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There are many good health insurers, but finding the one that best meets your needs takes some time.

To help, Insure.com’s editors gathered rate data and looked at health insurers’ AM Best financial stability scores and National Committee for Quality Assurance ratings, which evaluate health plans on member satisfaction, among other factors. We also surveyed insurance consumers to gauge each company’s level of customer experience and its policy offerings. We asked customers if they trusted their insurer, whether they planned to renew their coverage and what they thought about their insurance company’s digital experience.

Based on that data and other important insurance metrics, we rated the best health insurance companies of 2024 and gave each from one to five stars.

The top health insurer is Kaiser Permanente with 4.2 (or, more precisely, 4.17) stars, according to our analysis, followed closely behind by Highmark with 4.1 (or 4.13) and Horizon with 4.1 (or 4.12).

“Consumers certainly want to save money and receive a low premium when choosing an insurance company. However, it is important to also consider factors such as financial ratings, regulatory compliance and customer satisfaction,” says David Marlett, Managing Director, Brantley Risk & Insurance Center at Appalachian State University, and an Insure.com editorial advisor.

“These rankings incorporate all of these issues and provide the consumer with a more comprehensive approach to evaluating insurance options.”

Below is a list of the top health insurance companies and a review of each.

What are the best health insurance companies?

Insure.com’s best-rated health insurance companies are among the market leaders. The list features well-known names such as Kaiser Permanente, Humana and Cigna, as well as several Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies – including Blue Shield of California and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Rank Company Overall Ranking Customer Satisfaction Learn More
1 1. Kaiser Permanente Overall rating
4.2
Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.5
2 2. Highmark Overall rating
4.1
Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.2
3 3. Horizon BCBS of New Jersey Overall rating
4.1
Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.1
4 4. UnitedHealthcare Overall rating
4.1
Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.1
5 5. Humana Overall rating
4.1
Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.1
6 6. Health Care Services Corp. Overall rating
4.0
Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.0
7 7. BCBS of North Carolina Overall rating
3.9
Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.1
8 8. Elevance Overall rating
3.8
Customer satisfaction rating: 
3.9
9 9. Molina Healthcare Overall rating
3.7
Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.1
10 (tie) 10 (tie). Aetna Overall rating
3.7
Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.0
10 (tie) 10 (tie). BCBS of Michigan Overall rating
3.7
Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.1
12 12. Blue Shield of California Overall rating
3.7
Customer satisfaction rating: 
3.8
13 13. Cigna Overall rating
3.6
Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.0
14 14. BCBS of Florida Overall rating
3.3
Customer satisfaction rating: 
3.8

How we picked Insure.com’s top-rated health insurance companies

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70+

Carriers reviewed
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1,750

Insurance consumers surveyed
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60+

Insurance metrics examined
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34,600

ZIP codes examined

Insure.com in the fall of 2023 surveyed more than 1,750 people about insurance (1,433 people with health insurance). Online market research company Slice MR conducted the survey. Respondents were asked to rank their insurers in several categories.

Based on the number of survey responses, the editors then selected the top companies for further evaluation.

Insure.com’s editors also gathered AM Best grades, National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) scores and more to make their final selection of the nation’s best health insurance companies.

Some familiar names, such as Oscar Health, didn’t make the list because those companies didn’t generate enough survey responses for the editors to do a fair evaluation.

The best health insurance companies by category

So, how do you find the right health insurance company for you?

Based on our analysis, we selected the best medical insurance companies for certain situations and needs:

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The top 10 health insurance companies in the U.S.

The top 10 health insurers are: Kaiser Permanente, Highmark, Horizon, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, HCSC, BCBS of North Carolina, Elevance, Molina and, tied in 10th place, Aetna and BCBS of Michigan. Additional details about all 14 best health insurance companies of 2024 are below. You’ll note that we rounded each company’s star ranking in our profile boxes. You can learn more about each insurer by clicking on the “Learn More” button.

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
NR
Learn More

Kaiser Permanente ranks No. 1 overall in Insure.com’s ranking of the Best Health Insurance Companies for 2023 – earning 4.2 stars out of 5.

Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health plans, was a top performer in a number of areas in our health insurance customer survey, including policy offerings and trustworthiness. The company also received the highest National Committee for Quality Assurance ranking – 4.3 out of 5 stars – of the companies in our ranking. NCQA evaluates healthcare plans on, among other things, member satisfaction.

Highmark

Highmark
Highmark
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Learn More

Highmark is No. 2 on Insure.com’s Best Health Insurance Companies list, earning 4.1 (or, more precisely, 4.13) stars out of 5.

In our study of the top health insurance companies, Highmark earned an overall customer satisfaction score of 4.15 out of 5 stars, with 90% of customers in our survey giving it high marks. In addition, 96% of survey respondents said they would recommend Highmark to other health insurance shoppers and 98% said they plan to renew their policies.

Horizon

Horizon BCBS of New Jersey
Horizon BCBS of New Jersey
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
NR
Learn More

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is No. 3 on Insure.com’s Best Health Insurance Companies list. It earned 4.1 (or, more precisely, 4.12) stars out of 5.

Horizon received 4.03 out of 5 stars for price/affordability – one of the highest ratings in our study. Horizon also has one of the highest customer satisfaction scores. More than 80% of the company’s customers who responded to our survey said they were satisfied with the company, and 97% said they would recommend Horizon to other insurance shoppers. Plus, 97% of Horizon customers said they planned to renew their health insurance plan.

UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A+
Learn More

UnitedHealthcare is No. 4 overall in Insure.com’s ranking of the Best Health Insurance Companies of 2024 with a star rating of 4.1 (actually, a 4.11) out of 5.

It scored well in key areas such as affordability and policy renewal. Its ranking for customer satisfaction was in the top half of our survey and nine out of 10 customers said they would recommend the company to others. The company was also rated A+ by AM Best, which measures financial stability, and it received a high National Committee for Quality Assurance rating – 3.5 out of 5 stars. NCQA evaluates healthcare organizations on, among other things, member satisfaction.

Humana

Humana
Humana
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Learn More

Humana ranks No. 5 overall in Insure.com’s Best Health Insurance Companies for 2024. It earned 4.1 stars out of 5.

The for-profit company, which offers coverage across the country, received high marks for its affordability and policy offerings. Of the customers we surveyed, 91% said they would recommend the company to others.

The company also received a strong 3.3 out of 5 stars from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, which evaluates healthcare plans on member satisfaction and other factors.

HCSC

Health Care Services Corp.
Health Care Services Corp.
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A+
Learn More

Health Care Services Corp. is No. 6 on Insure.com’s Best Health Insurance Companies list. It earned 4 out of 5 stars in our ranking.

HCSC was rated highly for price/affordability and it received the top score from its customers for its low deductibles, which is ideal if you visit the doctor frequently.

HCSC also stands out for its policy offerings. In our survey of health insurance plan members, 78% said they were happy with the policies that HCSC offers and 87% said they would recommend HCSC to others.

BCBS of North Carolina

BCBS of North Carolina
BCBS of North Carolina
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
NR
Learn More

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina ranks No. 7 in our ranking of the best health insurance companies. The insurer earned 3.9 out of 5 stars.

In Insure.com’s survey of insurance consumers, 85% of the BCBS of North Carolina customers who responded gave the company a high customer satisfaction score. It was also one of the most trusted insurers in our ranking.

Our survey found that almost 80% of members are satisfied with the policies offered by the company.

Elevance

Elevance
Elevance
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Learn More

Elevance ranks No. 8 on Insure.com’s list of the Best Health Insurance Companies for 2024 with a star rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars.

One of Elevance’s key strengths is its high member loyalty, with 94% of customers saying they would stick with the insurer – among the highest scores of the companies we ranked. The insurer also received a strong 4 out of 5 stars from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. NCQA evaluates healthcare plans on several factors, including member satisfaction.

