When Does Medicaid Cover Dental Care?
Medicaid covers some dental care for kids. In some states, adult dental care is covered, too.... Read More
Compare Health Insurance Quotes
Compare Health Insurance Rates
Let's begin with your zip code.
We'll find you a health insurance quote based on your needs.
Compare health insurance quotes and get the best cheap coverage for your needs.
ValuePenguin's health insurance calculator can give you rate estimates and plan recommendations. Our experts will help you:
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Compare health insurance quotes and plans
Compare health insurance rates
By plan level
By age
By company
By location
By plan level
By age
By company
By location
Compare health insurance quotes by state
Learn more about the health insurance plans offered in your state:
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Compare health insurance quotes
By plan level
By age
By company
By location
Plan tier | Rate |
|---|---|
| Catastrophic | $434 |
| Bronze | $573 |
| Silver | $752 |
| Gold | $793 |
| Platinum | $1,012 |
Average monthly rates for a 40-year-old. Rates for Bronze plans include regular and Expanded Bronze.
By plan level
Plan tier | Rate |
|---|---|
| Catastrophic | $434 |
| Bronze | $573 |
| Silver | $752 |
| Gold | $793 |
| Platinum | $1,012 |
Average monthly rates for a 40-year-old. Rates for Bronze plans include regular and Expanded Bronze.
By age
Age | Rate |
|---|---|
| 20 | $571 |
| 30 | $668 |
| 40 | $752 |
| 50 | $1,052 |
| 60 | $1,598 |
Average monthly rates for a Silver plan.
By company
Company | Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | $595 |
| Oscar | $673 |
| Ambetter | $710 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $793 | |
| Cigna | $795 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $819 |
Average monthly rates for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan.
By location
State | Rate |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $691 |
| Alaska | $1,037 |
| Arizona | $685 |
| Arkansas | $823 |
| California | $728 |
Show All Rows
Average monthly cost for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan.
How to choose health insurance
The first step to picking the best health insurance plan is to compare the coverage.
To pick the right amount of coverage, think about what kind of medical care you might need and how much you can afford to pay each month for a plan. Once you have a price range in mind, you can start looking at your options.
- Choose where to get your plan. If you get insurance from your job, you may want to enroll in their plan. If you don't, you may qualify for marketplace insurance through HealthCare.gov, Medicare or Medicaid.
- Decide how much coverage you need. If you're healthy or don't need a lot of medical care, a cheaper insurance plan may be a good choice. But if you need more medical care, paying for a better plan could save you money in the long run.
- Compare doctors and prescription options. Some insurance companies may not cover your preferred doctor or lower your prescription costs by the same amount. Make sure your doctor accepts your plan before you buy.
- Choose an insurance company. If you're buying insurance through the marketplace, you may be able to choose an insurance company. Compare each company's ratings and their network of doctors to find the one that best matches your needs.
- Pick the right network type. HMOs are typically cheaper but have stricter rules like requiring a referral to see a specialist. PPOs offer more flexibility but cost more each month.
- Consider the extras. Some health insurance companies offer discounts on health-related products, while others offer programs that let you earn rewards for staying healthy.
Health insurance terms you should know
- Monthly rate: This is the price you pay each month for your health insurance plan. It's also called the premium.
- Deductibles: Before your plan starts paying for things, you'll have to spend a certain amount of money on healthcare, called a deductible.
- Copays: Your copay is a flat fee you pay when you go to the doctor, get a prescription or go to the hospital or urgent care. Copays can vary depending on the type of medical care you get.
- Coinsurance: Coinsurance works similarly to copays. However, coinsurance is a percentage of your total bill instead of being a flat fee like a copay.
- Out-of-pocket maximum: The out-of-pocket maximum is the most 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.
Learn more about the health insurance plans offered in your state:
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Compare health insurance 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 give a sense of how much you'll pay each month. Typically, as your monthly rate increases, so does your coverage level.
Catastrophic and Bronze health insurance plans: Best if you don't need much medical care
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Catastrophic and Bronze health plans have the cheapest monthly rates. But you'll pay for more if you need medical care because the plans have high deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Bronze and Catastrophic plans are best for people in good health. If you choose a lower-tier plan, you should also have savings to pay for the higher medical costs, just in case. You may pay more for a Catastrophic plan than a Bronze plan because Catastrophic plans don't qualify for subsidies.
