Cheap Health Insurance in Idaho 2023

Last modified: September 7, 2021

Cheap health insurance in Idaho is possible as long as you have proper research available to you. Health insurance is a vital part of life since medical costs for medical emergencies can be a bit too high without one. There are many resources available to the people of Idaho when it comes to searching for medical insurance. The Idaho health insurance marketplace is one such treasure trove of information; you can access the state marketplace through yourhealthidaho.org. If you are eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, you will be able to find great plans there.

Other providers also include private companies that have plans for employers, small businesses, individuals, and families. Best private health insurance companies in the US like Select Health, Blue Cross of Idaho, Mountain Health CO-OP, and Pacific Source can be great options for people who want private healthcare.

Here is a complete guide to finding cheap health insurance in Idaho.

List of Providers and Comparison of Plans

Health insurance companies in Idaho have outlined plans for people based on premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. Here are some of the most popular and cheapest health insurance providers in Idaho.

Select Health

Select Health for Idaho has short-term, individual, family, employer, and dental plans for their consumers. They have also partnered with Medicare under ACA and CHIP, so if you are eligible for it, you can get the plan for Select Health.

Their individual and family plans are based on your family size and income. You can get a cost-sharing reduction and subsidized premiums based on those factors. The transition plans offer protection from illnesses, basic needs, and accidents for a short time. If you are planning on moving, between jobs, or transitioning between healthcare plans, this can be a suitable option.

Blue Cross of Idaho

Blue Cross of Idaho has Medicare, Medicaid, employer, individual, and family plans. The Access plans are for customers that aren’t eligible for subsidies under ACA. There are three types of Access plans – Protector, Safeguard, and Secure. They all have different deductibles, premiums, and out-of-pocket expenses that customers should consider based on their income and needs.

The Affordable Care Act also has plans that are great for customers eligible for federal subsidies. While there are open enrollment periods, you can also send in your application if a life event occurs that qualifies you for insurance.

They have short term plans that are perfect for anyone who wants a temporary solution to healthcare insurance. You can get coverage for one to six months.

Mountain Health CO-OP

Mountain Health CO-OP has catastrophic, bronze, silver, and gold plans for individuals and families. Catastrophic comes with low premiums and is perfect for folks under 30 years who don’t visit the doctor often. The bronze plan offers low premiums but high out-of-pocket expenses, perfect for people who don’t have high premiums or don’t visit the doctor too often.

Silver has medium premiums and costs, which is good for people who expect to use the plan once in a while. With reduced deductibles, it is a good option. The Gold plan has great coverage opportunities for people who expect to visit the doctor frequently.

Pacific Source

Pacific Source health insurance plans are also based on gold, silver, and bronze. Gold has the highest monthly premium costs for users, but the out-of-pocket and deductible costs are quite low. Silver plans have relatively lower premiums but higher deductible costs than Gold plans. However, their out of pocket expenses are also as low as Gold plans. This is for people who don’t want to pay high monthly premiums. The bronze plans have the lowest monthly premiums out of all, but they also have the highest out-of-pocket costs and deductibles.

Cheapest Health Insurance Plan by County in Idaho

The cheapest health insurance in Idaho can be impacted by where you live inside Idaho as well. The cheapest counties to live in are Washington, Boise, Gem, and Payette. The SLHP Silver 5000 is the cheapest plan for these counties, with costs as follows:

  • Individual, Aged 40 Years: $480
  • Couple, Aged 40 Years: $959
  • Average Payments: $450

Overall, Clark is the most expensive county in the region. The most affordable health insurance in Idaho for Clark is the Engage Silver Option 2 plan. It costs $551 for individuals aged 40, $1,102 for couples aged 40, and $527 is the average cost for people.

Average Cost of Health Insurance by Family Size in Idaho

$5,475 is the average cost of health insurance in Idaho for every person. The health insurance quotes for Idaho can change based on family size, though. It can cost $21,900 for a family of four. This is still around $1,507 less per person than the national average of the country for health insurance.

Idaho Health Insurance Guide and Resources

The best health insurance in Idaho is one that fulfills your needs concerning healthcare. There are many types of healthcare plans available in Idaho that you can get.

Employer Health Insurance

Idaho health insurance is not compulsory for employers since there aren’t any laws making it mandatory. Despite an absence of laws, many employers still offer group insurance plans to employees. There are some policies that require employers to make sure they have certain benefits in the plan they offer. For example, employers must offer a benefit to employees to stay on the plan even if they are leaving the job.

Some exceptions do exist in the plans since employers cannot self-regulate the healthcare insurance plans.

Private Insurance Plans

You will find a lot of options when it comes to private health insurance in Idaho. Families and individuals should make sure to explore the marketplace thoroughly when it comes to purchasing a proper healthcare plan. Private insurance companies factor in your location, age, gender, family size, pre-existing conditions, and income when offering you a plan. By choosing a plan that best suits your needs, you will be able to benefit from the coverage options.

Government-Assistance Plans

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, offers the chance to take Medicaid and Medicare coverage. This is perfect for people with low incomes that meet the requirements for eligibility for government-subsidized plans.

Medicare offers health benefits to individuals who have disabilities (under 65) or seniors that are over 60 years of age. The eligibility requirements for Medicare are as follows:

  • Permanent residence of at least 5 years
  • American citizenship

There are currently 345,000 people in Idaho who are part of the Medicare plan.

Medicaid plans offer healthcare benefits to seniors, parents, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. To be eligible for Medicaid, the requirements are as follows:

  • US national
  • Citizen
  • Permanent residency
  • Legal alien

Individual health insurance in Idaho under Medicaid and Medicare can also be received from private companies. If you are eligible, you can access government-subsidized healthcare from private companies under the ACA policies.

Tips to Save On Health Insurance in Idaho

Idaho health insurance is impacted by the following factors:

  • Body mass index
  • Tobacco use
  • Age
  • Location
  • Cost-sharing reductions
  • Have you applied as a family or as an individual?
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Gender
  • Insurance and medical history

With reductions in your BMI or smoking, you can lower the rate of premium costs by a good margin.

Pros & Cons

The Pros

The Cons

Final Verdict

FAQs

When Is Idaho Open Enrollment for 2021 Health Insurance Coverage?

The enrollment opens on January 1st, 2021, for anyone who wishes to buy health insurance.

Did Idaho Expand Medicaid?

Idaho’s free health insurance is limited because Idaho chose not to expand Medicaid in the state.

Is Health Insurance Mandatory in Idaho?

Health insurance is not mandatory for employers in Idaho.

What Is the Income Limit for Medicaid in Idaho?

The income limits for Medicaid depends on your household size. Here is a breakdown of income limits based on your family size:

Household Size Income Limits  
Individual $1,468
Individual with child $1,983
Couple with child $2,498
Couple with two children   $3,013

What Are Short Term Health Insurance Conditions?

The short term health insurance in Idaho is available for a full year. It is perfect for people who are between jobs, unemployed, changing plans, going to move soon, or need a plan only for a few months.

What Is the Uninsured Population Rate in Idaho?

The Idaho state health insurance records 10.5% uninsured persons in Idaho.