How To Find the Best Health Insurance in Massachusetts

You can find the best and cheapest health insurance in Massachusetts by shopping around and comparing quotes from multiple health insurance companies. On the whole, health insurance tends to be cheap in Massachusetts, although you may run into high premiums depending on what city you live in and how much money you make.

Learn more about Massachusetts health insurance including coverage requirements and low-cost options by reading the rest of this article.

On This Page

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  Is Health Insurance Required in Massachusetts?

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  Massachusetts Health Insurance Rankings

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  How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Massachusetts?

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

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  Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Massachusetts?

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  When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Massachusetts?

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  What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Massachusetts?

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  How To Get Health Insurance in Massachusetts

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  FAQ

Is Health Insurance Required in Massachusetts?

Adults in Massachusetts are required by law to have health insurance unless they qualify for an affordability or hardship exemption. Those who violate the law must pay a penalty for each month they are uninsured, ranging from $24 to $175 per month depending on their household income.^[1]

You should note that the penalty does not apply to individuals earning less than or equal to 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and it legally cannot exceed 50% of the cost of the cheapest plan you are eligible to join through Massachusetts’ state-run marketplace website, Health Connector.^[1]

Massachusetts Health Insurance Rankings

Massachusetts has the No. 1 health care system in the United States, according to a state-by-state comparison conducted by the Commonwealth Fund and published in 2023. Despite faring poorly in regard to limiting unnecessary hospital visits, the Bay State was ranked as the best state in the nation for five of the seven overarching metrics analyzed by the Commonwealth Fund.^[2]

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has lower-than-average health insurance costs; while Americans pay an average of $477 per month for Marketplace benchmark plans across the board, Bay Staters pay an average of $419 per month instead. Residents also pay an average monthly premium of $323 for the lowest-cost bronze plan available in Massachusetts, $397 for the lowest-cost silver plan and $485 for the lowest-cost gold plan.^[3]

Cheapest Health Insurance Options in Massachusetts

Massachusetts residents earning 500% of the FPL or less can qualify for ConnectorCare plans with low premiums, low copays and no deductibles. If your household income is no more than 150% of the FPL, then you may be eligible for coverage at no cost.^[4] For individuals making more than 500% of the FPL, the cheapest option will likely be a bronze-tier health plan, which comes with low premiums but high copays and deductibles.^[5]

Bay Staters of all income levels can also secure a lower monthly health insurance premium and pay less in out-of-pocket costs by opting for a health maintenance organization (HMO) rather than a preferred provider organization (PPO). Keep in mind that your insurance carrier won’t cover nonemergency out-of-network care or visits with a specialist your primary care physician has not referred you to if you opt to enroll in an HMO.^[6]

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

In the following table are median health insurance rates for 30-year-old individuals earning $40,000 per year in various large cities in Massachusetts. You should note that these sample quotes do not take subsidies like the advance premium tax credit into account.^[7]

Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Massachusetts?

WellSense is generally the cheapest health insurer in Massachusetts, with starting rates below $400 per month for 40-year-olds seeking silver-tier coverage. For examples of other carriers that offer this kind of coverage for less than $1,000 per month, see the table below.^[8]

When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has a nearly three-month open enrollment period spanning from November 1 to January 23. Outside of open enrollment, you can still enroll in a Massachusetts Health Connector plan if you qualify for a special enrollment period due to a major life event like losing your existing health coverage. In addition, you are allowed to enroll at any time during the year if you qualify for a ConnectorCare plan.^[9]

What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Massachusetts?

Whether your employer offers health insurance or you shop for coverage on your own, there are several different types of health care coverage that you may be able to sign up for in Massachusetts such as the following:

• Marketplace health insurance
• Private coverage purchased directly from an insurance company
• Employer-sponsored group health insurance
• Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage
• Medicare
• MassHealth (includes Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits
• Student health plans

How To Get Health Insurance in Massachusetts

It’s generally recommended that you compare health insurance quotes from around three to five unique carriers before joining a plan because different health insurance companies may use different formulas to calculate rates. The downside is that it can take a while to individually reach out to several insurers to give them the information they need to give you a quote such as your ZIP code, age and household income.

Fortunately, SmartFinancial streamlines the process by contacting agents who can compare health insurance quotes for you. All you have to do to get started is fill out a single questionnaire with information about the kind of coverage you’re looking for. If you’d like a free health insurance quote today, click here.