Best Cheap Health Insurance in Hawaii (2026)

Updated Dec 3, 2025

Kaiser Permanente is the best health insurance company in Hawaii. Silver plans from Kaiser start at $533 per month before discounts.

Best and cheapest health insurance in Hawaii

$533/mo

Kaiser Permanente: Best and cheapest in Hawaii

$695/mo

HMSA: Best doctor network in HI

HMSA: Best doctor network in HI

Rates for the cheapest Silver plan in Hawaii for a 40-year-old who doesn't qualify for subsidies.

Cheapest health insurance companies in Hawaii

The cheapest health insurance plans in Hawaii are from Kaiser Permanente and HMSA, with Silver plans starting at $533 per month before discounts based on your income.

Affordable health insurance plans in Hawaii

Company		Cost
	Kaiser Permanente	$533-$559
	HMSA	$695-$695

Kaiser Permanente sells the cheapest plans throughout Hawaii. But Kaiser makes you use certain doctors and hospitals, which limits where you can get medical care.
If you want the flexibility to see any doctor, HMSA is a better option. Its plans are more expensive, but you can see specialists without a referral. Plus, you'll still have some coverage for out-of-network doctors.

Best health insurance companies in Hawaii

Kaiser Permanente is the best health insurance company in Hawaii.

Not only does Kaiser have the cheapest rates in the state, it also gets a perfect 5-out-of-5 score from HealthCare.gov. That means that Kaiser's plans are high quality and have excellent customer satisfaction.

But all of Kaiser Permanente's plans are HMOs, which limit your doctor and hospital choices. The company also gets slightly fewer complaints than an average company its size. If you want to see any doctor, an HMSA plan is a better choice.

Best-rated health insurance companies in Hawaii

Company	ACA rating	VP rating
Kaiser Permanente
HMSA

Best doctor network in Hawaii: HMSA

Hawaii Medical Service Association, or HMSA, sells plans that let you see any doctor and still have coverage.

That's because all of HMSA's plans are PPOs. With a PPO, you'll pay less when you see an in-network doctor, but you'll still have some coverage when you go to a doctor that isn't in your plan's network. You can also see a specialist without a referral, which can make getting medical care easier.

Because of the added flexibility, HMSA plans are usually more expensive than plans from Kaiser Permanente. HMSA gets a high rating from HealthCare.gov but does have a history of complaints, with nearly 156% more complaints than expected. HMSA is part of Blue Cross Blue Shield.

How much does health insurance cost in Hawaii?

Health insurance in Hawaii costs $583 per month, but you could potentially pay an average of $287 per month if you get discounts based on your income.

The plan tier you buy affects how much you pay for health insurance. You'll pay more for higher-tier plans like Platinum or Gold compared to lower-tier plans like Bronze and Catastrophic. Keep in mind that although high-tier plans have expensive monthly rates, you'll pay less when you go to the doctor or fill a prescription.
Your age is another big factor that influences your health insurance rates. In Hawaii, a 60-year-old will pay more than twice as much as a 40-year-old for the same coverage.

Health insurance discount changes in Hawaii for 2026

If you have a low income, you could pay an average of $287 per month for health insurance in Hawaii.

That's because people with low incomes qualify for discounts, called subsidies or tax credits, that make your health insurance cheaper each month.

However, the expanded subsidies that helped keep costs lower won't apply to 2026 plans. You may still qualify for subsidies and lower rates based on your income, but the discounts you'll get may not be as big as you're used to.

If you can get subsidies, you might also get another discount that lets you spend less when you go to the doctor. It's called a cost-sharing reduction. Subsidies make your monthly rate cheaper, but cost-sharing reductions make your medical bills cheaper. You can only get them if you buy a Silver plan, though.

Health insurance rates in Hawaii after subsidies (2025 vs. 2026)

Income	2025 rate	2026 rate	Difference
$30,000	$23	$125	443%
$40,000	$108	$247	129%
$50,000	$231	$387	68%
$60,000	$358	$498	39%
$70,000+	$493	$541	10%

Average cost after subsidies for a single 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan.

How to qualify: If you're single, you have to make between $17,990 and $71,960 per year to get subsidies. If you're part of a family of four, the range is $36,980 to $147,920 per year. But if you can get Medicaid, you can't get subsidies.
How to use subsidies: You can use a subsidy to buy any Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum plan from any company on HealthCare.gov. You can't use subsidies on Catastrophic plans.
How much you'll save: You can use a subsidy calculator to see how much of a discount you could get on your health insurance.

Cheap Hawaii health insurance plans by city

Kaiser Permanente sells the cheapest health insurance in Honolulu.

In fact, no matter where you live in Hawaii, Kaiser has the cheapest plan.

But just because a plan is cheap doesn't mean it's the best option for you. Make sure you compare each plan's coverage and customer satisfaction so you pick the right plan for your needs. Only two companies, Kaiser Permanente and HMSA, sell plans on HealthCare.gov in Hawaii. That makes it pretty easy to compare your options.

