Best Cheap Health Insurance in West Virginia (2026)
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has the best cheap health insurance in West Virginia. Silver plans start at $911 per month before discounts.
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Best and cheapest health insurance in West Virginia
Cheapest health insurance companies in West Virginia
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has the cheapest health insurance plans in WV, followed by CareSource, with Silver rates starting at $911 per month before discounts.
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Affordable health insurance in West Virginia
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| Highmark BCBS | $911-$1,251 |
| CareSource | $944-$1,220 |
Consider a Gold plan instead of a Silver plan if you make more than $39,125 per year as a single person or more than $80,375 per year as a family of four. On average in WV, Gold plans are slightly cheaper than Silver plans and they give you better coverage.
However, if you have a lower income, Silver plans are a better option. That's because Silver plans can get an extra discount called a cost-sharing reductions that let you pay less when you go to the doctor. With this sort of discount, a Silver plan sometimes has even better coverage than a Gold plan.
In 2025, about three-fourths of people in West Virginia who got a plan on HealthCare.gov qualified for cost-sharing reduction discounts. That means Silver plans are still the best option for most people in West Virginia.
- There are only two companies selling plans on HealthCare.gov in West Virginia, which makes it easy to compare all your options.
- Highmark is the only company in West Virginia that sells PPO (preferred provider organization) plans. PPOs offer more flexibility when it comes to choosing your doctors.
- CareSource only offers HMO (health maintenance organization) plans. HMOs restrict you to a network of doctors. These plans also require you to choose a primary care doctor and that you get a referral before you see a specialist. Normally, HMOs cost less than PPO plans. However, the average cost of an HMO and PPO are about the same in West Virginia.
- Highmark is the most popular health insurance company in West Virginia. It sells close to half of all plans on the state marketplace.
CareSource: Cheapest Gold plans in West Virginia
CareSource has the cheapest Gold plans in West Virginia, with rates starting at $846 per month. If you make more than $39,125 per year as a single person or more than $80,375 per year as a family of four, a Gold plan could be a good option because you won't be able to get the extra discount that can make a Silver plan have better coverage.
Gold plans are usually cheaper than Silver plans in WV. Gold plans also cover more of your medical costs than a Silver plan unless you get cost-sharing reductions.
Best health insurance companies in West Virginia
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best health insurance company in West Virginia.
Highmark has a 3-out-of-5 star rating from HealthCare.gov, the highest rating in the state. And ValuePenguin's editors give Highmark a 4-out-of-5 star rating.
Highmark is a Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) company. BCBS has a reputation for quality coverage and large doctor networks. Choosing a plan that most doctors and hospitals accept can make it easier to get medical care.
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Best-rated health insurance companies in West Virginia
Company |
ACA rating
|
VP rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Highmark BCBS | ||
| CareSource |
What's the cost of health insurance in West Virginia?
Health insurance costs $1,093 per month in West Virginia if you pay full price or it could be about $252 per month after discounts.
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- Gold and Silver plans have more expensive monthly rates but lower costs when you visit the doctor. Bronze and Catastrophic plans have cheap rates. However, you'll pay a larger part of your medical bill with these plan tiers.
- You pay more for health insurance as you get older. Health insurance rates increase slowly in your 20s and 30s before rising sharply in middle age. In West Virginia, a 60-year-old pays over twice as much as a 40-year-old across all coverage levels.
Health insurance discount changes in West Virginia for 2026
Health insurance in West Virginia is expected to cost about $252 per month after discounts, on average.
That's more than twice as much as in 2025, when the cost of health insurance after discounts was around $108 per month. Discounts won't save you as much in 2026 because of a change to how the discounts are structured. Since 2021, shoppers with low incomes have gotten bigger "enhanced" subsidies. But those bigger discounts are expiring at the end of 2025, unless Congress renews them.
Health insurance rates in West Virginia after subsidies (2025 vs. 2026)
Income | 2025 rate | 2026 rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $49 | $155 | 216% |
| $40,000 | $154 | $287 | 86% |
| $50,000 | $283 | $415 | 47% |
| $60,000 | $423 | $498 | 18% |
| $70,000 | $496 | $1,073 | 116% |
Average cost after subsidies for a single 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan.
- What are subsidies? Subsidies are discounts that make your health insurance rate cheaper. You can only get subsidies if you shop on HealthCare.gov.
