Best Cheap Health Insurance in Montana (2025)
Mountain Health CO-OP has the best health insurance in Montana. The company’s cheapest Silver plan costs $491 per month before discounts.
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Best and cheapest health insurance in Montana
Cheapest health insurance companies in Montana
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Montana has the most affordable health insurance in Montana, with Silver plans starting at $432 per month on average.
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Keep in mind that BCBS is the only company in Montana that sells point of service (POS) plans.
With a POS plan, you need a referral from your primary care doctor before you can see a specialist. That makes POS plans more restrictive than PPO plans. But, both POS and PPO plans let you see out-of-network doctors for a higher cost.
Affordable health insurance in Montana
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MT | $432 - $716 | |
| Mountain Health CO-OP | $491 - $658 | |
| PacificSource | $610 - $673 | |
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana has the cheapest rates for about two-thirds of Montana residents. BCBS has the most affordable quotes in most of Montana's large cities including Billings, Missoula, Great Falls and Bozeman.
- Mountain Health CO-OP has the best low-cost health insurance for rural Montanans. Mountain Health has the cheapest rates for about a third of the people who live in Montana.
Best health insurance companies in Montana
Mountain Health CO-OP has the best overall health insurance in Montana because of its good customer service, cheap rates and flexible coverage.
The company gets significantly fewer complaints than an average company its size. Plus, Mountain Health has a good 4 out of 5-star rating from ValuePenguin editors.
Best-rated health insurance companies in Montana
Company |
Editor rating
|
ACA rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Health CO-OP | 3.0 | |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana | 3.0 | |
| PacificSource Health Plans | 3.0 |
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PacificSource Health Plans: Best if you need frequent medical care
PacificSource is a good option if you need lots of medical care.
That's because PacificSource has the lowest average deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums of any company in Montana.
With PacificSource, you could pay up to an average of $7,633 each year for medical care. Blue Cross Blue Shield and PacificSource both have average out-of-pocket maximums over $8,000. The difference isn't huge, but it could help you save if you go to the doctor often or need expensive treatments.
How much does health insurance cost in Montana?
Montana marketplace insurance costs $636 per month at full price or $112 per month after discounts, on average.
- Higher plan tiers have more expensive monthly rates. But these plans let you pay less when you visit the doctor.
- Health insurance rates increase as you get older. In Montana, 60-year-olds pay more than twice as much as a 40-year-old for the same coverage, on average.
- You might pay less if you qualify for discounts. The size of your discount depends on the amount of money you make. You'll save more if you earn less.
Save on Montana health insurance with discounts
Montana residents who qualify for discounts can save hundreds of dollars per month on marketplace coverage.
About nine out of 10 people who have coverage through the MT health insurance exchange qualify for discounts, called subsidies or premium tax credits. Your income impacts the size of your discount: The less you earn, the more you save.
About one-third of Montana residents with marketplace coverage pay under $10 per month.
To be eligible for subsidies, you need to make between $15,606 and $60,240 per year as a single person (between $31,200 and $124,800 for a family of four). It's important to remember that you can only get discounts with a Bronze, Silver or Gold plan from HealthCare.gov. And you can't get subsidies if your income lets you get Medicaid.
Affordable health insurance in Montana by city
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana has the most affordable health insurance in most of Montana's largest cities including Billings, Missoula and Bozeman.
Mountain Health CO-OP has the cheapest rates in Butte.
Cheapest health insurance by MT county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Beaverhead | Mountain Health CO-OP Plus Silver Standard | $586 |
| Big Horn | Mountain Health CO-OP Plus Silver Standard | $586 |
| Blaine | Mountain Health CO-OP Plus Silver Standard | $586 |
| Broadwater | Mountain Health CO-OP Plus Silver Standard | $627 |
| Carbon | BCBS Blue Focus Silver POS 206 | $432 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
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Best health insurance by plan tier
Gold plans have the highest monthly costs, but you'll pay less when you get medical care. That makes Gold plans the best choice if you have ongoing medical needs.
Silver plans have average rates and middle-of-the-road costs you're responsible for paying when you visit the doctor. Silver plans are a good choice if you just see the doctor a few times per year.
Bronze plans have the cheapest average rates, but you'll pay a lot of money before most coverage starts. That means you should only choose a Bronze plan if you're in good health and can afford a large, unexpected medical bill.
Plan tiers don't have anything to do with the services you get. A Bronze and a Gold plan may offer the same benefits. The only difference is how you pay for coverage.
Gold plans: Best if you have frequent medical needs
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans are a good choice for people who have ongoing health problems. With a Gold plan, you'll pay very little before your coverage starts, and your annual costs are capped at an affordable level.
However, Gold plans have expensive monthly rates. If you're not seriously sick or injured, it usually doesn't make sense to get a Gold plan.
In Montana, Gold plans cost $680 per month and have a $1,311 deductible, , on average.
Silver plans: Best for most people
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Consider a Silver plan if you have average health needs. These plans balance affordable rates with middle-of-the-road costs when you get medical care.
Silver plans are also a good choice for people who earn a low income. That's because Silver plans are eligible for extra savings, called cost-sharing reductions, that significantly reduce what you pay when you get medical care.
