Best Cheap Health Insurance in Minnesota (2026)
HealthPartners has the best and cheapest health insurance in MN, with Silver plans starting at $379 per month before discounts.
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Best and cheapest health insurance in Minnesota
Cheapest health insurance companies in Minnesota
HealthPartners, Blue Cross & Blue Shield and UCare have the cheapest health insurance plans in Minnesota, with Silver rates starting at $379 per month before discounts.
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Affordable health insurance in Minnesota
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| HealthPartners | $379-$653 |
| Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Minnesota | $382-$654 |
| UCare Minnesota | $413-$710 |
| Medica | $440-$747 |
- HealthPartners has the most affordable health insurance in MN overall, with Silver plans starting at $379 per month. Medica also has the cheapest plans in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. But it's not the cheapest everywhere. That's because rates change depending on where you live. In Rochester, for example, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Minnesota sells the cheapest Silver plan.
- Bronze plans are the most popular plan tier in Minnesota, but they aren't the best option for most people. Paying the extra $84 per month, on average, for a Silver plan is worth it if you go to the doctor a few times per year or take prescriptions regularly because the Silver plan will pay for more of your medical costs.
Medica: Best health insurance in Minnesota for quick coverage
Medica is a good option if you want your plan to pay for your medical bills quickly.
That's because Medica has the lowest average deductibles on its Silver plans. With Medica, you'll pay an average of $3,259 before your plan starts paying for your care. On average, Silver plans in Minnesota come with a $3,579 deductible. And some companies have even higher deductibles. Blue Cross & Blue Shield, for example, has an average deductible of $3,904 on its Silver plans.
Best health insurance companies in Minnesota
HealthPartners sells the best health insurance in Minnesota because of its good service and high-quality plans.
HealthPartners has a perfect 5-star rating on MNSure, Minnesota's state health insurance marketplace. This means its plans have high-quality coverage and come with great customer service. HealthPartners is also a popular health insurance company in MN, selling about one-quarter of all individual and family plans in the state on MNSure.
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Best-rated health insurance companies in Minnesota
Company |
ACA rating
|
VP rating
|
|---|---|---|
| HealthPartners | ||
| Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Minnesota | ||
| UCare Minnesota | ||
| Quartz | N/A | |
| Medica |
Blue Cross & Blue Shield: Most flexible plans in Minnesota
Most doctors and hospitals take Blue Cross & Blue Shield (BCBS), which gives you flexibility to choose where you get medical care. It's a great choice if you want the freedom to choose from a wide range of doctors.
BCBS has cheap rates, selling the second-cheapest Silver plan in MN. It also has a high 4.0 overall rating on MNSure for its plans in MN and a perfect 5-star rating for member experience.
How much does health insurance cost in Minnesota?
Minnesota health coverage costs an average of $556 per month at full cost or might cost about $356 per month if you qualify for discounts based on your income.
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- The cost of health insurance goes up as you get older. A 40-year-old pays $164 more per month than a 21-year-old for a Silver plan in Minnesota.
- Rates go up quickly after age 40. A 60-year-old pays an average of $1,146 per month for a Silver health insurance plan, which is more than double what a 40-year-old pays.
Health insurance discount changes in Minnesota for 2026
If you qualify for a low-income discount, you could potentially pay around $356 per month for health insurance in MN.
That's 56% more than the cost after discounts in 2025, which was around $228 per month. The increase is because bigger discounts, called "enhanced subsidies," are expiring at the end of 2025. Congress might still renew them, but if they expire, the discounts on MNSure won't be as big in 2026.
Health insurance rates in Minnesota after subsidies (2025 vs. 2026)
Income | 2025 rate | 2026 rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $154 | $287 | 86% |
| $50,000 | $283 | $415 | 47% |
| $60,000+ | $363 | $448 | 23% |
Average cost after subsidies for a single 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan.
- Who gets subsidies? To qualify for a rate subsidy, you have to make between $15,650 and $62,600 per year if you're single, or between $32,150 and $128,600 per year as a family of four. People and families with lower incomes get bigger discounts. If you can get Medicaid, though, you can't get marketplace discounts.
- How do you use subsidies? You can use a subsidy on a Bronze, Silver or Gold plan from any company.
- How much will you save? You can use ValuePenguin's subsidy calculator to get an idea of how much your rate will be after subsidies.
If you have a low income, you might also qualify for another type of discount, called a cost-sharing reduction. This discount is only available on Silver plans, and it lowers the amount of money you have to pay when you go to the doctor.
