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.
Most Affordable Health Insurance in North Carolina
Aetna, CareSource, AmeriHealth and UnitedHealthcare offer the cheapest health insurance options in North Carolina, starting at $358 per month.
Discover affordable health insurance in North Carolina below.

Updated: June 11, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Aetna offers North Carolina's most affordable health insurance, saving policyholders an average of $366 per month compared to the state average.
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers top-rated full coverage Gold plans, with affordable pricing starting at $507 monthly.
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 | $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.
Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue 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.
Alamance | Oscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc. | $465 | Silver Classic Standard |
Alexander | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Alleghany | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Anson | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Ashe | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Avery | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Beaufort | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Bertie | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Bladen | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Brunswick | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Buncombe | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Burke | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Cabarrus | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Caldwell | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Camden | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Carteret | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Caswell | Oscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc. | $465 | Silver Classic Standard |
Catawba | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Chatham | Oscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc. | $465 | Silver Classic Standard |
Cherokee | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Chowan | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Clay | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Cleveland | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Columbus | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Craven | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Cumberland | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Currituck | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Dare | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Davidson | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Davie | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Duplin | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Durham | Oscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc. | $465 | Silver Classic Standard |
Edgecombe | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Forsyth | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Franklin | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Gaston | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Gates | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Graham | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Granville | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Greene | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Guilford | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Halifax | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Harnett | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Haywood | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Henderson | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Hertford | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Hoke | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Hyde | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Iredell | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Jackson | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Johnston | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Jones | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Lee | Oscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc. | $465 | Silver Classic Standard |
Lenoir | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Lincoln | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Macon | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Madison | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Martin | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
McDowell | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Mecklenburg | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Mitchell | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Montgomery | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Moore | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Nash | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
New Hanover | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Northampton | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Onslow | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Orange | Oscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc. | $465 | Silver Classic Standard |
Pamlico | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Pasquotank | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Pender | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Perquimans | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Person | Oscar Health Plan of North Carolina, Inc. | $465 | Silver Classic Standard |
Pitt | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Polk | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Randolph | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Richmond | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Robeson | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Rockingham | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Rowan | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Rutherford | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Sampson | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Scotland | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Stanly | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Stokes | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Surry | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Swain | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Transylvania | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
Tyrrell | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Union | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Vance | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Wake | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Warren | Ambetter | $468 | Standard Silver |
Washington | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Watauga | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Wayne | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Wilkes | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Wilson | Aetna | $452 | Silver S: Aetna network of doctors & hospitals + $0 MinuteClinic + $0 CVS Health Virtual Care 24/7 |
Yadkin | AmeriHealth | $428 | AmeriHealth Caritas Next Silver Classic + $0 Virtual Care 24/7 + $0 Preventive Care + No-Referrals |
Yancey | CareSource | $554 | CareSource Marketplace Silver |
How to Find the Cheapest Health Insurance in North Carolina
Follow these steps to find affordable health insurance in North Carolina:
- 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
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
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
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
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.
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?
Aetna offers the cheapest health insurance in North Carolina, with Silver plans starting at $358 per month for 40-year-olds. Your ideal option may vary, so consider exploring AmeriHealth, CareSource and UnitedHealthcare based on your income and coverage preferences.
What are the downsides of a cheap health insurance plan?
Compared to higher-priced plans, cheap health insurance has higher out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles and copays. More expensive plans reduce out-of-pocket expenses and offer more extensive health care coverage.
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

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.