Best Cheap Health Insurance in Kentucky (2025)

Best and cheapest health insurance in Kentucky

Cheapest health insurance companies in Kentucky

Affordable health insurance in Kentucky

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Best health insurance companies in Kentucky

Anthem has a perfect 5-star rating from HealthCare.gov for member experience. That means people with Anthem are usually happy with their plans. Plus, Anthem is part of Blue Cross Blue Shield, which has one of the biggest networks of doctors in the country. That makes their plans easy to use because most doctors accept Anthem BCBS plans.

Best-rated health insurance companies in Kentucky

You can get a quote from Anthem no matter where you live in Kentucky. If you live in a rural part of the state, Anthem might be a particularly good option. Many plans come with $0 virtual health care visits, which could be helpful if you live far from a doctor's office.

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How much does health insurance cost in Kentucky?

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Cheap Kentucky health insurance plans by city

But in most of Kentucky's major cities, including Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro and Covington, Ambetter is the cheapest option.

If you live in the counties near Lexington, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield may have cheaper rates. Anthem also sells the cheapest plan in several other counties.

Cheapest health insurance plans by KY county

Best health insurance by level of coverage

Higher plan tiers, like Gold, usually cost more each month, but you get to pay less when you go to the doctor. That's because Gold plans have lower out-of-pocket expenses, like deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Lower plan tiers, like Bronze, cost less each month but require you to pay more for your health care.

Gold plans: Best for those with high health care needs

Gold plans in KY cost an average of $615 per month.

Gold is the highest metal tier available in Kentucky and usually covers the greatest share of your medical bills, which means you'll pay less when you go to the doctor. But the trade-off is that you'll pay a higher monthly rate. Gold plans can be worth it if you have high medical bills.

The average deductible for a Gold plan is $883, so you could pay an average of $883 toward your medical care before your coverage starts.

But you won't pay more than an average of $7,445 each year in medical bills. Once you hit your out-of-pocket maximum, your plan pays for all of your covered medical costs.

Silver plans: Best for most people

You'll pay $538 per month, on average, for a Silver plan in Kentucky.

Silver plans fall between Gold and Bronze plans in terms of coverage and cost. They are a good option if you have average health care needs or you want extra protection and are willing to pay a bit more than you would for a Bronze plan.

The average deductible is $3,592, and the average out-of-pocket maximum is $8,147. If you buy a Silver plan, make sure you have enough money to pay these higher costs.

Bronze plans: Best for young, healthy people

Bronze plans cost an average of $462 per month in Kentucky.

Bronze medical insurance plans offer cheap monthly rates, but you have to pay more when you get medical care. Bronze plans have an average deductible of $7,514 and an average out-of-pocket maximum of $8,601.

Because of this, Bronze plans are best if you are generally healthy and don't go to the doctor often. You should also have good emergency savings, since you'll have to pay more if you are ill or get injured.]

Catastrophic plans: Best as a last resort

In Kentucky, Catastrophic plans cost $288 per month on average.

Catastrophic plans give you the least coverage in Kentucky. You'll pay a low monthly rate, but you also have to pay up to $9,200 of your medical bills before your plan starts to pay. Because of this, Catastrophic plans are only a good idea if you can afford to pay the high costs if something serious happens.

You can only buy a Catastrophic plan if you're under 30 or otherwise qualify for an exemption.

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

Kentucky has a few options for cheap or free health insurance if you have a low income. You can go on Medicaid, if you qualify. Or you can buy a Silver plan and use a special type of discount to get cheaper medical care.

Medicaid in Kentucky

If you make less than about $21,000 as a single person or about $44,000 as a family of four, you qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid can lower or eliminate your health care costs, but you usually only qualify if you have a low income.

If you are pregnant, you can make more and still qualify. And pregnant and postpartum women who don't qualify for Medicaid might qualify for Kentucky's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), along with their children.

Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical care

If you have a low income but don't qualify for Medicaid, a Silver plan is probably your best option. Silver plans are the only plan tier that is eligible for cost-sharing reduction (CSR) subsidies, which let you pay less when you go to the doctor. They lower your deductible, coinsurance, copays and out-of-pocket maximum.

If you have a Silver plan with cost-sharing reductions, you might even get better coverage than a Gold plan and at a lower rate. And you'll probably also qualify for rate subsidies, so your monthly rate will be lower, too.

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Are health insurance rates going up in KY?

Health insurance rates are increasing in Kentucky, with plans going up by an average of 8% between 2024 and 2025.

Bronze plans are going up the most. Between 2024 and 2025, Bronze plans increased by an average of 11% in cost. Gold plans were the least affected, but the monthly cost still increased by an average of 6%. Medical insurance rates are likely going to be even higher in 2026.

Why is health insurance expensive in KY in 2026?

When it's more expensive for you to go to the doctor or fill a prescription, medical insurance companies have to find a way to pay for the extra cost. To make up for it, they raise rates for everyone. Health insurance companies are asking for a 25% rate increase in Kentucky, on average.

You might also see higher rates in 2026 because of a change in the way discounts are calculated. For the last five years, shoppers with low incomes have gotten extra discounts, called "enhanced subsidies." However, the extra discounts are going to expire at the end of the year. Unless Congress renews them, discounts for 2026 won't be as big. This means your medical insurance rate will be higher even if you get discounts.

What to do if you rate goes up in 2026

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COBRA insurance in Kentucky

In Kentucky, COBRA costs an average of $711 per month for one person, while an ACA plan costs $538 per month, on average. Unless you rely on a specific coverage that your employer plan had that an ACA plan doesn't, getting coverage on kynect usually makes more sense.

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Short-term health insurance in Kentucky

Short-term health insurance isn't sold on Kentucky's state marketplace, kynect. You have to get coverage directly through a health insurance company.

Pros of short-term health insurance in Kentucky

Cons of short-term health insurance in Kentucky

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Frequently asked questions

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Methodology

Health insurance rates, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for 2025 plans are from data available on Kentucky's state health insurance exchange, kynect. ValuePenguin used the public use files (PUFs) to find averages by age, plan tier and county to provide a detailed evaluation of health insurance in Kentucky for the 2025 plan year. Rates are for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan unless another age or plan level is noted.

The cost for a health plan with subsidies is from CMS data. The rates are based on everyone who bought a plan during open enrollment in 2024 and got advanced premium tax credits (APTCs).

Info about rate increase requests by Kentucky health insurance companies is from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker.

ValuePenguin rated companies based on a review of rates, coverages, customer satisfaction and unique features. Additional data sources include the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and KFF.