Best Health Insurance for Seniors & Retirees (2026 Plan Year)

We analyzed health insurance options across plan types to find the best coverage for retirees ages 60-65. Kaiser Permanente leads with a MoneyGeek score of 5 and $1,166 monthly rates for HMO coverage. Your plan type affects doctor access and costs: HMO and EPO plans require in-network care with lower premiums, while POS and PPO plans let you see out-of-network providers but cost more monthly.

These rates are for a 60 year old buying a Marketplace Silver-tier plan. Your actual rates depend on multiple factors.

Your monthly premium and out-of-pocket costs move in opposite directions across metal tiers. 

Bronze plans cost $1,361 monthly and work if you rarely see a doctor. You'll pay more when you actually need care. Silver plans run $1,420 monthly and qualify you for cost-sharing subsidies if eligible. Gold plans at $1,524 monthly cover more of your bills upfront, so they're worth it if you have regular prescriptions or ongoing treatments.

Note that Catastrophic plans are only available in some areas and are limited to a specific population. Generally, Catastrophic plans are only available to people under 30. However, older adults can purchase them if they do not have any other choices that cost less than 8.09% of their monthly income.

Finding quality health insurance at 60 means balancing monthly costs with comprehensive coverage. The three best health insurance providers among all states for 60-year-olds are:   

• Wellcare Health: $832 per month
• Anthem: $1,024 per month
• Molina Healthcare: $1,105 per month

Your actual premium depends on your state, tobacco use, income level and household size. The best plan matches your expected health care needs with your budget. The table below shows each state's top-ranked health insurance plan for a typical 60-year-old, including monthly premiums and maximum out-of-pocket costs:

Monthly premiums for 60-year-olds range from $1,401 to $1,675 depending on your plan type and network size. Your actual premium varies based on your state, age, tobacco use and income. Below we've added the average cost for seniors by each plan type:

Finding the right health insurance before 65 takes work, but it's worth it. You'll want coverage that fits your medical needs without draining your savings. Compare plans from multiple insurers and check what your doctors accept. Your health conditions, prescriptions and budget all shape your best choice.

Kaiser Permanente's Silver HMO plans offer the best health insurance for seniors under 65 at $1,166 monthly. Need more flexibility? PPO plans cost $1,242 but cover out-of-network doctors. Bridge your coverage gap with COBRA, marketplace plans or Medicaid until Medicare starts at 65.

Finding health insurance for retirees under 65 will help you stay protected. Review our answers to frequently asked questions on bridging the gap between retirement and Medicare eligibility:

Finding affordable health insurance as a senior under 65 is challenging. You're paying peak premiums before Medicare kicks in. We designed our research to identify which insurers offer the best value for 60-year-olds bridging the coverage gap until Medicare eligibility. 

We compared health insurance companies by analyzing three key factors that matter most to early retirees: 

Affordability score (60%): This category carries the most weight since healthcare costs directly impact your retirement budget. We evaluate three cost factors that roll up into your overall affordability score:   

• Monthly premium: The provider with the lowest average monthly cost scores highest since premiums are your most predictable healthcare expense.
• Deductible: The amount you pay before your insurance covers costs. Providers with the lowest average deductible score highest.
• Maximum out-of-pocket: The MOOP caps what you'll pay annually beyond premiums. Lower MOOPs score better since unexpected medical costs can derail retirement plans.

Quality score (30%): We evaluated plan performance using the Quality Rating System, a 5-star rating that measures medical care, member experience and plan administration. Providers with higher scores rank better. 

Denial rate score (10%): Lower denial rates mean fewer fights to get covered services paid. Insurers denying fewer claims score highest. 

How We Score Different Plan Types 
We normalized provider scores for each plan category to ensure fair comparisons. When analyzing HMO, PPO, EPO or POS plans, we curve scores so the top-performing insurer in that category receives a 5 out of 5, with other providers scored proportionally. This means our best HMO recommendation earned the highest HMO score, while our best PPO earned the highest PPO score. Each plan type is evaluated independently since they serve different needs and cost structures.

Our Sample Profile 
All quoted premiums reflect rates for a 60-year-old buyer. We analyzed Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans to cover the full range of coverage options early retirees consider. Bronze plans offer the lowest monthly costs but the highest deductibles, while Platinum plans cost more monthly but cover more expenses.

Why This Approach Works for Seniors 
Your priorities differ from those of younger buyers. You need predictable costs as you transition from employment income to retirement savings. You want insurers that pay claims reliably when you need care. And you need coverage that bridges just a few years until Medicare starts at 65, making short-term affordability important alongside comprehensive benefits.