What are the best health insurance companies in America?
Healthcare in America is some of the most expensive in the world and, without health insurance, you could be facing thousands of dollars in medical bills that you’ll have to try and pay out of pocket.
Problems with the current system aside, finding a good health insurance provider is crucial for staying healthy in America, and today we’re looking at the best companies in the nation.
The Best Health Insurance Companies In America
All of these health insurance companies have been researched and ranked based on the services they excel at, so you can find the best option for you and your family.
Here’s our list of the 10 best health insurance companies in America:
10. Oscar
Best For: Busy Families
Oscar has health insurance plans that work perfectly for busy families, and they really have excelled when it comes to their mobile app and telehealth services.
Health insurance can be tricky when buying for the whole family, since most of us don’t have access to the funds that the richest people in America have.
However, this health insurance company offers numerous family-oriented benefits that make it worth considering.
For children, they have child wellness programs, capped deductibles for families, and access to their telehealth network.
There are also free exams for babies and children, as well as benefits for pregnant women.
If you’re a busy family that doesn’t have time to mess around when it comes to health insurance coverage, Oscar makes things much easier, and it can offer some well-needed peace of mind.
Pros:
- Great benefits for children and pregnant women
- Easily accessible app and telehealth services
- Tax credit eligibility
Cons:
- No dental or vision coverage for adults
- Limits on availability
Bottom Line:
Oscar may lack coverage for dental or vision services for adults, but it excels when it comes to child care.
We also love that it provides telehealth access because this can make seeing a provider easier, since you can get help any time of the day, instead of needing to take off work or take your child out of school.
9. HealthPartners
Best For: Customers in the Midwest
HealthPartners operates in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota under the names HealthPartners, and Group Health Plan Inc.
While those living in Minnesota have the most plans to choose from, all of their private plans have earned a 4.5 overall score from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
Although their plans are pretty close to the national standard, what really makes them stand out is something that those with diabetes can benefit from.
HealthPartners also promises customers with diabetes that their monthly insulin supplies will cost no more than $25.
This can definitely make a huge difference considering that rising insulin prices have caused some people to resort to rationing and other extremes in order to try and stay healthy.
Pros:
- Great coverage for diabetics
- High rated private plans
- Coverage varies between states
Cons:
- Only available in six Midwest states
Bottom Line:
If you live in one of the states where HealthPartners is available, especially if you are living with diabetes, this health insurance company is certainly worth checking out.
8. Sidecar Health
Best For: People on a Budget
Created in 2018, Sidecar Health is a relatively new health insurance company but it was launched with the goal of making health care more accessible and cost-effective for everyone.
With this company, even those who aren’t the CEOs of the biggest banks in the world can see a doctor and get the treatment they need.
Sidecar Health has a low monthly premium and the potential to save up to 40% on medical services.
When you enroll with this health insurance provider, you will be given a Visa card that you can use which takes 20% out of the payment method you have on file, with the remaining 80% being covered by your insurance.
Best of all, Sidecar Health customers aren’t limited by network, so you don’t have to worry about losing your current doctor or having to go to one that your insurance provider forces you to.
Pros:
Affordable health insurance premiums
No set enrollment periods
No network restrictions
Cons:
- Not available in all states
- Some medical conditions may be excluded
Bottom Line:
If you’re trying to stick to a tight budget, the last thing you need is expensive medical expenses piling up.
Fortunately, Sidecar Health insurance can help alleviate some of the burden while helping you get the health care that you need.
While it isn’t available in all states, if you are in one of the states that it is available in, we definitely recommend learning more about them.
7. Molina Healthcare
Best For: Wellness Care
While Molina Healthcare coverage is available in 18 states, they only offer private health insurance in 11, with benefits, coverage, and plan options varying between them.
However, while there is variation, their wellness programs are great throughout all of them, and most offer essential health benefits such as vaccinations, prescription drugs, prenatal care, emergency services, hospital costs, lab tests, x-rays, vision, and office visits.
Molina also has surprisingly low co-pays when compared to its wellness and preventative care services, which make it one of the best you can buy, provided they are offered in your state.
Along with services for adults, children can also benefit from immunization and pediatric preventative care, all of which are covered by Molina.
