Best Cheap Health Insurance in Washington for 2026
Kaiser Permanente has the best health insurance in Washington state. Its Gold plans start at $562 per month before discounts.
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Best and cheapest health insurance in Washington
Cheapest health insurance companies in Washington
Community Health Plan, Ambetter and LifeWise Health Plan have the cheapest health insurance plans for most people in Washington state, with Gold plans starting at $426 per month before discounts.
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Affordable health insurance in Washington
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| Community Health Plan of Washington | $426-$524 |
| Ambetter | $443-$607 |
| LifeWise Health Plan of Washington | $508-$751 |
| Wellpoint Washington Inc. | $527-$600 |
- Community Health Plan of Washington has the cheapest rates for roughly three-quarters of Washington residents, with Gold plans that start at $426 per month. The company has the most affordable plans in the Seattle metro area and Spokane.
- If you live in Vancouver or anywhere in Clark County, LifeWise Health Plan of Washington sells the cheapest plans. LifeWise Health Plan of Washington also has cheap rates in several rural counties, including Island, Skagit and Whatcom.
Best health insurance companies in Washington state
Kaiser Permanente has the best health insurance in Washington state.
Kaiser Permanente got a perfect star rating of 5 out of 5 from HealthCare.gov. That makes it the highest-rated company in Washington state. Star ratings measure plan quality, customer satisfaction and plan management.
Plus, Kaiser Permanente in Washington gets significantly fewer complaints than an average company its size. It's a good idea to choose a company that gets few complaints because you may have an easier time filing a claim later on.
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Best-rated health insurance companies in WA
Company |
ACA rating
|
VP rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | ||
| Ambetter | ||
| UnitedHealthcare | ||
| Molina | ||
| Regence BlueShield |
Kaiser Permanente uses two names in Washington state. Depending on where you live, you may have the option to get coverage from Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest or Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington. Both companies have an excellent 5-out-of-5-star rating from HealthCare.gov, and they charge similar rates for coverage.
How much is health insurance in Washington state?
Health insurance in Washington state costs an average of $621 per month at full price, but you could pay as little as $0 per month depending on your income.
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- Higher plan tiers tend to have expensive monthly rates. But you'll save money when you go to the doctor.
- The cost of medical insurance increases as you get older. Rates rise slowly when you're younger before spiking in middle age.
- The amount of the discount, or subsidy, you qualify for depends on your income. The less you earn, the higher your subsidy.
Save on Washington health insurance with discounts in 2026
Health insurance costs $621 in Washington state, or as little as $0 per month, depending on how much money you make.
You can save on medical insurance when you buy coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder and you earn a low income. Although the savings available to customers are going down in 2026 because of expiring pandemic-era "enhanced subsidies," you might still be able to get coverage for $0 per month depending on your income. That's because Washington offers extra state-level subsidies that will help offset this decrease in financial help from the federal government.
When shopping for health insurance on Washington Healthplanfinder, consider getting a "Cascade Select" plan. These plans tend to have lower rates and smaller deductibles, which means you'll pay less before coverage starts for most services.
Cheapest Gold plan in King County (Seattle)
Income | Monthly cost (2026) |
Estimated total annual cost
|
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $0 | $950 |
| $30,000 | $0 | $1,460 |
| $35,000 | $23 | $1,737 |
| $40,000 | $147 | $3,225 |
| $45,000 | $220 | $4,101 |
- Who can get subsidies? You need to make between $15,650 and $62,600 as an individual ($32,150 and $128,600 for a family of four) to get subsidies. The less you make, the bigger your subsidy.
- How do subsidies work? You can use your subsidy on any Bronze, Silver or Gold plan bought through Washington Healthplanfinder.
- How much do you save? Use ValuePenguin's subsidy calculator to find out how much you'll pay for health insurance after subsidies.
Affordable health insurance in Washington state by city
Community Health Plan of Washington has the most affordable health insurance in nine of Washington state's 10 largest cities.
Community Health Plan of Washington has the cheapest Gold plans in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Bellevue, Kent and Everett. But LifeWise Health Plan of Washington sells the cheapest plans in Vancouver.
