Best and cheapest health insurance in Maine
Cheapest health insurance companies in Maine
Anthem, Community Health Options and Mending have the cheapest health insurance plans in Maine, with Silver plans starting at $660 per month before discounts.
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Affordable health insurance in Maine
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield | $660-$838 |
| Community Health Options | $685-$871 | |
| Mending Health Insurance | $703-$796 | |
| Harvard Pilgrim Health Care | $734-$851 | |
- Anthem sells the cheapest Silver plans in 80% of Maine’s counties, with rates as low as $660 per month. Anthem is also the best health insurance company in Maine.
- Community Health Option might be cheaper overall if you need expensive medical care. Even though its Silver plans are expensive, it has the only Platinum plans in Maine. These plans cost more each month but pay for more of your medical bills.
Lowest deductibles: Mending
If you want your health insurance to start paying for care faster, Mending is a good option.
That's because Mending plans have the lowest average deductibles in Maine. With a Mending Silver plan, you could pay an average of $3,150 each year before your plan starts to pay its share of your medical bills. The average deductible for Silver plans in Maine is $4,164.
But like all health plans, Mending will start paying for some costs before you reach your deductible. These costs include services like vaccines, blood pressure screenings and birth control.
Best health insurance companies in Maine
Anthem is the best health insurance company in Maine.
Anthem offers a combination of cheap rates and excellent customer service. Anthem has a good 4-star overall score from HealthCare.gov and far fewer complaints than expected for an average company of its size. That means most people are happy with the service they get from their Anthem plans.
Anthem also sells more than half of all health plans in Maine, making it the most popular company in the state. That's likely because most doctors and hospitals take Anthem coverage, which makes it easy to use. Combine the large network with the low rates and good service, and Anthem is the clear choice for the best health insurance company in Maine.
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Best-rated health insurance companies in Maine
Company |
ACA rating
|
VP rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Mending Health Insurance | N/A | |
| Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield | ||
| Community Health Options | ||
| Harvard Pilgrim Health Care |
Best health insurance for expensive medical treatments: Community Health Option
If you have a chronic or complex medical condition, Community Health Option is a good choice.
Community Health Option is the only company that sells Platinum health insurance plans in Maine. Rates start at $1,012 per month.
Platinum plans are more expensive than other plan tiers because they pay for the highest share of your medical bills. If you need expensive medical treatments, a Platinum plan could help you save money. You'll pay more each month, but because the plan pays for about 90% of your health care bills, you can save money overall.
But Community Health Option receives mixed customer service reviews. It has a great five-star rating for member experience on HealthCare.gov. Yet it receives far more customer complaints than expected according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
How much does health insurance cost in Maine?
The average cost of health insurance in Maine is $771 per month, but the average rate if you get discounts is estimated at $337 per month.
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- Your age, location in the state and plan level all influence your health insurance costs. Your rate also depends on the company you choose, the number of people you want your plan to cover, and whether you smoke or use tobacco.
- Silver plans are a good option for most people because they give you good coverage at a good price. If you aren't sure what level of health insurance you need, start by looking at Silver plans, which are a popular option in Maine.
- Bronze plans are also popular, but they're only best if you're healthy and have emergency savings. That's because they make you pay more when you go to the doctor. Your medical bills with a Bronze plan can be high if something serious happens, like a hospital stay or surgery.
Health insurance discount changes in Maine for 2026
Health insurance costs about $337 per month, on average, if you get discounts based on your income.
For people who can get subsidies, rates will increase from about $163 in 2025 to $337 in 2026. That's because Congress decided to let discounts expire. Since 2021, shoppers on CoverME, Maine's state health insurance marketplace, could get discounts called "expanded subsidies." While you may still be able to get some discounts to make your rate cheaper, they won't be as good as they were before.
Health insurance rates in [State] 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 | $496 | $709 | 43% |
Average cost after subsidies for a single 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan.
- How to qualify: You have to make between $15,650 and $62,600 per year if you're single, or between $32,150 and $128,600 per year if you're a family of four, to get subsidies. If you make less, then you qualify for Medicaid and can't get subsidies.
- What subsidies do: You can use a subsidy to lower the cost of any Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum plan from any company on CoverME. If you buy a plan directly from a company, you won't get subsidies. And you can't use subsidies on a Catastrophic plan no matter where you buy it.
- See how much you'll save: A subsidy calculator can help you see how much you could save on health insurance.
If you can get subsidies, you might also get another type of discount that lets you pay less when you go to the doctor. These discounts are called cost-sharing reductions, and they're only available on Silver plans.
Cheap Maine health insurance plans by city
Anthem sells the cheapest health insurance in Portland, Maine.
Anthem has the cheapest Silver plans in most of Maine. That includes larger cities like Portland, Lewiston and Bangor. But it's still a good idea to review all your options. Just because a plan is cheap on average doesn't mean it's the best option for you.
