Best rates on individual health plans
(6/28/2005)

Survey: Columbus, Long Beach offer lowest premiums

Source: MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO -- Monthly premiums for individual health plans vary widely across the country, but Columbus, Ohio, and many California cities offer some of the lowest rates in the country  for young men and women, according to a new study.

The online health insurance broker eHealthInsurance examined 4,000 health plans from 140 insurance companies in the 50 most populous metro areas in the U.S. The company screened the health plans for those with no more than $1,000 deductibles and 20% coinsurance, based on an applicant who's a healthy, single 30-year-old man or woman.  That profile fits about 10 million people, or 22% of the 45 million uninsured in the United States.

Columbus appeared on both the men's and women's list of 10 cities with the lowest premiums because it has a large number of insurers competing for business in that market.

California cities had a decisive lead because the Golden State also has vigorous competition, as well as a high percentage of lower-cost health maintenance organizations (HMOs) relative to preferred provider plans (PPOs).

California also benefits from a "health culture," where residents are more likely to manage their body weight through healthy lifestyles and state policy restricts smoking in public places. Those factors result in less use of the health-care system and lower premiums.

Where the low premiums are

The top 10 cities for single men to buy health insurance, based on the lowest health insurance quote for monthly premiums found among plans with $1,000 deductibles, according to eHealthInsurance:

1. Columbus, Ohio: $52.38
2. Mesa, Ariz.: $53.13
3. Tucson, Ariz.: $53.15
4. Long Beach, Calif.: $54
5. Omaha, Neb.: $54.62
6. Sacramento, Calif.: $56
7. Fresno, Calif.: $56
8. San Diego: $57
9. San Jose, Calif.: $58
10. San Francisco: $58

Top 10 cities for single women to buy health insurance, based on the lowest quote found among plans with $1,000 deductible:

1. Long Beach, Calif.: $54
2. Sacramento: $56
3. Fresno: $56
4. San Diego: $57
5. San Jose: $58
6. San Francisco: $58
7. Oakland, Calif.: $58
8. Los Angeles: $63
9. Columbus: $63.86
10. Mesa: $64.77

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