What Are the Cheapest Ways to Get Health Insurance?

On this page

• Low-cost options at a glance
• Medicaid and CHIP
• A job-based plan
• A marketplace plan with a premium tax credit
• Other ways to cut costs
• More ways to save
• Why going without costs more
• Frequently asked questions

Low-cost options at a glance

Option	Who it’s for	What it costs
Medicaid	Adults with low incomes (up to 138% of the poverty level in expansion states), children, pregnant people and some others	Free or nearly free
CHIP	Children in families that earn too much for Medicaid	Low premiums and copays, capped at 5% of family income
Job-based plan	Workers and their families	Workers paid $1,440 a year for single coverage on average in 2025
Marketplace plan with a tax credit	Household income of 100% to 400% of the poverty level, no affordable job-based offer	Benchmark silver capped at 2.10% to 9.96% of income in 2026
Catastrophic plan	Under 30, or with a hardship exemption	Low premiums, but a deductible equal to the out-of-pocket limit
Medicare	People 65 and older and some people with disabilities	Part A is usually premium-free. Part B is $202.90 a month in 2026

Medicaid and CHIP

Medicaid covers adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level in 41 states including DC. That’s about $22,025 a year for one person in 2026. Children, pregnant people and people with disabilities can qualify at higher incomes, and in 10 states adults without children often can’t qualify at all. Coverage is free or very low cost, with few or no deductibles. See government health insurance, health insurance for low-income families, health insurance for children and maternity coverage.

Starting January 1, 2027, most expansion states must require many adults ages 19 to 64 to show 80 hours a month of work, school or volunteering, with exemptions.

A job-based plan

Employers usually pay most of the premium, which makes job-based coverage cheaper for most workers than buying on their own. If your job doesn’t offer coverage, joining a spouse’s plan may be the cheapest route for your family. Young adults can stay on a parent’s plan until 26.

A marketplace plan with a premium tax credit

If your household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level and you don’t have an affordable job-based offer, a premium tax credit lowers your monthly premium. In 2026, 87% of marketplace enrollees got one, and the average enrollee paid $178 a month after subsidies. Depending on your income, some bronze plans may cost little or nothing after the credit.

The credit is based on the income you estimate when you apply. If you under-report your income, you’ll pay back the extra at tax time, and from 2026 on there’s no cap on that repayment.

You can only get the credit through HealthCare.gov or your state’s marketplace. Buying outside the exchange makes sense only if you don’t qualify for help.

Other ways to cut costs

• Cost-sharing reductions. If your income is under 250% of the poverty level, a silver plan comes with a lower deductible and copays.
• Catastrophic plans. Available if you’re under 30 or qualify for a hardship exemption. They cover preventive care and three primary care visits before the deductible.
• Bronze plans with an HSA. Since 2026, bronze and catastrophic marketplace plans can be paired with a health savings account.
• Medicare at 65. See who is eligible for Medicare and health insurance for the elderly. Medicare Savings Programs help people with limited income pay their premiums.

More ways to save

• Compare COBRA with a Marketplace plan. When you leave a job, COBRA lets you keep your plan, but it can cost up to 102% of the full premium. A Marketplace plan with a tax credit is often much cheaper, and you have 60 days to pick either one.
• Shop every year. Prices and networks change every year, and plans in the same area can differ by hundreds of dollars a month, so don’t let your plan renew without checking.
• Use an HSA. With an HSA-eligible plan, you can set aside pre-tax money for medical costs: up to $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for a family in 2026, and $4,500 and $9,000 in 2027, plus $1,000 more if you’re 55 or older. See what an HSA is.
• Take the tax breaks. Self-employed people can usually deduct their health insurance premiums, and workers usually pay their share of job-based coverage with pre-tax dollars.
• Quit tobacco. Tobacco users can be charged up to 50% more, and tax credits don’t cover the extra. Quitting can drop the surcharge at your next renewal. See does smoking affect your health insurance rates.
• Use workplace wellness rewards. Plans you buy yourself can’t charge less for being healthy, but job-based wellness programs can offer rewards worth up to 30% of the cost of coverage, or up to 50% for programs to quit tobacco.
• Use your plan wisely. Get free preventive care, stay in network, ask for generic drugs, use urgent care or telehealth when it’s not an emergency, and check each explanation of benefits for errors.

Medical discount plans aren’t insurance

Medical discount plans charge a monthly fee for discounts at participating doctors, dentists or pharmacies. They don’t pay your bills, don’t cover you in a hospital emergency and don’t cap your costs, and the FTC warns that some sellers pass them off as health insurance. If you’re considering one, get the details in writing, ask your doctors whether they accept it, and be skeptical of “up to 80% off” claims.

Why going without costs more

Health insurance is expensive (here’s why), but going without is riskier. An ER visit can run into the thousands, and surgery or a hospital stay can cost tens of thousands. ACA plans can’t turn you down or charge more because of a pre-existing condition, so there’s no reason to wait until you’re sick, and you usually can’t enroll outside open enrollment anyway. See the worst that can happen if you get sick without health insurance and how much coverage health insurance actually offers.

Find the lowest-cost plans in your area: compare quotes by ZIP code.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the cheapest health insurance for a single person?

Medicaid if your income qualifies. Otherwise, a job-based plan or a marketplace plan with a tax credit. Without a credit, bronze or catastrophic plans have the lowest premiums.

Can I get free health insurance?

Medicaid is free or nearly free for people who qualify. Some people with low incomes can also find $0-premium bronze plans after the tax credit.

Are short-term plans a cheap alternative?

They’re cheaper, but they can refuse coverage for pre-existing conditions, cap benefits and leave out care like maternity and prescriptions.

What discounts are there for health insurance?

The biggest savings are Marketplace tax credits and cost-sharing reductions if your income qualifies. Dropping a tobacco surcharge, workplace wellness rewards and the tax savings from an HSA can also help. Medical discount plans aren’t insurance.

How can I save money on health insurance?

Get every subsidy you qualify for, compare all the plans in your area every year, pick a plan level that fits how much care you use, and take the tax breaks available to you.

This article is general information, not insurance or tax advice. Eligibility and prices depend on your state and income. Last reviewed September 2026.