Cheapest health insurance plans by ME county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin | Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Anthem Clear Choice Silver X Tiered 5000 | $718 |
| Aroostook | Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Clear Choice Maine's Choice Plus HMO Silver 5000 | $755 |
| Cumberland | Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Anthem Clear Choice Silver X Tiered 5000 | $660 |
| Franklin | Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Anthem Clear Choice Silver X Tiered 5000 | $718 |
| Hancock | Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Clear Choice Maine's Choice Plus HMO Silver 5000 | $755 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
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Best health insurance by level of coverage
The best health insurance plan depends on your budget and medical needs.
Most people in Maine choose a Silver or Bronze plan. But if you need more medical care, a Gold or Platinum plan is a good option.
Platinum plans: Best for expensive medical care
| Platinum plans pay for about 90% of your medical care. |
Platinum plans cost $1,094 per month, on average, in Maine.
Platinum health plans have the most expensive monthly rates, but they also pay for about 90% of your medical bills. So if you have high expected medical expenses, such as costly ongoing prescriptions or expensive treatments, a Platinum plan might be the best choice. Community Health Options is the only company that sells Platinum plans in Maine for 2026.
Gold plans: Best for frequent medical care
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
In Maine, Gold plans cost an average of $843 per month.
Gold plans have slightly less coverage than Platinum plans but are also cheaper. A Gold plan usually covers about 80% of your medical bills. If you go to the doctor often or expect to need more medical care than usual in 2026, a Gold plan can be a good option.
Silver plans: Best for most people
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans cost an average of $771 per month in Maine.
Silver plans are the best option for most people because they balance middle-of-the-road rates with good coverage. Silver plans still pay for about 70% of your medical bills, but they're much cheaper than Gold or Platinum plans.
If you have a low income, you might get rate subsidies that make Silver plans even cheaper, plus another discount that makes your medical bills cheaper.
Bronze plans: Best for healthy people with emergency savings
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
In Maine, Bronze plans cost $619 per month, on average.
Bronze plans have the cheapest monthly health insurance rates, but they only pay for about 60% of your medical bills. If you're young and healthy, a Bronze plan can be a good way to save money. Just make sure you have money in the bank to pay your share of your health care bills.
Cheap or free health insurance in Maine if you have a low income
Maine has a few options for people who can't afford health insurance. If you have a low income, you might qualify for Medicaid or extra discounts on a Silver plan.
MaineCare: Medicaid in Maine
Medicaid is a type of free health insurance from the government. In Maine, Medicaid is called "MaineCare," and you only have to have a low income to get coverage. If you make less than around $21,000 per year as a single person or $44,000 per year as a family of four, you are probably eligible for Medicaid. $15,650 as a single person or less than $32,150 per year as a family of four, you are probably eligible for Medicaid.
Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical care
If your income is too high for Medicaid, buying a Silver plan might be the best option. That's because Silver is the only plan tier that has discounts that let you pay less when you go to the doctor, called cost-sharing reductions (CSRs). To qualify, you can’t make more than $62,600 per year if you're single or more than $128,600 per year as part of a family of four.
Plus, you can also get subsidies that lower your monthly rate. Combine that with cost-sharing reductions, and you could get a Silver plan that has cheap rates and better coverage than even a Platinum plan.
Are health insurance rates going up in ME?
In 2026, Maine health insurance costs 22% more, on average, compared to 2025.
Silver plans went up the most, costing 24% more in 2026 Platinum plans cost 23% more each month. Bronze and Gold plans each went up by about 20%.
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $413 | – |
| 2023 | $415 | 0% |
| 2024 | $485 | 17% |
| 2025 | $516 | 6% |
| 2026 | $619 | 20% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old. Expanded Bronze plans are included in 2024, 2025 and 2026 averages, when they're offered.
Bronze
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $413 | – |
| 2023 | $415 | 0% |
| 2024 | $485 | 17% |
| 2025 | $516 | 6% |
| 2026 | $619 | 20% |
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 | $465 | – |
| 2023 | $506 | 9% |
| 2024 | $582 | 15% |
| 2025 | $623 | 7% |
| 2026 | $771 | 24% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $519 | – |
| 2023 | $573 | 10% |
| 2024 | $666 | 16% |
| 2025 | $705 | 6% |
| 2026 | $843 | 20% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Platinum
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $633 | – |
| 2023 | $688 | 9% |
| 2024 | $818 | 19% |
| 2025 | $891 | 9% |
| 2026 | $1,094 | 23% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Why is health insurance expensive in ME for 2026?
As health care costs rise, health insurance rates go up, too.
Because medical care is getting more expensive, medical insurance companies have to pay more for your doctor visits and medications. To balance out the extra costs, rates go up for everyone. In Maine, medical insurance companies are asking to be able to raise rates by 22%, on average.
