Best and cheapest health insurance in Missouri
Cheapest health insurance companies in Missouri
Ambetter, Anthem and Oscar have the cheapest health insurance plans in Missouri, with Silver plans starting at $523 per month, on average, before discounts.
Affordable health insurance in Missouri
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| Ambetter | $523-$816 |
| Anthem BCBS | $546-$941 |
| Oscar | $555-$692 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $613-$827 |
- Ambetter has the cheapest rates for 9 out of 10 people in Missouri, with rates as low as $523 per month for a Silver plan. The company has the most affordable quotes for most Missourians.
- Anthem BCBS has the cheapest rates in Joplin. The company also has the most affordable plans for roughly 1 in 20 people in Missouri.
If you had a plan from Ambetter or UnitedHealthcare in 2025, you'll get some money back. Both insurance companies failed to meet Affordable Care Act guidelines for medical care spending in 2025, which means they have to return money to their customers.
Starting in 2026, you will no longer be able to buy Aetna insurance on the Missouri health marketplace.
Current Aetna customers will have to switch to a different company. During open enrollment (Nov. 1 to Jan. 15), you'll have the opportunity to shop for a new plan.
Best health insurance companies in Missouri
Ambetter has the best health insurance for most people in Missouri.
Ambetter has a good 3-out-of-5 star rating from HealthCare.gov. The company scored a perfect 5-out-of-5 star rating for member experience. That means Ambetter customers are generally satisfied with the quality of their doctors and how easy it is to get care.
Best-rated health insurance companies in MO
Company |
ACA rating
|
VP rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Ambetter | ||
| UnitedHealthcare | ||
| BCBS of Kansas City | ||
| Cox HealthPlans | ||
| Anthem BCBS |
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City: Best for large network of doctors
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City customers have access to the largest network of doctors and hospitals in the country. That makes BCBS of Kansas City a good choice if you want more freedom when it comes to choosing your doctor, especially if you live close to another state, such as Kansas or Illinois.
Anthem is also a Blue Cross Blue Shield company, and it has cheaper average rates than BCBS of Kansas City. But, Anthem is generally a worse choice because it has a low 2-out-of-5 star rating from HealthCare.gov. In contrast, BCBS of Kansas City has a strong 3-out-of-5 star rating, which suggests most customers are satisfied with their coverage.
How much does health insurance cost in Missouri?
Missouri residents pay an average of $742 per month for health insurance at full price or an estimated $173 per month after discounts, on average.
Gold plans have expensive rates, but affordable costs when you visit the doctor. Bronze plans have cheap monthly costs, but you pay more when you get medical care.
Silver plans offer a middle ground between the two with average rates and middle-of-the-road costs when you go to the doctor. That makes Silver health plans a good choice for most people.
Health insurance discount changes in Missouri for 2026
Medical insurance costs $742 in Missouri, or roughly $173 per month, on average, if you get discounts because of your income.
For people who can get subsidies, rates are estimated to increase from about $77 in 2025 to $173 in 2026. That's because discounts are likely getting smaller for 2026.
Between 2021 and 2025, shoppers on HealthCare.gov had access to larger discounts, called "expanded subsidies." These better discounts most likely won't be available in 2026, although you can still get smaller subsidies.
Health insurance rates in Missouri after subsidies (2025 vs. 2026)
Income | 2025 rate | 2026 rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $49 | $155 | 216% |
| $40,000 | $154 | $287 | 86% |
| $50,000 | $283 | $415 | 47% |
| $60,000 | $423 | $498 | 18% |
| $70,000+ | $489 | $605 | 24% |
Average cost after subsidies for a single 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan.
- Who can get subsidies? To be eligible for subsidies, you have to make between $15,650 and $62,600 as an individual ($32,150 to $128,600 for a family of four). The less you make, the higher your subsidy.
- How do subsidies work? You can use your subsidy on any Bronze, Silver or Gold plan bought through HealthCare.gov. You can choose to have your subsidy applied to your monthly rate, or you can get it as a lump sum when you file your taxes. Subsidies can't be used on Catastrophic plans.
- How much do you save? Use ValuePenguin's subsidy calculator to find out how much you'll pay for coverage after subsidies.
Cheap health insurance in Missouri by city
Ambetter has the most affordable medical insurance in Kansas City, at $572 per month before discounts.
Ambetter also has the cheapest rates in St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia. Anthem BCBS has the cheapest rates in Joplin.
