Most popular health insurance companies

Major health insurance companies in your state

We dug through our data to see which health insurance companies our readers are choosing.

These rankings were based on more than one million health insurance quotes for readers between October 2014 and October 2018 on Insurance.com and Insure.com. We’ve broken it down by age group and state to show you what individual health insurance options are popular with our readers.

You’ll find UnitedHealthcare dominates this list. That makes sense, considering it’s the largest health insurer in the U.S.

You’ll see other major health insurance companies like Cigna and Aetna. You’ll also see relative newcomer Oscar Health, a startup with a technology focus that has expanded into new markets over the past few years.

Here’s what we found:

Shopping for health insurance

If you don’t get health insurance at work, you have a few options for shopping for a health insurance plan. You can shop through the health insurance marketplace, which offers Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, or you can shop directly through insurance companies.

No matter where you shop, there are numerous types of plans, including PPOs, HMOs, and HDHPs.

When determining the best health insurance plan for your needs, consider these questions:

• Would you rather pay higher premiums or more out-of-pocket costs when using health care services?
• Would you be willing to get a plan with a restricted network like an HMO if it means lower rates, or are you willing to pay more for a wider network?
• Are your current providers in-network for the plans you’re considering?
• How many times did you use health care services over the past year? What do you expect for the coming year?

On the ACA marketplace, Bronze and Silver plans have lower monthly premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs when you use your plan. Gold and Platinum plans, on the other hand, have higher monthly premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs.

How much does health insurance cost?

Health insurance rates vary based on a wide number of factors, but the nationwide average cost of an ACA marketplace plan in 2022, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, is as follows:

• Bronze $329/month
• Silver $428/month
• Gold $482

These rates are based on a 40-year-old with the lowest average cost for each plan.

How to choose the best health insurance company

The best health insurance company for you depends on a lot of things. They include your budget, the type of network you’re comfortable with, where you live, and your medical needs.

There are some ways to narrow down your choices, however. In addition to our list of the most popular picks from our readers, there are several sources for health insurance company ratings.

For marketplace plans, Healthcare.gov rates health insurance companies on quality for member experience, medical care, and plan administration.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance also rates health plans annually.

Health insurance finder tool

Have you become unemployed within the last 60 days and lost your health insurance?

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Our recommendation

COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act, better known as COBRA, allows you to stay on your former employer's health insurance plan to bridge the gap until you get new coverage. COBRA is expensive, as you will pay the full premium without help from your employer. It should be considered a short-term solution.
Learn more about COBRA

You may also want to consider:

Individual health insurance

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Medicare

Most people over the age of 65 qualify for Medicare. Original Medicare includes Parts A and B, for medical and hospital care. Medicare Advantage plans, administered by private health insurers, are called Part C, and include everything in Parts A and B. Many Advantage plans also include extra benefits like vision, hearing and dental coverage. Medicare Part D, which covers prescription drugs, can be added to either option.
Medicare costs vary depending on which option you choose.
Learn more about Medicare costs.

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Medicaid

You may qualify for Medicaid based on your income. Guidelines for eligibility differ by state. To find out if you qualify in your state, contact the local Medicaid office.

You may also want to consider an ACA plan. The ACA provides subsidies for lower-income people. Learn more:

Affordable Care Act plans

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Parent's employer-sponsored health insurance

You can stay on your parent's health insurance plan until age 26 under the Affordable Care Act. For most people, this is the cheapest option. A dependent usually costs less to insure than a spouse or an individual.

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Spouse's employer-sponsored health insurance

If your spouse can add you to their employer-sponsored plan, it will likely be more affordable than seeking coverage on your own. In most cases, coverage for a spouse is available, but not always.

You may also want to consider:

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Learn more about each plan type

• PPO
• HMO
• HDHP
• EPO

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Employer-sponsored health insurance

Health insurance through your employer is generally the most affordable option since employers pay a large portion of the monthly premium. If an employer-sponsored plan is available, it's likely the best choice. You may have more than one plan option to choose from.

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Learn more about each plan type

• PPO
• HMO
• HDHP
• EPO

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Employer plans are often one of these types of four plans. Click on each one to find out more.

