Best Cheap Health Insurance in Tennessee (2025)
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best affordable health insurance company in Tennessee. The cheapest plan costs $479 per month before discounts.
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Best and cheapest health insurance in Tennessee
Cheapest health insurance companies in Tennessee
Ambetter has the cheapest health insurance plans in Tennessee. Silver plans start at $465 per month before subsidies.
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Affordable health insurance in Tennessee
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| Ambetter of Tennessee | $465 - $632 |
| BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee | $479 - $644 |
| Oscar Insurance Company | $482 - $600 |
| Cigna Healthcare | $517 - $569 |
- Cheap rates based on your income: Most people shopping for individual or family health insurance don't have to pay full price because subsidies lower the cost of a plan based on your income. Comparing full-priced plans can help you know what's a good deal. But remember that your rates will be lower after discounts are applied.
- Cheaper plans with less coverage: Silver-tier plans are a good choice for most people because they balance affordable monthly rates with good coverage. Choosing a plan with less coverage, such as a Bronze plan, can help you lower your monthly bills. But the tradeoff is that you'll pay more for medical care.
- Plans options change based on your county: Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has the cheapest Silver plans in the state. However, the cheapest plan where you live may be different. Oscar is the cheapest health insurance company in Nashville and Memphis. But Ambetter is the cheapest health insurance company in Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Best health insurance companies in Tennessee
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best-rated health insurance company in Tennessee.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is a top company for both individuals and families because it has a large network of doctors, high customer satisfaction and a wide selection of plans. You'll also get free telehealth, discounts on gym memberships and cash rewards for healthy living activities.
Best-rated health insurance companies in Tennessee
Company |
Editor rating
|
ACA rating
|
|---|---|---|
| BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee | 4.0 | |
| UnitedHealthcare | 3.0 | |
| Ambetter of Tennessee | 2.0 | |
| Alliant Health Plans, Inc. | NA | |
| Cigna Healthcare | 4.0 |
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UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is also a good option. The company is similar to Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN based on ValuePenguin editor ratings, but it has a lower rating on HealthCare.gov. Plus, UnitedHealthcare is usually more expensive than Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Best health insurance in TN for prescriptions
Cigna is the best health insurance company in Tennessee for prescription drug coverage.
- Generic prescriptions can cost between $0 and $3 with many Cigna plans. This helps you keep your costs low for routine medications.
- There are also savings if you have diabetes. Insulin costs $25 per month or less. And you'll have some free lab tests and medications to manage your diabetes.
- Cigna plans in Tennessee have high customer satisfaction, according to HealthCare.gov. This means it could be easier to manage medical bills and get approval for your prescriptions.
How much does health insurance cost in Tennessee?
Health insurance in Tennessee costs an average of $558 per month at full price or $45 per month after discounts based on your income.
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- Health insurance rates increase as you get older: Your age will change your health insurance rate. Younger people pay lower rates because they are less likely to need expensive medical care. Across all levels of coverage, 21-year-olds pay less than half of what 60-year-olds pay.
- The plan's level of coverage also affects your rates: The average cost of health insurance for a Gold plan is higher because your insurance will pay more of your medical bills. Bronze and Catastrophic plans have cheaper rates but less coverage.
Get affordable health insurance in TN by using subsidies
The average cost of health insurance in Tennessee is $45 per month for those who qualify for subsidies.
Health insurance subsidies give you discounted rates on any Bronze, Silver or Gold plan when you shop on HealthCare.gov.
Subsidies are on a sliding scale so the lower your income, the more you'll save on health insurance.
You're usually eligible for subsidies if you earn less than $60,240 as an individual or less than $124,800 as a family of four.
Cheapest health insurance plan by Tennessee city
Where you live determines what health insurance companies and plans are available. In most places in Tennessee, get quotes from Oscar, Blue Cross and Ambetter if you're looking for a cheap Silver plan.
- The most affordable health insurance in Nashville and Memphis is Oscar's Silver Simple PCP Saver. This plan costs $548 per month in Nashville and $482 per month in Memphis, at full price.
- In Knoxville, the cheapest health insurance plan is Ambetter of Tennessee Clear Silver which costs $465 per month before subsidies.
Cheapest health insurance by TN county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson | Ambetter of Tennessee Clear Silver | $465 |
| Bedford | BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee S27E | $581 |
| Benton | Ambetter of Tennessee Clear Silver | $498 |
| Bledsoe | Ambetter of Tennessee Clear Silver | $498 |
| Blount | Ambetter of Tennessee Clear Silver | $465 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
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Best health insurance by level of coverage
In Tennessee, the best health insurance plan for you depends on your overall health, medical needs and monthly budget. Generally, the more medical care you need, the higher the plan tier you should buy.
Platinum plans: Best for people with serious medical conditions
| Platinum plans pay for about 90% of your medical care. |
A Platinum health plan is a good choice if you expect to need a lot of medical care in the coming year. For example, a Platinum plan would make sense if you've recently been diagnosed with cancer.
Platinum plans have the highest average monthly rates of any health insurance plan tier. However, these plans have an average deductible of $0. That means your insurance starts paying out immediately if you choose a Platinum plan.
Platinum plans in Tennessee cost $797 per month on average.
Gold plans: Best for high expected medical costs
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans pay for the biggest share of your medical costs, leaving you with smaller doctor bills because of lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.
Gold plans are the most expensive health insurance option in Tennessee, costing an average of $578 per month. This high cost is worth it if you need ongoing medical care or take expensive prescriptions.