Cheapest health insurance plans by MO county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Adair | Ambetter Standard Silver | $780 |
| Andrew | Ambetter Standard Silver | $760 |
| Atchison | Ambetter Standard Silver | $760 |
| Audrain | Ambetter Standard Silver | $715 |
| Barry | Ambetter Standard Silver | $627 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
Best health insurance by level of coverage
When choosing your level of health coverage, it's important to consider how healthy you are, your finances and discounts you may qualify for.
Gold plans: Best if you have ongoing medical needs
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans in Missouri cost $708 per month, on average.
Consider a Gold plan if you have expensive or ongoing medical needs. Gold plans have high monthly rates, but you'll pay a small portion of the bill when you go to the hospital.
That means Gold plans usually only make sense for people who need high-cost treatment. For example, a Gold plan might be a good choice if you have cancer or arthritis.
Gold plans in Missouri are cheaper, on average, than Silver plans in 2026. Insurance companies charge more for Silver plans because you can get extra subsidies if you make less than about $39,000 per year (roughly $80,000 per year for a family of four), called cost-sharing reductions.
If you're not eligible for cost-sharing reductions, you're better off with a cheap Gold plan because you'll get better coverage at a lower cost.
Silver plans: Best for most people
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans in Missouri cost $742 per month, on average.
Silver plans have middle-of-the-road rates and costs when you visit the doctor or get a prescription filled. Silver plans are the best choice for most people because they offer a balance between your monthly costs and what you pay when you go to the hospital.
Bronze plans: Best if you're young and healthy
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze plans in Missouri cost $575 per month, on average.
Bronze plans have cheap monthly rates, but you're responsible for a large portion of your bill when you go to the hospital. That makes Bronze plans are a good choice for people who rarely visit the doctor.
Keep in mind, you may have to pay thousands of dollars before coverage starts if you get seriously injured or sick with a Bronze plan. You should only buy a Bronze plan if you have enough money in your savings account to cover your health insurance deductible.
Catastrophic plans: Best to prevent financial disaster
You'll pay $10,600 before coverage starts with a catastrophic plan.
Catastrophic plans cost an average of $405 per month for a 21-year-old in Missouri.
You can only buy a catastrophic plan if you're under the age of 30 or you have a special hardship exemption.
Catastrophic plans are a good choice for preventing absolute financial disaster because you won't pay more than $10,600 in a single year for medical services. In other words, your deductible is the maximum amount you'll pay for care with catastrophic coverage.
Catastrophic plans have the lowest average rates of any plan tier. However, they're not usually a good deal because catastrophic plans offer limited coverage. You have to pay a high deductible before your plan will cover most services.
In addition, catastrophic plans aren't eligible for subsidies. That means you can get better coverage for a cheaper price if you earn a low income.
Discounted and free health insurance in Missouri
You may have access to free or discounted health insurance in Missouri, depending on your income.
Medicaid: Best if you earn a low income
You may qualify for free government health insurance, called Medicaid, if you earn about $22,000 per year or less as a single person or $44,000 per year or less for a family of four.
A pregnant woman with no children and a parent with a child under the age of one are eligible for Medicaid if they make under about $31,000 per year.
Discounted Silver plans: Best if you earn a low income but don't qualify for Medicaid
| Silver plans will pay 73% to 94% of your medical costs if you have a low income. |
You may qualify for extra discounts, called cost-sharing reductions, if you have a Silver health plan and you earn a low income. Cost-sharing reductions cover part of the costs you're responsible for when you visit the hospital, such as your deductible, copays and coinsurance.
Missouri residents are eligible for cost-sharing reductions if they make less than about $39,000 per year as an individual or roughly $80,000 per year as a family of four.
Are health insurance rates going up in MO?
Health insurance rates are increasing by 28%, on average, between 2025 and 2026.
Health insurance in Missouri got more expensive across all plan tiers from 2025 to 2026. The average cost of a Catastrophic plan rose by 55% while Silver and Gold plans both rose by 20%, on average. Bronze plans cost 18% more, on average. The cost of a Silver health plan rose by 20% between 2022 and 2026, which means prices stayed roughly flat between 2022 and 2025.
Are health insurance rates going up in MO in 2026?