Cheapest health insurance plans by WA county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Adams | Ambetter Cascade Select Vital Gold | $467 |
| Asotin | Community Health Plan of Washington Cascade Select Vital Gold | $442 |
| Benton | Community Health Plan of Washington Cascade Select Vital Gold | $441 |
| Chelan | Community Health Plan of Washington Cascade Select Vital Gold | $469 |
| Clallam | Ambetter Cascade Select Vital Gold | $487 |
Cheapest Gold plan with rates for a 40-year-old
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Best health insurance by plan tier
Gold plans often have expensive rates, but you pay less when you go to the hospital, making them best for people who have ongoing illnesses. Bronze plans have the cheapest rates, but you're responsible for a larger portion of the bill when you get care. Consider a Bronze plan if you're in good health and can afford a large, unexpected bill.
Silver health plans tend to balance medium rates with middle-of-the-road costs you pay when you see a doctor. That makes Silver plans generally best for those with average medical needs. However, Gold plans are cheaper, on average, than Silver plans in Washington for 2026, so be sure to compare all of your options.
Plan tiers don't have anything to do with the types of medical services your plan pays for.
A Gold and a Bronze plan may cover the exact same medical services and prescription drugs. Gold plans are a good choice if you have ongoing illnesses or disabilities, Silver plans might be best for people with average medical needs and a low income, and Bronze plans are a great option for healthy people who can afford a surprise hospital bill.
Gold plans: Best if you have ongoing medical needs
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans in Washington state cost $621 per month before discounts and have a $1,407 deductible, on average.
Consider a Gold plan if you expect to need a lot of health care in the coming year. That's because Gold plans are a good choice for people who have serious illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease.
Gold plans often have expensive monthly rates. But you'll pay very little before your coverage starts because these plans tend to have a low deductible, as well as a low cap on how much you'll pay for medical care in a single year, called an out-of-pocket maximum.
Silver plans: Best if you make a low income and have regular medical needs
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans in Washington cost $761 per month and have a $3,283 deductible, on average.
Silver health plans are a good choice if you only go to the hospital a few times per year. These plans sometimes have average rates and reasonable costs that you're responsible for paying when you get medical care.
In addition, you may qualify for extra savings if you have a Silver health plan and you make less than $39,125 per year ($80,375 per year for a family of four).
It's important to note that Silver health plans aren't showing up on Washington Healthplanfinder unless you make less than $31,300 per year as an individual ($64,300 per year for a family of four) as of November 2025. That means you can't currently buy a full-price Silver health plan through the state health exchange.
It's not entirely clear why the marketplace is hiding Silver plans from individuals who make higher incomes. However, it's likely an attempt to connect customers to the best plan option for their needs.
Bronze plans: Best if you're healthy and have savings
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
In Washington, Bronze plans cost $513 per month and have a $6,487 deductible, on average.
Bronze plans are a good choice for young and healthy people who can afford to cover unexpected medical bills with their savings.
Bronze plans have the cheapest rates of any plan tier. But you'll have to pay a large deductible before coverage starts for most services.
Extra discounts and free health insurance in Washington state
You may qualify for free or discounted health coverage if you live in Washington state and you earn a low income.
WA Apple Health: Best for free health insurance in Washington state
Washington state residents who earn a low income may qualify for free health insurance, called Apple Health or Medicaid. You need to earn roughly $22,000 per year or less ($44,000 per year or less for a family of four) to be eligible for Apple Health.
Pregnant women, children and people who have disabilities can get Apple Health with higher household incomes.
Is Apple Health Medicaid?
Yes, Apple Health is the name for Medicaid in Washington state. Because Medicaid is run as a partnership between the federal government and states, many states have different names for their Medicaid programs.
Silver plans with cost-sharing reductions: Best if you don't qualify for Medicaid
| Silver plans will pay 73% to 94% of your medical costs if you have a low income. |
Washington residents who make less than $39,125 per year as a single person qualify for extra discounts, called cost-sharing reductions (CSRs). Cost-sharing reductions on a Silver plan help you cover your portion of the bill when you see a doctor.
Silver health plans currently aren't displaying on the Washington state health exchange for individuals who make more than $31,300 per year as an individual ($64,300 per year for a family of four). It's not clear why this is happening, and it's possible these plans may become available to people who earn a higher income later on.