- Who can get subsidies? You can get subsidies if you make between $15,650 and $62,600 per year as an individual or between $32,150 and $128,600 per year as a family of four. However, if you can get Medicaid, you can't get subsidies. Additionally, Congress is debating the future of the subsidy program, which means the eligibility could change.
- How much do you save? You can use ValuePenguin's subsidy calculator to see how much you could save. The lower your income, the more you'll save with subsidies. However, Congress could also change the savings level for subsidies.
- How do you use subsidies? You can apply your discount to any Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum plan sold on HealthCare.gov. Catastrophic plans aren't eligible for marketplace subsidies.
Cheap West Virginia health insurance plans by city
Highmark BCBS has the cheapest plans throughout West Virginia.
That includes West Virginia's biggest cities, like Charleston, Huntington and Morgantown. But just because a plan is cheap doesn't mean it will fit with your medical needs. Always review all your options and compare plans against both your budget and your health care needs.
Cheapest health insurance plans by WV county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Barbour | Highmark BCBS PPO Standard Silver 6000 | $1,028 |
| Berkeley | Highmark BCBS PPO Standard Silver 6000 | $911 |
| Boone | Highmark BCBS PPO Standard Silver 6000 | $1,056 |
| Braxton | Highmark BCBS PPO Standard Silver 6000 | $1,056 |
| Brooke | Highmark BCBS PPO Standard Silver 6000 | $1,000 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
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Best health insurance by level of coverage
In West Virginia, the best health insurance for you depends on the level of care you need and your financial situation.
Platinum: Best if you need expensive medical care
| Platinum plans pay for about 90% of your medical care. |
In West Virginia, the average Platinum plan costs $1,815 per month but has a $0 deductible.
Platinum plans pay most of the costs you're responsible for when you go to the doctor. However, Platinum plans rarely make sense because of their high monthly costs. These plans are usually only a good choice if you expect to need a lot of expensive medical care in the coming year.
Gold plans: Best for frequent medical care
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans in West Virginia cost $1,007 per month before discounts and have a $1,669 deductible, on average.
Consider a Gold plan if you need frequent or expensive medical care. These plans have expensive rates, but you pay very little when you go to the doctor.
And in Virginia, Gold plans actually cost less than Silver plans. They're the best option if you make more than $39,125 as a single person or more than $80,375 as a family of four. If you make less than that, a Silver plan is better because you can get an extra discount.
With a Gold plan, you'll pay less before coverage starts, and your annual limit on the costs you're responsible for paying are capped at a lower rate, called an out-of-pocket maximum.
Silver plans: Best for average medical needs
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
In West Virginia, Silver plans cost $1,093 per month and have a $4,646-per-year deductible, on average.
Silver health plans have average rates and reasonable costs that you pay when you visit the doctor. That makes Silver plans a good choice for most people in West Virginia. Consider a Silver health plan if you typically only visit the doctor a few times per year.
You may qualify for extra discounts, called cost-sharing reductions, if you have Silver health insurance and you earn between $15,650 and $39,125 per year (between $32,150 and $80,375 for a family of four). Cost-sharing reductions can cover up to 94% of the costs that you're responsible for paying when you go to the hospital.
Bronze plans: Best if you're young and typically healthy
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
In West Virginia, Bronze plans cost $817 per month before discounts and have a $7,563 deductible on average.
Consider a Bronze plan if you're generally healthy and you can easily pay a large, unexpected medical bill from your savings. These plans have affordable monthly rates, but you'll pay a lot of money before coverage for most services starts.
Don't get a Bronze plan if you would struggle to pay the deductible. While it may be tempting to save on your monthly rate, you don't want to put yourself at risk for medical debt.
Catastrophic plans: Best to prevent financial disaster
In West Virginia, catastrophic plans cost $601 per month and have a $10,600 deductible, on average.
Catastrophic plans offer bare-bones coverage at a low cost. However, you'll have to pay $10,600 before coverage starts for most services, which is called a deductible.
Catastrophic plans are a bad choice for most people. In addition to their high deductibles, Catastrophic plans aren't eligible for discounts. That means Catastrophic plans may cost more than other plan tiers if you make a low income.
You can only buy a Catastrophic plan if you're under the age of 30 or you qualify for a special hardship exemption.
Low-cost and free health insurance in WV
You may qualify for free health insurance or extra discounts if you meet certain income requirements and live in West Virginia.