Catastrophic
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $368 | – |
| 2023 | $396 | 8% |
| 2024 | $348 | -12% |
| 2025 | $335 | -4% |
| 2026 | $518 | 55% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Catastrophic
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $368 | – |
| 2023 | $396 | 8% |
| 2024 | $348 | -12% |
| 2025 | $335 | -4% |
| 2026 | $518 | 55% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Bronze
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $447 | – |
| 2023 | $553 | 24% |
| 2024 | $495 | -11% |
| 2025 | $488 | -1% |
| 2026 | $575 | 18% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old. Expanded Bronze plans are included in 2024, 2025 and 2026 averages, when they're offered.
Silver
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $620 | – |
| 2023 | $626 | 1% |
| 2024 | $594 | -5% |
| 2025 | $616 | 4% |
| 2026 | $742 | 20% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $738 | – |
| 2023 | $761 | 3% |
| 2024 | $645 | -15% |
| 2025 | $591 | -8% |
| 2026 | $708 | 20% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Why is health insurance expensive in MO in 2026?
As health care costs go up, health insurance rates increase to make up for it.
That's because your health insurance pays for many of your health care costs. When health care is more expensive, it costs the company more when you go to the doctor or get medication. To balance out the higher costs, medical insurance companies raise rates for everyone.
One of the major causes for higher health insurance rates is the cost for weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Because these medications are both expensive and widely used, they put a financial burden on insurance companies.
Rates are going up in 2026 because of changes to discounts if you have a low income. Since 2021, people with low incomes have been able to get larger discounts called "enhanced subsidies." However, these extra discounts are set to expire at the end of 2025. Unless they're renewed by Congress, the discounts in 2026 won't be as big. That means you'll probably pay more for health insurance even if you get discounts.
How to prepare for the 2026 rate increases
- Get quotes from other companies. If your plan goes up in price, look at the other companies and plans in your area. You can see all your options on HealthCare.gov, and you might be able to find a cheaper plan from another company.
- Check if you get discounts. Even if discounts aren't as big in 2026, they'll still help you save money if you can get them.
- Consider dropping to a lower-tier plan. Lower-tier plans like Bronze usually come with cheaper monthly rates. However, the tradeoff is that you have to pay more when you go to the doctor or fill a prescription. As of 2026, you can open a health savings account (HSA) to help pay for medical costs.
- See if you can get Medicaid. If you have a very low income, you might be able to get Medicaid in Missouri. Medicaid makes your health care free or very cheap if you qualify.
Marketplace insurance in Missouri
You can buy a marketplace plan in Missouri by going to HealthCare.gov. Marketplace plans have more protections than other types of health insurance, such as short-term or supplemental coverage.
For example, companies selling Obamacare plans can't deny coverage or charge higher rates based on your health. In addition, all marketplace plans have to cover 10 essential services.
Benefits offered by all marketplace health plans in Missouri
- Outpatient care
- Emergency care
- Prescription drugs
- Care for pregnant women and newborns
- Preventive, wellness and ongoing disease services
- Hospital care
- Coverage for babies
- Laboratory services
- Rehabilitation services and devices
- Services for mental health and substance use disorders
Plans bought on the Missouri health exchange limit the total amount you'll pay for health care in a single year, called an out-of-pocket maximum. Once you hit your out-of-pocket max, you won't pay anything else for care until the start of the next year.
Average cost of health insurance by family size in MO
In Missouri, a family of four will pay an average of $2,372 per month before discounts for health insurance. On average, health insurance for an adult in Missouri costs $742 per month, and coverage for a child under the age of 15 costs $444 per month.
Family size | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Individual | $742 |
| Individual and child | $1,186 |
| Couple | $1,484 |
| Family of three | $1,928 |
| Family of four | $2,372 |
Averages based on a Silver plan for 40-year-old adults and children who are under age 15.
Short-term health insurance in Missouri
In January 2025, the Trump administration blocked a rule that would limit the length of short-term health insurance to three months. That means short-term health insurance in Missouri can last for up to 364 days or three years total when including renewals.
Short-term health plans let you get coverage at any time of the year. In other words, you don't have to wait until open enrollment or a life change that gives you a special enrollment period to get coverage.
However, while short-term health plans are convenient, they typically offer worse coverage than regular health plans.
Pros of short-term health insurance in MO
Cons of short-term health insurance in MO
Missouri Farm Bureau plans
In July 2025, Missouri Farm Bureau got permission to begin offering "alternative health plans" to customers in 2026.
Not much is known about these plans yet, but if you do consider one, make sure you understand your coverage. These plans aren't technically insurance, so they don't have to follow Affordable Care Act rules. That means you might not have coverage for things like annual health tests, vaccines or mental health care.
