For Individuals & Families in Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi Health Insurance Comparison
Let's see what your current situation is, both financially and medically, so that we can guide you to the best options.
Your four options in Hawaiʻi
Here's every way to get health coverage in Hawaiʻi, in the order we'd check them for you, along with when you can enroll in each one.
- 1
Med-QUEST
Hawaiʻi's Medicaid program, at little or no cost if your income qualifies.
When you can enroll: Any time of year
- Covers medical care, behavioral health, dental, and vision
- If this is your best answer, we'll say so, even though we aren't paid a dime for it
- 2
The ACA marketplace
The right door if you qualify for a tax credit or need guaranteed coverage.
When you can enroll: November 1 to January 15, or within 60 days of a qualifying life event
- It can't turn you down for your health, and it covers pregnancy
- Most plans carry high deductibles, so the tax credit is what makes it a good value
- 3
Affordable Choice
Often far less than a marketplace plan for healthy people who don't get a tax credit.
When you can enroll: Any time of year
- Pays set amounts from your first visit, with any doctor and no network
- Counseling, telemedicine, and prescription savings are included at no extra cost
- 4
A group plan, with a DOL number
Employer-grade coverage through Kaiser or HMAA, for businesses as small as one person.
When you can enroll: Any time of year
- Stronger networks and lower deductibles, available year-round
- You can't shop this one online, so it takes a conversation, and it's worth having
Start with your household and your income
Move the household size and type in the income you expect for 2027, and we'll point you to the option that likely fits best. Your answers stay on your screen, and nothing is saved or sent.
People in your tax household
Use your modified adjusted gross income, which for most people is close to the total on their tax return.
A marketplace plan with a tax credit may be your best value.
Most you'd pay for the benchmark silver plan
$331 a month
- Your income compared with the poverty line
- 250%
- Share of income toward that plan
- 8.66%
Your tax credit covers whatever the benchmark silver plan costs above this amount, and you can use it toward any metal level. HealthCare.gov shows your exact numbers when you apply.
Go to option 2, the ACA marketplace →
After health, most marketplace families add dental and vision, cash for the deductible, disability, and life insurance.
This is an estimate built from the IRS 2027 tables and Hawaii's 2026 poverty guidelines, current as of November 2026. Your actual credit is set by HealthCare.gov from your application, and it's reconciled on your tax return.
Own a business with a DOL number, even a one-person business? A group plan may beat all three. See option 4.
Option 1
Med-QUEST, Hawaiʻi's Medicaid program
If your income qualifies, Med-QUEST is usually the strongest coverage you can get for the least money, often nothing at all. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and behavioral health, and it includes dental and vision for children and adults, with some limits. You can apply any day of the year.
When you can enroll: Any time of year
Our tip: call rather than apply online
A real person on the phone can answer your questions as you go and help you avoid the small mistakes that slow an application down. Have your income, your household members, and any current coverage handy when you call.
Call Med-QUEST at 1-800-316-8005When only the kids qualify
Children can qualify for Med-QUEST at much higher incomes than their parents, so a lot of Hawaiʻi families split their coverage. The kids go on Med-QUEST, with their dental and vision included, and the parents choose their own health plan, either a marketplace plan or Affordable Choice.
The parents then need their own dental and vision, since those come with Med-QUEST only for the people on it.
Med-QUEST strategies worth knowing
Tap any line to read more.
Med-QUEST looks at this month, not the whole year
The marketplace estimates your income for all of 2027, while Med-QUEST looks at what you earn right now. If you're between jobs or your hours were cut, you may qualify today even if your yearly income looks higher.
There's no enrollment season
You can apply for Med-QUEST any day of the year, so if your income drops partway through the year, you don't have to wait for November.
Kids and pregnant women have higher limits
Children and pregnant women can often qualify at higher incomes than other adults, so some families split coverage, with the kids on Med-QUEST and the parents on a marketplace plan.
New for 2027: work hours and six-month renewals
Starting January 1, 2027, most adults who qualify through the Medicaid expansion will need to show work, school, or volunteer hours, and they'll renew every six months instead of once a year. Some adults are exempt, so call Med-QUEST if you're not sure where you stand.
Report changes within 30 days
If your income changes after you enroll in a marketplace plan, update HealthCare.gov within 30 days. It keeps your credit accurate and helps you avoid paying some back at tax time.
Self-employed income is what's left over
If you work for yourself, the income that counts is what remains after your business expenses, so good records can make a real difference in what you qualify for.
Option 2
The ACA marketplace, through HealthCare.gov
Marketplace plans are major medical coverage. They can't turn you down because of your health, they cover pregnancy and ongoing conditions, and they cap what you pay in a bad year. The tax credit is what makes them affordable, so the estimate above matters a lot here. You enroll on HealthCare.gov, and once your plan is in place, we're happy to help you with the rest of your benefits.
Nov 1
Open enrollment begins
You can shop, compare, and enroll in a 2027 marketplace plan starting today.
