Before subsidies, the average benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old in Rhode Island costs $629 a month for 2027 (the national average is $704). Premium tax credits bring that down for many households, depending on income and family size.
If you want someone to shop the Rhode Island market for you, a broker is the usual route. The 12 offices below sit closest to Providence and list themselves as brokers or independent agencies, which typically means access to more than one insurer.
Health Insurance Brokers near Providence
Licensed agents can compare plans available in Providence County, check your doctors and estimate your premium tax credit. Free to you.
Call 866-645-8540Local health care in Providence
- Brown University Health, the Providence-based nonprofit system behind Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Children's and The Miriam Hospital, is a network worth checking in any plan's provider directory before you enroll. Source
- Care New England, which runs Women & Infants Hospital and Butler Hospital in Providence, is the other major local network to confirm when comparing plans. Source
- Rhode Island has no local health departments, so Providence residents are served directly by the statewide Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). Source
Before you choose a plan, check that the hospitals and doctors you use are in its network. An agent can look that up for each plan you compare.
Do brokers cost more?
No. Health insurers pay brokers a commission that's already part of the premium. You pay the same price for a plan whether you buy it yourself or through a broker.
Broker or agent: what's the difference?
A captive agent sells one company's plans. An independent agent or broker is appointed with several insurers and can compare them. In everyday use the words overlap, so ask any office which carriers it can quote in Rhode Island.
What a broker can compare for you
Premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums; which doctors and hospitals are in each network; whether your prescriptions are covered; and whether you qualify for a premium tax credit.
Carriers a Providence broker can quote
For 2027, marketplace plans in Rhode Island come from 2 insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. Not every insurer sells in every county. An independent broker appointed with several of them can compare prices and networks side by side.
Before you call an agent
- Compare total yearly cost (premiums plus deductible), not just the monthly premium.
- Write down the enrollment deadline and confirm your first premium payment.
- Ask each agent which carriers they can quote in your county.
- Check that the agent's license is active with the state regulator.
Checking an agent's license in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island offers a License Verification Look-Up Service, run by the Insurance Division together with the NAIC, that lets anyone check the license status of an insurance producer. Source
- The Insurance Division of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation licenses insurance producers and oversees insurers in the state. Consumers can file an insurance complaint with the division. Source
Frequently asked questions
When can I buy a plan?
During open enrollment (Nov 1 to January 31 on the HealthSource RI), or within 60 days of a qualifying life event such as losing other coverage, moving, marriage or a new baby.
Can a broker help me get a subsidy?
Yes. Brokers certified with the marketplace can estimate your premium tax credit and enroll you in a subsidized plan.
How do I find a good health insurance broker in Providence?
Look for a broker licensed in Rhode Island who can quote several carriers, is certified with the HealthSource RI, and has reviews from local clients. You can verify any license with the Rhode Island insurance regulator.
Brokers in nearby cities
- East Providence, RI 3 miles
- Pawtucket, RI 4 miles
- Central Falls, RI 5 miles
- Cranston, RI 5 miles
- Valley Falls, RI 7 miles
- Greenville, RI 8 miles
- Warwick, RI 8 miles
- Cumberland Hill, RI 11 miles
- Woonsocket, RI 13 miles
- Newport East, RI 22 miles