Gold plans only cost slightly more than Silver plans in Tennessee. If you don't qualify for cost-sharing reductions, consider upgrading to a Gold plan.
Silver plans: Best for most people
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans are good for most people with average medical needs. That's because they balance how much you pay each month with how much you pay at the doctor.
Silver plans cost an average of $558 per month in Tennessee. That saves you about $100 per month versus a Gold plan.
Bronze and Catastrophic plans: Best for young, healthy people
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze and Catastrophic plans usually have the lowest monthly rates. But they have less coverage so you'll have to pay for a large portion of your medical bills.
Bronze plans cost an average of $449 per month in Tennessee. They're a good choice if you're healthy and only go to the doctor a few times per year for routine care.
When choosing a plan with less coverage, make sure you have enough savings to cover an emergency medical bill. If you have to go to the hospital, you'll have high bills before the plan's full benefits kick in.
You can only get a Catastrophic plan if you are under age 30 or qualify for an exemption. And if you have a Catastrophic plan, you can't use premium tax credits to reduce the monthly rate.
Silver plans: Best if you have 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. |
Silver is the only plan level that has discounts for your health care costs, called cost-sharing reductions. This will lower your deductible, coinsurance and copays.
To qualify, you have to make less than about $38,000 as a single person or less than about $78,000 as a family of four.
With cost-sharing reductions, a Silver plan could give you coverage that is nearly as good as a Gold plan for a cheaper rate. Plus, this discount for medical care can be used at the same time you use subsidies to lower your monthly costs.
Medicaid: Free health insurance in TN if you have a low income
Tennessee's Medicaid program, TennCare, can give you free or low-cost health insurance if you have a low income.
However, it's harder to qualify for Medicaid in Tennessee than in other states. That's because Tennessee hasn't expanded Medicaid eligibility to match federal standards.
Only Tennessee residents in certain categories qualify for TennCare:
- Children under age 19
- Medically needy children under age 21
- Adults under age 26 who have aged out of foster care
- Parents or relative caretakers of children
- Pregnant women
- People who are elderly, blind or disabled
Income requirements are different based on which category you fall into. For example, a parent in a family of three can qualify for Medicaid with an income of $15,813 per year or less. Adults with low incomes and without children do not qualify for Medicaid in Tennessee.
Are health insurance rates going up in Tennessee?
Health insurance costs in Tennessee fell by an average of 2% between 2024 and 2025.
The cost of a Silver plan remained flat. The cost of a Gold plan fell by 14%, on average, and Catastrophic plans got 19% more expensive, on average. Bronze plan rates fell slightly by an average of 1%.
Tier | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | $320 | $380 | 19% |
| Bronze | $453 | $449 | -1% |
| Silver | $558 | $558 | 0% |
| Gold | $675 | $578 | -14% |
| Platinum | N/A | $797 | N/A |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Obamacare health insurance plans in Tennessee have important benefits for both your health and your finances.
- Preventative care is free as soon as the plan begins. You won't pay anything to get a checkup or common health screenings.
- All plans protect you from large medical debt. The plan's out-of-pocket max is the most you'll have to pay for covered medical care in a year.
- Pre-existing medical conditions are covered. So if you already have a diagnosis for cancer or diabetes, you can switch plans and still have coverage for your treatment.
Short-term health insurance in Tennessee
In Tennessee, you can buy a short-term health insurance at any time of the year.
Short-term plans can last up to 12 months in Tennessee. You can continue the same plan for up to three years of coverage total.
Pros of short-term health insurance in TN
Cons of short-term health insurance in TN
Average cost of health insurance by family size in Tennessee
Average health insurance costs in Tennessee can range from $1,116 for a couple to $1,784 for a family of four.
Family size | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Individual | $558 |
| Individual + Child | $892 |
| Couple, age 40 | $1,116 |
| Family of three | $1,450 |
| Family of four | $1,784 |
Averages based on a Silver plan for 40-year-old adults and children who are under age 15.
Children age 14 and under are charged a flat rate that doesn't change with age. However, once a child turns 15, their rate changes with each year.
Adding an adult to your plan is more expensive than adding a child. It costs $334 per month to add a child under the age of 14 to a Silver health insurance plan in Tennessee. But it costs an average of $558 per month to add a spouse.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance expensive in Tennessee?
Health insurance in Tennessee costs an average of $558 per month for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan. Your coverage will likely be more expensive if you are older, insure more than one person on your plan, smoke or use tobacco or choose a Gold plan instead of Silver.
How do I apply for health insurance in Tennessee?
To apply for health insurance in Tennessee, go to HealthCare.gov. You can compare the plans in your ZIP code to find the best option. When you're ready to apply, you will create an online account and answer a few questions to start the process.
Does Tennessee have free health insurance?
You might qualify for free or low-cost health insurance through the state Medicaid program, called TennCare. To qualify, you must meet income requirements and other qualifications, like being a parent, being blind or disabled or having aged out of foster care.
If you earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, you may be able to get free or affordable health insurance through HealthCare.gov where plans are discounted based on your income.
Methodology
This analysis used 2025 health insurance plan details and rate data provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) government website. Using the CMS public use files (PUFs), ValuePenguin experts calculated the average rates based on plan level, age, family size and more. Plans and providers for which county-level data was included in the CMS Crosswalk file were used in our analysis; those excluded from this data set may not appear.
Additional sources include S&P Global, NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) and Kaiser Family Foundation.
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.