The cheapest health insurance in Pennsylvania for most people is the Silver PPO 5950/20/40, the most affordable Silver plan in 24% of the state's counties. Alternatively, the cheapest Silver plan overall is the Together Blue EPO Silver 3450 HSA. This plan is only available in three counties.

Cheap health insurance plans in Pennsylvania are available through the state exchange, though some shoppers can qualify for Medicaid depending on their household income. In 2021, the average cost of health insurance in the state is $449 per month, down 5% from the 2020 average.

Cheapest health insurance by metal tier

We compared Pennsylvania plans by metal tier in order to help you find a cheap health insurance policy for your preferred level of coverage.

In addition to the metal tier, the actual cost of a health insurance plan in Pennsylvania will depend on the policy you choose, as well as your age and the number of people insured. For instance, a younger couple with no children will pay cheaper rates than an older couple with multiple children covered.

As you can see below, age alone has a significant impact on health insurance premiums across every tier.

But we recommend using these as a starting point to assess the benefits you can expect for a given tier of coverage as compared to premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Finding your best health insurance coverage in Pennsylvania

Where you live in Pennsylvania and your income will determine your best health insurance plan available. Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, so if your household income is up to 138% of the federal poverty level, you'll qualify for this coverage in the state.

Many households can qualify for tax subsidies to help lower the cost of health insurance coverage for an exchange plan.

Health insurance plans on the Pennsylvania exchange are divided into metal tiers, which indicate a plan's level of benefits, out-of-pocket expenses and monthly costs.

Gold and Platinum plans: Best for high expected medical costs

The higher metal tier health plans, such as Gold and Platinum plans, come with higher premiums but significantly lower out-of-pocket expenses, such as deductibles, copays and coinsurance.

For instance, people with consistent prescription needs may want to consider Gold and Platinum plans that have cheap out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs.

Silver plans: Best for average medical costs or people with low incomes

If you're looking for a middle ground — health insurance with both affordable premiums and out-of-pocket expenses — we typically recommend looking at Silver plans. Silver health insurance plans have lower out-of-pocket costs than Bronze plans, but cheaper monthly premiums than Gold or Platinum policies.

In addition, if you have a lower-income household, Silver plans are eligible for cost-sharing reduction (CSR) subsidies, meaning you may qualify for even more affordable deductibles, copays and coinsurance.

Bronze and Catastrophic plans: Best for young, healthy people with savings

Lower-tier plans, such as Bronze and Catastrophic plans, have lower monthly premiums, but your total expenses will be much higher if you need medical care due to the high cost-sharing features.

But, keep in mind that Catastrophic plans aren't available to everyone — you'll only qualify for these policies if you're under the age of 30 or meet certain exemptions. Catastrophic plans also are not eligible for premium tax credits.

Health insurance rate changes in Pennsylvania

Health insurance rates are determined by each health insurance provider and then submitted for approval to the federal exchange. For 2021 the cost of Catastrophic health insurance plans fell by an average of 14%. Silver and Gold plans fell by 10% and 9%, respectively. Bronze plans were the only ones to rise, but by only 3%, or $9 per month.

Short-term health insurance in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania residents can purchase short-term health insurance through providers outside of the health exchange. These policies, which can be purchased at any time during the year, might be a good option if you missed the open enrollment period or lost employer-sponsored coverage.

Pennsylvania follows federal guidelines when it comes to short-term health insurance. Initial coverage is limited to one year, and policies can be renewed for up to 36 months.

Health insurance companies in Pennsylvania

There are currently 17 health insurance companies on the Pennsylvania state exchange. Available plans vary by county, but policies from Highmark or UPMC are options in most of the state's 67 counties.

Cheapest health insurance plan by county

The insurers and health insurance plans available on the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Marketplace will vary depending on the county you live in. To help you get started finding your best cheap health insurance policy, we identified the cheapest Silver plan in each county in the state.

Below, you can see sample monthly premiums for each of the plans based on your family size.

Average cost of health insurance by family size in Pennsylvania

When you purchase a health insurance plan in Pennsylvania, you can also add your spouse and children to the policy, which will increase your premiums with each person covered. The cost of coverage for spouses and children age 15 and up is determined by the age of the person being insured. Children age 14 and younger can be added to your health insurance plan for a cheaper, flat rate.

Though the actual cost will vary according to the plan you choose, as you can see below, the average cost of adding a 40-year-old spouse to a Silver plan is $467. Adding a child to a Silver health insurance plan costs $279, on average.

Methodology

Health insurance rates and plans in Pennsylvania were compiled from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) government website. ValuePenguin used the Public Use Files (PUF) to average premiums by metal tier, county and family size to provide an overall view of the cost of health insurance for the state of Pennsylvania.