In Minnesota, if you make less than $31,300 per year as a single person or $64,300 per year as a family of four, you can get coverage from a program called MinnesotaCare where you'll pay between $0 and $80 per month for coverage. So if you have a very low income, you don't have to worry about subsidies on MNSure, because MinnesotaCare is a better option.
Cheap Minnesota health insurance plans by city
HealthPartners has the cheapest health insurance in most of MN's major cities, including Minneapolis and St. Paul.
But if you live in Rochester or Duluth, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of MN sells the cheapest Silver plan.
Cheap Silver health insurance plans by MN county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Aitkin | BCBS Value HSA Silver Plan 401 | $495 |
| Anoka | HealthPartners Select $3,800 HSA Silver | $379 |
| Becker | Medica Essentia Choice Care Silver $0 Copay | $477 |
| Beltrami | BCBS Value HSA Silver Plan 401 | $495 |
| Benton | BCBS Value HSA Silver Plan 401 | $433 |
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 plan depends on how much medical care you expect to need in the upcoming year.
A Silver plan provides the right balance of coverage for most people. If you expect to need expensive medical care or are managing a chronic illness, choose a Gold plan, which will give you the best coverage. But if you're young or mostly healthy, it's usually worth it to save by choosing a Bronze plan and paying more when you need medical treatment.
Gold plans: Best if you need expensive medical care
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
In Minnesota, Gold plans cost an average of $631 per month.
If you go to the doctor often, need expensive medical treatments or expect to need a pricey procedure like a surgery in the next year, a Gold plan might be the best option. Gold plans are the most expensive policies offered in Minnesota, but they also pay for the biggest share of your medical care.
Gold plans in MN have a deductible of $1,877, on average, which is much lower than other plan tiers. The lower deductible means that the plan's full benefits will kick in sooner. This can help keep your medical costs affordable if you have ongoing health issues or need expensive treatment.
Silver plans: Best for most people
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans cost $556 per month, on average, in Minnesota.
Silver plans are best if you have average medical needs, like a manageable health condition, taking a moderately priced medication or going to routine doctor visits. These plans give you a good balance of affordable rates and good coverage.
In Minnesota, Silver plans have an average deductible of $3,579. That means you have to pay $3,579 of your own health care bills yourself before your plan will start to pay. But if you have a low income, you might qualify for discounts that lower your deductible and other out-of-pocket costs.
Bronze plans: Best for young, generally healthy people with savings
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze plans cost an average of $472 per month in Minnesota.
Bronze health policies have the cheapest monthly costs, but they require you to pay for a large part of your medical bills. If you are young or healthy, the cheap rates of a Bronze plan could save you money. Plus, you'll get free preventive care, and the plan will protect you from very high costs if you have a major illness or injury. Just make sure you have emergency savings in case something serious happens.
Bronze plans are the most popular plan level in MN, but they aren't the best for most people. With a Bronze plan, you have to pay an average of $7,409 before your plan will kick in. A Silver plan only costs $84 more per month and has a much lower deductible.
Cheap or free health insurance in Minnesota if you have a low income
If you have a low income, you have options for low-cost or free health insurance in Minnesota. You might qualify for Medicaid or get discounts on a Silver plan that make medical care cheaper.
Medicaid in Minnesota
Medicaid is a type of free health insurance from the government.
Minnesota has expanded Medicaid coverage, which allows more people to qualify for free or low-cost insurance. Minnesota Medicaid is called Medical Assistance (MA).
The typical income limits for Medicaid are about $22,000 for an individual and $44,000 for a family of four. However, requirements can vary, and you may have a different income limit if you're pregnant or you need coverage for children.
Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical care
If you make between $15,650 and $39,125 as a single person or between $32,150 and $80,375 as a family of four, consider buying a Silver plan. Silver is the only plan tier that has discounts to lower the cost of medical care for people with low incomes.
These discounts are called cost-sharing reductions, and they make your deductible, copays and coinsurance levels lower, so you pay less when you go to the doctor.
MinnesotaCare: State-sponsored health coverage for people with low incomes
MinnesotaCare is a state program to give people with low incomes access to health care.
To get MinnesotaCare, you have to make less than $31,300 per year as an individual or less than $64,300 per year as a family of four. The lower your income, the less you'll pay. For example, if you make $20,000 per year, you'll pay $16 per month for MinnesotaCare. But if you make $30,000 per year, your monthly rate is $71. Rates never go above $80 per month.
