Hawaii
health insurance plans

Compare individual and family health plans from top insurance companies at the lowest available cost.

Health benefits your employees will love

Hawaii
health insurance plans

Compare individual and family health plans from top insurance companies at the lowest available cost.

Need health insurance in Hawaii?
eHealth makes shopping easy.

Navigating Hawaii health insurance plans

Finding the right health insurance plan in Hawaii can be overwhelming. Whether you’re an individual looking for comprehensive coverage or a family seeking a plan to fit everyone’s needs, it’s important to consider factors such as:

Coverage needs

Evaluate what types of medical services you or your family use most frequently. Do you need regular doctor visits, specialist care, or prescription medications?

Budget

Look at both premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Sometimes a plan with a higher premium may save you money overall if you frequently use healthcare services.

Provider network

Ensure your preferred doctors and hospitals are included in the plan’s network to avoid higher out-of-network costs.

Additional benefits

Some plans offer extra perks, like wellness programs, telemedicine, or mental health services, which could be valuable to you or your family’s overall health.

Find health insurance plans for every stage of life

Health insurance

Health insurance exists to protect you from substantial medical costs. Each plan is an agreement between you and the health insurance company about the services they will cover, how much you will pay, and how much they will pay.

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Dental and vision insurance

Can cover everything from routine cleanings and fillings to more comprehensive procedures, usually at a low premium. May cover annual eye exams and/or reduce the cost of contact lenses or glasses.

Find dental plans > Find vision plans >

Short-term insurance

Designed to provide limited health coverage on a temporary basis, at affordable prices. Easy and quick to enroll in.

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Medicare insurance

Shop plans that can reduce costs associated with Part A and Part B Medicare, and cover doctors and prescriptions.

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Types of individual health insurance plans

Costs to expect from your health insurance plan

When you buy an insurance policy, you will pay a premium payment monthly or annually. In exchange for that premium, your insurance provider agrees to cover a portion of your healthcare bills as outlined in your plan policy. You are still responsible for some costs, like deductibles and copays. Here are descriptions of those costs and what you should expect.

Stay up to date on enrollment deadlines

“>Plus, get expert tips for choosing the right health plan.

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Frequently asked questions

Hawaii does not have a specific law requiring individuals to have health insurance coverage. However, Hawaii has promoted health insurance with the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act. Enacted in 1974, it requires most employers to offer employees group health insurance.
The state of Hawaii defers to the federally run health insurance marketplace. Individuals can enroll through Healthcare.gov or a licensed health insurance broker like eHealth.
The open enrollment period for Hawaii health insurance is between November 1 and January 15, like most states. If you were not able to meet the previous open enrollment period, you may still have an opportunity to obtain insurance via a special enrollment period. Typically, that means you must meet a qualifying life event like having a baby or getting married to be eligible.
Hawaii Medicaid was expanded under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), improving accessibility to health care services for individuals under the age of 65 with a household income of 138% of the poverty level. Medicaid has no monthly premiums and low out-of-pocket costs for all recipients.

The exact cap for the Medicaid program is $23,142 for single adults, which is much higher than the national average.

Hawaii has two Medicaid programs: Hawaii QUEST and Medicaid Fee-For-Service. Individuals over the age of 65 or disabled typically receive the Fee-For-Service plan, in which providers are paid for covered services. On the other hand, individuals under the age of 65 receive QUEST, which is Medicaid for low-income adults and children.
Currently, Hawaii’s health insurance is almost universal. The state requires all employers to give employees health insurance if they work at least 20 hours per week. Hawaii health insurance plans are available across various health needs and budget levels, ranging from emergency coverage to more comprehensive coverage for families.

HMOs and PPOs are Hawaii’s most popular types of health insurance plans. HMOs offer affordable premiums and out-of-pocket health care costs but less flexibility. Conversely, PPOs offer higher levels of coverage with the flexibility to choose a provider in or out-of-network. However, both the monthly premium and out-of-pocket expenses are typically higher.

Additionally, Hawaii health insurance providers offer dental and vision insurance as add-ons to health insurance.
Self-employed health insurance options are available in Hawaii through the federal health insurance marketplace Healthcare.gov. Hawaii had its own state marketplace for a few years but deferred to the federal platform after technological issues in 2016.

The state still oversees all plans sold in the exchange. You can also get private health insurance directly from an insurance provider. Hawaii health insurance plans for the self-employed are available for individuals and their families.

If you work for yourself, you may qualify for the self-employed health insurance deduction, which allows you to deduct your premium costs from your gross income to reduce your tax burden.

The best health insurance in Hawaii will ultimately depend on your health needs and budget. For instance, if you have relatively low health needs and rarely visit the doctor, you might prefer a low premium plan with a higher deductible.
The Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act was implemented before the Affordable Care Act, which is why the state has always had a relatively low uninsured rate. The Prepaid Health Care Act has been around since the 1970s and made Hawaii the first state to require employers to provide health insurance to employees. However, unlike most states, Hawaii requires employers to provide health insurance benefits to employees who work at least 20 hours per week compared to the ACA requirement of 30 hours per week.

Additionally, with employer-sponsored health insurance in Hawaii, employers pay the entire health insurance premium or share the cost with employees. Under the law, employers must pay at least half of the premium for single coverage.
Short-term health insurance in Hawaii is prohibited except in some cases. In 2018, Hawaii passed a law that prohibited anyone from purchasing a plan if they were eligible for an ACA-compliant plan, eliminating the market for short-term health insurance.

Short-term health insurance offers some level of coverage but not as much as comprehensive coverage through the marketplace. Because Hawaii requires employers to provide health insurance for employees who work over 20 hours, and health insurance kicks in after just four weeks of employment, most residents do not need short-term health insurance.
There are plenty of health insurance resources for Hawaii residents to help them choose a plan and determine if they qualify for subsidies and tax credits. If you’re looking for health insurance or researching your options, review these resources:

Healthcare.gov: This is the federal marketplace Hawaii uses to help residents find individual and family health insurance.
Hawaii Medicaid: This is the state’s Medicaid website, where residents can find information about Medicaid updates, eligibility requirements, and program details.
The Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Law: This is a resource provided by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations with information regarding the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care law.

Hawaiihealth insurance plans

Hawaiihealth insurance plans

Need health insurance in Hawaii?eHealth makes shopping easy.

Navigating Hawaii health insurance plans

Coverage needs

Budget

Provider network

Additional benefits

Find health insurance plans for every stage of life

Health insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Short-term insurance

Medicare insurance

Types of individual health insurance plans​

Costs to expect from your health insurance plan

Stay up to date on enrollment deadlines

“>Plus, get expert tips for choosing the right health plan.

Frequently asked questions

Learn more about health insurance in Hawaii

Hawaii
health insurance plans

Hawaii
health insurance plans

Need health insurance in Hawaii?
eHealth makes shopping easy.

Types of individual health insurance plans