Silver health insurance plans: Best for most people
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans have middle-of-the-road rates and deductibles. These plans are best for people or families with average health care needs. Plus, if you have a low income, you can get extra discounts called cost-sharing reductions. That means you'll pay less in coinsurance, copays and deductibles.
Gold and Platinum health insurance plans: Best for frequent or expensive medical care
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold and Platinum health insurance plans cost the most each month. But they also give you the most coverage, so you pay less for health care you receive. If you think you'll need expensive medical care, like prescription drugs or a surgery, consider a Gold or Platinum plan. The lower deductible might save you money overall, even though the plan costs more each month.
Compare health insurance networks
PPO health insurance networks
- Give you more flexibility and control over the doctors you see
- Make it easier to see specialists without a referral
- Lets you go to medical care facilities that aren't in your insurance network
HMO health insurance networks
- Offer lower monthly premiums and lower deductibles
- Oversight of medical care by one primary care physician
- Fully covered preventative 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 that aren't 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 things that don't fall under your normal health plan. Health insurance plans for adults don't usually cover dental care, so it's important to buy standalone coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good price for health insurance each month?
Health insurance costs $752 per month, on average, for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan in the United States. However, the cost of plans will depend on your age, where you live and the level of coverage you choose.
What is the best way to compare health insurance?
When comparing two or more health insurance plans, look at the total cost of each plan including the monthly rate and how much you would have to pay through the deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, copay and coinsurance. You should also compare the coverage, especially if you have an ongoing illness, disability or you're taking prescription drugs.
What are the cheapest health insurance quotes I can get?
You may be able to get cheap or free health insurance from HealthCare.gov or your state's marketplace site if you have a low income. That's because you might get subsidies, which lower the cost of your monthly rate. If you buy a Silver plan, you might also get discounts that make medical care cheaper. If you don't get either of these discounts, a Bronze or Catastrophic plan is often cheapest. And if you have a very low income, you might qualify for Medicaid.
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
Sports Injuries Have Fallen Nearly 50% Over the Past 10 Years
Preteens and teens ages 10 to 19 were most likely to be hurt while playing sports and require emergency room... Read More
More Than 1 in 5 Americans Report Feeling Serious Anxiety or Depression Recently — Here’s Where Residents Are Most and Least Likely to Need Mental Health Resources
Money is a significant factor, and Southerners are the most likely to report feeling anxious or depressed.... Read More
What Are the Largest Vision Insurance Companies?
VSP is the largest vision insurance company in the U.S. Two-thirds of people in the United States with vision insurance have VSP. Blue... Read More
Amid a Physician Shortage, 51% of Primary Care Providers Are Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) are filling the primary care physician gap. Here’s which states have the highest... Read More
Arizona Is Best State for Long-Term Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities — Here’s How Other States Stack Up
The latest ValuePenguin study finds just 16 states provide four or more nurse staffing hours per resident daily despite higher federal... Read More
Medical Spending Increased 14% Between 2016 and 2019, Topping $3 Trillion for First Time
The prevalence of most medical conditions is also increasing, as well as the cost of... Read More
More Than 1 in 3 Workplace Injury Victims Not Covered by Employer-Based Health Insurance
The latest ValuePenguin study finds that workers in occupations with the most fatalities earned on average 7.9%... Read More
Fireworks Injuries Plunge After Explosive 2020
ValuePenguin analyzes the number of fireworks injuries treated at emergency departments between 2012 and 2021. Here’s a look at what’s... Read More
Sources and methodology
Health insurance rates for 2026 come from public use files (PUFs) on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) government website and state marketplaces. ValuePenguin used the CMS public use files PUFs and state marketplace data to find average rates for different plan tiers, geographic locations and more.
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.
Rates for all plan tiers and network types depend on where data is available. Not all plan tiers are available in every state or county.
ValuePenguin calculated average rates for different ages based on the federal age curve info published by CMS.
About the Author
Cate Deventer
Insurance Writer
Cate Deventer is a ValuePenguin writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare & Medicaid
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
- Wall Street Journal
Education
- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
Call(855) 596-3655
Agents Available
24/7
To speak with a licensed insurance agent and get quotes for car, home, health insurance and more.