Health insurance: the most and least expensive U.S. markets

health insurance rates highest and lowest

The cost associated with buying coverage varies widely across the country.

Although the health care reform included the development and implementation of exchanges that were designed to allow consumers to be able to compare and purchase the right health insurance at the most affordable price, the varying cost of coverage across the country has remained as present as it ever was.

Depending where the plans are being purchased, policyholders may find themselves paying more or less.

health insurance rates highest and lowestThere are many different factors that are considered when it comes to calculating health insurance premiums. Many people don’t realize that location actually plays a role. A person’s location isn’t typically considered in terms of risk as it is in the case of auto and homeowners insurance policies. Instead, it often has to do with the cost of care in a specific region, including laws, prices, and other factors.

There are, however, some locations that stand out for their high and low health insurance rates.

According to the rates that were listed on the federal and state marketplaces and from Kaiser Family Foundation researched data, the following are the most and least expensive regions in the United States.

The most expensive regions for plans across the U.S. are:

10. Alaska ($381)
9. Fairfield, Connecticut ($383)
8. Vermont ($395), as this is the only state in which insurers are not allowed to charge less to younger policyholders and more to older ones.
7. Southeast Mississippi in the Jackson, George, Harrison, and Stone counties ($399)
6. The majority of Wyoming other than Laramie and Natrona counties ($405)
5. Southern Georgia ($423)
4. Far western Wisconsin ($445)
3. Rural Nevada ($456)
2. Southwestern Georgia ($461)
1. Colorado Mountain Resort Region ($483)

On the other end of the scale, the least expensive health insurance plans can be found in the following regions:

10. Chattanooga, Tennessee ($181)
9. Western and North Central Minnesota ($180)
8. Knoxville, Tennessee ($180)
7. Hawaii ($176)
6. Salt Lake City, Utah ($173)
5. Northwestern Minnesota ($171)
4. Tucson, Arizona ($167)
3. Central Minnesota ($166)
2. Pittsburgh and Northwestern Pennsylvania ($164)
1. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota ($154)

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