Cheapest health insurance plans by HI county

County	Cheapest plan	Monthly rates
Hawaii	Kaiser Permanente Standard Silver	$533
Honolulu	Kaiser Permanente Standard Silver	$533
Kalawao	Kaiser Permanente Standard Silver	$533
Kauai	Kaiser Permanente Standard Silver	$533
Maui	Kaiser Permanente Standard Silver	$533

Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old

Best health insurance by level of coverage

The best health insurance for you depends on your budget and your medical needs.

If you go to the doctor often, a higher-tier plan like Platinum or Gold is usually a good idea. You'll pay more each month, but your plan will pay a larger share of your medical bills, making your individual health care more affordable.

If you're young and generally healthy, a lower-tier plan like Bronze can be a good choice. You'll save money on your monthly rate, but you'll pay more when you need medical care.

Plan tiers have nothing to do with covered medical services. A Gold plan doesn't necessarily cover more medical care than a Bronze plan, it just pays for a bigger share of your bills.

Platinum plans: Best for people with serious health issues

Platinum plans pay for about 90% of your medical care.

In Hawaii, Platinum plans cost $705 per month, on average.

Platinum plans pay for about 90% of your covered medical bills, so they're a good choice if you need expensive medical treatments. If you have a chronic condition or serious illness, a Platinum plan can be worth it. Even though the monthly rate is higher, you could save money overall because the plan lets you pay less toward your medical bills.

Platinum plans in Hawaii also don't have a deductible, which means your coverage starts right away.

Gold plans: Best for people who need frequent medical care

Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care.

Gold plans cost an average of $598 per month in Hawaii.

Gold plans are a good option if you need medical care often but don't want to pay for a Platinum plan. In Hawaii, Gold plans cost about $100 less each month compared to Platinum plans but still cover about 80% of your medical bills.

With a Gold plan, you could pay an average of $1,090 per year of your own bills before your coverage starts, and up to $8,440 total per year toward your medical bills. So even though the plan covers about 80% of your bills, it's important to still have savings in the bank in case you need expensive care.

Silver plans: Best for most people

Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care.

Silver plans cost $583 per month, on average, in Hawaii.

Silver plans are a good option for most people because they balance affordable monthly rates with good coverage. Silver plans are cheaper than Gold and Platinum plans, but they cover more of your bills than Bronze or Catastrophic plans. If you aren't sure what plan tier to buy, start by looking at Silver plans and see if they fit your needs.

With a Silver plan, you might pay up to an average of $5,050 per year before your coverage starts and up to $8,900 total each year. Overall, a Silver plan will pay for about 70% of your covered medical care.

Bronze plans: Best for healthy people with emergency savings

Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care.

In Hawaii, Bronze plans cost $467 per month, on average.

If you're young and healthy, a Bronze plan can help you save money each month. That's because Bronze plans have lower monthly rates. The trade-off is that they only cover about 60% of your medical care, so you have to pay more toward your medical bills when they come up.

You could pay an average of $7,025 of your medical bills yourself each year with a Bronze plan. After that, your coverage kicks in, but since insurance only pays for a portion of your bills, you could still pay up to $9,125 total out of pocket for your medical care each year. So if you buy a Bronze plan, it's important to have savings to pay for your medical bills.

Catastrophic plans: Best as a last resort

Catastrophic plans cost an average of $297 per month in Hawaii.

Catastrophic plans have the cheapest monthly rates but cover the lowest share of your medical bills. They're only a good option if you can't afford anything else and you don't qualify for Medicaid.

You can only buy a Catastrophic health plan if you're under the age of 30 or you qualify for a hardship exemption. Catastrophic plans are rarely worthwhile because of their high deductibles. You also can't get subsidies with Catastrophic plans.

Cheap or free health insurance in Hawaii if you have a low income

If you don't make much money and can't afford health insurance, you might be able to get free coverage from Medicaid. Otherwise, consider buying a Silver plan and using discounts to make your rate and medical care cheaper.

Medicaid plans in Hawaii

Medicaid is a type of free government health insurance that is available to people who earn a low income.

In Hawaii, you qualify for Medicaid if you make less than about $24,826 per year as a single person or $51,032 per year as a family of four.

Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical insurance

If you don't qualify for Medicaid, you can still get cheap health insurance. If you make between $17,990 and $71,960 per year as a single person or between $36,980 and $147,920 as a family of four, consider buying a Silver plan. You'll qualify for discounts on your monthly rate and extra discounts called cost-sharing reductions (CSRs). These discounts let you pay less when you go to the doctor.

The less you make, the bigger your discount will be. CSRs can even make your Silver plan cover more of your medical costs than a Gold or Platinum plan.

Are health insurance rates going up in Hawaii in 2026?

Overall, health insurance in HI is 12% more expensive in 2026 compared to 2025.

Catastrophic plans saw the biggest increase and cost 16% more in 2026. Platinum plans had the lowest price jump, but they're still 10% higher in 2026 compared to 2025. Since 2022, Silver plans have gone up in price by 19%.

Catastrophic

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Platinum

Year	Cost	Change
2022	$197	–
2023	$177	-10%
2024	$212	20%
2025	$256	21%
2026	$297	16%