Most Affordable Health Insurance in North Carolina


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Key Takeaways

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Aetna offers North Carolina's most affordable health insurance, saving policyholders an average of $366 per month compared to the state average.

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Blue Cross Blue Shield offers top-rated full coverage Gold plans, with affordable pricing starting at $507 monthly.

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Finding the cheapest health insurance starts with selecting a coverage level within your budget, checking your subsidy eligibility and comparing plans from several companies.

Most Affordable Health Insurance Companies in North Carolina

Aetna provides the cheapest overall health insurance in North Carolina, with an average monthly premium of $358. Availability may vary, so also consider CareSource, AmeriHealth and UnitedHealthcare for affordable health plans.

Aetna$358$366
CareSource$361$363
AmeriHealth$364$360
UnitedHealthcare$465$259

*These plans reflect rates for 40-year-olds who aren't considered low-income.

Cheapest North Carolina Health Insurance Plans by Profile

While we've summarized the cheapest companies for most in North Carolina, the most affordable plan for you will differ widely depending on your desired coverage tier and age. Below are the cheapest companies by category for most in the area:

  • Cheapest For Young Adults: Blue Cross Blue Shield ($394 monthly)
  • Cheapest For Seniors: Blue Cross Blue Shield ($1,044 monthly)
  • Cheapest Catastrophic Plan: Oscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc. ($353 monthly)
  • Cheapest Expanded Bronze Plan: Blue Cross Blue Shield ($373 monthly)
  • Cheapest Bronze Plan: AmeriHealth ($391 monthly)
  • Cheapest Silver Plan: Blue Cross Blue Shield ($492 monthly)
  • Cheapest Gold Plan: Blue Cross Blue Shield ($507 monthly)

While these are a good measure of the most affordable plans, they only represent the cheapest for 40-year-olds (26-year-olds for young adults and 60 for seniors), and your cheapest company and plan may differ for your profile. So below, we've created a filterable table that you can modify by plan tier and age to find your lowest rate match.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Select
Plan Level:Silver
Select
Age:40
Blue Cross Blue ShieldBlue Local Silver Preferred | 3 Free PCP | $10 Tier 1 Rx | Integrated | with Atrium Health$492$163$9,200

Cheapest Health Insurance Plans by County in North Carolina

Aetna is the cheapest provider overall and also the most affordable and widely available for Silver plan in most counties. Below, you can review which company and plan are most affordable in your area.

AlamanceOscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc.$465Silver Classic Standard
AlexanderAmbetter$468Standard Silver
AlleghanyAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
AnsonAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
AsheAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
AveryCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
BeaufortAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
BertieAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
BladenAmbetter$468Standard Silver
BrunswickAmbetter$468Standard Silver
BuncombeCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
BurkeAmbetter$468Standard Silver
CabarrusAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
CaldwellAmbetter$468Standard Silver
CamdenAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
CarteretAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
CaswellOscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc.$465Silver Classic Standard
CatawbaAmbetter$468Standard Silver
ChathamOscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc.$465Silver Classic Standard
CherokeeCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
ChowanAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
ClayCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
ClevelandAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
ColumbusAmbetter$468Standard Silver
CravenAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
CumberlandAmbetter$468Standard Silver
CurrituckAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
DareAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
DavidsonAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
DavieAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
DuplinAmbetter$468Standard Silver
DurhamOscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc.$465Silver Classic Standard
EdgecombeAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
ForsythAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
FranklinAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
GastonAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
GatesAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
GrahamCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
GranvilleAmbetter$468Standard Silver
GreeneAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
GuilfordAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
HalifaxAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
HarnettAmbetter$468Standard Silver
HaywoodCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
HendersonCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
HertfordAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
HokeAmbetter$468Standard Silver
HydeAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
IredellAmbetter$468Standard Silver
JacksonCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
JohnstonAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
JonesAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
LeeOscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc.$465Silver Classic Standard
LenoirAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
LincolnAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
MaconCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
MadisonCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
MartinAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
McDowellCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
MecklenburgAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
MitchellCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
MontgomeryAmbetter$468Standard Silver
MooreAmbetter$468Standard Silver
NashAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
New HanoverAmbetter$468Standard Silver
NorthamptonAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
OnslowAmbetter$468Standard Silver
OrangeOscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc.$465Silver Classic Standard
PamlicoAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
PasquotankAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
PenderAmbetter$468Standard Silver
PerquimansAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
PersonOscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc.$465Silver Classic Standard
PittAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
PolkCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
RandolphAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
RichmondAmbetter$468Standard Silver
RobesonAmbetter$468Standard Silver
RockinghamAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
RowanAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
RutherfordCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
SampsonAmbetter$468Standard Silver
ScotlandAmbetter$468Standard Silver
StanlyAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
StokesAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
SurryAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
SwainCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
TransylvaniaCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver
TyrrellAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
UnionAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
VanceAmbetter$468Standard Silver
WakeAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
WarrenAmbetter$468Standard Silver
WashingtonAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
WataugaAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
WayneAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
WilkesAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
WilsonAetna$452Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7
YadkinAmeriHealth$428AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals
YanceyCareSource$554CareSource Marketplace Silver

How to Find the Cheapest Health Insurance in North Carolina

Follow these steps to find affordable health insurance in North Carolina:

  1. 1

    Determine coverage plan needs and affordability

    Your coverage plan type and tier will differ widely depending on your personal health circumstances and income. Calculate how much income you can set aside for monthly premiums, considering your current health and risk for injury or disease based on location, age and lifestyle.

  2. 2

    Find out your subsidy eligibility

    People earning between $14,580 and $54,000 may qualify for premium tax credits, reducing costs by 40% to 100%. Those with incomes below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level ($36,450) can access cost-sharing reductions, decreasing out-of-pocket expenses up to 73%.

  3. 3

    Consider federal programs for eligible age groups

    If you're of suitable age, explore Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans. These plans may offer more affordable and flexible alternatives to traditional plans.

  4. 4

    Review prescription formularies

    Check insurers' prescription coverage for medications you regularly take. Choosing plans with lower-tier placements and reduced copays for your medications can optimize savings and ensure consistent and affordable access to necessary prescriptions, saving you hundreds of dollars each year.

  5. 5

    Compare plans during Open Enrollment

    Take advantage of Open Enrollment, running from November 1 to January 15. Special Enrollment is also possible if you've recently lost a job, experienced divorce or welcomed a child. Consider coverage types, customer ratings, costs and provider availability when comparing plan options.

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MONEYGEEK TIP: MAKE SURE TO APPLY PROMPTLY

To avoid technical issues, apply for coverage at least five days before the enrollment deadline. Prepare your income verification, Social Security numbers and immigration documents to ensure a smooth application process.

Most Affordable Health Insurance in North Carolina: Bottom Line

North Carolina's most affordable health insurance companies are Aetna, CareSource, AmeriHealth and UnitedHealthcare. While we recommend these affordable options, you should compare as many plan types and tier quotes as possible from multiple companies to get the best deal.

Cheap North Carolina Health Insurance: FAQ

Below are frequently asked questions about finding affordable health insurance in North Carolina:

What is the cheapest health insurance in North Carolina?

What are the downsides of a cheap health insurance plan?

How We Decided the Cheapest Health Insurance Companies in North Carolina

MoneyGeek obtained data directly from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on available health insurance plans in North Carolina based on consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. 

We considered the cheapest overall to be those with the lowest monthly premium costs for 40-year-olds, as most in the state are near this age demographic, and for simplicity. However, cheaper plans tend to have higher out-of-pocket maximums and deductibles, meaning you may pay more if you receive care.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


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Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.


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