Getting a cost-sharing reduction could mean that your plan pays up to 94% of your deductible, copays and coinsurance.
Cascade Care plans: Best for limiting costs if you don't qualify for CSRs
Cascade Care plans have lower deductibles and costs that you're responsible for paying after you've met your deductible, such as your copay and coinsurance.
You don't need to earn a certain amount of money to qualify for Cascade Care. Anyone can buy a Cascade Care plan through Washington Healthplanfinder, and plans are available in every county in Washington state.
Cascade Care Select plans meet extra quality and value standards. However, these plans might not be available everywhere in the state.
Are health insurance rates going up in WA?
Health insurance costs increased by 20% from 2025 to 2026, on average.
Silver plans went up by 40%, on average, between 2025 and 2026. Bronze plans got 19% more expensive, on average, and Gold plans rose by just 2%, on average. The cost of a Silver health plan rose by 72% between 2022 and 2026 in Washington state.
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $413 | – |
| 2023 | $363 | -12% |
| 2024 | $388 | 7% |
| 2025 | $432 | 11% |
| 2026 | $513 | 19% |
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 | $363 | -12% |
| 2024 | $388 | 7% |
| 2025 | $432 | 11% |
| 2026 | $513 | 19% |
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 | $443 | – |
| 2023 | $470 | 6% |
| 2024 | $503 | 7% |
| 2025 | $543 | 8% |
| 2026 | $761 | 40% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $482 | – |
| 2023 | $522 | 8% |
| 2024 | $554 | 6% |
| 2025 | $611 | 10% |
| 2026 | $621 | 2% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Why is health insurance expensive in WA in 2026?
The rising cost of health care is primarily to blame for health insurance rate increases in 2026.
Because it's more expensive every time you go to the doctor or fill a prescription, your health insurance company ends up paying more when you do. The extra costs add up when spread across hundreds of thousands or even millions of customers.
To make up for higher health care costs, medical insurance companies charge higher rates for everyone.
The high cost for GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy is also driving up health insurance rates. These medications are both expensive and increasingly popular, so health insurance companies have to pay a lot of money when their customers fill the prescription.
Changes to marketplace discounts, called subsidies, are also contributing to increasing rates in 2026. For the last five years, people with lower incomes have gotten bigger discounts, called "enhanced subsidies," on their plans. Those bigger discounts are set to expire at the end of 2025. Congress could still extend the extra discounts before the new year, but if that doesn’t happen, the discounts available in 2026 will be smaller. That means you'll pay more for health insurance even if you have a discounted rate.
What to do if your rate goes up in 2026
- Get quotes and shop around. You might be able to get a cheaper plan by switching to another company. Look at the companies and plans in your area and see if there's a more affordable option that meets your needs.
- Drop to a lower-tier plan. If you need a cheaper monthly rate, you could consider dropping to a lower-tier plan like Bronze. Keep in mind, you'll have to pay more when you go to the doctor with a Bronze plan. Starting in 2026, though, you can open a health savings account (HSA) with a Bronze plan, to help you save for medical costs.
- See if you get discounts. If you have a low income, you might be able to get discounts called subsidies that make your monthly rate cheaper. Discounts might not be as big in 2026, but they're still an easy way to get a cheaper rate if you qualify.
- Check if you can get Apple Health. Washington's Medicaid program is called Apple Health, and it can give you free or very cheap health care if you have a low income.
Washington State health insurance marketplace plans offer several important protections not offered by off-exchange plans like short-term coverage and supplemental health plans. All coverage bought through Washington Healthplanfinder offers certain services, called essential benefits. These include important benefits, such as prescription drug coverage and care for pregnant mothers and newborns.
Marketplace plans also limit how much you'll pay for care each year, with what's called an out-of-pocket maximum. In addition, companies aren't allowed to consider your current or past medical problems when setting rates or approving coverage.
Short-term health insurance in Washington state
No company sells short-term health insurance in Washington because of strict state-level rules. If you need coverage outside open enrollment, it's a good idea to see if you can buy a marketplace plan by qualifying for a special enrollment period.