Health insurance enrollment by income level in Missouri
People who earn a low income will be most heavily impacted by lower health insurance subsidies in 2026.
That's because people who make less money are more likely to get coverage from Healthcare.gov. In Missouri in 2025, roughly eight in 10 people with a marketplace plan made under $37,650 per year.
Enrollment by income
Income | % of total enrollment |
|---|---|
| Less than $15,060 | 1% |
| $15,060 to $20,783 | 11% |
| $20,784 to $22,590 | 35% |
| $22,591 to $30,120 | 22% |
| $30,121 to $37,650 | 10% |
Enrollment in 2025 marketplace plans made during the 2024-2025 Open Enrollment period. Total may not be 100% due to rounding
Frequently asked questions
What's the best health insurance in Missouri?
Ambetter has the best health insurance in Missouri. The company has a strong 3-out-of-5 star rating from HealthCare.gov, and it has the most affordable coverage in most of the state.
Who has the cheapest health insurance in Missouri?
Ambetter has the cheapest coverage in Missouri, with Silver plans starting at $523 per month. That's more than $200 per month less than the state average.
How much will health insurance rates increase in Missouri in 2026?
The average cost of health insurance is going up by 28% in Missouri for 2026. Price increases by plan tier range from an average of 55% for Catastrophic health insurance to 18%, on average, for Bronze plans.
What is the average cost of health insurance per month in Missouri?
Health insurance in Missouri costs an average of $742 per month at full price or $173 per month, on average, after discounts.
Can I get health insurance for $100 a month in Missouri?
You might be able to get health insurance for $100 or less in Missouri if you have a low income and you can get monthly rate discounts called subsidies. Keep in mind, smaller subsidies in 2026 means Missourians will have a harder time getting coverage for under $100 per month than in years past.
Methodology
Missouri health insurance rate data for 2026 is from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website. ValuePenguin used the CMS public use files (PUFs) to find average rates for different plan tiers, geographic locations and family sizes.
Rates
Rates are based on a 40-year-old with a Silver plan, unless otherwise noted. Rates for Bronze plans include regular and Expanded Bronze plans for 2024, 2025 and 2026, when the plans are available. Your costs and plan options will vary; plans aren't always available in all parts of a state or county.
Subsidies
Rates after subsidies are estimates for a 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan and are based on how subsidies were structured before 2021. Prices are calculated using KFF's rates for full-price Benchmark plans, federal poverty levels (FPLs), IRS rules about premium tax credits and Congressional reports about expanded tax credits. The total cost in the state uses calculated rates by income, which are weighted using CMS data on the incomes of those who purchased plans during last year's open enrollment. The median was used for each income range. Unknown incomes were excluded from the calculations. Incomes of 100% of the federal poverty line and 500% of the federal poverty line were assumed for enrollees who earn less than 100% FPL and more than 500% FPL, respectively. Information about state subsidies, when available, was sourced from state marketplaces.
Ratings
ValuePenguin's experts rank companies based on cost, coverage options, customer satisfaction and unique value. Ratings are out of 100 possible points. ACA ratings show how the company performs in Missouri for medical care, member experience and plan administration. This 2026 plan quality data from CMS is based on data from last year. Ratings are not available for new plans or plans with low enrollment.
More sources
Enrollment trends, including plan selections by tier and enrollment by income, are from CMS data for the 2025 open enrollment period.
Other sources include S&P Global Capital IQ and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Senior Writer
Talon Abernathy is a ValuePenguin Senior Writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. He's also contributed to other insurance verticals including home, renters, auto, motorcycle and flood insurance.
Talon came to ValuePenguin in 2023. Since his arrival, he's helped to expand the site's health insurance-related content offerings. He enjoys helping readers understand the ins and outs of America's all too complicated health insurance landscape.
Before coming to ValuePenguin, Talon worked as a freelance writer. His prior work has touched on a broad range of personal finance-related topics including credit-building strategies, small business incorporation tactics and creative ways to save for retirement.
Insurance tip
In many parts of the country, you can qualify for a free Silver health insurance plan if you meet certain income requirements. Government subsidies in the form of premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions may mean you'll pay nothing for coverage.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Flood insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Renters insurance
- Auto and motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- The Miami Herald
- Money.com
- MSN
- Nasdaq
- The Sacramento Bee
- Yahoo! Finance
Education
- BA, University of Washington
- Certificate in Copyediting, UC San Diego
Credentials
- Licensed Life & Disability Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
