Written by John McCormick
John McCormick
John McCormick

John McCormick is an insurance expert and the editorial director for QuinStreet's insurance sites -- CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, he was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and was an editor and reporter at several media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance and technology.

 |  Reviewed by quality verifiedNupur Gambhir
Nupur Gambhir
Nupur Gambhir

Nupur Gambhir is an insurance expert and managing editor of Insure.com. She specializes in life and health insurance content, and has experience as a marketing consultant.

 | Updated on:
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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 surveyed health insurance consumers across the country 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 how affordable they thought their carrier’s rates were.

We also collected data from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which evaluates and rates health plans, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which ranks insurers by the number of customer complaints they receive. We also looked at each health insurer’s AM Best financial stability scores, although those ratings were not used in our overall rankings.

Based on that data and other important insurance metrics, we rated the best health insurance companies of 2025 and gave each from one to five stars.

The top-ranked health insurers providers are Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare, which tied for the top spot with 4.17 stars, followed closely behind by Aetna with 4.10 stars and Highmark with 4.02 stars.

“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 of the 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 for you in 2025?

Insure.com’s best-rated health insurance companies are among the market leaders. The list features well-known names such as Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare and Aetna.

2025 Rank 2024 Rank Company Overall Ranking Customer Satisfaction Read full review
2025 Rank:  1 (tie) 2024 Rank:  1 Kaiser Permanente Overall rating
4.17
 Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.11
Kaiser Permanente review
2025 Rank:  1 (tie) 2024 Rank:  4 UnitedHealthcare Overall rating
4.17
 Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.09
UnitedHealthcare review
2025 Rank:  3 2024 Rank:  10 Aetna Overall rating
4.10
 Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.07
Aetna review
2025 Rank:  4 2024 Rank:  2 Highmark Overall rating
4.02
 Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.16
Highmark review
2025 Rank:  5 (tie) 2024 Rank:  8 Elevance Overall rating
3.95
 Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.20
Elevance review
2025 Rank:  5 (tie) 2024 Rank:  6 Health Care Service Corp. Overall rating
3.95
 Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.04
Health Care Service Corp. review
2025 Rank:  5 (tie) 2024 Rank:  5 Humana Overall rating
3.95
 Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.15
Humana review
2025 Rank:  8 2024 Rank:  13 Cigna Overall rating
3.84
 Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.13
Cigna review
2025 Rank:  9 2024 Rank:  9 Molina Healthcare Overall rating
3.60
 Customer satisfaction rating: 
4.24
Molina Healthcare review

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

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65

Carriers reviewed
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1,750

Insurance consumers surveyed
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65+

Insurance metrics examined
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34,600

ZIP codes examined

Insure.com in the fall of 2024 surveyed almost 1,500 health insurance consumers. Online market research company Slice MR conducted the survey. Respondents were asked to rank their health insurers in several categories.

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

Insure.com’s editors also gathered National Committee for Quality Assurance scores, National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index scores and more to make their final selection of the nation’s best health insurance companies.

Some companies that were ranked last year, such as Horizon BCBS of New Jersey, BCBS of North Carolina, BCBS of Michigan, Blue Shield of California and BCBS of Florida didn’t make this year’s list because those companies didn’t generate enough responses in our most recent survey for the editors to do a fair evaluation.

The best health insurance companies by category

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

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The top health insurance companies in the U.S.

The top health insurers are Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Highmark, Elevance, HCSC, Humana, Cigna and Molina. Additional details about all the best health insurance companies of 2025 are below. You can find further information 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
Learn More About Kaiser Permanente Insurance

Kaiser Permanente is tied with UnitedHealthcare for the No. 1 spot in Insure.com’s ranking of the Best Health Insurance Companies for 2025 – earning 4.17 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. It had one of the highest star rankings – 4.19 out of 5 stars – for affordability and the highest National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) ranking – 4.2 out of 5 stars – of the companies in our ranking. NCQA evaluates healthcare plans on, among other things, member satisfaction. It also received a solid complaint index score from the NAIC, a 0.37. The NAIC market average is 1.0, and anything less indicates the carrier receives fewer complaints than typical for a company its size.

UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A+
Effective date:
Learn More
Learn More About UnitedHealthcare Insurance

UnitedHealthcare is tied with Kaiser Permanente for the top spot in Insure.com’s ranking of the Best Health Insurance Companies of 2025 with a star rating of 4.17 out of 5.

The company is seen as the most trustworthy of the insurers we ranked. The vast majority of its customers plan to renew with the carrier and said they’d recommend the company to others. It also received the second-best NAIC complaint index score of the companies we ranked, a 0.24 – the NAIC market average is 1.0 and anything less indicates the carrier receives fewer complaints than typical for a company its size. The company also was rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best, which measures financial stability, and it received a high National Committee for Quality Assurance rating – 3.42 out of 5 stars. NCQA evaluates healthcare organizations on, among other things, member satisfaction.

Aetna

Aetna
Aetna
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Effective date:
Learn More
Learn More About Aetna Insurance

Aetna is No. 3 in Insure.com’s ranking of the Best Health Insurance Companies of 2025. It earned 4.10 stars out of a possible 5.

