How To Find the Best Health Insurance in California

California has an extended open enrollment period compared to most other states, giving residents plenty of time to shop around for the health plan that best matches their coverage needs. In general, California boasts a fairly highly-rated health care system and slightly more affordable health insurance than the average state.

Keep reading for a more in-depth overview of California health insurance including which carriers typically offer the lowest rates and what happens if you don’t purchase coverage.

On This Page

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  Is Health Insurance Required in California?

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  California Health Insurance Rankings

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  How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in California?

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  What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in California by City?

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  Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in California?

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  When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in California?

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  What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in California?

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  How To Get Health Insurance in California

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  FAQs

Is Health Insurance Required in California?

Health insurance is required by law for all California residents unless they qualify for a general hardship, affordability hardship or religious conscience exemption. Families that choose to go the whole year without coverage and don’t qualify for an exemption will incur a tax penalty of at least $900 per adult and $450 per dependent child under the age of 18.^[1]

California Health Insurance Rankings

California is ranked 14th out of 51 in a 2023 analysis by the Commonwealth Fund measuring the quality of the health care systems in each state and the District of Columbia, with California notably ranking in the top 10 regarding health equity among residents of different racial and ethnic backgrounds and boasting the lowest maternal mortality rate in the country. For a breakdown of California’s performance across several different metrics, see the table below.^[2]

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in California?

Health insurance is generally a bit cheaper in California than throughout the country, as Health Insurance Marketplace benchmark plans cost $468 per month on average in California and $477 per month on average across the United States. Other average monthly premiums worth noting include $367 for the lowest-cost bronze plan available in California, $438 for the lowest-cost silver plan and $492 for the lowest-cost gold plan.^[3]

Cheapest Health Insurance Options in California

Bronze plans come with low premiums and high out-of-pocket costs, making them the cheapest plans for people who rarely need health care. Of course, you may want to opt for a higher-tiered gold or platinum health insurance plan instead if you expect to need medical services often and want to lower your out-of-pocket costs like copays, coinsurance and deductibles.^[4]

You should also note that you will generally pay less in monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs if you select a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan over a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan. That said, you should be aware that you won’t have access to certain services with an HMO such as out-of-network routine care or visits with specialists your primary care physician hasn’t referred you to.^[5]

What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in California by City?

To get an idea of how much health insurance costs in major Californian cities, see the following table, which includes monthly rates quoted from California’s state-run Marketplace website, Covered California, for a sample population that includes 30-year-old individuals making $40,000 per year. Keep in mind that these quotes do not include premium tax credits, which are income-based subsidies that can reduce your monthly health insurance bill.^[6]

Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in California?

L.A. Care offers the cheapest coverage in California across all metal levels on average, although you should keep in mind that its health insurance plans are only available in Los Angeles County. You can view the table below for a rundown of insurance carriers in California that charge 40-year-olds less than $600 per month on average for silver plans.^[7]

When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in California?

Open enrollment occurs on Covered California from November 1 to January 31.^[8] This means that Californians get more than two weeks of additional time to sign up for health insurance compared to the federal open enrollment period lasting from November 1 to January 15.^[9]

Outside of open enrollment, you may still be able to enroll in a health plan if you qualify for a special enrollment period triggered by a major life event such as moving to a new home, having a baby or losing your existing health insurance coverage.^[10]

What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in California?

Residents of California can purchase various types of health insurance coverage including the following:

• Marketplace health insurance
• Private coverage purchased directly from a health insurance company such as short-term health insurance
• Employer-sponsored group health insurance
• Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage
• Medicare
• Medicaid (known in California as Medi-Cal)
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits
• Student health plans

How To Get Health Insurance in California

You should compare rates from multiple health insurance companies in California, usually around three to five. Of course, it can undoubtedly be a hassle to contact several insurers to give them information like your age, ZIP code and income in order to request health insurance quotes.

But health insurance shopping doesn’t have to be a hassle thanks to SmartFinancial. Simply answer a few questions about your coverage needs and budget and then we’ll help you compare quotes for free in as little as a few minutes. You can click here if you’d like to receive health insurance quotes today.