Cheapest Health Insurance in Rhode Island: Affordable Plans for 2026

Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island offers the cheapest health insurance in the state, averaging $566 per month, $155 below the state average of $721. All its plans are HMOs, which require a primary care physician and referrals for specialist visits. It holds the lowest rate across Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers but offers no Platinum coverage.

Blue Cross Blue Shield averages $790 per month, $69 above the state average. It's the only carrier on HealthSource RI with PPO plans and the state's only source of Platinum coverage.   

Its Platinum plans carry a $950 deductible and a $2,500 annual out-of-pocket limit, the lowest figures available in Rhode Island's 2026 marketplace.

Residents with providers inside Neighborhood Health Plan's network save $224 per month by choosing it. Blue Cross Blue Shield's PPO at $790 is the only option for those with established care outside that network.

* We calculate average monthly rates by taking the rounded average of each provider’s monthly plan rates in Rhode Island. We calculate average monthly savings by subtracting the statewide average monthly rate from each provider’s average to show how much cheaper they are than the overall state average. Your actual rates will vary based on age, location and chosen plan.

Neighborhood Health Plan's Silver HMO is Rhode Island's cheapest Silver plan at $507 per month for a 40-year-old. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the only carrier on HealthSource RI offering PPO and POS plans. Its Silver PPO averages $638 per month and its Silver POS averages $597 for a 40-year-old.

*Rates shown are averages for 40-year-olds across all metal tiers available on HealthSource RI for the 2026 plan year.

At age 60, Neighborhood Health Plan charges $1,076 per month, nearly three times its $362 rate for 18-year-olds. Confirm your providers are in its network before choosing based on premium alone.

Neighborhood Health Plan's Bronze HMO is the cheapest HSA-eligible plan in Rhode Island at $372 per month. Blue Cross Blue Shield's Bronze PPO costs $474 per month and has a $6,300 deductible, $700 less than Neighborhood Health Plan's Bronze.

Rhode Island residents who expect to reach their deductible should weigh that $700 difference against $1,224 in annual premium savings before choosing on monthly cost alone.

Rhode Island's health insurance plans are filterable by age, plan type, metal tier and HSA eligibility. Set the filters to your profile to see which plans cost least for your situation.

Health insurance in Rhode Island averages $721 per month for a 40-year-old in 2026. HMO plans cost up to $194 less per month than the equivalent PPO tier, the largest premium difference in Rhode Island's two-carrier market.

*Rates are averages for 40-year-olds on HealthSource RI for the 2026 plan year. HMO plans are offered by Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. POS and PPO plans are offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield.   

Moving from Bronze to Gold adds $129 to $228 per month depending on plan type. Platinum costs $880 per month, $178 more than Gold PPO. It's available only as a PPO and carries the state's lowest deductible at $950 and a $2,500 annual out-of-pocket limit.

Carrier choice moves Rhode Island health insurance costs more than any other factor. The two carriers' average rates differ by $224 per month, before subsidies are applied.

Rhode Island operates its own marketplace and state oversight office for coverage enrollment and disputes.

• HealthSource RI: Rhode Island's official health insurance marketplace. Compare 2026 plans, check subsidy eligibility and enroll here. Rhode Island ACA enrollment runs through this site, not HealthCare.gov.
• The Rhode Island Department of Human Services: Handles Medicaid applications, known in Rhode Island as RIte Care, along with other state health programs for qualifying individuals and families.
• The Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner: Handles insurance complaints and provides consumer rights information for Rhode Island policyholders.
• Medicare.gov: Compare Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans for Rhode Island residents 65 and older or those qualifying through disability.
• HealthCare.gov Find Local Assistance: Connects Rhode Island residents with certified enrollment counselors who can help compare plans and apply at no cost.

We gathered all plan data directly from HealthSource RI for the 2026 plan year. The analysis covered every plan available to Rhode Island residents across five age groups, ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60.

Our cheapest-overall rankings use 40-year-old premiums as the primary benchmark because this age group represents the most common adult buyer profile. Age-specific rankings reflect each profile's actual rates.   

Lower premiums often come with higher deductibles and out-of-pocket limits, which increase your costs when you receive care.