Pros:
- Great wellness program
- Fantastic preventative care coverage
- Low co-pays
Cons:
- Limited to 11 states
Bottom Line:
The real downside to Molina is the fact that it isn’t available in all 50 states, because it is a very solid health insurance company that we could see benefiting a lot of people and families.
However, if you are lucky enough to live in one of the 11 states and want a provider with low co-pays and an emphasis on wellness and prevention, Molina is a company that you should certainly consider.
6. Humana
Best For: All-in-One Coverage
Not all of us have taken advantage of the best savings accounts in America, and so affording separate dental and vision plans can be financially impossible.
Fortunately, Humana is one of the few health insurance companies to offer both dental and vision coverage through its Medicare Advantage plan, so you don’t have to try and buy it separately from someone else.
They also have a separate health insurance plan just for prescription medications, though it can also be bundled with one of their Medicare plans.
As one of the most trusted names in health insurance, Humana can be a great choice for those with a low income who want all of their medical needs covered under one policy.
Pros:
- Affordable premiums
- Medicare coverage
Cons:
- No private health insurance since 2018
Bottom Line:
While Humana has done away with its private health insurance policies, its Medicare Advantage plans make it worth considering if you are after a low-cost policy that bundles everything, including vision and dental, together.
That said, if you do want a private policy, you’re going to have to look elsewhere.
5. United Healthcare
Best For: Best for Digital Health Care
United Healthcare is dedicated to what they call, “consumer-driven digital health care”, which includes supporting wearable technology, such as Apple Watches and activity trackers, that allows for better health monitoring and reporting.
With digital options like this, you can benefit from having more time to focus on your health and follow the steps to create good habits, as opposed to taking time off to sit on the phone or in your doctor’s office.
You can also take advantage of the nationwide coverage, telehealth services, intuitive smartphone app, and a wide range of benefits including wellness and preventative care.
As one of the top health insurance companies, United Healthcare has numerous programs for both individuals and employers, as well as Medicare and Medicaid.
Their customer satisfaction is also extraordinarily high, which helps solidify this company as one of the best.
Pros:
- A lot of digital health options
- A nationwide network of providers
- Many different plans to choose from
- High customer satisfaction
Cons:
- Not available everywhere
- It can be more expensive than other insurance companies
Bottom Line:
United Healthcare stands out for its willingness to embrace new technologies without sacrificing quality assurance.
There are loads of plans to choose from, an incredibly wide network of providers, and overall, current customers are highly satisfied with the coverage this company provides.
While it isn’t available everywhere and it can cost more than those on a budget can spend, if you have the money to allocate towards a plan and value being able to take advantage of digital services, United Healthcare could be a good company for you.
4. Blue Cross Blue Shield
Best For: Best Network
Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the most trusted names in the health insurance industry and it boasts one of the largest networks both national and international.
In America, this provider has contracts with over 96% of all hospitals and 95% of all doctors.
While you do have to stick to providers within the network, honestly, there are so many, it would be hard not to find a provider in their network.
Although you do need to wait for a specific enrollment period in order to sign up with Blue Cross Blue Shield, everything can be done online beginning January 1st, unless you’re able to enroll during one of their special enrollment periods, which you can learn more about from an agent.
It should be noted that this provider is one of the most expensive health insurers, so health insurance plans through them are definitely going to cost more than those from Sidecar Health, but their benefits and coverage could make the cost worthwhile.
Plus, plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield can cover both vision and dental as well, saving you from needing to go elsewhere for those.
Pros:
- A huge network of providers
- Rewards, benefits, and incentives
- Available in all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico
Cons:
- Information can be hard to find online, requiring you to speak with an agent
- More expensive than other providers
Bottom Line:
Blue Cross Blue Shield has a health insurance policy for almost everyone and their network is incredibly expansive.
While you will need to enroll via the health insurance marketplace during the allotted enrollment period, this can give you time to learn more about what plan would be best for you or even if this is the provider you want to go with.
They are notably more expensive, but the benefits and incentives that they offer can kind of balance this out, though they definitely aren’t geared towards those on a budget.
3. Cigna
Best For: International Health Insurance
If you spend a lot of time traveling and want access to healthcare providers across the globe, buying health insurance from Cigna could be exactly what you need.
