The average monthly cost of health insurance in the marketplace is $490/month ($5,880/year) which represents a 15% decrease from 2018, according to the 2020 Health Insurance report from ValuePenguin.com by LendingTree. However, the largest rate decrease occurred for Bronze plans, which dipped in price by an average of 12.19% from 2018 to 2020.
Here’s a graph showing how much your readers can expect to pay for health insurance by metal tier:
They also compared North Carolina health insurance policies by metal tier to determine the cheapest options available throughout the state (many won’t be available in all counties);
| Metal tier | Cheapest plan | Deductible | Out-of-pocket maximum | Monthly cost for 40-year-old |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | Catastrophic 2 | $8,150 | $8,150 | $196 |
| Bronze | Blue Local Bronze 8150 (local network with Wake Forest Baptist Health) | $8,150 | $8,150 | $293 |
| Expanded Bronze | Blue Local Bronze 6900 (local network with Wake Forest Baptist Health, HSA eligible) | $6,900 | $6,900 | $306 |
| Silver | Silver 4 | $4,700 | $8,150 | $405 |
| Gold | Blue Value Gold 3000 (limited network) | $3,000 | $8,150 | $453 |
Here are the cheapest Silver health insurance plans available on the state exchange in each county;
| County | Cheapest Silver plan | Single adult, age 40 | Couple, age 40 | Couple, age 40, plus Child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance | Blue Home Silver 7500 (local network with UNC Health Alliance) | $437 | $874 | $1,136 |
| Alexander | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $579 | $1,158 | $1,504 |
| Alleghany | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Anson | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $428 | $855 | $1,111 |
| Ashe | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Avery | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Beaufort | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Bertie | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Bladen | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Brunswick | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $585 | $1,169 | $1,519 |
| Buncombe | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Burke | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $579 | $1,158 | $1,504 |
| Cabarrus | Silver 4 | $405 | $811 | $1,054 |
| Caldwell | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $579 | $1,158 | $1,504 |
| Camden | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Carteret | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Caswell | Blue Home Silver 7500 (local network with UNC Health Alliance) | $437 | $874 | $1,136 |
| Catawba | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $579 | $1,158 | $1,504 |
| Chatham | Blue Home Silver 7500 (local network with UNC Health Alliance) | $437 | $874 | $1,136 |
| Cherokee | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Chowan | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Clay | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Cleveland | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $470 | $940 | $1,222 |
| Columbus | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $585 | $1,169 | $1,519 |
| Craven | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Cumberland | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Currituck | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Dare | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Davidson | Blue Local Silver 7500 (local network with Wake Forest Baptist Health) | $463 | $926 | $1,203 |
| Davie | Blue Local Silver 7500 (local network with Wake Forest Baptist Health) | $463 | $926 | $1,203 |
| Duplin | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $585 | $1,169 | $1,519 |
| Durham | Blue Home Silver 7500 (local network with UNC Health Alliance) | $437 | $874 | $1,136 |
| Edgecombe | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $655 | $1,309 | $1,701 |
| Forsyth | Blue Local Silver 7500 (local network with Wake Forest Baptist Health) | $463 | $926 | $1,203 |
| Franklin | Ambetter Balanced Care 12 (2020) | $410 | $820 | $1,066 |
| Gaston | Silver 4 | $405 | $811 | $1,054 |
| Gates | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Graham | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Granville | Ambetter Balanced Care 12 (2020) | $482 | $965 | $1,253 |
| Greene | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $655 | $1,309 | $1,701 |
| Guilford | Blue Local Silver 7500 (local network with Wake Forest Baptist Health) | $440 | $879 | $1,143 |
| Halifax | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Harnett | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Haywood | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Henderson | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Hertford | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Hoke | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Hyde | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Iredell | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $579 | $1,158 | $1,504 |
| Jackson | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Johnston | Blue Home Silver 7500 (local network with UNC Health Alliance) | $437 | $874 | $1,136 |
| Jones | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Lee | Blue Home Silver 7500 (local network with UNC Health Alliance) | $437 | $874 | $1,136 |
| Lenoir | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Lincoln | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $470 | $940 | $1,222 |
| Macon | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Madison | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Martin | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Mcdowell | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Mecklenburg | Silver 4 | $405 | $811 | $1,054 |
| Mitchell | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Montgomery | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $701 | $1,403 | $1,822 |
| Moore | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $701 | $1,403 | $1,822 |
| Nash | Cigna Connect 4500 | $522 | $1,044 | $1,356 |
| New Hanover | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $585 | $1,169 | $1,519 |
| Northampton | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Onslow | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $585 | $1,169 | $1,519 |
| Orange | Blue Home Silver 7500 (local network with UNC Health Alliance) | $437 | $874 | $1,136 |
| Pamlico | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Pasquotank | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Pender | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $585 | $1,169 | $1,519 |
| Perquimans | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Person | Blue Home Silver 7500 (local network with UNC Health Alliance) | $437 | $874 | $1,136 |
| Pitt | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $655 | $1,309 | $1,701 |
| Polk | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Randolph | Blue Local Silver 7500 (local network with Wake Forest Baptist Health) | $440 | $879 | $1,143 |
| Richmond | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Robeson | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Rockingham | Ambetter Balanced Care 12 (2020) | $580 | $1,160 | $1,507 |
| Rowan | Silver 4 | $405 | $811 | $1,054 |
| Rutherford | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Sampson | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Scotland | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Stanly | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $428 | $855 | $1,111 |
| Stokes | Blue Local Silver 7500 (local network with Wake Forest Baptist Health) | $463 | $926 | $1,203 |
| Surry | Blue Value Silver 7500 (limited network) | $567 | $1,135 | $1,475 |
| Swain | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Transylvania | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |
| Tyrrell | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Union | Silver 4 | $405 | $811 | $1,054 |
| Vance | Ambetter Balanced Care 12 (2020) | $482 | $965 | $1,253 |
| Wake | Ambetter Balanced Care 12 (2020) | $410 | $820 | $1,066 |
| Warren | Ambetter Balanced Care 12 (2020) | $482 | $965 | $1,253 |
| Washington | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $675 | $1,349 | $1,753 |
| Watauga | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $668 | $1,336 | $1,736 |
| Wayne | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $655 | $1,309 | $1,701 |
| Wilkes | Blue Local Silver 7500 (local network with Wake Forest Baptist Health) | $468 | $936 | $1,216 |
| Wilson | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $655 | $1,309 | $1,701 |
| Yadkin | Blue Local Silver 7500 (local network with Wake Forest Baptist Health) | $463 | $926 | $1,203 |
| Yancey | Blue Advantage Silver 7500 (broad network) | $661 | $1,323 | $1,718 |