Best Cheap Health Insurance in California (2025)
Kaiser Permanente has the best affordable health insurance in California. Its cheapest Silver plan costs $434 before discounts.
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Best and cheapest health insurance in California
Cheapest California health insurance in 2025
L.A. Care is the cheapest health insurance company in California with plans that cost as little as $354 per month, before discounts.
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Affordable health insurance in California for 2025
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| L.A. Care | $354 |
| IEHP (Inland Empire Health Plan) | $394 |
| Health Net | $407-$755 |
| Molina | $414-$488 |
- L.A. Care has the cheapest rates in California, and it's the cheapest health insurance company for about a quarter of the people in California. But you can only get L.A. Care if you live in Los Angeles County. The cheapest health insurance in your county may be from another company such as Kaiser Permanente, IEHP, Western or Molina.
- Most people don't have to pay full price for health insurance when shopping on Covered California, the health insurance marketplace that's run by the state. That's because most shoppers qualify for income-based discounts, which lower the cost of insurance based on how much you earn. You can apply the discounts to any insurance company you choose.
Best health insurance companies in California
Kaiser Permanente has the best overall health insurance in California for individuals and families.
Kaiser Permanente has the highest possible plan quality and customer satisfaction, according to Covered California's most recent data for 2025 plans, and Kaiser has been consistently well-rated for several years.
Best-rated health insurance companies in California
Company |
Editor rating
|
ACA Rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | 5 | |
| Sharp | 4 | |
| Western | 4 | |
| Blue Shield | 3.5 | |
| Anthem | 3 |
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Why Kaiser Permanente has the best health insurance in California
Kaiser Pernamanet health insurance plans have great benefits and high customer satisfaction.
A Kaiser Permanente Gold plan on Covered California has better benefits than a Silver plan. With a Gold plan from Kaiser, the full benefits will begin as soon as the plan starts because there's no deductible.
Kaiser Permanent plans have cheap medical care as soon as the plan begins.
Plus, plans work with Kaiser's medical centers so your coverage and medical care are streamlined and easy to use. You can even use the same app to manage both your doctor appointments and insurance benefits.
Policyholders say they're happy with their Kaiser health insurance plans and the medical care they get.
The downside of Kaiser is that you'll have to get your medical care at one of the company's medical centers, unless it's an emergency or you're traveling.
If you'd rather have more flexibility about the doctors you use, choose Blue Cross Blue Shield instead of Kaiser.
Sharp Health Plan is the second-best health insurance company in California because it has high customer satisfaction and affordable rates. However, Sharp is only available in San Diego.
- Sharp Health has four out of five stars on Covered California. And similar to Kaiser, you'll get many types of cheap medical care as soon as the plan begins. You'll also have to use Sharp's medical center to get coverage.
- The drawback of Sharp is that it only received four stars for health care quality, while Kaiser received the top score of five stars.
Blue Cross of California: Best for flexibility about your doctors
Blue Cross of California is the best health insurance in California if you want the most choices about where you go for medical care.
In California, there are three different Blue Cross subsidiaries offering plans.
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Good network of doctors: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has a wide network of doctors and affordable plans. For example, in San Francisco, an Anthem plan will give you access to twice as many doctors as you'd have with a Kaiser Permanente plan.
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Better doctor network: Blue Shield of California HMO
Blue Shield of California HMO plans have the widest network of doctors. Plans could give you access to most of the doctors in California. However, plans cost more than Anthem, and you also can't get them everywhere in California.
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Best selection of doctors: Blue Shield of California PPO
Blue Shield of California PPO plans will give you access to most of the doctors in California as well as some coverage for any doctor in the country. This means you can use your insurance at doctors who don't typically work with Blue Shield, as well as doctors in other parts of the country. Plans are usually expensive, but the cost may be worth it if you travel frequently or need specialized medical care.
Anthem and Blue Shield of California's PPO plans both have three out of five stars from Covered California. But Blue Shield's HMO plans have a higher rating of four stars because of higher customer satisfaction and plan quality.
Average cost of health insurance in California
For 2025, California health insurance costs an average of $656 per month at full price and $143 per month if you qualify for discounts based on your income.
- Health insurance costs more as you get older. A 60-year-old in California pays more than twice as much for health insurance as a 40-year-old, on average. Rates can increase quickly as you age because insurance companies expect that you'll need more medical care as you get older.
- It's cheaper to get a plan that has less coverage. In California, a Bronze plan costs about $84 less per month than a Silver plan, but you'll pay more when you get medical care. The best level of coverage for you usually depends on how much medical care you think you'll need. For example, a cheaper Bronze plan may be a good choice if you're healthy and only go to the doctor a few times per year.
Get affordable health insurance in California
Health insurance in California costs an average of $143 per month for shoppers who are eligible for discounted rates because of their income.
- How it works: Premium tax credits, often called subsidies, are one of the best ways to make health insurance more affordable. How much you save is based on your income, so you'll pay less for health insurance if you have a lower income. About a quarter of shoppers pay less than $10 per month for health insurance, after discounts.