The company, which is part of CVS Health, ranked highly in a number of survey categories, including affordability and its provider network. It received one of the best NAIC complaint index scores of the companies we ranked, a 0.26 – the average is 1.0 and anything less indicates the company receives fewer complaints than expected. Aetna also has one of the highest National Committee for Quality Assurance star ratings – 3.43 out of 5 – of the companies we ranked. NCQA rates member satisfaction.

Highmark

Highmark
Highmark
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Effective date:
Learn More
Learn More About Highmark Insurance

Highmark is No. 4 on Insure.com’s Best Health Insurance Companies list, earning 4.02 stars out of 5.

In our study of the top health insurance companies, Highmark earned an overall customer satisfaction score of 4.16 out of 5 stars, the third-highest rating of the companies we ranked. In our survey of insurance consumers, Highmark ranked highly in the categories of policy offerings, low deductibles and ease of accessing policy documents. Of special note: All Highmark customers who took our survey said they would recommend the insurer to others.

Elevance

Elevance
Elevance
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Effective date:
Learn More
Learn More About Elevance Insurance

Elevance is tied for fifth, along with Health Care Service Corp. and Humana, on Insure.com’s list of the Best Health Insurance Companies for 2025 with a star rating of 3.95 out of 5 stars.

The company is rated highly for customer satisfaction and affordability. Elevance also scored extremely well for the number of preferred providers it has available – it was the top-rated company in this category.

HCSC

Health Care Service Corp.
Health Care Service Corp.
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A+
Effective date:
Learn More
Learn More About Health Care Service Corp. Insurance

Health Care Service Corp. is tied with Elevance and Humana for the fifth spot on Insure.com’s Best Health Insurance Companies list. It earned 3.95 out of 5 stars in our ranking.

HCSC was rated highly for its customer service. Most of its customers who responded to our survey said they planned to renew their policies (89%) and recommend the company to others (92%).

Humana

Humana
Humana
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Effective date:
Learn More
Learn More About Humana Insurance

Humana is tied for fifth in Insure.com’s 2025 Best Health Insurance Companies, along with Elevance and HCSC. Humana earned 3.95 stars out of 5.

The for-profit company, which offers coverage nationwide, received high marks for its customer satisfaction, affordability and policy offerings. It also received the best NAIC complaint index score of the companies we ranked, a 0.15 – the NAIC market average is 1.0 and anything less indicates the company receives fewer complaints than average. In addition, of the customers we surveyed, 85% said they trust the company – the second-best score in this category.

Cigna

Cigna
Cigna
Price/Affordability
Customer Satisfaction
NCQA
AM Best Rating
A
Effective date:
Learn More
Learn More About Cigna Insurance

Cigna is No. 8 in Insure.com’s list of the Best Health Insurance Companies for 2025, earning 3.84 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. The company has a rating of 3.24 out of 5 stars from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Molina

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

Molina ranks No. 9 in Insure.com’s list of the Best Health Insurance Companies for 2025 with a rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars.

Molina gets high marks for affordability and customer satisfaction. The vast majority of customers we surveyed said they would renew their policies with the company.

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
Molina 4.54
Elevance 4.22
Kaiser Permanente 4.19

Best health insurance companies for customer satisfaction

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

Company Customer Satisfaction Stars
Molina 4.24
Elevance 4.20
Highmark 4.16

Best health insurance companies for policy offerings

Some companies offer more policy options than others – pharmacy plans, student plans, etc. Molina took the top spot, followed by Elevance.

Company Percent of Customers Satisfied
Molina 92%
Elevance 88%
Humana 86%

Most insurers in our survey scored strongly when it comes to customers who would recommend the company to others, but none more so than Highmark. All of its customers who answered our survey said they would tell others about it.

Company Percent of Customers Who Would Recommend
Highmark 100%
UnitedHealthcare 94%
HCSC 92%


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 2024 surveyed more than 1,750 insurance consumers (almost 1,500 of which had health insurance). The survey was conducted by online market research company Slice MR.

Respondents were asked to name their health insurer and then grade it in a number of categories, including:

  • Customer satisfaction
  • Ease of service
  • Policy offerings
  • The cost of insurance/affordability
  • Low deductible
  • Preferred providers available
  • Not needing a referral

The percentage of respondents who said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their insurer is presented in the results.

We then asked respondents to provide a yes or no response to indicate their agreement with the following statements:

  1. I plan to keep my coverage with my current health insurance company
  2. I would recommend my health insurance company to others
  3. I trust my health insurance company

The percentage of respondents who said yes 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.

They then collected data from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which evaluates and rates health plans, and National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ complaint data, which ranks a company by the number of customer complaints it receives. The Insure.com team identified the NAIC codes of each underwriting company for each carrier and calculated a weighted average complaint index, weighted by the annual written premium. The associated NAIC complaint index score was used in the calculations.

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 life insurers, we took the following and gave each a weight.

  • Survey: 60% of the total score (10% customer satisfaction, 10% recommended, 10% policy retention, 10% trust, and 20% affordability)
  • NCQA: 25% of total score
  • NAIC: 15% of total score

Each insurer was awarded between half a star and 5 stars. No company in the ranking received less than half a star in any category, and 5 stars was the most any insurer could receive.

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