Best Cheap Health Insurance in Virginia in 2026

Best and cheapest health insurance in Virginia

Cheapest health insurance companies in Virginia

Affordable health insurance in Virginia

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Best health insurance companies in Virginia

Kaiser Permanente has a perfect score of 5 stars from Virginia's Insurance Marketplace because of its excellent customer service and coverage options. Kaiser Permanente also runs its own medical offices and hospitals, which can make getting medical care faster and easier.

Best-rated health insurance companies in Virginia

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How much does health insurance cost in Virginia?

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Health insurance discount changes in Virginia for 2026

Rates for people who get subsidies are expected to double, possibly going from about $100 per month in 2025 to about $199 per month in 2026. That's because the "enhanced subsidies" that have been in place since 2021 are expiring at the end of 2025. You might still be able to get discounts in 2026, but they won't save you as much money.

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

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Cheap Virginia health insurance plans by city

That includes cities like Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk and Richmond. If you live in Bristol City, Scott or Washington, in the southeast part of the state, Anthem has the cheapest plans. And the cheapest plans in King George are from Kaiser Permanente.

But just because a plan is affordable doesn't mean it's the best option for you — think about your health needs alongside your monthly budget to choose the best plan.

Cheapest health insurance plans by VA county

Best health insurance plan by level of coverage

To find the best health insurance for you, try to match a plan with your health needs. For example, you might want to choose a Platinum or Gold plan if you think you'll have to go to the doctor often. If you are generally healthy and don't expect frequent doctor visits, a Bronze plan might be fine.

If you aren't sure how much coverage you need, start by looking at Silver plans. These are good middle-ground options for most individuals. Comparing Silver plans might also help you decide if you need more or less coverage.

Platinum plans: Best for expensive medical care

Platinum is the highest-tier plan you can buy, which means it has the most expensive quotes but also covers the highest amount of your medical care. Overall, these plans could save you money if you need expensive health care, and you'll generally pay less out of your own pocket for medical care.

Gold plans: Best for frequent medical care

Gold plans are a good option if you go to the doctor often or expect that you’ll need expensive care in the next year, like if you are having or planning to have a baby or need surgery. You'll pay a bit less per month than you will for a Platinum plan, but you'll still have a high level of coverage.

Gold plans cost about the same as Silver plans in Virginia. Gold plans are a good option unless you make less than $39,125 as a single person or $80,375 per year as a family of four. Otherwise, a Silver plan might be better, as you could qualify for an extra discount.

Silver plans: Best for average medical needs and low incomes

Silver plans are a good option for most people with average medical needs. In Virginia, they usually cost about the same as Gold plans, but you might be able to get special discounts that lower your medical bills, making them a better option.

Bronze plans: Best for people who are generally healthy and have savings

Bronze plans have the most affordable monthly rates, but you’ll also have to pay more when you go to the doctor. That's because these plans usually have higher deductibles, coinsurance and copays — the costs that you pay before your insurance kicks in — compared to Gold and Silver plans.

If you’re younger or generally healthy and don't get or require medical care often, a Bronze plan could be a good choice. But make sure you have the savings in the bank to pay for a bigger portion of your medical bills. If something serious happens like a major illness, severe injury or expensive medical treatment, you could have to pay an average of $7,285 each year before your coverage starts.

Catastrophic plans: Best as a last resort

If you can't afford any other health insurance and you can't get Medicaid, a Catastrophic plan is better than nothing. But these plans require that you pay the first $10,600 of your medical bills yourself each year. That means you'll really only have coverage for preventive care, such as annual doctor visits, and serious and expensive situations like major injuries and illnesses.

You can only get a Catastrophic plan if you're under 30 or you otherwise qualify for what's called a "hardship exemption." This means you can prove that there's a reason you can't afford a better plan or had a reason for missing your chance to buy health insurance, like having recently experienced homelessness or having a death in your family.

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

If you can't afford to buy health insurance, or if you have medical insurance but still struggle to pay for medical care, you have a few options.

Medicaid in Virginia

In Virginia, you have to make less than around $22,000 per year as an individual or $44,000 per year as a family of four to qualify for Medicaid.

If you're under age 19 or pregnant, you may be able to make more and still get Medicaid coverage. Medicaid can drastically lower or get rid of your medical costs.

Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical care

If you buy a Silver plan, you might qualify for extra discounts that can lower your medical bills. These discounts are called Obamacare or Affordable Care Act (ACA) cost-sharing reductions, and they lower your copays, coinsurance and deductibles. You qualify if you make between $15,650 and $39,125 per year as an individual, or $32,150 and $80,375 per year as a family of four.

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Are health insurance rates going up in VA in 2026?

Silver plans had the biggest increase at 22% year over year. However, over the last five years, rates have stayed steady for Silver plans. That's because Virginia saw rate decreases in 2023 and 2024, before rates started going up again in 2025.

Gold plans went up by 21% in 2026, and Bronze plans are 18% more expensive this year. Platinum plans saw the lowest increase, but still went up by 10%.

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Why is health insurance expensive in VA in 2026?

Factors driving this rapid rise in prices include more expensive prescription drug prices, higher health care costs and general inflation.

Expiring Covid-19 tax credits are also going to play a major role in driving up medical insurance costs for Virginians.

Helpful tips for saving on medical insurance in Virginia for 2026

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COBRA insurance plans in Virginia

In contrast, a Silver plan from Virginia's marketplace costs $514 per month, on average.

The cost you pay for COBRA will depend on the plan you had with your job. If you leave or lose your job, you can keep your health insurance for up to 18 months through COBRA. But you have to pay full price for the plan, so it's expensive.

It's almost always cheaper to buy a plan from the marketplace, but COBRA might be a better choice if your plan has a specific type of coverage you need.

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Short-term health insurance plans in Virginia

You may want to consider short-term health coverage if you only need a policy for a short period of time — for example, if you’re between jobs or have just graduated and are looking for your first job. You have to buy short-term plans directly from health insurance companies.

Pros of short-term health insurance plans in Virginia

Cons of short-term health insurance plans in Virginia

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Health insurance enrollment by income level in Virginia

People who buy a plan from Virginia's Insurance Marketplace are more likely to have lower incomes because they don't get health insurance from their jobs. This means that changes to rates and discounts affect people with low incomes more because they already have tighter budgets.

Enrollment by income

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Frequently asked questions

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Methodology

Virginia health insurance rate data for 2026 is from Virginia's 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 line and 500% of the federal poverty line 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 Virginia 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 is from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. Other sources include KFF, S&P Global Capital IQ and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).