- Who qualifies: Typically you're eligible for discounted health insurance if you make less than about $60,000 as an individual or about $125,000 as a family of four. However, you can qualify with a higher income if your health insurance rates are expensive because of your age or where you live.
- How much you'll pay: Use the health insurance subsidy calculator for an estimate of how much you'll pay based on your income.
Cheap California health insurance plans by city
Where you live in California affects your plan options.
Cheapest health insurance by CA county for 2025
County | Cheapest Silver plan | Monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda | Kaiser Silver 70 HMO | $599 |
| Alpine | Anthem Silver 70 EPO | $695 |
| Amador | Kaiser Silver 70 HMO | $605 |
| Butte | Anthem Silver 70 EPO | $695 |
| Calaveras | Anthem Silver 70 EPO | $695 |
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 coverage for you depends on how much medical care you expect to need.
Silver plans are popular and good for most people because they balance affordable monthly costs with good coverage.
Platinum: Best if you need expensive medical care
| Platinum plans pay for about 90% of your medical care. |
Platinum plans have the best coverage and will pay for most of your medical bills. The downside is that Platinum plans are expensive, at an average of $1,012 per month in California.
If you have a chronic illness or need expensive treatments, it may be worth it to pay the high rate for a Platinum plan. That's because you could save more on doctor bills than the extra cost you'd spend on insurance.
Gold: Best if you need medical care often
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans are a step down from Platinum plans. If you want a high level of coverage for a lower cost, a Gold-level policy is a good option.
Gold plans cost an average of $763 per month. Typically, it's worth it to pay for a Gold plan if you need ongoing medical care or are managing a chronic health condition, such as heart disease.
The plan's full benefits will begin right away, without needing to meet a deductible. That will help you avoid high medical costs when getting treatment or seeing specialists.
Silver: Best if you have average medical needs
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans are the most popular option in California, and they're good for most people who expect to need an average amount of medical care.
A Silver plan costs an average of $656 per month. A Silver plan's coverage is in the middle between Bronze and Gold. The plans balance how much you pay each month with how much you have to pay for medical care.
Bronze: Best if you're healthy and have savings to pay for an emergency
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze plans are cheap, at an average of $572 per month before discounts. If you are generally healthy and don't need to see a doctor often, a Bronze plan can help you save money on monthly rates but still have coverage for serious injuries or illnesses, such as a cancer diagnosis.
However, when choosing a Bronze plan, it's good to have enough savings to cover the Bronze plan's deductible so you'll be prepared for an emergency. That's because you could still have high medical bills before you reach the plan's out-of-pocket maximum.
Catastrophic plans: Best for emergency situations
Catastrophic plans have the lowest monthly rates of any plan tier, but they also have high deductibles. These plans aren't designed to cover typical medical care and are instead used as a safety net if you have a major illness or injury. That's because you'll have to pay $9,500 for your medical care before most of the plan's benefits kick in.
You can only get a Catastrophic plan if you're under age 30 or meet the criteria of having financial hardship. However, in most cases, you'll get a better deal by getting a Bronze plan and using subsidies to discount your rates.
Cheap or free health insurance in California if you have a low income
California's Medicaid program and what's called the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) program are two ways to make medical care affordable if you have a low income.
Complete an application on Covered California to see what programs you're eligible for based on your income.
Medi-Cal: Medicaid in California
California's Medicaid program, called Medi-Cal, is the best way to get free health insurance and free medical care if you have a low income.
- To qualify for Medicaid, you usually have to make less than about $21,000 per year as a single person or less than about $43,000 as a family of four.
- Depending on your income, your children may qualify for free health insurance through Medi-Cal even if you don't.
Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical care
If you earn too much to qualify for Medi-Cal, you can get cheap medical care by choosing a Silver health insurance plan.
- A Silver health insurance plan will pay for most of your medical costs if you qualify for cost-sharing reductions. You can qualify if you make up to about $36,000 as a single person or $75,000 as a family of four.
- This year, California is expanding the program so that you won't have to meet a deductible before the plan's full benefits begin.
- Cost-sharing reductions are automatically applied if you're eligible. On Covered California, you'll see these plans listed as "Silver CSR" and marked in green that they have "extra savings."
- If you qualify for cost-sharing reductions, you'll also usually qualify for subsidies to get cheap health insurance plans. This means you could get very good coverage for less than about $25 per month.
Are health insurance rates going up in CA?
For 2025, the cost of health insurance is increasing by an average of 8% in California.
Tier | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $524 | $572 | 9% |
| Silver | $600 | $656 | 9% |
| Gold | $711 | $763 | 7% |
| Platinum | $935 | $1,012 | 8% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Silver plans are the most popular tier of coverage, and their rates are increasing by an average of 9%. That's an extra $56 per month for health insurance, on average.
Bronze plans are a more affordable health insurance option, and rates are also increasing by 9%, on average. That's an extra $48 per month.
Covered California is the marketplace where you can shop for health insurance. It's California's version of HealthCare.gov.
Also called "Obamacare" plans, all marketplace plans provide the 10 essential health benefits required by the ACA, including covering prescriptions, pregnancy and mental health.
