Deductible vs. Out-of-Pocket Max: Health Insurance Basics
The deductible is the amount you pay for medical care before your plan's full benefits begin. You won't pay any medical costs after... Read More
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We'll find you a health insurance quote based on your needs.
Comparing health insurance quotes can get you a better deal on coverage.
ValuePenguin's health insurance calculator can give you rate estimates and plan recommendations. Our experts can help you:
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Compare health insurance quotes by state
Learn more about the health insurance plans offered in your state:
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By company
By plan level
By age
By location
Company | Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | $481 |
| Aetna | $502 |
| Ambetter | $521 |
| Cigna | $566 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $576 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $604 |
Average monthly rates for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan.
By company
Company | Rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
| Kaiser Permanente | $481 |
|
| Aetna | $502 |
|
| Ambetter | $521 |
|
| Cigna | $566 |
|
| UnitedHealthcare | $576 |
|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $604 |
Average monthly rates for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan.
By plan level
Plan tier | Rate |
|---|---|
| Catastrophic | $335 |
| Bronze | $462 |
| Silver | $584 |
| Gold | $641 |
| Platinum | $813 |
Average monthly rates for a 40-year-old.
By age
Age | Rate |
|---|---|
| 20 | $443 |
| 30 | $519 |
| 40 | $584 |
| 50 | $816 |
| 60 | $1,240 |
Average monthly rates for a Silver plan.
By location
State | Rate |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $584 |
| Alaska | $948 |
| Arizona | $517 |
| Arkansas | $461 |
| California | $600 |
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Average monthly cost for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan.
Compare health insurance coverage
The first step to picking the best health insurance plan is to compare the coverage. You should check that each plan has the coverage you want.
Monthly rate
Deductibles, copays and coinsurance
Out-of-pocket maximum
The monthly rate, also called the premium, is the price you pay each month for your health insurance plan.
Monthly rate
The monthly rate, also called the premium, is the price you pay each month for your health insurance plan.
Deductibles, copays and coinsurance
You'll have to spend a certain amount of money on healthcare, called a deductible, before your plan starts paying for things. After you meet your deductible, you still have to pay part of your medical bill, either a flat fee called a copay or a percentage of the total bill, called coinsurance.
Out-of-pocket maximum
The out-of-pocket maximum is the limit on how much you will have to spend on medical care in a year. After hitting this limit, the insurance company pays for the full cost of covered health services. Your deductible, copays and coinsurance usually all count toward reaching your out-of-pocket maximum. The monthly rate you pay is not part of the out-of-pocket maximum.
To pick the right amount of coverage, think about what kind of medical care you might need. If you can pay a bit more each month, it might be worth it to get a plan with more coverage than you think you'll need. That way, if something comes up or you have an accident, you'll have good coverage. Choose a health insurance plan that gives you the best coverage combined with a deductible and out-of-pocket maximum that you can afford to pay.
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Learn more about the health insurance plans offered in your state:
Compare plan tiers
Private health insurance plans are divided into five categories: Catastrophic, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Coverage tiers help you know how much coverage you'll get and how much you'll pay each month. Typically, as your monthly rate increases, so does your coverage level.
If you go to the doctor often or have expensive medical needs, a Gold or Platinum plan is usually the best option. The extra coverage usually makes the higher monthly cost worth it. A Bronze plan makes sense if you're young and mostly healthy. Just make sure that you have the savings to pay for more of your medical bills yourself.
Compare health insurance networks
A plan's network limits which doctors you can use, the flexibility of your coverage and how easy it is to see a specialist.
PPOs and HMOs are the two most common network types. PPOs typically cost more, but they let you see specialists without a referral. They also give you some coverage for doctors that aren't in the plan's network. HMOs are cheaper, but you only have coverage to see an in-network doctor. With an HMO, you'll also need to go through your primary care doctor to see a specialist, which can slow down your medical care.
Two less-popular plan types are exclusive provider organizations (EPOs) and point of service (POS) plans. These usually aren't the best option, and you might not even have any of these plans in your area.
Health insurance network comparison
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Private health insurance is coverage that you buy from a health insurance company rather than the government.
Supplemental health insurance can help you manage costs not covered by your main health insurance.
Supplemental insurance comes in different forms. For example, hospital indemnity insurance gives you cash payments when you have a hospital stay. You can spend these payments however you like .
Other types of supplemental coverage, such as dental and vision, can help you pay for procedures that don't fall under your normal health plan. Health insurance plans for adults don't typically cover most dental-related procedures, so it's important to buy standalone coverage.
Frequently asked questions
How much does individual health insurance cost?
Health insurance costs $584 per month, on average, for an adult in the United States. However, the cost of plans will depend on your age, where you live and the level of coverage you choose.
How to compare two health insurance plans?
When comparing two or more health insurance plans, it's important to look at the total cost of your plan including your monthly rate and how much you can expect to pay out of pocket through your deductible, copay and coinsurance. It's also important to compare coverage, especially if you have an ongoing illness, or disability or you're taking prescription drugs.
What are the cheapest health insurance quotes I can get?
In many parts of the country, you can get a free Silver health plan through your state marketplace or HealthCare.gov if you earn a low income. Although you can qualify for ACA, or Obamacare, subsidies with any plan tier, you can only get cost-sharing reductions {"content":"This subsidy helps you pay for the costs you're responsible for such as your deductible, copay and coinsurance.","icon":"","label":"","triggerText":"cost-sharing reductions"} if you have a Silver health plan.
If you don't qualify for these subsidies, consider a Catastrophic or Bronze health plan.
What are the best health insurance companies?
The overall best health insurance companies are Kaiser Permanente and Blue Cross Blue Shield. However, health insurance plans vary in price and quality. Compare plan options based on your location, age, preferred doctors and medical needs.
How much is dental insurance?
Dental insurance typically costs between $15 and $25 per month. You can lower your rate even further by bundling your dental and health insurance policies together through the same company.
Health insurance research and advice
What is Secondary Health Insurance?
A secondary health insurance policy can help protect you from expensive medical bills with extra coverage on top of your main insurance... Read More
What is a Point of Service (POS) Health Insurance Plan?
Point of service (POS) health insurance plans allow beneficiaries to access in-network and out-of-network providers and are a middle-ground... Read More
Out-of-Network Insurance Guide
Learn how to protect yourself from surprise medical bills by understanding what "out of network" means and how your health insurance plan... Read More
66% of Americans Want Health Insurance Companies to Cover Alternative Medicine
Many consumers turn to natural remedies, with 72% avoiding conventional medication when... Read More
No-Deductible Health Insurance: What You Need to Know
No deductible health insurance means your insurer starts paying for your health care sooner, and these plans can be useful for those with... Read More
What Is Child-Only Health Insurance and How Do I Get It?
The best way to get child-only health insurance is through Healthcare.gov, Medicaid or CHIP. The cost of insurance for kids can be free, if... Read More
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Sources and methodology
The average cost of health insurance uses 2024 quotes for a 40-year-old individual sourced from public use files (PUFs) on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) government website and state marketplaces. Plans and providers for which county-level data was included in the CMS Crosswalk file were used in the rate analysis; those excluded from this data set may not be considered.