How To Find the Best Health Insurance in Missouri
 Written by Preston Micalizio Preston MicalizioPreston Micalizio writes insurance content for SmartFinancial. He brings three years of professional experience writing ... Read more |  Edited by Dan MarticioDan MarticioDan Marticio is the content manager at SmartFinancial and has written 150+ articles across multiple insurance verticals.... Read more |
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You’ll want to shop around to find the ideal health insurance option in Missouri, comparing multiple insurance carriers to get the best rate for your needs. There is no tax penalty if you go without health insurance in the “Show-Me” State, but if you get unexpectedly sick or suffer a costly injury, having coverage can help protect you from severe medical debt.
Keep reading to learn more about Missouri health insurance, the most affordable plans, the health insurance cost in some of the state’s largest cities and what types of health care options are available.
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Key Takeaways
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On This Page
Is Health Insurance Required in Missouri?
Missouri Health Insurance Rankings
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Missouri?
What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Missouri by City?
Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Missouri?
When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Missouri?
What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Missouri?
How To Get Health Insurance in Missouri?
FAQs
Is Health Insurance Required in Missouri?
After the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed, American taxpayers were legally required to have health insurance that covered a minimum amount of benefits. However, as of the 2018 tax year, there are no longer federal tax penalties for people who don't enroll in a health coverage plan.[1] Not having health insurance does carry fines in some states, but Missouri does not levy fines or taxes for not having coverage.[2]
While this lack of penalties means that health insurance is effectively optional across Missouri, you'll likely be left responsible for paying bills for medical care out of pocket if you don't have coverage.
Missouri Health Insurance Rankings
The Commonwealth Fund ranked Missouri 38 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. Missouri notably ranked last out of all states in terms of income disparity but 28th, the state’s highest score, in racial and ethnic health equity. When considering all metrics, the state ranked last among seven Plains states, which include Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.[3]
Below is an overview of Missouri’s national rank in each of the dimensions analyzed by the Commonwealth Fund:[3]
|
Dimension |
National Rank |
|---|---|
|
Reproductive & Women’s Health |
34 |
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Access & Affordability |
35 |
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Prevention & Treatment |
36 |
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Avoidable Hospital Use & Cost |
35 |
|
Healthy Lives |
40 |
|
Income Disparity |
51 |
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Racial & Ethnic Health Equity |
28 |
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Missouri?
Marketplace benchmark plans in Missouri cost $501 per month on average, which is more expensive than the nationwide average of $477 per month. On average, Missouri residents pay a monthly premium of $391 for the lowest-cost bronze plan available in the state, $498 for the lowest-cost silver plan and $536 for the lowest-cost gold plan.[4]
Cheapest Health Insurance Options in Missouri
Bronze-tier Marketplace plans will typically be the cheapest option for health care in Missouri, which exchange higher deductibles, copays, and coinsurance for lower monthly premiums. However, depending on your needs, you may want to consider a higher-tier health care plan. For example, if you require regular doctor visits due to an injury or have a chronic illness that requires maintenance, such as diabetes management, you might benefit from a plan that has a higher monthly premium but lower out-of-pocket costs.
Health maintenance organization (HMO) plans are often less expensive than preferred provider organizations (PPO) plans but there are tradeoffs. For example, if you choose an HMO plan, you may require a primary care doctor to refer you before you can see a specialist and could have a relatively smaller provider network.
What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Missouri by City?
Below, we’ll review the median monthly rates across all metal tiers for individual health insurance plans for 30-year-olds making $40,000 per year in five major cities in Missouri before considering premium tax credits.[5]
|
City, Zip Code |
Quote |
|---|---|
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Kansas City, 64118 |
$454.70 |
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St. Louis, 63129 |
$410.61 |
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Springfield, 65807 |
$484.90 |
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Columbia, 65202 |
$569.48 |
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Independence, 64055 |
$454.70 |
Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Missouri?
Anthem offers Missouri's most affordable health insurance plans in the silver tiers. Depending on where you live, some plans may be cheaper, such as Ambetter offering the cheapest in 67% of the state’s counties. Below is an overview of Missouri health insurers with an average monthly premium below $600 for 40-year-olds buying silver plans.[6]
|
Health Insurance Company |
Average Premium |
|---|---|
|
$430 |
|
|
$440 |
|
|
$466 |
|
|
$467 |
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Cox |
$503 |
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Medica |
$515 |
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$522 |
When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Missouri?
Missouri residents can enroll in a Missouri health insurance Marketplace plan through HealthCare.gov during the standard open enrollment period, which runs from November 1 to January 15.[7] To ensure you receive coverage by January 1, you must select your health insurance plan by December 15.[8]
Certain qualifying life events can trigger a special enrollment period, allowing you to enroll outside the open enrollment period. Examples of these events include moving, getting married, having children or losing employer-based health insurance. The window to apply after most qualifying events typically lasts 60 days before or after.[9]
What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Missouri?
Some of the major types of medical insurance you can purchase in Missouri include the following:
- 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)
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits
- Student health plans
How To Get Health Insurance in Missouri?
You’ll want to gather suitable health insurance quotes to compare individual or family health insurance policies, ideally shopping between at least three to five insurance carriers. Gathering these quotes individually can be time-consuming, but you can accelerate the process by utilizing an insurance marketplace like SmartFinacial.
After answering a few questions, we’ll connect you with one of our licensed agents can may help you find affordable health plans that can suit your unique needs. Click here to get a free Missouri health insurance plan quote today!
- Insurance quotes /
- Health /
- Missouri
Preston Micalizio writes insurance content for SmartFinancial. He brings three years of professional experience writing in various industries, from higher education to e-commerce. He strives to engage with the audience, provide accurate reporting and make complex subjects easily digestible.
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