In Montana, Silver plans cost $636 per month and have a $4,750 deductible, on average.
Bronze plans: Best if you're healthy and have savings
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze plans make sense for people who are young, healthy and can cover a large, unexpected medical bill from their savings. These plans have affordable rates, but you need to pay a high deductible before most services start.
In Montana, Bronze plans cost $464 per month and have a $7,422 deductible, on average.
Catastrophic plans: Best for preventing financial catastrophe
Catastrophic plans are almost always a bad idea.
Catastrophic plans have cheap rates, but you need to pay $9,200 before coverage starts for non-preventive services. You can only buy a Catastrophic plan if you're younger than 30, or you qualify for a
A Catastrophic plan can help you avoid financial disaster if you become very sick or get into a bad accident. But, these plans usually aren't a good choice because of their high deductibles.
Catastrophic plans aren't eligible for subsidies. If you earn a low income, you can get a higher plan tier for less than you'd pay for a Catastrophic plan.
Catastrophic plans cost $350 month, on average, in Montana.
Extra discounts and free health insurance in Montana
Free and discounted health insurance is available to Montana residents who make a low income.
Medicaid: Best for free health insurance in Montana
You may qualify for free health insurance, called Montana Medicaid, if you earn about $21,000 per year or less ($44,000 per year or less for a family of four). Pregnant women and children can get coverage with a higher household income.
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. |
You may qualify for extra discounts, called cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), if you make between $15,060 and $37,650 per year as a single person. Cost-sharing reductions help cover the portion of the bill you're responsible for paying when you visit the doctor.
You can only get cost-sharing reductions if you have a Silver health plan.
Are health insurance rates going up in MT?
The cost of health insurance rose an average of 9% from 2024 to 2025.
Silver plans had the largest increase, at 12%, on average. Gold plans cost an average of 9% more each month. Bronze plans rose by an average of 7%, while Catastrophic plans got 3% more expensive, on average.
Tier | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | $339 | $350 | 3% |
| Bronze | $432 | $464 | 7% |
| Silver | $568 | $636 | 12% |
| Gold | $623 | $680 | 9% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Plans bought through the Montana Health Insurance Exchange offer several important protections. For example, all plans sold on HealthCare.gov have to cover 10 essential benefits.
Services all Obamacare plans cover
- Hospital care
- Outpatient care
- Emergency care
- Laboratory services
- Coverage for babies
- Prescription drug coverage
- Preventive and wellness care
- Rehabilitation services and devices
- Care for pregnant women and newborns
- Mental health and substance use disorders
Plus, all marketplace plans have caps on how much you'll have to pay for care in a single year, called an out-of-pocket maximum.
Finally, companies can't consider your health history when setting rates or selling coverage. That means you won't pay a higher rate or get denied coverage if you have a serious disease like cancer or diabetes.
Average cost of health insurance by family size in Montana
How much you pay in total for health insurance depends on the size of your family.
In Montana, you'll pay an average of $381 per month for each child under the age of 15 in your family. After age 15, health insurance rates increase with a child's age.
A family in Montana with a single 40-year-old and one 14-year-old pays $1,017 per month before discounts on average. A couple with one child pays an average of $1,652 per month, and a family of four pays $2,033 per month, on average.
Family size | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Individual | $636 |
| Individual + Child | $1,017 |
| Couple, age 40 | $1,272 |
| Family of three | $1,652 |
| Family of four | $2,033 |
Averages based on a Silver plan for 40-year-old adults and children who are under age 15.
Short-term health insurance in Montana
In Montana, you can have short-term health insurance for up to four months per year.
Federal law limits plans to three months, but you can renew your coverage for up to one more month after your plan expires.
Short-term plans are usually a bad option because they offer fewer benefits and protections than Obamacare plans. However, if you need coverage outside of open enrollment and you're not eligible for a special enrollment period, short-term plans are a good stopgap option.
Plans bought before Sept. 1, 2024 can last up to 364 days. You can renew these plans for a total of three years.
Pros of short-term health insurance in MT
Cons of short-term health insurance in MT
Frequently asked questions
Who has the best health insurance in Montana?
Mountain Health CO-OP has the best health insurance in Montana because it offers a combination of cheap rates, quality plans and flexible coverage. The company gets fewer complaints than an average company its size according to the NAIC.
What is the cheapest health insurance in Montana?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Montana has the cheapest Obamacare plans in Montana, at $432 per month on average before discounts. But BCBS's cheapest plans are POS plans, which offer less flexibility than PPO plans.
What's the average cost of health insurance in Montana?
The average cost of health insurance in Montana is $636 per year if you pay full price or $112 after discounts.
Methodology
Montana health insurance rate data for 2025 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 and counties. Only plans and insurance companies for which county-level data was included in the CMS Crosswalk file were used in our analysis. Rates are for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan, unless otherwise noted.
Rates for plans with subsidies are for all shoppers during 2024 open enrollment who got advance premium tax credits (APTCs) on their monthly bills.
To find the best health insurance in Montana, ValuePenguin's experts reviewed each company's rates, coverage, service and unique features. Each company was assigned a score based on these metrics.
Other sources include S&P Global Capital IQ and the NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners).
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.