Summary: Best Health Insurance In Montana
Best Health Insurance Companies In Montana
Cheapest Health Insurance by Plan Type in Montana
Health insurance companies that offer health insurance policies on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace may have four types of health plans. Montana insurers offer two types: point of service (POS) and provider organization (PPO) plans.
- Cheapest POS in Montana: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
- Cheapest PPO in Montana: Mountain Health Co-Op
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Montana?
Health insurance costs in Montana will vary by age, location, metal tier chosen, whether you smoke and the plan type you choose. Your health and gender aren’t factors in premiums when you get health insurance from the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
Cost of PPO and POS Plans in Montana
Our analysis found that PPOs cost an average of $611/month in Montana. Here are average costs among the best health insurance companies in Montana.
Cost of Health Plans by Metal Tier in Montana
Silver health plans cost an average of $670/month in Montana. Here’s a look at costs among the top-scoring Montana health plans in our analysis.
Average Cost of Bronze Plans in Montana at Age 27
ACA law allows children to stay on a parent’s health plan until age 26. After that, they may need their own plan from the state’s health insurance marketplace. Since younger people usually need less healthcare, we looked at average prices for bronze plans at age 27 in Montana. Overall, expect to pay an average of $355 a month for a bronze plan at age 27.
Average Cost of Silver Plans in Montana at Age 40
Silver plans are the most popular health plan tier and have an average cost of $573 a month for 40-year-olds in Montana. Here’s a look at the average costs by county.
Average Cost of Gold Plans in Montana at Age 60
Before you’re eligible for Medicare at age 65 you may be looking for a good health plan. Gold plans can be a smart choice for older people who may require more healthcare. The average cost for a Gold plan at age 60 in Montana is $1,337 a month. Here’s how average costs look in Montana counties.
How to Find the Best Health Insurance Plan in Montana
Platinum Plans: Good for People Who Expect to Get Frequent Healthcare
Platinum plans are the most expensive ACA marketplace plans and they’re also the hardest to find. Less than 10% of ACA plans are platinum plans, so there’s a good chance you might not even be able to buy one.
If a health insurance company in your area sells platinum plans, these types of plans may work for you if you need regular healthcare and several costly prescriptions. These plans have low health insurance deductibles and coinsurance, so you pay lower amounts when you receive healthcare. But they also have the highest premiums, so you pay the most for your coverage each month.
Gold Plans: Good for People Who Want Lower Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Gold plans have lower out-of-pocket costs than silver or bronze plans, but they come with higher health insurance premiums. If you get regular healthcare, a gold plan could be a smart option since you will pay less when you get care than if you have a silver or bronze plan.
You’ll want to weigh the cost of premiums with the out-of-pocket costs like coinsurance and deductibles when you’re choosing an ACA plan.
Silver Plans: Good for People Who Want to Balance Premiums and Out-of-Pocket Costs
If you want to avoid very high deductibles but also don’t want to spend a fortune on premiums, a silver plan might be the right fit. Silver plans have lower out-of-pocket costs than bronze plans and lower premiums than platinum and gold plans, which make them a good balance.
Silver and bronze plans are the most common ACA plans offered, so you shouldn’t have a problem buying a silver plan in your area.
Bronze Plans: Good for People Who Desire the Lowest Premiums
Bronze plans are the best choice if you don’t use healthcare often and want the cheapest monthly premium payment. The drawback is that bronze plans have higher out-of-pocket costs when you go to the doctor or get prescriptions.
If you need the cheapest health plans that still offer comprehensive coverage, a bronze plan could be right for you.
Some health insurers also have “expanded bronze” policies. These plans have higher coinsurance levels for in-network care (up to 65%) than standard bronze plans (average of 60%).
More: Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Health Insurance
Catastrophic Plans: Good for Young People Who Don’t Plan to Need Healthcare
The ACA marketplace offers catastrophic health insurance to people under age 30 and those who have severe economic issues like homelessness. If you’re eligible for a catastrophic plan, you may like the low monthly premium but be prepared for the high out-of-pocket costs.
One thing that makes catastrophic plans different from other health plans is that they don’t have coinsurance. Instead, you’ll pay an extremely high deductible when you receive care. Once you reach that deductible, a catastrophic plan pays the rest of your in-network healthcare costs for the year.
Methodology
We analyzed Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance companies in Montana to determine the best options. Our ratings are based on:
- Average premiums (30% of score): We calculated average premiums for health insurance companies that offer ACA plans in Montana. Averages were based on premiums for buyers ages 21, 27, 30, 40, 50 and 60. Source: HealthCare.gov.
- Complaints made to state insurance departments (30% of score): We used complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
- Average silver plan deductible (20% of score): The deductible is how much you have to pay for healthcare in a year before the health plan begins picking up a portion of the costs. Companies with health plans that had low deductibles got more points. Source: HealthCare.gov.
- Breadth of health plans (10% of score): Health insurance companies may offer up to four types of plan benefit designs (PPO, HMO, EPO and POS). We gave points to companies that offer more types of plans. Source: HealthCare.gov.
- Metal tier offerings (10% of score): The ACA marketplace has four metal tier levels. We gave points to companies that offered more tier options. Source: HealthCare.gov.
Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Health Insurance Companies
Find The Best Health Insurance In Montana
On Healthcare.com’s Website
