Top Health Insurance Companies
Editorial Indication: Blueprint may profit from the affiliate partner links present on this site. This profit will not, however, influence the opinion or evaluation of editors. Read our full policy for advertisement disclosure.
If you are looking for good health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you must visit Kaiser Permanente. This health insurer has a very high rating from the National Committee of Quality Assurance (NCQA) and enjoys low complaint levels at state insurance departments; rates are very affordable, and among the best health insurance companies that vary from requirements of coverage to budget to family size among different people.
Evaluating every insurance product available on the market, involving hundreds of them, and analyzing thousands of data points, is how our health insurance experts find what is best for your needs. Each rating is determined methodology based on data. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about it in our methodology section below.
- 129 health insurance companies analyzed;
- 864 health insurance plan rates reviewed;
- 5 levels of fact-checking.
Best Health Insurance Company
Why It’s the Best
Kaiser Permanente is the finest health insurance company among all those listed under the Health Insurance Marketplace. It is the largest private nonprofit health care company in the entire country. The health insurance company offers both individual and family health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, as well as exclusive provider organization (EPO) plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace. You can also purchase Medicaid, including Medi-Cal, or Medicare plans if you qualify.
Coordinated care is the hallmark of Kaiser within an internetworked model. Though flexibility is not inherent in this model of care, it is just one of the reasons Kaiser Permanente has the lowest number of complaints from members on our best health insurance list. It also has an average score of 4.2, which is the highest rating in our analysis by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Affordable.
- Health plans for all age groups.
- A high rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
- Almost no member complaints compared to the national average.
Cons
- No PPO option.
- All care must occur within the Kaiser Permanente network.
- Coverage is only available in 8 states plus Washington, D.C.
- Long potential waits to see specialists.
Best health insurance for self-employed folks
Why the best
Being a BCBS member, you have access nationally to over 1.7 million doctors and hospitals, which are then complemented by a further network of more than 200 countries within the BCBS Global Care umbrella. This can be advantageous with having access to these care benefits if you have international residence, work, or travel; more so at the time if you are travelling abroad on business, because this vast network offers you the best health insurance while self-employed.
BCBS comprises 34 local, independent, and therefore separate BCBS companies. However, BCBS plans cover a large portion of the health plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace on Healthcare.gov, enabling one to compare various insurance plans when workplace health insurance is not accessible.
If you want to select your doctor without having to worry about being referred to see a specialist, check out BCBS’s preferred provider organization (PPO) plan. While you can still save more on your out-of-pocket plan costs by staying in-network, you have the flexibility of seeing the provider of your choice in this type of plan.
Some BCBS members are eligible for the discount program, Blue365, under which they can get discounts for buying health and wellness products and services, such as activities and devices, consumer products, nutrition programs, meal plan kits, gym memberships, travel, and lots more.
So if you are looking for the most appropriate health insurance for a small business owner, consider BCBS.
Cons and pros
Pros
- International health coverage.
- Flexibility with networks.
- Benefits and discounts for members.
Cons
- Expensive rates.
- Variances in customer satisfaction among states.
- Not all plans include Blue365 eligibility.
Best health insurance provider network
Why is it the best
With over 1.3 million care professionals and physicians in its network, gaining access to in-network health care across the United States becomes easier, and hence, UnitedHealthcare has earned its right as the best health insurance provider network.
Similarly, some of their in-house health insurance coverage programs include comprehensive coverage across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., but vary from one state to another in terms of plans available.
UnitedHealthcare’s other offerings include short-term health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and supplemental insurances like critical illness, hospital, dental, accident, and international travel insurance.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Health insurance can include additional coverage through supplements.
- An extensive national coverage network with care provision all over the country.
Cons
- Plans may be expensive.
- No PPO option available.
Health insurance for young adults
What makes it the best
Of all the plans from Aetna, this is an excellent insurance plan for young adults. A good balance with reliable benefits, competitive rates, and incentives for health activity at home. Individual options are Aetna CVS Health plans that provide $0 or inexpensive care at over 1,100 national MinuteClinic locations found within CVS or Target stores. In addition, Aetna has other supplementary coverages like accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans, and it offers dental and vision insurance as well.
By using the Aetna health insurance plan, one can download the Attain by Aetna app to reap rewards and incentives from healthy activities. This app uses the individual’s personal health history and data from a wearables device to provide sound advice on nutrition, mindfulness, and sleep, and provides indications on ways to improve long-term health.
Benefits and limitations
Advantages
- Affordable plan rates.
- Donated services in CVS MinuteClinics.
- Bonus rewards on some plans for healthy living.
Disadvantages
- There are no PPO plans.
- There is no short-term insurance.
Available states
Aetna provides HMO and EPO ACA plans in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Utah, Texas, and Virginia.
What Are the Steps to Finding Ideal Health Insurance Tailored for You?
Numerous steps must be taken to obtain the best medical insurance for your needs:
- Analyze your health needs. How much do you go to the doctor? What medications do you take? Do you or any family member have any special medical conditions?
- Assess what programs are available in your location. Understand what the various plan types mean: EPOs, HMOs, and PPOs, how they work, and the advantages and disadvantages of each, so that you can find the best-suited plan.