Cigna has a plan known as the Global Health Advantage plan which gives customers access to a worldwide network of 1.5 million healthcare services and access to doctors in over 30 countries.
The largest downside that Cigna has is that it is only available in 13 states, meaning that this provider is inaccessible if you’re not living in the right place.
Though it does offer dental in all 50, oddly enough.
However, if you do happen to live in one of these states, you can benefit from a robust national network and the worldwide network, should you opt for global coverage.
It should also be noted that new states are being added every year, so if you are really set on buying a plan from Cigna, it may be worth watching closely to see when your state will be covered.
Pros:
- International network coverage
- Competitive pricing
- High customer satisfaction
Cons:
- Limited availability of healthcare plans in many states
Bottom Line:
Cigna is a well-respected name in the health insurance industry and it benefits from having a great customer satisfaction rate.
While it isn’t available everywhere, it does provide solid coverage in the states where it does operate, and its international coverage is the best you can find today.
With Cigna, you can focus on embracing different cultures when traveling, as opposed to worrying about where to go if you need to see a doctor.
2. Kaiser Permanente
Best For: HMO Plans
Kaiser has some of the highest customer satisfaction scores in the industry and even their Medicaid and Medicare policies are routinely ranked 5 out of 5 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Kaiser’s Medicare Advantage HMO plans have a lot of different options to choose from, though prices and specific plans vary between states.
The only real downside, as with any HMO, is that you have to use one of their Foundation hospitals, one of their medical offices, or affiliated providers in order to be covered.
However, you can still seek urgent or emergency care outside of the network without worrying about extra charges.
That said, Kaiser’s HMO plans are some of the most affordable, especially for seniors, which makes them worth considering if you don’t mind staying in their network, even if it means giving up your current primary care physician.
In addition to low premiums, there are no deductibles, lower co-pay costs, and prescription drug costs with a Kaiser HMO.
Pros:
- Extremely high ratings
- Low premiums
- All-in-one coverage plans
Cons:
- Only available in eight states
- Limited to in-network providers
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for an affordable HMO plan, a Kaiser Foundation health plan may be exactly what you need.
While it is limited to eight states, if you do live in its network range, this insurer can definitely prevent you from needing to run up credit card debt to cover your medical bills.
Even if you have one of the best credit cards in America, paying out-of-pocket expenses is enough to bankrupt even the most financially stable people without insurance.
1. Aetna
Best For: Medicare
Aetna’s Medicare Advantage plans are available in 30 states, as well as the District of Columbia, and it comes with a rating of 4.0 or above from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
For those not in one of these 30 states, Aetna offers a Medicare supplemental plan known as Medigap, which can be beneficial for those who need coverage.
In some states, customers can also take advantage of plans that bundle dental, vision, hearing, and supplemental Medicare, removing the need for buying other separate policies.
For private plans, Aetna is employer-based, offering policies to businesses that cover their employees. If you’re lucky enough to work for a place that offers Aetna coverage, you definitely should consider signing up.
Additionally, in 2018, this provider joined CVS Health, which allows policyholders to take advantage of services at a CVS location.
For example, Aetna customers could get a free home monitor at CVS if they have high blood pressure, while those with chronic conditions may benefit from monitoring at some CVS locations.
Pros:
- A large range of highly-rated plans
- Affordable monthly costs
- Benefits through the CVS partnership
Cons:
- Limited availability
Bottom Line:
When it comes to health coverage, Aetna is one of the most trusted names in the nation, but its biggest drawback is that full plans aren’t available in all 50 states.
However, if you do live in one of the 30 states that Aetna is fully available in, we highly recommend checking it out for its affordability and range of coverage options.
Summary
We hope you learned something from our list of the best health insurance companies in America!
If you currently don’t have coverage, we definitely recommend checking out some of these providers so that you can be prepared should you need health care services.
Uninsured medical bills are definitely much more expensive than the lifetime cost of paying for adequate health insurance!
Here’s a quick recap of the 10 best health insurance companies in America:
- Aetna
- Kaiser Permanente
- Cigna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- United Healthcare
- Humana
- Molina Healthcare
- Sidecar Health
- HealthPartners
- Oscar
