the Health Insurance Marketplace reduce your monthly costs based on your income. Even middle-income families qualify for assistance. Check your eligibility before purchasing a plan.
- 5Shop during Open Enrollment
Open enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15 each year. Missing this window means waiting until next year unless you qualify for a special enrollment period due to major life changes like marriage, birth or job loss.
Cheapest Health Insurance in North Dakota: Bottom Line
Sanford Health Plan is the cheapest health insurance provider in North Dakota, followed by Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medica. Compare rates from all three insurers across metal tiers and plan types to find your lowest cost.
Affordable Health Insurance in North Dakota: FAQ
Find answers to the most common health insurance questions for North Dakota residents:
How do I get cheap health insurance in North Dakota?
Shop during open enrollment (November 1 to January 15) and compare plans from Sanford Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medica across multiple metal tiers. Check your eligibility for premium tax credits through the Health Insurance Marketplace. HMO plans cost less than PPO options in North Dakota.
How much does health insurance cost in North Dakota?
Health insurance in North Dakota costs an average of $614 monthly ($7,368 annually) across all plan types and metal levels. Monthly rates range from $189 to $1,552 depending on your age, coverage tier and plan type.
Does North Dakota require health insurance?
North Dakota doesn't require health insurance. The federal individual mandate penalty ended in 2019, so you won't face tax penalties for going uninsured. Coverage provides financial protection from high medical costs and covers preventive care and treatment.
Our Methodology
We gathered plan information from the federal health insurance marketplace for consumers aged 18 to 60, specifically examining costs for 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60-year-olds to identify North Dakota's most affordable options. Plans with the lowest monthly premiums for 40-year-olds ranked as cheapest overall because this age group is most common demographically and provides clear comparison. We determined age-specific rankings using their respective premium costs. Keep in mind that lower premiums often come with higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, which could increase your costs when receiving care.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.