Medicaid: Free health insurance for West Virginians who earn a low income
You may be eligible for free government health insurance, called Medicaid, if you make about $22,000 per year or less as a single person (around $44,000 per year or less for a family of four) and you live in West Virginia.
Pregnant women, families with children and people with certain illnesses and disabilities may qualify with higher incomes.
Silver plans with cost-sharing reductions: Best if you earn a low income but don't qualify for Medicaid
| Silver plans will pay 73% to 94% of your medical costs if you make a low income. |
West Virginians who make between $15,650 and $39,125 per year (between $32,150 and $80,375 per year for a family of four) and who choose a Silver plan may qualify for extra discounts, called cost-sharing reductions. In 2025, 72% of people with ACA plans could get this type of discount because of their incomes, which is why Silver plans are the best option for most people in the state.
Cost-sharing reductions help pay for the costs you're responsible for when you visit the doctor or hospital, such as your deductible, copays and coinsurance.
Are health insurance rates going up in WV in 2026?
Health insurance got 7% more expensive on average in West Virginia between 2025 and 2026.
Catastrophic plans had the biggest increase, at 15% more in 2026 than in 2025. Bronze plans are 11% more expensive this year, and Silver plans are up 14%. During the last five years, Silver plans have gotten 32% more expensive.
But not all plan levels cost more. Gold plans are 1% cheaper this year. Platinum plans, which were new to West Virginia in 2025, are 7% cheaper for 2026.
Catastrophic
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $493 | – |
| 2023 | $501 | 2% |
| 2024 | $518 | 3% |
| 2025 | $524 | 1% |
| 2026 | $601 | 15% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Catastrophic
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $493 | – |
| 2023 | $501 | 2% |
| 2024 | $518 | 3% |
| 2025 | $524 | 1% |
| 2026 | $601 | 15% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Bronze
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $413 | – |
| 2023 | $709 | 72% |
| 2024 | $707 | 0% |
| 2025 | $736 | 4% |
| 2026 | $817 | 11% |
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 | $831 | – |
| 2023 | $871 | 5% |
| 2024 | $877 | 1% |
| 2025 | $955 | 9% |
| 2026 | $1,093 | 14% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $893 | – |
| 2023 | $947 | 6% |
| 2024 | $944 | 0% |
| 2025 | $1,015 | 8% |
| 2026 | $1,007 | -1% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Platinum
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,946 | – |
| 2026 | $1,815 | -7% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Why is health insurance expensive in WV in 2026?
Rising health care costs are pushing up health insurance rates in 2026.
When it's more expensive to get medical care, health insurance companies pay more every time you go to the doctor or fill a prescription. Those added costs are then multiplied by hundreds of thousands or even millions of customers. To make up for it, medical insurance companies charge everyone higher rates.
The high costs for weight-loss drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, are a major reason health insurance rates are going up. These medications are both expensive and becoming widely used, which means they cost health insurance companies a lot of money. To be able to afford them, companies increase rates across the board.
You might also pay higher rates in 2026 because of changes to marketplace discounts, called subsidies. Since 2021, shoppers with low incomes have gotten bigger discounts called "enhanced subsidies." These extra discounts are set to expire at the end of 2025, unless Congress extends them. If they do expire and the discounts go back to their previous levels, you'll pay more for health insurance because your discount will be smaller.
How to prepare for the 2026 rate increases
- Get quotes from other companies. If your health plan rate goes up in 2026, getting quotes can be an easy way to see if you can find a cheaper option. There are only two companies on HealthCare.gov in West Virginia, but you can check out different plans from each to see if you can get a cheaper rate.
- Consider switching to a lower-tier plan. A lower-tier plan, like Bronze, comes with cheaper monthly rates than higher-tier plans, like Gold. Switching to a Bronze plan can be an easy way to save money, but keep in mind that you'll have to pay for more of your medical bills yourself. In 2026, you can open a health savings account (HSA) with a Bronze plan to help you save for medical costs.
- See if you can get discounts. Even if the extra discounts aren't extended and the savings on HealthCare.gov are smaller in 2026, they'll still save you money if you qualify. If you have a low income or have recently had a change of income, check to see if you can get discounts.
- Check if you can get Medicaid. If you make less than around $22,000 per year as an individual, you can probably get Medicaid in West Virginia. If you qualify for Medicaid, most of your health care costs will be free or very cheap.