- Compare health insurance plans. Differences are found in almost everything-from plan benefits, deductibles, copayment, out-of-pocket costs, and premiums. Pay particular attention to what a certain plan covers (and does not cover) to ensure it is to your benefit. The Marketplace plans provide a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC), which should ease the process of plan comparison.
- Confirm that coverage is offered in-network. If you have certain doctors or a medical facility that you prefer, be sure to confirm that these providers are in-network for any plans you are considering. Otherwise, you may incur some hefty out-of-network costs or find yourself having to switch to another doctor.
- Check for prescription coverage. If you take prescription meds, verify whether this plan covers them and the estimated out-of-pocket cost. You might have to call the insurance company to get cost information.
- Look for perks. Things like telehealth services, a nurse hotline available 24/7, or discounts on wellness programs.
- Check to see if you qualify for financial assistance. You may be eligible for financial assistance or premium subsidies if you get health insurance through the Marketplace.
- Ask for reviews and recommendations. Share the experience with your colleagues, friends, and family members to know their say about their insurance company and plans.
What Is the Cost of Health Insurance in 2024?
The tables below show examples of health insurance costs for Bronze, Silver, and Gold plans from the best health insurance companies in our analysis.
Bronze Plans: Costs of Health Insurance in Consideration
| HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN | AGE 30 | AGE 40 | AGE 50 | AGE 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna CVS Health Texas | $310 | $349 | $488 | $741 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas | $360 | $405 | $567 | $861 |
| Cigna Healthcare in Florida | $390 | $439 | $614 | $932 |
| Molina Healthcare in Florida | $383 | $431 | $603 | $916 |
| Oscar Insurance Company in Texas | $305 | $330 | $371 | $519 |
| UnitedHealthcare in Texas | $332 | $374 | $522 | $793 |
Silver plans: Health insurance monthly cost examples
| HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN | AGE 30 | AGE 40 | AGE 50 | AGE 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna CVS Health Texas | $458 | $515 | $720 | $1,095 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas | $549 | $618 | $863 | $1,312 |
| Cigna Healthcare in Florida | $474 | $534 | $746 | $1,134 |
| Molina Healthcare in Florida | $520 | $585 | $818 | $1,242 |
| Oscar Insurance Company in Texas | $404 | $437 | $493 | $688 |
| UnitedHealthcare in Texas | $488 | $550 | $768 | $1,167 |
Gold plans: Health insurance monthly cost examples
| HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN | AGE 30 | AGE 40 | AGE 50 | AGE 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna CVS Health Texas | $438 | $493 | $689 | $1,047 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas | $452 | $509 | $711 | $1,081 |
| Cigna Healthcare in Florida | $573 | $645 | $902 | $1,371 |
| Molina Healthcare in Florida | $450 | $507 | $708 | $1,076 |
| Oscar Insurance Company in Texas | $452 | $489 | $551 | $770 |
| UnitedHealthcare in Texas | $431 | $486 | $679 | $1,032 |
Average health insurance rates according to age
This means how much you will pay for health insurance based on your age and the age of any other individual, child, or adult, part of your plan. The table below shows estimates depending on how much coverage would cost on an unsubsidized ACA plan.
| HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN MEMBER | AVERAGE MONTHLY COST FOR AN ACA MARKETPLACE PLAN |
|---|---|
| Child age 0-14 | $291 |
| Child age 18 | $343 |
| Adult Individual age 21 | $384 |
| Adult Individual age 27 | $405 |
| Adult Individual age 30 | $438 |
| Adult Individual age 40 | $492 |
| Adult Individual age 50 | $688 |
| Adult Individual age 60 | $1,044 |
| Couple age 21 | $767 |
| A couple age 50 | $875 |
| A couple aged 40 | $984 |
| A couple aged 50 | $1,376 |
| A couple aged 60 | $2,087 |
| Couple+1 child, age 21 | $1,058 |
| Couple+1 child, age 30 | $1,166 |
| Couple+1 child, age 40 | $1,275 |
| Couple+1 child, age 50 | $1,667 |
| Couple+2 children, age 21 | $1,349 |
| Couple+2 children, age 30 | $1,457 |
| Couple+2 children, age 40 | $1,565 |
| Couple+2 children, age 50 | $2,508 |
| Couple+3 or more Children, age 21 | $1,639 |
| Couple+3 or more Children, age 30 | $1,747 |
| Couple+3 or more Children, age 40 | $1,856 |
| Couple+3 or more Children, age 50 | $2,248 |
| Individual+1 child, age 21 | $674 |
| Individual+1 child, age 30 | $728 |
| Individual+1 child, age 40 | $783 |
| Individual+1 child, age 50 | $979 |
| Individual+2 children, age 21 | $965 |
| Individual+2 children, age 30 | $1,019 |
| Individual+2 children, age 40 | $1,073 |
| Individual+2 children, age 50 | $1,270 |
| Individual+3 or more children, age 21 | $1,256 |
| Individual+3 or more children, age 30 | $1,310 |
| Individual+3 or more children, age 40 | $1,364 |
| Individual+3 or more children, age 50 | $1,560 |
Average health insurance rates by age
Most health insurance plans cover these basic health care benefits as specified by the Affordable Care Act:
- Ambulatory patient services, including outpatient care.
