Best Cheap Health Insurance in Connecticut 2023

The cheapest Silver health insurance plan in Connecticut is the Choice Silver Standard POS plan from ConnectiCare Benefits. This plan is the cheapest Silver plan in most Connecticut counties. However, the Silver PPO Standard Pathway from Anthem BlueCross BlueShield is the most affordable in New London, Tolland and Windham counties.

Individual health insurance in Connecticut is available through the Access Health CT state exchange. There, you can search for a policy that fits your medical needs and financial situation. In Connecticut, health plans are provided by three companies: Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, ConnectiCare and ConnectiCare Benefits Inc.

Cheapest health insurance coverage by metal tier

To help you in finding the best health insurance, we compared plans at each level of coverage to find the most affordable policies in Connecticut. The table below shows the cheapest health insurance plan for each metal tier, along with the deductible, out-of-pocket maximum and monthly premium for a 40-year-old.

This should be used as your initial starting point for evaluating the plan that makes the most sense financially and matches your medical needs.

Health insurance in Connecticut is broken into four metal tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. As you can see from the table above, while Bronze plans have the lowest premiums, they also have the highest deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Generally, deductibles decrease as the metal tier changes, though premiums increase. However, in the table above, the cheapest Gold plan is actually slightly cheaper than the cheapest Silver plan.

One of the main factors in determining your monthly premium is your age. In the graph below, we have compiled the average monthly premium for each tier of coverage depending on the age of the insured.

As you can see, a 40-year-old will pay 28%, or $133, more per month for a Silver policy compared to a 21-year-old. As you get older, policies become even more expensive, with 60-year-olds paying 112% more than 40-year-olds.

Finding the best health insurance coverage in Connecticut

When searching for the best health insurance, it is important to consider your level of income and expected medical expenses. Connecticut has expanded Medicaid to cover anyone who has a household family income of less than 138% of the federal poverty level. If you are not eligible for Medicaid coverage, you may be able to get an individual health insurance policy through the state marketplace. Below, we have provided details regarding the metal tiers and who they are best suited for.

Gold and Platinum metal tiers: Best if you expect high medical expenses

The Gold and Platinum metal tiers are best if you are older and expect to pay a lot in medical expenses during the year. Although these plans typically cost the most, they have the lowest deductibles. This means you will be able to reach the deductible quicker and then access coinsurance benefits with the insurer. A Gold or Platinum metal tier could be best if, for instance, you need expensive prescription drugs that are required to be filled on a monthly basis.

The cheapest Gold plan in Connecticut is the Gold HMO BlueCare Prime with Added Dental and Vision Benefits, and the cheapest Platinum plan is the FlexPOS Platinum Alternative. Compare all tiers in Connecticut above.

Silver metal tier: Average deductibles and premiums

Silver metal tier plans have moderate deductibles and premiums compared to the other tiers offered in Connecticut. For example, the average cost of a Silver plan for a 40-year-old is $614 per month. This is $77 more expensive than a Bronze plan and $110 less than a Gold plan.

Silver plans are the only health insurance policies eligible for cost-sharing reductions if your household income falls below 250% of the federal poverty level. These reductions allow for discounts on the amount you pay in deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Due to this benefit, a Silver plan might be more cost-effective compared to a Gold plan.

The cheapest Silver plan in Connecticut is the Choice Silver Standard POS. Compare all tiers in Connecticut above.

Bronze metal tier: Best for young, healthy people{#bronze}

The cheapest level of coverage available in Connecticut is the Bronze tier. These plans have the lowest premiums but also the highest deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. For this reason, Bronze is best if you are young and in excellent health.

The cheapest Bronze plan in Connecticut is the Bronze HMO BlueCare Prime with Added Dental and Vision Benefits. Compare all tiers in Connecticut above.

Short-term health insurance in Connecticut

Short-term health insurance is no longer available in Connecticut. In 2020, the state changed the rules governing the requirements of short-term health insurance. Following the rule change, no insurers offer this coverage in the state, though no laws prohibit people from buying short-term coverage.

Health insurance companies in Connecticut

In Connecticut, only three issuers offer plans on the state health marketplace: Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, ConnectiCare Benefits Inc. and ConnectiCare. Each offers policies in every county, meaning you have competitive choices when trying to find a plan that fits your needs.

Cheapest Silver plan by county

The cost of health insurance and the availability of plans will depend on the Connecticut county in which you live. For example, the Choice Silver Standard POS is the cheapest Silver plan for a 40-year-old in five counties, but its monthly premium is $92.63 more expensive in Fairfield County than in Hartford.

[table align="left left right right" footnote="Sample rates are based on monthly premiums.] County|Cheapest plan|Age 40|Couple, age 40 _ Fairfield|Choice Silver Standard POS|$636|$1,273 _ Hartford|Choice Silver Standard POS|$544|$1,088 _ Litchfield|Choice Silver Standard POS|$588|$1,176 _ Middlesex|Choice Silver Standard POS|$588|$1,175 _ New Haven|Choice Silver Standard POS|$588|$1,175 _ New London|Silver PPO Standard Pathway|$571|$1,142 _ Tolland|Silver PPO Standard Pathway|$571|$1,142 _ Windham|Silver PPO Standard Pathway|$571|$1,142 _ [/table]

Methodology

Health insurance rates and plans were pulled from the Connecticut state health insurance exchange, Access Health CT. Using the premiums, averages were determined for a variety of variables such as metal tier, age and county.