• PPO
• HMO
• HDHP
• EPO

Preferred-provider Organization (PPOs)

• Pay higher premiums with a lower deductible
• You have access to more providers, but pay much more for health insurance
• You don't want to choose a primary care physician
• You don't want to get a referral
• You want the ability to get out-of-network care

Preferred-provider organization (PPOs) plans are the most common type of employer-based health plan. PPOs have higher premiums than HMOs and HDHPs, but those added costs offer you flexibility. A PPO allows you to get care anywhere and without primary care provider referrals. You may have to pay more to get out-of-network care, but a PPO will pick up a portion of the costs.
Find out more about the differences between plans

Health maintenance organization (HMO)

• Pay higher premiums with a lower deductible
• Restricted network of providers with lower premiums
• You want to choose a primary care physician
• You don't mind getting a referral
• You don't care about the ability to get out-of-network care

Health maintenance organization (HMO) plans have lower premiums than PPOs. However, HMOs have more restrictions. HMOs don't allow you to get care outside of your provider network. If you get out-of-network care, you'll likely have to pay for all of it. HMOs also require you to get primary care provider referrals to see specialists.
Find out more about the differences between plans

High-deductible health plans (HDHPs)

• Pay lower premiums with a higher deductible

High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) have become more common as employers look to reduce their health costs. HDHPs have lower premiums than PPOs and HMOs, but much higher deductibles. A deductible is what you have to pay for health care services before your health plan chips in money. Once you reach your deductible, the health plan pays a portion and you pay your share, which is called coinsurance.
Find out more about the differences between plans

Exclusive provider organization (EPO)

• Restricted network of providers with lower premiums
• You don't want to choose a primary care physician
• You don't want to get a referral
• You don't care about the ability to get out-of-network care

Exclusive provider organization (EPO) plans offer the flexibility of a PPO with the restricted network found in an HMO. EPOs don't require that members get a referral to see a specialist. In that way, it's similar to a PPO. However, an EPO requires in-network care, which is like an HMO.
Find out more about the differences between plans

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Individual insurance

You should compare individual insurance plans, including those on the health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). ACA plans have no restrictions on pre-existing conditions and must include certain coverage basics.
Learn more about individual insurance plans

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To learn more about ACA plans, choose the option that best fits your needs

Lower monthly premiums/higher out-of-pocket

Higher monthly premiums/lower out-of-pocket

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Individual insurance

The Affordable Care Act created insurance exchanges that allow people to compare plans. The health law also requires insurers to accept everyone and not charge them exorbitant rates. People who make below 400% of the federal poverty level qualify for subsidies to help pay for an ACA plan.
Know more individual insurance / ACA

These plans have lower monthly premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs

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• Silver
• Bronze

Silver plans provide a good balance of monthly premiums with out-of-pocket costs. Coinsurance is 70% with a silver plan, meaning you will pay 30% of the costs after your deductible is met, up to the out-of-pocket limit. Silver plans are a good choice for people who are in generally good health but don't want high out-of-pocket costs if something goes wrong.

Bronze plans are a popular choice with those who value low monthly premiums and are willing to pay more when they need care. Coinsurance is set at 60%, meaning you will pay 40% if you do need care, up to the out-of-pocket limit. Bronze plans are good for those who don't expect to need many services outside of preventative care throughout the year.

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Individual insurance

The Affordable Care Act created insurance exchanges that allow people to compare plans. The health law also requires insurers to accept everyone and not charge them exorbitant rates. People who make below 400% of the federal poverty level qualify for subsidies to help pay for an ACA plan.
Know more individual insurance / ACA

These plans have higher monthly premiums with lower out-of-pocket costs

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• Platinum
• Gold

ACA platinum plans have the highest monthly premiums, but the lowest out-of-pocket costs. You'll pay more monthly in return for lower deductibles, copays and coinsurance amounts. Coinsurance with platinum plans is 90%, which means you pay 10% after the deductible, up to your out-of-pocket limit. Platinum plans are good for those who anticipate a lot of medical needs throughout the year.

Gold plans cost a little less than platinum plans, and come with higher out-of-pocket costs. The coinsurance amount on a gold plan is 80%, which means you pay 20% after the deductible, up to your out-of-pocket limit. A gold plan is a good idea if you think you'll need a lot of care throughout the year, but don't want to pay platinum premiums.

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