Dec 15
Deadline for a January 1 start
Choose your plan by this date if you want coverage on the first day of the year.
Jan 15
Last day of open enrollment
Plans chosen after December 15 start February 1, and after January 15 you'll need a qualifying life event to enroll.
Outside open enrollment, you can enroll in a marketplace plan only with a Special Enrollment Period, which usually opens for 60 days after a qualifying life event, like losing other coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby.
What changed for 2027, in plain words
The extra tax credit help ended
The larger credits that started during the pandemic expired at the end of 2025. Most people still qualify for help, but households earning more than 400% of the poverty line no longer get a credit at all.
Prices went up in Hawaii
Individual plan prices in Hawaii rose about 13% on average for 2027, so even if you're happy with your plan, it's worth checking this year's numbers before it renews.
You still have until January 15
A shorter federal enrollment window was blocked in court, so open enrollment still runs through January 15. Choose by December 15 if you want coverage on January 1.
What marketplace plans cost in 2027
Here are the most affordable marketplace plans available in Hawaiʻi for 2027, two from Kaiser and two from HMSA. These prices are before any tax credit, so if you qualify for one, you'll pay less. There are more expensive plans too, with lower deductibles, if you'd rather have the lowest out-of-pocket costs when you get care.
| One person, monthly | Kaiser Standard Bronze 7500/50 HSA$7,500 deductible, $12,000 max | Kaiser Bronze 6000/65 Plus CAM$6,000 deductible, $10,500 max | HMSA Bronze PPO II HSA$11,700 deductible, $11,700 max | HMSA Bronze PPO I$7,500 deductible, $12,000 max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 25 | $352 | $386 | $410 | $443 |
| Age 35 | $428 | $470 | $499 | $539 |
| Age 45 | $506 | $555 | $590 | $637 |
| Age 55 | $781 | $857 | $911 | $984 |
| Family of four, monthly | Kaiser Standard Bronze 7500/50 HSA$7,500 deductible, $12,000 max | Kaiser Bronze 6000/65 Plus CAM$6,000 deductible, $10,500 max | HMSA Bronze PPO II HSA$11,700 deductible, $11,700 max | HMSA Bronze PPO I$7,500 deductible, $12,000 max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults 25 | $1,239 | $1,360 | $1,446 | $1,560 |
| Adults 35 | $1,392 | $1,528 | $1,624 | $1,753 |
| Adults 45 | $1,571 | $1,725 | $1,834 | $1,979 |
| Adults 55 | $2,173 | $2,385 | $2,536 | $2,736 |
Sample 2027 rates for Kahului (96732) from HealthCare.gov, before any tax credit. Families are two adults and two children. Deductibles shown are for one person. Your price depends on your age, where you live, and who you cover.
Option 3
What is Affordable Choice?
Most health insurance pays a share of your bill after you meet a deductible. Affordable Choice, from ManhattanLife, works differently: it pays a set cash benefit each time you use a covered service, starting with your very first visit, and you can see any doctor or hospital you like.
When you can enroll: Any time of year
| Benefit | Affordable Choice Elite | Affordable Choice Elite Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Deductible | $0 | $0 |
| Doctor visits, up to 10 a year | $175 a visit | $200 a visit |
| Hospital stay | $4,000 a day | $6,000 a day |
| Hospital admission | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| ER and urgent care | $300 a day | $300 a day |
| Ambulance, per day | $150 ground, $1,500 air | $150 ground, $1,500 air |
| Outpatient surgery center, plus surgeon and anesthesia benefits | $2,500 a day | $3,000 a day |
| MRI or CT scan | Up to $600 | Up to $700 |
| Chiropractic, plus physical, occupational, or speech therapy | $75 a day | $75 a day |
| Prescriptions | $50 a day | $75 a day |
| Cancer treatment | $2,000 a day | $2,000 a day |
| Outpatient yearly limit | $6,000 | $8,000 |
| Included with both plans: EasyCare2GoAt no additional cost, as a rider attached to the Affordable Choice base plan. |
| |
Any doctor or hospital, no network, and no waiting periods. Benefits are paid as set amounts for covered services.
Add the Specified Disease Rider for the big what-if
Covers fourteen major conditions including cancer, heart attack, stroke, organ transplant, and joint replacement, up to $500,000 per calendar year and $2,000,000 lifetime after your chosen deductible. It answers the fair question about a plan like this: what happens if something serious hits.
See all fourteen covered conditions
- Amputation
- ALS
- Angioplasty
- Cancer (internal)
- Coronary artery bypass surgery
- End stage renal failure
- Heart attack
- Heart valve surgery
- Implantable cardiac defibrillator
- Joint replacement
- Major organ failure or transplant
- Pacemaker implant
- Ruptured aneurysm
- Stroke
Coverage is subject to underwriting, a twelve month pre-existing condition period, and the terms of the policy and rider.