Molina

Molina Healthcare
Molina Healthcare
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
NR
Learn More

Molina ranks No. 9 in Insure.com’s list of the Best Health Insurance Companies for 2024 with a rating of 3.7 (or, more precisely, 3.73) out of 5 stars.

Molina gets high marks for affordability and customer satisfaction. The vast majority of customers we surveyed said they would recommend the company to others.

Aetna

Aetna
Aetna
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Learn More

Aetna ties with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan at No. 10 on Insure.com’s ranking of the Best Health Insurance Companies of 2024. It earned 3.7 (or, more precisely, 3.66) stars.

The company, which is part of CVS Health, ranked well in a number of survey categories. Aetna also received an above-average 3.5 out of 5 stars from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, which, among other things, looks at member satisfaction.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

BCBS of Michigan
BCBS of Michigan
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Learn More

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan ties for 10th in Insure.com’s list of the Best Health Insurance Companies for 2024. It earned 3.7 (or, more precisely, 3.66) stars.

It ranks as a good all-around health insurance provider. The company had the highest rating for policy offerings, recommendations and renewals in our survey. It also received a strong 4 out of 5 stars from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Customers give it high marks for customer satisfaction.

Blue Shield of California

Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Learn More

Blue Shield of California is No. 12 on our Best Health Insurance Companies for 2024 list, earning 3.7 stars (actually, 3.65) out of 5. It gets good marks as an all-around health insurance provider. Its customers say they would highly recommend it to others and 94% said they’ll renew their policies with the insurer.

Cigna

Cigna
Cigna
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Learn More

Cigna is No. 13 in Insure.com’s list of the Best Health Insurance Companies for 2024, earning 3.6 stars (actually, 3.63 stars) out of 5.

Cigna is a good health insurer for people who want access to a big provider network and strong integration with pharmacy benefits. Customers give it good marks for affordability and the company has a strong 3.2 out of 5 stars rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida

BCBS of Florida
BCBS of Florida
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A+
Learn More

Florida Blue is No. 14 on Insure.com’s list of the Best Health Insurance Companies for 2024 with a star rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars. It was also one of only three insurers with an A+ rating from AM Best, indicating Florida Blue’s financial stability.

The insurer also received 3 out of 5 stars from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, which evaluates healthcare plans on, among other things, member satisfaction.

The best-rated health insurance companies for customer service and more

So, how do you find the best insurance company for you? Insure.com editors surveyed consumers of more than a dozen top insurers. We then ranked them based on the information we received and third-party data. Below, we break out the best companies by category.

Best health insurance companies for price/affordability

Price is a key determining factor in choosing a health insurance company. Below are the companies that rated highest for price and affordability. But remember, the cheapest health plan might not always be the best. There are other factors to consider, such as a provider’s network and its overall customer satisfaction rankings.

Company Price/affordability stars
Kaiser Permanente 4.34
Molina 4.11
Humana 4.09

Best health insurance companies for customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction was one of the more important factors in our health insurance ranking. Kaiser was the top-ranked company in this category, although Highmark and Horizon also did well.

Company Customer satisfaction stars
Kaiser Permanente 4.45
Highmark 4.15
Horizon 4.13

Best health insurance companies for policy offerings

Some companies offer more policy options than others – pharmacy plans, student plans, etc. BCBS of Michigan took the top spot, followed by Kaiser Permanente.

Company Percent of customers satisfied with the company’s policy offerings
BCBS of Michigan 88%
Kaiser Permanente 86%
Horizon 84%

Most of the companies in our survey scored strongly when it comes to customers who would recommend the company to others, but none more so than BCBS of Michigan – all of its customers who answered our survey said they would tell others about it.

Company Percent of customers who would recommend the company to others
BCBS of Michigan 100%
Horizon 97%
Molina 97%

Most trustworthy health insurance company

Kaiser Permanente had the highest score, with 86% of its customers giving it high marks for trustworthiness. Highmark and Horizon followed.

