Most Affordable Health Insurance Providers (2026)

The cheapest health insurance is an HMO plan from Anthem at an average of $278 per month, based on MoneyGeek's analysis of marketplace plan premiums across all metal tiers for a 40-year-old. PPOs cost more on average but cover out-of-network care. EPOs offer lower premiums than PPOs without requiring referrals. POS plans are the least common option and run higher than comparable HMOs and EPOs. The right plan type depends on how you use health care and which carriers operate in your area.

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

Anthem has the cheapest HMO health insurance at the Catastrophic, Expanded Bronze and Gold tiers, with Catastrophic coverage averaging $278 per month for a 40-year-old. Blue Cross Blue Shield has lower rates than Anthem at Bronze and Silver. HMO plans require you to stay within a provider network and get referrals before seeing specialists, which keeps premiums lower than PPO and EPO options at comparable metal tiers.

At the Catastrophic tier, Anthem's $278 monthly average comes with a $10,600 deductible and $10,600 MOOP, so the plan pays nothing until you've spent the full out-of-pocket maximum. The Gold tier shows the sharpest value shift: Anthem's Gold HMO costs $531 per month but drops the average deductible to $975, cutting potential out-of-pocket exposure by more than $9,600 compared to Catastrophic. Molina Healthcare's Platinum HMO eliminates the deductible entirely at $634 per month, which makes sense if you expect high recurring care costs.

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

Blue Cross Blue Shield has the cheapest PPO premiums at the Expanded Bronze, Bronze and Platinum tiers. Oscar beats it at Silver and Gold, with both tiers averaging under $590 per month. PPO plans cost more than HMOs but let you see specialists without referrals and cover out-of-network care, which matters if you travel frequently or see providers across multiple health systems.

Buyers who want to use a PPO should compare Oscar's Silver and Gold plans before defaulting to the lower cost Expanded Bronze. Bronze saves $264 per month but comes with a $9,100 deductible. For just $1 more per month than Silver, Gold cuts the average deductible to $1,500, while eligible Silver enrollees may also qualify for cost-sharing reductions.

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

Oscar is the most affordable EPO provider for four of the six metal tiers we reviewed, with Catastrophic coverage averaging $350 per month for a 40-year-old. Kaiser Permanente has the lowest-priced Silver EPO at $548 per month, while UnitedHealthcare has the cheapest Platinum plan at $1,085. EPOs don't require referrals to see specialists but generally don't cover out-of-network care except in emergencies, making them a middle ground between HMOs and PPOs.

Oscar's EPO premiums remain competitive through the Gold tier, ranging from $350 to $589 per month. By comparison, UnitedHealthcare's Platinum plan costs $1,085 per month, or $496 more than Oscar's Gold plan. Unless you expect very high medical expenses and to approach UnitedHealthcare’s $3,000 maximum out-of-pocket limit, Oscar’s Gold plan is likely the better value.

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

Ambetter has the cheapest POS plans at the Expanded Bronze and Gold tiers, at $521 and $725 per month respectively. Blue Cross Blue Shield has the lowest Silver option at $720 per month. POS plans are less common on the marketplace than HMOs, PPOs and EPOs. We found data for only three metal tiers, which limits your tier options if a POS is your preferred network type.

POS plans cost more than comparable EPO options at the same tiers. Ambetter's Expanded Bronze POS at $521 per month is $171 more than the cheapest EPO Expanded Bronze at $350. While POS plans require you to choose a primary care physician and get referrals for specialist care, they offer limited out-of-network coverage. If keeping premiums low is your priority, an EPO will usually provide similar coverage at a lower cost.

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

National averages are a good starting point, but the most affordable health insurance for you depends on your age and the type of coverage you're shopping for. Use the filters below to compare the cheapest health insurance companies and see average premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket limits for your profile and preferred plan.

The costs and coverage vary by state. Read our state-specific guides to find the cheapest health insurance where you live.

If you don't qualify for low-cost plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace, these alternatives may help:

• Medicaid for Low- to No-Cost Health Insurance: Medicaid provides low- to no-cost health insurance to people who qualify based on income and family size, which vary by state. People who are pregnant or have a disability may also be eligible, even if their income isn't limited.
• Medicare Health Insurance for People 65 and Older:  Medicare is a government-funded health program that covers medical expenses for people 65 and older or those with a disability. You can get hospital and prescription coverage through Original Medicare, Medicare Supplement plans or Medicare Advantage. Look at our guide to the best Medicare Advantage plans.
• Short-Term Health Insurance: This type of insurance covers temporary gaps in medical coverage. Because these plans aren't Affordable Care Act-compliant, they don't include essential health benefits or cover pre-existing conditions. They work best for people who need coverage for a few months and have minimal health needs. Use our best short-term health insurance companies guide to find a provider.
• Community Health Centers: Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) may save people from visiting ERs. FQHCs provide preventative services where you pay what you can.

Find answers to frequently asked questions about affordable health insurance.

MoneyGeek accessed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) public use files, which includes data from the 34 states that use the federal marketplace, Healthcare.gov. We also manually collected health insurance quotes from individual state marketplaces for the remaining U.S. states that are not in the federal marketplace.

MoneyGeek gathered data on all available health plans for consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50, and 60. Monthly premiums are based on a 40-year-old buyer unless otherwise noted. Plans analyzed in each section include the relevant cited metal tiers, which include Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The four plan types (EPO, POS, PPO, HMO) were also taken into account. To be considered for the companies listed, the company must be available in at least six states.

This analysis defines the cheapest as those plans which have the lowest monthly premium. However, plans with cheaper premiums often have higher deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) expenses, potentially resulting in higher costs overall if you need medical services. Those with incomes below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level can reduce their deductibles and MOOP by qualifying for cost-sharing reductions.