What it costs each month in 2027
| Who's covered | Marketplace Bronze | Marketplace Silver | Affordable Choice Elite | Affordable Choice Elite Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One person, age 25 | $352 | $446 | $132 | $174 |
| One person, age 35 | $428 | $543 | $166 | $220 |
| One person, age 45 | $506 | $642 | $198 | $261 |
| One person, age 55 | $781 | $991 | $281 | $369 |
| One person, age 64 | $1,051 | $1,334 | $281 | $369 |
| Family of four, adults 35 | $1,392 | $1,767 | $487 | $662 |
| Family of four, adults 55 | $2,173 | $2,758 | $716 | $960 |
Sample 2027 rates for Kahului (96732). Marketplace prices are Kaiser Standard Bronze and Silver before any tax credit, so if you qualify for a credit, run the estimate above to see what you'd really pay.
It may be a great fit if you're…
- Generally healthy right now, and comfortable answering a few health questions
- Earning too much for a tax credit, which in 2027 means above about $73,440 for one person or $151,800 for a family of four
- Hoping to see any doctor or hospital you like, with no network to worry about
- Likely to use telemedicine and no-cost prescriptions as part of your everyday care
- Between 18 and 64, since those are the ages the plan accepts
What to know before you choose it
- It pays set cash amounts for covered services, so it isn't major medical or ACA coverage, and there's no out-of-pocket maximum the way a marketplace plan has.
- It asks health questions, so a significant medical condition may mean you don't qualify.
- It doesn't cover pregnancy, so if a baby is on the way or planned, the marketplace is the better home.
- If a big diagnosis is the worry, a Specified Disease Rider can be added to help with those larger costs.
Marketplace or Affordable Choice? A quick check
Answer these four questions and the suggestion updates as you go. It will tell you when the marketplace is the better choice.
Are you, and everyone you're covering, in good health?
Does your income qualify for a tax credit? The estimate above will tell you, and even with a credit, the marketplace and Affordable Choice may both be good options.
Is anyone planning a pregnancy?
Does anyone need ongoing care for a condition, like regular specialist visits?
Answer a question to begin.
There's no wrong answer here, and every result points you to a clear next step.
Talk it through with ChrisChris would love to help you enroll
Enrolling in Affordable Choice, plus any bundled plans, usually takes less than 10 minutes, and doing it together gives Chris a chance to answer any questions you have along the way.
Take the comparison home
Our one-page flyer puts the two options side by side with 2027 numbers for Hawaiʻi, so you can talk it through at the kitchen table or share it with someone who's shopping too.
Most Popular Individual Health Insurance Bundle
Affordable Choice + Accident
Less than $200 a month
Health coverage that pays from your very first visit, with any doctor you like, plus an accident plan that pays you directly when you get hurt. Counseling and virtual care through EasyCare2Go come built in, and one application covers both plans.
Sample Hawaiʻi rate: one person, age 35, Affordable Choice Elite plus accident coverage, $191.28 a month. Your price depends on your age and who you cover.
Pair it with accident coverage on one application
Affordable Choice is most often paired with an accident plan, because the accident plan fills in the everyday injury costs the base plan pays less on. Both go on one application with one set of health questions and one monthly bank draft. See the most popular bundles →
Option 4
A group plan, if you have a DOL number
If you have a DOL number for a business, even a one-person business, you may qualify for a group health plan through Kaiser or HMAA. That's often the strongest coverage at the best price of anything on this page, and it's the one option you can't shop for online. Our employer page walks through how it works, and we'll send you a short intake sheet before we talk so we arrive ready with real numbers.
When you can enroll: Any time of year
Three ways forward
Open enrollment ends January 15, and the earlier you start, the more time you'll have to compare. Whichever health coverage you land on, Chris is happy to help with the rest of your benefits, from dental and vision to life, disability, and cash benefits.
Start with Med-QUEST
When you can enroll: Any time of year
If your income may qualify, call Med-QUEST at 1-800-316-8005 or apply online. It's open all year, and it's often the best coverage available at little or no cost.
Apply for Med-QUESTEnroll on HealthCare.gov
When you can enroll: November 1 to January 15, or within 60 days of a qualifying life event
If a marketplace plan fits best, shop and enroll on HealthCare.gov, then book a call and we'll help you with your dental, vision, and cash benefit decisions.
Visit HealthCare.govSee Affordable Choice prices
When you can enroll: Any time of year
If you're healthy and don't qualify for much of a credit, Chris would love to help you enroll. It usually takes less than 10 minutes, bundled plans included, and he can answer your questions as you go.
Tech Savvy? You can self-enroll if you don't want to meet with Chris
Whichever way you choose, we're paid by the carriers rather than by you, so your price is the same either way.
Turning 65 or already on Medicare? Text us at (808) 303-5040 and we'll connect you with the right help right away.
Health decision made? Your next decision is dental and vision →
Covering a team instead? See our employer benefits page.