West Virginia medical insurance marketplace plans have to cover certain services, called essential benefits.
Essential benefits for WV marketplace insurance
- Outpatient care
- Emergency care
- Hospital care
- Care for pregnant women and newborns
- Care for mental health and substance use disorders
- Prescription drugs
- Laboratory services
- Coverage for babies
- Rehabilitation services and devices
- Preventive, wellness and ongoing disease services
West Virginia marketplace plans also limit the amount of money you'll pay for medical care in a single year, called an out-of-pocket maximum. Out-of-pocket maximums are capped at $10,600 per year for 2026 plans, although most plans have lower limits.
West Virginia marketplace insurance offers one other major protection: Companies can't deny coverage or charge higher rates based on your health history. That means you'll pay the same rate for medical insurance even if you have a serious illness like cancer or heart disease.
Cost of West Virginia health insurance by family size
West Virginia parents pay $654, before discounts, for each child they add to their plan, on average.
A 40-year-old West Virginian pays an average of $1,093 per month for a Silver plan. That means a single parent with one child pays $1,747 per month before discounts for coverage, on average.
Keep in mind, your discount depends on the amount of money you make and the number of people in your household. That means larger families can qualify for discounts at higher incomes.
Family size | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Individual | $1,093 |
| Individual and child | $1,747 |
| Couple | $2,186 |
| Family of three | $2,840 |
| Family of four | $3,495 |
Averages based on a Silver plan for 40-year-old adults and children who are under age 15.
Short-term health insurance in West Virginia
In January 2025, President Trump reversed a Biden administration rule that would have limited the length of a short-term health policy to three months. The government hasn't set a timeline for when this change will happen. However, you may be able to buy short-term health insurance in West Virginia for up to 364 days sometime later this year.
A short-term plan can help you bridge a temporary gap in your coverage if you're not in open enrollment (Nov. 1 to Jan. 15), and you don't qualify for what's called a special enrollment period, which lets you buy marketplace coverage outside of open enrollment.
It's important to remember that short-term health plans typically have poor coverage. That makes them a poor substitute for marketplace health coverage.
Pros of short-term health insurance in WV
Cons of short-term health insurance in WV
Health insurance enrollment by income level in West Virginia
In West Virginia, 6 in 10 people with marketplace plans make less than $30,120 per year.
Rate hikes and lower discounts disproportionately affect people with lower incomes. Because their budgets have less room for higher costs, it's more likely that people with low incomes will choose to go without health insurance.
Enrollment by income
Income | % of total enrollment |
|---|---|
| Less than $15,060 | 0% |
| $15,060 to $20,783 | 9% |
| $20,784 to $22,590 | 29% |
| $22,591 to $30,120 | 22% |
| $30,121 to $37,650 | 12% |
Enrollment in 2025 marketplace plans made during the 2024-2025 Open Enrollment period. Total may not be 100% due to rounding
Frequently asked questions
What's the best health insurance in WV?
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has the best health insurance in West Virginia because of its cheap rates, flexible plan options and good customer service.
What's the average cost of health insurance in West Virginia?
Health insurance costs $1,093 per month in West Virginia, on average, before discounts. Your rate depends on the plan tier and company you choose, as well as your age, where you live, how many people are on your plan, and whether or not you smoke or use tobacco.
What is the monthly income limit for Medicaid in WV?
The monthly income limit for Medicaid in West Virginia is about $22,000 per year or less (roughly $44,000 per year or less for a family of four). Pregnant women, children and the disabled may qualify at higher household income levels.
Can I get health insurance for $100 a month in WV?
You might be able to get health insurance for $100 or less in West Virginia if you have a low income and you can get discounts. Otherwise, health insurance is generally more expensive. A Silver plan costs $1,093 per month for a 40-year-old and $855 per month for a 21-year-old, on average.
Are subsidies going away in 2026?
Subsidies probably won't go away entirely in 2026, but they will likely change. The discounts probably won't be as big, and it's possible that the eligibility will change, too. Congress is set to debate the future of subsidies in December 2025.
Methodology
West Virginia health insurance rate data for 2026 is from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website. ValuePenguin used the CMS public use files (PUFs) 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 rates calculated 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 West 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.
Reasons for health insurance rate increases in West Virginia come from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. Other sources include KFF, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), S&P Global Capital IQ and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services.
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.