Common ways to qualify for a special enrollment period
- You've recently lost your health coverage.
- Your income has changed dramatically.
- You've gotten married or divorced.
- You've moved to a new area.
You can also sign up for COBRA if you've recently lost your job. Keep in mind that COBRA plans typically cost more than marketplace coverage.
COBRA insurance in Washington state
COBRA health insurance in Washington state costs $718 per month, on average, for a single person.
Families pay an average of $2,159 per month for COBRA in Washington.
COBRA insurance lets you keep your workplace health coverage after you lose your job. COBRA might be a good choice if you don't mind paying extra to keep your current plan.
However, COBRA usually isn't the best option for most people. That's because COBRA plans cost more than regular marketplace coverage. Plus, you won't qualify for discounts with COBRA.
Health insurance enrollment by income level in Washington state
Roughly 7 in 10 people in Washington state who have marketplace coverage earn less than $60,240 per year.
Those who make a low income will be most impacted by changes to subsidies in 2026. That's because most people with marketplace coverage in Washington state make a below-average income.
Enrollment by income
Income | % of total enrollment |
|---|---|
| Less than $15,060 | 5% |
| $15,060 to $20,783 | 2% |
| $20,784 to $22,590 | 7% |
| $22,591 to $30,120 | 23% |
| $30,121 to $37,650 | 15% |
Enrollment in 2025 marketplace plans made during the 2024-2025 open enrollment period. Total may not be 100% due to rounding.
Frequently asked questions
Who has the best health insurance in Washington state?
Kaiser Permanente has the best health insurance in Washington state. The company has high-quality plans, and it gets significantly fewer complaints than an average company its size according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
How much will health insurance rates increase in Washington state in 2026?
The cost of health insurance in Washington state will increase by 20%, on average, between 2025 and 2026. Average rate increases differ significantly by plan tier. Silver plans are rising by an average of 40%, while Gold plans are getting just 2% more expensive, on average.
What is the most affordable health insurance in Washington state?
Community Health Plan of Washington has the most affordable health insurance for roughly three-quarters of people in Washington state, with Gold plans starting at $426 per month.
What is the income limit for Apple Health in Washington state?
You can qualify for Apple Health if you make about $22,000 per year or less as a single person (roughly $44,000 per year or less for a family of four).
Is $200 a month expensive for health insurance in Washington state?
No, $200 per month is not expensive for health insurance. In Washington, a policy that costs $200 per month is actually cheap. On average, a 21-year-old pays $486 per month for a Gold plan and a 40-year-old pays $621 per month. You'll probably only get a plan that's $200 per month or less if you have a lower income and you can get discounts.
Methodology
Washington state health insurance rate data for 2026 is from Washington Healthplanfinder. ValuePenguin used the Washington Healthplanfinder 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 Gold 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 rates calculated by income, which are weighted using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data on the incomes of those who purchased plans during 2024-2025 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 Washington state for medical care, member experience and plan administration. The 2026 plan quality data from CMS is based on data from the previous 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 2024-2025 open enrollment period.
Other sources include S&P Global Capital IQ and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Senior Writer
Talon Abernathy is a ValuePenguin Senior Writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. He's also contributed to other insurance verticals including home, renters, auto, motorcycle and flood insurance.
Talon came to ValuePenguin in 2023. Since his arrival, he's helped to expand the site's health insurance-related content offerings. He enjoys helping readers understand the ins and outs of America's all too complicated health insurance landscape.
Before coming to ValuePenguin, Talon worked as a freelance writer. His prior work has touched on a broad range of personal finance-related topics including credit-building strategies, small business incorporation tactics and creative ways to save for retirement.
Insurance tip
In many parts of the country, you can qualify for a free Silver health insurance plan if you meet certain income requirements. Government subsidies in the form of premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions may mean you'll pay nothing for coverage.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Flood insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Renters insurance
- Auto and motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- The Miami Herald
- Money.com
- MSN
- Nasdaq
- The Sacramento Bee
- Yahoo! Finance
Education
- BA, University of Washington
- Certificate in Copyediting, UC San Diego
Credentials
- Licensed Life & Disability Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
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.
