How to Get Cheap Health Insurance - GoodRx (2024)

Health insurance can be costly. You pay premiums in exchange for the security of having coverage for medical care and prescription medication. Then, you face other out-of-pocket costs when you access care, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. But having health insurance can also reduce what you pay when you need care because of cost-sharing and negotiated rates for services.

If you qualify for certain government health insurance programs, an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan with a premium subsidy, or certain alternative health plans, you can reduce the upfront cost of your health insurance.

Here are 7 places to look for free or low-cost health insurance.

1. Affordable Care Act marketplace

The ACA, also known as Obamacare, makes affordable health insurance available to people through federal and state marketplaces and premium tax credits, also known as premium subsidies. What you can potentially save with premium subsidies depends on your income and household size.

In the 2024 coverage year, enrollment in ACA marketplace plans reached a record high of 20 million people. Among the reasons for rising enrollment are the generous subsidies that resulted from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. With these subsidies, an estimated 4 out of 5 consumers will be able to find plans for as low as $10 or less a month in the 2024 coverage year.

It’s important to note that the ACA is also responsible for more insurance options for young adults and for Medicaid now covering people with higher incomes —all of which we will discuss later.

2. Medicaid

Depending on your income, Medicaid is one of the best ways to access free or low-cost health insurance coverage. As of November 2023, Medicaid covers nearly 79 million people nationwide and is the largest single source of health insurance in the U.S.

The federal program is administered by all states, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories. You can apply for Medicaid through your state or territory agency. If you apply for ACA coverage and anyone in your household qualifies for Medicaid, your application will be forwarded to your state or territory agency for enrollment.

Medicaid provides health coverage to pregnant people and parents, older adults, children, and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid eligibility is determined by income and family size, among other factors. Emergency Medicaid, which offers coverage for emergency room care, is one of the only federal health insurance programs available to undocumented immigrants.

3. Children’s Health Insurance Program

As of November 2023, more than 7 million people were enrolled in Medicaid’s Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP. This program covers children whose families earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but can’t afford to buy a private health insurance plan. People who are pregnant or have recently given birth also qualify for CHIP coverage in some states.

4. High-deductible health plan

A high-deductible health plan (HDHP) is a health insurance policy that typically pairs lower monthly premiums with — you guessed it — a high deductible. Some employer-sponsored and ACA plans are, in fact, HDHPs. Before you meet your deductible, an HDHP may cover all of your in-network preventive care, such as annual exams, certain vaccines, and screenings. But many people with HDHPs aren’t aware of this and don’t take advantage of services that are covered before they meet their deductible.

In 2024, HDHPs have a minimum deductible of $1,600 for an individual and $3,200 for a family. But the maximum out-of-pocket costs (not including premiums) are $8,050 for an individual and $16,100 for a family.

Having an HDHP also gives you the option to enroll in a health savings account (HSA). You can deposit pre-tax money in an HSA and use it to pay medical costs. In some cases, employers set up HSAs and manage contributions for employees, but you can also set up one on your own.

It’s also important to note that catastrophic health plans are considered HDHPs. Catastrophic plans are designed to protect you from incurring costs related to worst-case scenarios, such as serious injury or prolonged illness. Only two groups qualify for catastrophic plans:

• Adults under 30

• Adults 30 or older who have been granted an affordability or hardship exemption

5. Medicare with Extra Help

If you have Medicare, you may qualify for a Part D low-income subsidy known as Extra Help. Through this subsidy, people with limited income and resources can get help paying for their Medicare Part D costs. In 2024, most people with Extra Help will pay:

• No premiums for their Part D prescription medication coverage

• No Part D deductibles

• No more than $11.20 for brand-name medications

• No more than $4.50 for generic medications

People who live in the 50 states and Washington, D.C., can apply for Extra Help. In American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, there are other programs that help Medicare enrollees with limited income and resources pay for prescription medications.

