How To Find the Best Health Insurance in Kentucky

Compare quotes from multiple carriers to find the best Kentucky health insurance rate for coverage that meets your needs. While the "Bluegrass" State has no tax penalty or fines for going without health insurance, buying health coverage can help you avoid overwhelming medical bills and the risk of medical debt if you get injured and require rehabilitative treatment or develop a serious illness.

Keep reading to learn about Kentucky health insurance, the most affordable plans, the cost in some of the state's largest cities and the available health care options.

On This Page

• 

  Is Health Insurance Required in Kentucky?

• 

  Kentucky Health Insurance Rankings

• 

  How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Kentucky?

• 

  Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Kentucky?

• 

  When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Kentucky?

• 

  What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Kentucky?

• 

  How To Get Health Insurance in Kentucky

• 

  FAQs

Is Health Insurance Required in Kentucky?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) initially enforced a federal tax penalty on individuals who did not enroll in a qualified health insurance plan but as of the 2018 tax year, this penalty no longer applies.^[1] While some states still carry fines for not having health insurance coverage as a resident, Kentucky won’t tax or fine you for forgoing coverage.^[2]

Kentucky Health Insurance Rankings

The Commonwealth Fund ranked Kentucky 40 out of 51 in an analysis that took a holistic look at the health care systems in each U.S. state and Washington, D.C. Kentucky notably ranked 49th in terms of healthy lives for its residents and 26th, the state’s highest score, in racial and ethnic health equity. When considering all metrics, the state ranked fifth among the 12 Southeastern states.^[3]

Below is an overview of Kentucky’s national rank in each of the dimensions analyzed by the Commonwealth Fund:^[3]

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Kentucky?

Kentucky Marketplace benchmark plans cost $431 per month on average, which is less expensive than the nationwide average of $477 per month. On average, Kentucky residents pay a monthly premium of $361 for the lowest-cost bronze plan in the state, $421 for the lowest-cost silver plan and $463 for the lowest-cost gold plan.^[4]

Cheapest Health Insurance Options in Kentucky

Bronze-tier Marketplace plans have the lowest monthly health insurance premiums in Kentucky but often come with higher deductibles, copays and coinsurance. This may be fine if you do not visit the doctor often but if you do require frequent or extensive medical care, then a gold or platinum plan may be a better fit. You may have to pay a higher premium but the out-of-pocket cost for visiting the doctor or refilling a prescription will be lower.

Plans are often divided into health maintenance organization (HMO) plans or preferred provider organizations (PPO) plans (although there are certainly more types of plans). Despite typically having lower monthly premiums, HMOs often have fewer benefits than PPOs. For example, seeing a specialist with an HMO plan may require a referral from your primary care doctor and your in-network options could be more limited.

Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Kentucky?

Ambetter offers the most affordable health insurance silver-tier plans in the majority of Kentucky’ counties. Depending on your health status and coverage needs, Anthem, which is part of Blue Cross Blue Shield, may offer access to more benefits with one of the country's most extensive networks of physicians.^[5]

Below is an overview of Kentucky health insurers selling silver plans that cost below $800 per month for 40-year-olds.^[5]

When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Kentucky?

Kentucky residents can enroll in health insurance in their state’s Marketplace plan via kynect.ky.gov during the designated open enrollment period from November 1 to January 15.^[6] To guarantee coverage starting January 1, ensure you choose a health insurance plan by December 15. If you wait until after that date to confirm a selection, your coverage won’t begin until February 1.^[7]

Specific qualifying life events may initiate a special enrollment period, enabling you to enroll outside the open enrollment timeframe. These events include moving to a new address, getting married, having and adopting children or losing employer-sponsored health insurance. This special enrollment period generally spans 60 days before or after the qualifying event.^[8]

What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Kentucky?

Some of the major types of medical insurance you can purchase in Kentucky include the following:

• State-based Marketplace health plans
• Short-term health plans
• Private coverage directly from a provider
• Employer-sponsored group health insurance
• Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage
• Medicare
• Medicaid programs
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), also called KCHIP
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits
• Student health plans

How To Get Health Insurance in Kentucky

Getting the best deal on individual or family health insurance requires comparing health insurance quotes to understand your options and find what works based on your needs. Get quotes from three to five insurance companies to ensure you have enough variety. However, sorting through each insurance carrier option one by one can become tedious.

Using an insurance marketplace like SmartFinancial can help save you time and effort in getting health insurance coverage. After you complete a brief questionnaire, we'll match you with a licensed insurance agent to find affordable health plans that meet your needs. Click here for a free Kentucky health insurance quote!