Company Percent of customers who say they trust the company
Kaiser Permanente 86%
Highmark 83%
Horizon 81%

Best health insurance provider for renewals

BCBS of Michigan and Highmark had the highest percentage of customers who said they would renew, followed by Horizon.

Company Percent of customers who plan to renew with the company
BCBS of Michigan 98%
Highmark 98%
Horizon 97%


How to get the best health insurance

Finding the best health insurance isn’t easy — there are multiple factors to consider and every person has their own unique set of needs. However, despite the complexity of the decision, there are some steps you can take to determine your best options.

If you or your spouse is eligible for health insurance through an employer, that may be your best choice. Alternatively, you may be eligible for an ACA plan, Medicare or Medicaid.

Read the reviews of each insurer to find out which company aligns most closely with what you need in an insurance provider. For instance, do you want low premiums? Or do you want to minimize costs when visiting the doctor?

In addition, some insurance companies are small, only covering a particular state. Perhaps a local insurance company provides excellent service, but if you travel often, you may have to pay high out-of-network costs. In this case, one with a national footprint may be a better choice.

The same can be said for prescription drugs. Does a particular plan cover the ones you need, and does the insurance company have relationships with pharmacies where you need them?

These are questions you should answer before committing to a health insurance plan.

How to compare health insurance rates

There are a few different ways you can compare health insurance rates. For instance, if you use the health insurance marketplace, you can easily compare plans from different providers and see deductibles, premiums, co-pays, out-of-pocket maximums, etc. This will let you know how much you will pay on a monthly basis as well as how much you will pay when going to the doctor.

On the other hand, if you are enrolling in a plan through work, you can compare the rates on all of the plans offered there. You should easily be able to sort by things like premium and out-of-pocket maximum. In general, the lower the premium, the higher the deductible, and vice versa.

Also pay attention to the provider network, prescription coverage and anything else important to you before selecting a plan.

Final thoughts on the best health insurance companies

When it comes to health insurance, the best company for you is the one that offers the level of service you need and the price you can afford.

–Bob Haegele contributed to this report.

Methodology

Insure.com in the fall of 2023 surveyed more than 1,750 insurance consumers (1,433 people with health insurance). The survey was conducted by online market research company Slice MR. 

Respondents were asked to name their insurer and then grade it in a number of categories, including ease of service and policy offerings. The percentage of respondents who said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their insurer is presented in the results.

In addition, the editors also created star rankings for each company. Respondents were asked to pick their insurer’s top three attributes out of the more than the dozen they were presented – including categories such as customer satisfaction and price/affordability. The number of responses for each of those attributes was totaled and then divided by the number of each company’s customers who responded to that survey question to create the star ranking.

Respondents were also asked if they would recommend their insurer to someone else and if they planned to renew their policies. The percentage who said yes is presented in the results.

They also were given the statement “I trust my insurance company” and asked if they strongly agreed, agreed, disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement. The percentage of those who said they agreed or strongly agreed is presented in the results.

The editors compiled the survey results and then selected – based on the number of survey responses – the top companies for further evaluation. Insure.com needed 30 or more of a health insurer’s customers to respond to the survey for a company to be included in the ranking.

They then collected AM Best financial stability ratings and National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) ratings, which evaluate health plans on, among other things, member satisfaction.

With the help of Prof. David Marlett, Ph.D., managing director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at Appalachian State University, the editors created a rating system to determine which insurance companies were best in each sector. For health insurers, we used the following weights to calculate the overall score for each company: 

  • Survey – 60% of total score (10% for customer satisfaction, 10% trustworthiness, 10% for recommending the carrier to another, 10% if a respondent would renew with their current insurer, and 20% if they consider their insurer the best for affordability)
  • AM Best – 25% of total score
  • NCQA – 15% of total score

Each insurer was awarded from 1 to 5 stars. No insurer in our star ranking received less than 1 star and the highest possible ranking is 5 stars.

On company review pages, the editors compared the profiled insurers in various categories against the leaders in that category or against other top insurers that match up well against the profiled company in terms of size and/or coverage area.