- Chronic diseases, prevention, and wellness services.
- Emergency services.
- Hospitalization, including surgery and overnight stays.
- Laboratory services.
- This includes mental health, behavioral health, and services for substance use disorders.
- Pediatric services, including dental and vision care.
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care, including coverage for contraception and breastfeeding supports.
- Pharmaceuticals.
- Therapeutic and habilitative devices and services.
Individual services may vary according to the requirements of your state. Many plans also have adult dental and vision coverage as part of benefits; additionally, medical management programs are usually part of these plans, e.g., programs that assist back pain, diabetes, and weight management patients.
Health insurance policies for children 18 and under are required to provide at least partial dental coverage under the coverage provided by ACA health insurance plans. This means it has to either be incorporated in a health plan or available as an independent dental scheme. Adult dental care and treatment, however, are not considered to be core benefits, and therefore, there is a good chance that the health insurance for adults does not include dental treatments.
Plan Benefits generally differ from one company to another. You must read the fine print to realize what each health insurance plan does and does not cover. What Health Insurance Does Not Cover?
Health plans may vary from one to another; still, Agarwal asserts that health insurance can be defined as a plan that generally does not cover:
Alternative medicine, like acupuncture or chiropractic therapy;
- Plastic or elective surgeries;
- Dental or vision services, unless they are offered as part of your health plan;
- Experimental treatments;
- Non-U.S. Medical care;
- Medications or drugs not considered essential or not approved by the FDA;
- Out-of-network services.
Likewise, it may not cover fertility treatments or provide coverage for new technologies or off-label drug use. “There may also be limitations or exclusions relating to pre-existing conditions, dental care, vision care, and long-term care,” Bullock said.
Development services, however, usually are not covered by most medical plans, according to Adam Rosenfeld, president of Rubicon Benefits, a division of World Insurance. Though physical therapy during recuperation from knee surgery would be covered, completely different for developmental delays your child may have and would instead have a speech therapy session.
Plan benefits may also differ according to coverage level and insurance company; similarly, policy exclusions may also vary by company. Comparison of plans indicated in terms of exclusions may assist in determining which health plan best meets an individual’s health care needs.
What are the types of health insurance plans?
Multiple types of health insurance plans are available in the Marketplace, many of which may be available in your area at each metal tier (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum).
- Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): While this is one of the cheapest health insurance plans available, it restricts you to in-network providers unless there is an emergency. You will need to select a primary care doctor who can refer you to specialists. In some cases, you may also need to live or work in a certain proximity to the HMO’s service network to get covered.
- Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO): Excluding emergencies, an EPO plan is only in-network care. In most cases, you don’t need a referral to see an in-network specialist. EPOs usually have a larger network than HMOs, but you will pay a higher premium than with an HMO. EPOs are usually not as commonly offered.
- Point of Service (POS): In-network care is available through POS plans, but the provider network is limited. You can access care outside the network, but at a higher cost. All specialist referrals must come from your primary care doctor.
- Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): PPO plans provide access to in-network care. You may access out-of-network providers, but you would have to pay more. There are no referrals required, nor do you have to choose a primary care doctor.
- How to get health insurance. You can apply for health insurance in many ways, including online, by phone, through an agent or broker, or with a paper application. Where you get health insurance will probably determine the application process.
You may get health insurance from:
- An employer.
- Medicare.
- Medicaid.
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- Health Insurance Marketplace.
The open enrollment period for the federal health insurance exchange is from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15, but some states have their own health insurance exchange, and the open enrollment periods vary. Refer to the table below for state-based enrollment information, and always check with your own state’s latest health insurance enrollment guidance.
If you miss the open enrollment period, you may still be able to enroll, like after a major life change such as marriage or childbirth, through an income-qualifying Special Enrollment Period, or if you qualify for Medicaid or CHIP.
FAQs:
What factors should I consider when choosing a health insurance plan in the USA?
Check coverage, premium costs, deductibles, provider networks, and out-of-pocket expenses before selecting a health insurance plan.
Are employer-sponsored health insurance plans better than private ones?
Employer-sponsored plans often cost less due to shared premiums, while private plans offer more flexibility and personal choice.
Can I buy health insurance without going through the marketplace?
Yes, you can purchase directly from insurance companies, brokers, or through employer-provided coverage outside the marketplace.
What is the open enrollment period for health insurance in the USA?
The open enrollment period typically runs from November to mid-January, allowing individuals to apply or change plans.
Hi, I’m veda, a professional health content writer and passionate wellness advocate at HealthTipsIndia.com
. With years of experience in writing evidence-based, reader-friendly articles, I specialize in creating content that empowers people to live healthier, more balanced lives. Whether it’s nutrition, fitness, natural remedies, or preventive healthcare, I translate complex medical concepts into actionable tips tailored for the Indian lifestyle. My goal? To make trustworthy health information accessible to everyone—one article at a time.