The cost of weight-loss drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, is also contributing to rising medical insurance costs. These medications are both expensive and becoming popular, which means they cost health insurance companies a lot of money. Because of that, rates go up across the board.
You will likely pay more in 2026 because of a change to how discounts work. For the last five years, discounts have been larger. These were called "enhanced subsidies." But Congress did not renew them for 2026. There are still discounts on CoverME, the Maine health insurance marketplace, but they aren’t as big.
How to prepare for the 2026 rate increases
- Give yourself time to get quotes. If you're worried about rate increases, start shopping for health insurance early. Look at all the options on CoverME and see if you can find a company or plan.
- Think about dropping to a lower-tier plan. If you need to save money on your monthly rate, going to a lower-tier plan, such as Bronze, can help you cut costs. However, the trade-off for having a lower monthly rate is that you'll pay more when you go to the doctor, so make sure you have savings.
- Open an HSA. If you go with a Bronze plan in 2026, you can open a health savings account (HSA). These accounts let you save pretax money to pay for medical costs. Having an HSA with a Bronze plan is a new perk in 2026 because Bronze plans have been recategorized as high-deductible health plans.
- See if you get discounts. If you have a low income, use a subsidy calculator and check to see if you can get discounts. Even if the discounts aren't as big in 2026, they'll still save you money.
- Check if you can get MaineCare. You can get Medicaid in Maine, called MaineCare, if you make less than about $15,650 per year as an individual or about $32,150 as a family of four. With MaineCare, most of your medical bills will be very low or even free.
In Maine, you can get Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, also called "Obamacare" plans, on CoverME, the state's health insurance marketplace. You can usually buy a plan between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15 each year, during open enrollment. But you might be able to get a plan anytime if you move, have a baby or experience another qualifying life change.
When you buy a plan on CoverME, your health won't be used to set your rate. There are only five factors that a company can use to determine how much to charge you.
- Your age
- The plan tier you buy
- Where you live
- How many people you want on your plan
- Whether or not you smoke or use tobacco
Even if you have existing health issues, you can still buy a plan and you won't have to pay more.
COBRA insurance in Maine
COBRA insurance costs $750 per month, on average, in Maine.
A Bronze plan from CoverME costs $619 per month, on average. If you're between jobs and need coverage, it's usually cheaper to buy a plan on CoverME than to get COBRA. You can cancel a CoverME plan any time without a fee, so you won't be charged if you get health insurance through a new job.
COBRA insurance lets you extend the health insurance plan you had with a job when you're no longer there. But your employer won't help pay the monthly rate anymore. You have to pay the full cost, which is why COBRA tends to be expensive.
Short-term health insurance in Maine
You cannot buy short-term health insurance in Maine. Although it's legal to sell short-term health insurance policies in Maine, no health insurance companies currently offer plans.
Frequently asked questions
How much is health insurance in Maine per month?
The average cost of a Silver health insurance plan in Maine is $771 per month for a 40-year-old. Both your age and the type of health insurance plan you buy will influence the price you pay.
Is there free health insurance in Maine?
Medicaid, also called MaineCare in this state, is a form of free government health insurance for people with low incomes. You can qualify for MaineCare if you make less than about $15,650 for an individual or roughly $32,150 for a family of four.
What is the best medical insurance in Maine?
Anthem sells the best health insurance in Maine. The company has the cheapest rates in the state, with Silver plans starting at $660 per month. Anthem also has excellent customer service, and most doctors and hospitals take its plans.
Can I get health insurance for $100 a month in Maine?
If you have a low income, you might be able to get discounts called "subsidies" that lower your rate enough to get a plan for $100 or less per month. At full price, a Silver health insurance plan in Maine costs an average of $603 per month for a 21-year-old or $771 per month for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan.
Methodology
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 rates calculated 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 Maine 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. Info about the most popular plan level and COBRA in Maine came from KFF. Other sources of info include the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and S&P Global Capital IQ.
Senior Writer
Jenn Jones is a Senior Writer at LendingTree where she covers auto, home, renters and motorcycle insurance topics.
Previously an editor for USA TODAY Blueprint and a finance manager at World Car dealerships, she has more than a decade of experience in the world of personal finance and a deep interest in sharing knowledge that empowers others. She’s also served as a freelance translator, copy editor, writer and researcher. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in commerce and a B.A. in Chinese language and literature.
How insurance helped Jenn
Jenn first came to appreciate pet insurance when annual checkups for her cat and dog totaled more than $700.
Expertise
- Auto insurance
- Renters insurance
- Condo insurance
- Home insurance
Referenced by
- USA TODAY
- MSN
- F&I Magazine
- Automotive News
Education
- BS, Commerce, University of Virginia
- BA, Chinese Language and Literature, University of Virginia
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