Best Cheap Health Insurance in Massachusetts (2025)
Mass General Brigham Health Plan has the best health insurance in Massachusetts. Its cheapest Silver plan costs $573 per month before discounts.
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Cheapest health insurance companies in Massachusetts
WellSense Health Plan sells the cheapest Silver plans in Massachusetts. Rates start at $406 per month.
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Affordable health insurance in Massachusetts
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| WellSense Health Plan | $406 - $467 | |
| Fallon Health | $432 - $465 | |
| Tufts Health Plan | $445 - $515 | |
| Mass General Brigham Health Plan | $573 - $833 | |
- WellSense Health Plan sells the cheapest Silver plan for nearly everyone in Massachusetts.
- If you want the freedom to choose your doctors, UnitedHealthcare is a better choice. UnitedHealthcare is the only company in Massachusetts that sells EPO plans. These plans let you see a specialist without getting a referral. You also don't need to choose a primary care doctor with an EPO.
Best health insurance companies in Massachusetts
Mass General Brigham is the best health insurance company in Massachusetts.
It has a perfect 5.0 rating from HealthCare.gov. That means health plans from Mass General Brigham have quality coverage and good customer satisfaction.
Health New England is also affordable, with Silver plans starting at $573 per month.
Best-rated health insurance companies in Massachusetts
Company |
Editor rating
|
ACA rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Mass General Brigham Health Plan | 5.0 | |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts | 5.0 | |
| Fallon Health | 5.0 | |
| Health New England | 5.0 | |
| Harvard Pilgrim Health Care | 5.0 |
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Harvard Pilgrim, Fallon Health and Health New England also have perfect 5.0 ratings from HealthCare.gov. Look at rates from these companies if you live in an area where they're available.
Best for flexible coverage: UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is the only company in Massachusetts that offers EPO (exclusive provider organization) plans. With an EPO, you don't need to choose a primary care doctor or get a referral to see a specialist. This gives you more flexibility than HMO (health maintenance organization) plans, which are the only other options in Massachusetts.
Keep in mind, EPO plans tend to cost more than HMOs. The cheapest Silver EPO plan in MA costs $905 per month. That's roughly $500 per month more expensive than the cheapest Silver HMO plan in Massachusetts.
In addition, you may need permission from your insurance company, called prior authorization, before you can get certain types of specialty care.
Consider an EPO plan if you want to get specialty care without a referral and don't need to get the cheapest rate.
How much does health insurance cost in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts health insurance costs an average of $661 per month, but you could pay $118 per month, on average, if you qualify for discounts based on your income.
- The plan tier you choose will impact your health insurance costs. Higher plan tiers have more expensive monthly rates than lower plan tiers, such as Silver, Bronze and Catastrophic plans.
- But you'll pay less when you visit the doctor or fill a prescription with a higher plan tier. Lower plan tiers usually have high costs when you get medical care.
- Your age is also a big factor in how much you'll pay. In Massachusetts, the cost of a Silver plan jumps by almost 70% between the ages of 40 and 60.
Get affordable health insurance in Massachusetts with subsidies
Massachusetts health insurance costs $118 per month, on average, if you get discounts because of your income.
Roughly 8 in 10 people who buy marketplace health insurance in Massachusetts qualify for discounts because of their incomes. One type of discount, called a rate subsidy, lowers your monthly rate. In Massachusetts, about 1 in 5 people who qualify for rate subsidies pay $10 or less each month for a plan.
You qualify for rate subsidies if you are single and make between about $15,000 and $60,000 per year. If you're a family of four, you have to make between roughly $31,000 and $125,000 per year. You can apply a subsidy to Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum plans from any company.
If you qualify for rate subsidies, you might also qualify for another type of discount called cost-sharing reductions. These savings lower what you pay when you go to the doctor.
Cheap Massachusetts health insurance plans by city
WellSense Health Plan is the cheapest company in all of Massachusetts' major cities.
That includes Boston, Worcester, Springfield and Cambridge. In fact, WellSense sells the cheapest Silver plan in nearly every county in Massachusetts. For 98% of the state's population, WellSense is the cheapest.
Cheapest health insurance by MA county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable | WellSense Clarity Silver | $467 |
| Berkshire | Fallon Health Standard Silver | $456 |
| Bristol | WellSense Clarity Silver | $406-$419 |
| Dukes | Mass General Brigham Standard Silver | $605-$676 |
| Essex | WellSense Clarity Silver | $411 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
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In Berkshire County, Fallon Health is the cheapest option. And in Dukes and Nantucket, Mass General Brigham sells the cheapest Silver plan.
Best health insurance by level of coverage
No matter where you live in Massachusetts, you will get the chance to choose from five different plan tiers: Catastrophic, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Lower plan tiers, like Catastrophic and Bronze, pay for less of your health care, while higher plan tiers, like Platinum, pay for more. When choosing a plan, try to balance your monthly budget and healthcare needs.
Platinum plans: Best if you have a chronic or complex condition
| Platinum plans pay for about 90% of your medical care. |
Platinum plans are best if you have a chronic or complex condition to manage, or if you take expensive prescriptions or need pricey medical treatments.
These plans have high monthly rates which are balanced out by low out-of-pocket costs. This means you'll pay less when you go to the doctor, because Platinum plans have lower deductibles, copays and coinsurance than higher-tier plans.
Platinum plans cost $928 per month, on average, in Massachusetts.