Some people automatically qualify for Extra Help, including:

• People who are “dual eligible,” meaning they are enrolled in Medicare and full Medicaid

• Those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

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• Those who qualify for 1 of the 4 Medicare Savings Programs, which are run by Medicaid programs

If you believe you qualify for Extra Help but have not been enrolled automatically, you can apply through the U.S. Social Security Administration. This application is for Extra Help only and doesn’t enroll you in a Part D plan.

6. Medicare special needs plans

Medicare enrollees can choose between original Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) and private alternatives collectively known as Medicare Advantage. A Medicare special needs plan (SNP) is a type of Medicare Advantage plan for people who have certain conditions and meet other requirements. SNPs cover some out-of-pocket costs and provide care coordination, among other benefits.

There are three kinds of SNPs:

1. Chronic condition SNP: This plan type is for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes, dementia, or another qualifying chronic health issue.

2. Institutional SNP: This plan type is for people living in a nursing home or inpatient care center, or who receive a high level of nursing care at home.

3. Dual-eligible SNP: This plan is for people who qualify for Medicare and full Medicaid.

7. A parent’s plan

If you’re under 26 — even if you’re married, you’re a parent, you’re not claimed as a dependent, or you don’t live at home — you can get coverage through an insured parent’s health plan. (The maximum age is even higher in some states, if you meet certain requirements.) The 26-and-under rule applies if your parent has job-based insurance or a plan through the ACA marketplace. And the cost of covering you under one of these plans is typically much lower than buying a separate plan.

Beware of low-cost healthcare offers that aren’t insurance

If you’re not getting a health plan through your employer, the ACA marketplace, or an insurance company directly, you might not be buying insurance. That’s because not all products that offer help covering medical costs are insurance. Beware of options such as health care sharing ministries (also known as medical cost-sharing programs) and non-licensed risk-sharing plans, which don’t have the same consumer protections, insurance department regulation, or claims payment guarantees as health insurance plans.

Where can I go for free or low-cost medical care without insurance?

If you don’t have health insurance, you can still access free or low-cost healthcare services — including medical treatments and prescription medications — from hospitals, clinics, and other organizations. Here are some places you might be able to find affordable care.

Federally qualified health centers

Federally qualified health centers, or FQHCs, are community-based facilities that offer primary care services. FQHCs are funded by the federal government and provide care to people in underserved populations. Also known as community health centers, they charge patients based on a sliding scale — meaning, the services are typically not free.

According to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), FQHCs serve millions of people in the U.S. who are uninsured. Use your ZIP code to locate an FQHC with the HRSA's search tool.

Safety-net hospitals and clinics

Safety-net hospitals and clinics — also known as county hospitals, public hospitals, or essential hospitals — are comprehensive health centers designed to provide services to people regardless of their health insurance status. These facilities provide billions of dollars in uncompensated care to the uninsured. Search this state-by-state list to find a safety-net hospital, county hospital, public hospital, or essential hospital in your area.

Free and charitable clinics

Free and charitable clinics are designed specifically for “medically underserved” people, such as those without access to insurance. Typically, there is no charge for care and, if there is an on-site pharmacy, medications are provided at no cost. The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics has more than 1,400 locations that can be searched by location through the organization’s find a clinic tool.

Rural health clinics

Rural health clinics were created to provide access to primary care and preventive services in rural areas for people covered by Medicare and Medicaid. There are more than 4,500 rural health clinics nationwide.

Hospitals with financial assistance programs

Typically, hospitals offer financial assistance programs that may cover all or part of your medical bills if you qualify. Income-based indigent care and charity care are types of financial assistance programs offered by hospitals. Some hospitals may also offer an uninsured patient discount.

Patient assistance programs

Patient assistance programs from pharmaceutical companies, nonprofits, and government agencies provide free or discounted prescription medications. You must be uninsured or underinsured to qualify for these programs. There are also special programs for specific conditions and circ*mstances, such as for people who have a cancer diagnosis and don’t have insurance.

Nonprofit organizations

There are nonprofit groups that help people pay their medical bills. For instance, both the PAN Foundation and the HealthWell Foundation offer qualifying people condition-based funds to help with copays and transportation costs, as well as medications.