When you sign up, you'll usually pick a plan from a list of options in your area. For most types of health care, you won't have to pay anything when you go to the doctor. The coverage works like any other health plan, and you have to stay within your plan's network to have coverage.
MinnesotaCare is a Basic Health Program. Minnesota is only one of three states — along with New York and Oregon — to have a Basic Health Program. You can apply for MinnesotaCare through the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Are health insurance rates going up in MN in 2026?
Health insurance costs in Minnesota went up by an average of 21% between 2025 and 2026.
Silver plans had the biggest increase, costing 23% more in 2026 compared to 2025. Over the last five years, Silver plans have gotten 43% more expensive.
Bronze and Gold also went up for 2026. Bronze plans are 22% more expensive and Gold plans are 19% more expensive in 2026.
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $413 | – |
| 2023 | $356 | -14% |
| 2024 | $365 | 2% |
| 2025 | $386 | 6% |
| 2026 | $472 | 22% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old. Expanded Bronze plans are included in 2024, 2025 and 2026 averages, when they're offered.
Bronze
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $413 | – |
| 2023 | $356 | -14% |
| 2024 | $365 | 2% |
| 2025 | $386 | 6% |
| 2026 | $472 | 22% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old. Expanded Bronze plans are included in 2024, 2025 and 2026 averages, when they're offered.
Silver
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $389 | – |
| 2023 | $404 | 4% |
| 2024 | $423 | 5% |
| 2025 | $451 | 7% |
| 2026 | $556 | 23% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $455 | – |
| 2023 | $451 | -1% |
| 2024 | $482 | 7% |
| 2025 | $532 | 10% |
| 2026 | $631 | 19% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Why is health insurance expensive in MN in 2026?
Rising health care costs are driving up health insurance rates in 2026.
As health care gets more expensive, health insurance companies have to pay more every time you go to the doctor or get medical care. To offset the extra costs, health insurance companies charge higher rates for everyone.
One of the biggest drivers of higher health insurance costs is the popularity of expensive weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. As more people start using these medications, health insurance companies have to raise rates to make sure they have enough to pay for the prescriptions.
You might pay more for medical insurance in 2026 even if you usually get discounts on your rates. That's because the extra discounts that have been in place since 2021 are expiring at the end of 2025. Unless Congress renews them, the discounts you get for having a low income won't be as big in 2026.
How to prepare for the 2026 rate increases
- Get quotes and compare your options. If the price of your plan goes up for 2026, check out your other options on MNsure, Minnesota's state marketplace. You can easily get quotes and compare companies and plans so you find the cheapest option that fits your needs.
- Think about your plan tier. Lower-tier plans like Bronze are cheaper than higher-tier plans like Gold or Platinum. If you don't go to the doctor often, a Bronze plan can help you save money. Just keep in mind that you have to pay more when you do go to the doctor. To prepare for this, you could consider opening an HSA, which is a newly available perk on Bronze plans for 2026.
- Check if you get discounts. People with lower incomes can get discounts called subsidies. These subsidies make your monthly rate cheaper. Discounts might be lower in 2026 than they were in 2025, but they'll still save you money over paying full price.
- Consider MinnesotaCare if you have a low income. If you're single and you make less than $31,300 per year, you can get coverage from MinnesotaCare, Minnesota's Basic Health Program. How much you pay depends on your income, but you'll never pay more than $80 per month.
- See if you can get Medicaid. If you make less than about $22,000 per year as an individual, you can get Medicaid in Minnesota. If you're on Medicaid, most of your health care will be free or very cheap.
You can buy a medical insurance plan from MNsure, Minnesota's state marketplace, between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15 every year. Plans from MNsure are sometimes called "Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans" or "Obamacare plans."
No matter what plan tier you buy, you'll have coverage for at least 10 common health care situations.
- Doctor visits
- Preventive and wellness care
- Emergency care
- Hospital stays
- Prescription medications
- Lab services
- Pregnancy and baby care
- Pediatric care
- Mental health care
- Rehab services
Some plans may even have more coverage. The difference between Bronze, Silver and Gold plans isn't what they cover, it's how much they cover. Bronze plans pay the least toward your medical bills, while Gold plans pay the most.
COBRA insurance in Minnesota
It's usually cheaper to buy a plan from MNsure than to get COBRA insurance in MN.
COBRA costs an average of $767 per month in Minnesota, while a Silver health insurance plan from MNsure costs $556 per month. Even a Gold plan, which pays for more of your medical bills than a Silver plan, is cheaper than COBRA, at $631 per month.
