What’s the Cheapest Way to Get Health Insurance?
I’m trying to find the most affordable way to get health insurance and would really appreciate advice from people with real experience.
There are so many options available—government programs, employer plans, private insurance, high-deductible plans, short-term coverage, and even basic or digital health insurance policies—that it’s confusing to know which one is actually the cheapest in the long run.
Some specific things I’d like help with:
- Is government or subsidized health insurance really the cheapest option if you qualify?
- Are high-deductible plans worth it for healthy individuals?
- How much cheaper are employer-sponsored or group plans compared to individual plans?
- Are short-term or basic health insurance plans safe to use, or do they cause problems later?
- What hidden costs should I watch out for (deductibles, copays, exclusions)?
If you’ve found an affordable health insurance option that worked for you, please share:
- Your country/state
- Type of plan you chose
- Monthly cost vs. actual medical expenses
- Pros and cons from your experience
Looking forward to hearing real experiences and recommendations. Thanks!
All Replies
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I tried one of those telehealth-only plans. Great for colds and prescriptions, terrible for anything serious. It’s not real insurance. Good add-on, not a replacement.
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If you’re outside the US, this conversation is wild 😅
I’m in Canada. Health insurance costs me nothing monthly. The downside is wait times, but I don’t worry about going broke over a broken arm. -
I don’t think people talk enough about hidden costs. I had a “cheap” plan in Arizona, then found out mental health visits weren’t covered at all. Premium was low, but therapy was $150 per session. Read the fine print.
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I’m probably the odd one out, but I just use catastrophic coverage + cash pay. I’m 29, no health issues. Plan costs $95/month in Texas. I pay out of pocket for basic stuff and save money overall. Risky? Yes. Cheaper? Also yes.
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Not everyone can get employer insurance though. I’m self-employed in California, and the ACA marketplace with subsidies is the only thing that makes sense. I pay around $70/month. Without the subsidy it would be insane.
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Short-term plans are basically “fake insurance.” I fell for one in Florida because it was $89/month. They denied my claim because the condition was “pre-existing” (even though I didn’t know about it). Cheap doesn’t mean useful.
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Employer insurance is underrated IMO. My company plan in New Jersey costs me $110/month and covers basically everything. I had an individual plan before and was paying double for half the coverage. If you can get group insurance, do it.
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High-deductible plans are cheap until you actually need them. I’m in <strong”>Colorado and pay $165/month for a Bronze plan. Sounds great, right?
Then I needed an ER visit and ended up paying almost $4,000 out of pocket. If you’re healthy and lucky, they’re fine. If not… yikes. -
Honestly, if you qualify for government insurance, nothing beats it. I was on Medicaid in Ohio for about a year after getting laid off. Paid $0/month and like $3 for prescriptions. The downside is finding doctors who accept it. But purely cost-wise? Cheapest by far.
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I’m a healthy single adult in Texas and chose a high-deductible ACA Bronze plan.
Monthly cost: $190/month.
I only had one doctor visit all year, so it worked well for me.
Pros: Lowest premium I could find.
Cons: You pay a lot if something serious happens—deductible was over $7,000. -
I’m in California and the cheapest option for me was a Covered California Silver plan with subsidies. Because my income was under the threshold, I paid about $65/month.
Actual medical costs were low—copays around $15–$25 and no surprise bills.
Pros: Preventive care covered, predictable costs.
Cons: Limited doctor network and paperwork during renewal.
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Cheapest doesn’t mean best. I learned that the hard way. Paid $140/month for a plan in Pennsylvania, then hit a $7,500 deductible. Now I pay more monthly but less overall. Look at total yearly cost, not just the premium.