Blue Shield of California is ranked as the No. 14 health insurance company for 2026, with a score of 3.72 out of 5.
Scott Nyerges is an insurance expert and managing editor, insurance. Previously, he was a senior insurance editor and content strategist at U.S. News & World Report, and worked for Consumer Reports, MSN and Cheapism.com.
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and executive editor of CarInsurance.com. With 15 years of experience simplifying complex financial topics, Laura provides clear, expert-backed guidance to help drivers make smart, confident decisions. Before joining CarInsurance.com, she was an award-winning editor for the USA Today Network.
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Blue Shield of California ties with Molina Healthcare for the No. 14 spot — the lowest insurer in our list of the Best Health Insurance Companies of 2026 — earning an overall score of 3.72 out of 5 stars.
It is a suitable choice for customers who seek a robust provider network and stable renewal rates. Still, its performance across several key categories suggests that consumers could find better value and a smoother overall experience elsewhere.
Below is our full review of Blue Shield of California, based on third-party metrics (NCQA, NAIC, AM Best), survey data, and an in-depth analysis of customer sentiment. Find the full methodology here.
Blue Shield of California is a good choice for you if:
It might not be the best choice if:
For many consumers, the cost of healthcare is the most important factor when choosing an insurance plan. Blue Shield of California earned one of the lowest scores among carriers we reviewed, 3.61 stars out of 5.
Only three other insurers, UnitedHealthcare, Elevance Health and BCBS of Michigan (Blue Care Network), scored lower. Humana led this category with a score of 4.07 out of 5 stars.
Below is a look at how Blue Shield of California’s rates in California compare with Kaiser Permanente and Elevance Health. These are healthcare exchange rates for a single, 40-year-old man in excellent health with an annual income of $70,000.
With a score of 77%, Blue Shield of California ranked in the lower half of insurers in the customer service category. Humana was the top-rated company in this survey category with a score of 83%, while Molina Healthcare scored lowest at 68%.
Survey participants gave Blue Shield of California the lowest score (70%) among all carriers for its digital experience, indicating that its website and app leave many policyholders disappointed.
Blue Shield of California also performed poorly in terms of policy offerings. Its survey score of 71% was lower than all other carriers except BCBS of North Carolina (69%) and EmblemHealth (61%). Horizon BCBS of New Jersey earned the top score (90%) in this category.
Among those surveyed, 86% of policyholders said they would recommend Blue Shield of California, which places the carrier in the middle of the pack in this category. Blue Shield of California tied with BCBS of North Carolina and Cigna. Horizon BCBS of New Jersey led this category with a score of 100%
When it comes to trustworthiness, Blue Cross of California’s score of 86% placed it in the bottom half of companies ranked. Kaiser Permanente, HCSC, BCBS of North Carolina, and Molina Healthcare also scored 86% in this category.
Some 96% of policyholders said they would renew their coverage with Blue Shield of California, placing it in fourth, tied with Highmark (BCBS in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia). BCBS of Florida earned the top spot in this category, scoring 98%.
None of the insurers in our ranking scored exceptionally well in the category of low deductibles, including Blue Shield of California. Its score of 63% was relatively low compared to other carriers. Humana scored the highest (75%), while BCBS of North Carolina scored the lowest (57%).
Blue Shield of California performed better among those surveyed in terms of its provider network. Its score of 84% was good for third place behind Highmark (BCBS in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia) and BCBS of Florida at 89% and HCSC at 86%
A smooth payment process can make paying for healthcare less stressful. In this category, Blue Shield of California again placed in the lower half of insurers, scoring 80%, tied with Horizon BCBS of New Jersey.
Blue Shield of California provides a variety of health insurance plans. Plan details and availability vary by state, but include the following:
Blue Shield of California also offers the following coverages; availability varies by state and plan:
Policyholders can reach Blue Shield of California by phone or chat by logging into their online account. Non-subscribers can also reach Blue Shield by phone:
Methodology
In 2025, Insure.com surveyed more than 2,000 insurance consumers through independent research firm Dynata. Customers named their life insurer and rated it on customer satisfaction, ease of service, policy offerings, billing, and their experience across different applicant types (seniors, middle-aged adults, young adults, people with pre-existing conditions, people who are overweight, and people who prefer no-exam coverage). We also asked whether they planned to keep their policy, would recommend their insurer, and trusted their insurer.
For insurers with enough survey responses, we added:
With guidance from Prof. David Marlett, Ph.D., Managing Director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at Appalachian State University, we applied the following weights to determine each company’s final score:
Each insurer received a rating between 0.5 and 5 stars, with 5 stars representing the highest performance.