COBRA lets you keep your employer medical insurance plan if you quit, are fired or retire from your job. You can usually keep the plan for a year and a half from the time you leave your job, although it can last as long as three years in some cases.
But COBRA is expensive because your employer no longer chips in to help pay the monthly rate. You have to pay the full cost. Unless you need a specific coverage type that your employer plan had, it's usually a better deal to get a plan from MNsure. And if you get another job and don't need the plan, you can cancel it at any time.
Short-term health insurance in Minnesota
You can't get short-term health insurance plans in Minnesota right now because there aren't any insurance companies offering policies.
If you need temporary health insurance in Minnesota, sign up for a health insurance plan through the MNsure marketplace. You can cancel at any time without penalty. Plus, how much you pay for insurance is scaled to your income because of health insurance subsidies.
Health insurance enrollment by income level in Minnesota
One-fifth of people who get plans on MNSure make less than $37,650 per year.
This group of people is particularly affected by price increases and discount changes. They make too much to get Medicaid or MinnesotaCare, and their budgets are already tight and have less leeway to handle price changes.
Enrollment by income
Income | % of total enrollment |
|---|---|
| $30,121 to $37,650 | 20% |
| $37,651 to $45,180 | 16% |
| $45,181 to $60,240 | 19% |
| $60,241 to $75,300 | 7% |
| $75,301 or more | 7% |
Enrollment in 2025 marketplace plans made during the 2024-2025 Open Enrollment period. Total may not be 100% due to rounding
Frequently asked questions
How much does Obamacare cost in Minnesota?
Obamacare costs an average of $556 per month in Minnesota for a Silver plan. But you might qualify for health insurance subsidies and be able to get a cheaper rate.
Does Minnesota have the Affordable Care Act?
Yes, you can get Affordable Care Act health insurance in Minnesota through MNsure, which is the state's health insurance marketplace.
What's the best health insurance company in MN?
HealthPartners is the best health insurance company in MN. The company has a perfect 5-star rating on MNSure. HealthPartners has excellent customer service and its plans have high-quality medical coverage. It's also a popular health insurance company in Minnesota.
Is $200 a month expensive for health insurance in Minnesota?
$200 per month is actually very cheap for medical insurance in Minnesota. On average, a 40-year-old pays $556 per month and a 21-year-old pays $392 per month for a Silver plan. If you have a low income and you can get subsidies, you could get a plan for $200 per month or even less.
What's happening to subsidies in 2026?
The future of the subsidy program is uncertain. If Congress doesn't act, the bigger discounts that the marketplace has had since 2021 are going to expire, and discounts won't be as good in 2026. However, lawmakers could also change the program entirely, with new eligibility and discounts.
Methodology
Minnesota health insurance rate data for 2026 is from MNSure, the state's health insurance marketplace. ValuePenguin used the state marketplace data to find average rates for different plan tiers, geographic locations and family sizes.
Rates
Rates are based on a 40-year-old with a Silver plan, unless otherwise noted. Rates for Bronze plans include regular and Expanded Bronze plans for 2024, 2025 and 2026, when the plans are available. Your costs and plan options will vary; plans aren't always available in all parts of a state or county.
Subsidies
Rates after subsidies are estimates for a 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan and are based on how subsidies were structured before 2021. Prices are calculated using KFF's rates for full-price Benchmark plans, federal poverty levels (FPLs), IRS rules about premium tax credits and Congressional reports about expanded tax credits. The total cost in the state uses calculated rates by income, which are weighted using CMS data on the incomes of those who purchased plans during last year's open enrollment. The median was used for each income range. Unknown incomes were excluded from the calculations. Incomes of 100% of the federal poverty level and 500% of the federal poverty level were assumed for enrollees who earn less than 100% FPL and more than 500% FPL, respectively. Information about state subsidies, when available, was sourced from state marketplaces.
Ratings
ValuePenguin's experts rank companies based on cost, coverage options, customer satisfaction and unique value. Ratings are out of 100 possible points. ACA ratings show how the company performs in Minnesota for medical care, member experience and plan administration. This 2026 plan quality data from CMS is based on data from last year. Ratings are not available for new plans or plans with low enrollment.
More sources
Enrollment trends, including plan selections by tier and enrollment by income, are from CMS data for the 2025 open enrollment period.
Info about why health insurance rates are going up in Minnesota is from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. Other sources include the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the S&P Global Capital IQ.
Insurance Writer
Cate Deventer is a ValuePenguin writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare & Medicaid
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
- Wall Street Journal
Education
- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
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.