- You won't pay more for a plan because of your health history.
- You can't be turned down for coverage because you have a health condition.
- As soon as the plan begins, you'll get free preventive care, checkups and birth control.
- All plans cap your medical costs to help you avoid medical debt if you get very sick or badly injured.
Average cost of CA health insurance by family size
You'll pay more for a health insurance plan that covers more people. In California, the average cost of health insurance for a family of four is $2,097 per month, before discounts.
Family size | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Individual | $656 |
| Individual plus child | $1,049 |
| Couple, age 40 | $1,312 |
| Family of three | $1,705 |
| Family of four | $2,097 |
Averages are based on a Silver plan for 40-year-old adults and children under age 15.
Remember that when you shop on Covered California, you won't pay more than 8.5% of your income for your family's health insurance.
Short-term health insurance in California
Short-term health plans are not sold in California. This type of plan does not have to follow the rules of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and was banned in 2018 by California lawmakers.
The best way to get short-term health insurance coverage in California is to shop for a regular health insurance plan on Covered California.
You can use Covered California for temporary coverage by canceling the plan whenever you want, such as if you get insurance through a job or become eligible for Medi-Cal.
Your Covered California plan will usually start the first of the month after you sign up or at the beginning of the new year. The policy will usually end on the last day of the month you cancel.
- During open enrollment (Nov. 1, 2024, to Jan. 31, 2025)
- Any time of the year if you have a low income
- Any time of the year if your circumstances have changed such as losing other health insurance, moving or a change in household size
COBRA health insurance in California
The average cost of a COBRA health insurance plan in California is $660 per month.
- What is COBRA? COBRA insurance lets you keep the health insurance plan you had through your job after you stop working for the company or are no longer eligible for insurance.
- Is COBRA the best deal? COBRA is usually expensive. That's because you're paying the full cost of your health insurance plan rather than splitting the cost with your employer. In most cases, it's cheaper to get health insurance through Covered California than to sign up for COBRA health insurance. When you shop on Covered California, you'll be able to get discounted rates based on your income.
Student health insurance
If you are a college student, you can get individual health insurance through Covered California. But you may have other options for getting health insurance.
- Stay on your parents' plan: You have the option to stay covered under your parents' health insurance policy until you turn 26. This is typically the cheapest way for you to get health insurance.
- Buy a student health plan: Some colleges offer their own health insurance plans, although they may not cover medical care you get off campus. And you could lose your coverage if you become a part-time student or transfer schools. Each student plan is different, so make sure you understand what is covered.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best health insurance in California?
Kaiser Permanente is the best-rated insurance company in California. Kaiser has the highest-possible customer satisfaction and plans with great medical benefits. A cheap Silver plan can cost $434 per month before discounts.
Is $200 a month expensive for health insurance in California?
Health insurance that costs $200 per month is a good deal in California. Silver plans typically cost $513 per month for a 21-year-old or $656 per month for a 40-year-old. The best way to get cheap rates is to use health insurance subsidies, which lower the cost of an insurance plan based on your income.
How much does health insurance cost in California if you're self-employed?
Typically, health insurance in California costs $143 per month after discounts when you're self-employed or shopping for a plan on your own. However, rates are adjusted based on your income when you shop on Covered California. If you have a low income, you could pay $10 per month or less. And if you earn too much to qualify for discounts, a health insurance plan costs an average of $656 per month in California.
What is the most affordable health insurance in California?
L.A. Care has the most affordable health insurance in California. A typical Silver plan from L.A. Care costs $354 per month before discounts. That's nearly half the average rate in the state.
Am I eligible for Covered California subsidies if I can get other health insurance?
Yes, you can qualify for health insurance subsidies on Covered California if insurance through a job or family member is expensive or isn't at least as good as a Bronze plan on Covered California. A plan is considered expensive if it costs more than 8.39% of your income, per person.
Is L.A. Care good insurance?
L.A. Care sells health insurance plans that are cheap but average quality. These plans are available to anyone in Los Angeles County. L.A. Care also has Medicaid plans for those who have a low income. Its Medicaid plans are average quality for many types of medical care, such as disease management and reproductive health, but they're poor quality for children's health care, according to the state of California's report.
Is Blue Cross leaving California?
Blue Cross is leaving some CA counties for Medicaid but is still selling marketplace health insurance. In 2025, Blue Cross of California health insurance is available in all 58 counties of California. A Blue Shield PPO plan is one of the best health insurance options in California because it gives you the most flexibility about your doctors.
Methodology
California's health insurance costs and ratings are from the Covered California state health insurance exchange. Average costs are based on a 40-year-old with a Silver plan unless otherwise noted. Bronze plan averages include high-deductible health plans that are eligible for a health savings account (HSA).
The cost of insurance after subsidies is from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This rate is based on all consumers who bought plans during the 2024 open enrollment period and who received advanced premium tax credits (APTCs) applied to their monthly bill.
Information about plan quality is from Covered California, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Additional sources include S&P Global, KFF's summary of Medicaid by state and KFF's employer health benefits survey.
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.