Gold plans: Best if you need frequent medical care
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans are cheaper than Platinum plans but still pay for a large share of your medical bills. They're a good option if you go to the doctor often or expect to need medical care in the coming year.
For example, if you plan to have a baby or think you'll need surgery, a Gold plan might be a good idea.
In Massachusetts, Gold plans cost an average of $741 per month.
Silver plans: Best if you have moderate medical needs
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans are best for most people because they balance good coverage with affordable rates. They might be a good idea if you go to the doctor a handful of times each year or have a moderate health condition to manage.
If you aren't sure how much coverage you need, start by looking at Silver plans and deciding if they're right for you.
Silver plans cost an average of $661 per month in Massachusetts.
Bronze plans: Best if you're healthy and have emergency savings
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze plans often have the cheapest monthly health insurance rates. They can be a good option if you're young, healthy and don't expect to need much medical care.
But you should make sure you have savings in the bank to pay for higher medical costs if you're sick or injured, since Bronze plans don't pay as much of your medical bills.
Bronze plans in Massachusetts cost $515 per month, on average.
Catastrophic health insurance have very cheap monthly rates and high out-of-pocket costs.
Only people under the age of 30 or those who qualify for a special hardship exemption can buy a Catastrophic plan. Catastrophic health insurance plans are rarely a good idea financially, because they offer very little coverage and can leave you with high medical bills.
Plus, you can't get discounts on Catastrophic plans. That means you can usually get a cheaper plan with better coverage if you earn a low income.
Catastrophic plans cost $355 per month, on average, for a 21-year-old in Massachusetts.
Cheap or free health insurance in Massachusetts if you have a low income
If you have a low income and can't afford insurance, or if you're struggling to pay your medical bills even with insurance, there are a few options.
MassHealth: Medicaid in Massachusetts
Medicaid is a type of free health insurance from the government.
In Massachusetts, Medicaid is called MassHealth. You can qualify for Medicaid if you earn roughly $21,000 or less as a single person or around $44,000 or less as a family of four. You should consider applying for Medicaid if your income is within this range, since there's no monthly cost to you.
If you're over the age of 65, you should see if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. This can increase your coverage and lower your medical costs even more.
Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical care
If you buy a Silver plan, you may get discounts that lower the cost of your medical care if you make under about $38,000 as a single person or around $78,000 as a family of four. These are called cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), and they let you pay less when you go to the doctor by lowering your deductible, copay and coinsurance.
Are health insurance rates going up in MA?
In 2025, the average cost of health insurance in Massachusetts is rising by 5%.
Bronze plans had the largest average increase, at 8%. Gold plans rose an average of 5% and Silver and Platinum plans got 3% more expensive, on average.
Are health insurance rates going up in MA?
Tier | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $476 | $515 | 8% |
| Silver | $639 | $661 | 3% |
| Gold | $706 | $741 | 5% |
| Platinum | $898 | $928 | 3% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Plan tiers don't have anything to do with the quality of care you get or the types of medical care is covered by your plan. All plans from Massachusetts Health Connector, the state's health insurance marketplace, cover at least 10 health circumstances.
- Doctor visits
- Preventive and wellness care
- Emergency care
- Hospital stays
- Prescription medications
- Lab services
- Pregnancy, maternity and newborn care
- Pediatric care
- Mental health and substance use care
- Rehab services
The difference between the plan tiers is how much you pay each month and how much you pay when you go to the doctor.
COBRA health insurance in Massachusetts
COBRA health insurance in MA costs $781 per month if you're single and $2,328 per month if you're a family.
COBRA is a program that lets you keep the health insurance you had with your employer if you quit, lose or retire from your job. The coverage usually lasts up to a year and a half from the time you lose your job. The catch is that you have to pay full price for the plan; your employer no longer chips in.
Unless you need a specific type of coverage that your employer plan had, a plan from the Massachusetts health insurance marketplace is likely to be a better option. And it will almost certainly be much cheaper.
Short-term health insurance in Massachusetts
In 2024, no health insurance companies sell short-term health insurance in Massachusetts.
If you're in need of health insurance due to a sudden loss of coverage, you should see if you have an IRS qualifying event. This lets you sign up for health insurance outside the open enrollment period.
Frequently asked questions
Does Massachusetts have free health insurance?
In Massachusetts, you can sign up for MassHealth, which is the state-specific name for Massachusetts's Medicaid program if you earn a low income. The program gives you free health insurance if you make around $21,000 for a single person or roughly $44,000 for a family of four in 2025.
How much does health insurance cost per month in Massachusetts?
Health insurance costs $661 per month, on average, in Massachusetts for a 40-year-old with a Silver health plan. Your age, plan level and location all influence your health insurance quotes.
What is the most popular health insurance in Massachusetts?
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of MA is the most popular health insurance company in Massachusetts, selling more than half of the state's health insurance plans. It is well-rated for plan quality and is available throughout the state.
However, BCBS is one of the most expensive health insurance companies in MA. Mass General Brigham is a good alternative since it offers similar levels of quality at a lower price.
Methodology
Health insurance rates in Massachusetts are from Massachusetts Health Connector, the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace. Average rates are for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan, unless a different age or plan level is specifically noted.
The cost of health insurance plans with subsidies is based on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The data is for everyone who shopped for health insurance during 2024 open enrollment and also qualified for advanced premium tax credits (APTCs). Info about COBRA in Massachusetts is from KFF.
Additional sources include the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and S&P Global Capital IQ.
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.