Kaiser Permanente is the No. 1 health insurance company for 2026, its sixth consecutive year in the top spot. The insurer is also top-rated for overall customer satisfaction and earns high marks for its seamless billing process.
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.
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance expert and the executive editor of Insurance.com. Before joining QuinStreet, she was managing editor at Quote.com has a decade of experience writing about insurance. She also spent four years in customer service with Farmers Insurance.
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Kaiser Permanente stands out as the No. 1 company in our analysis of the best Health Insurance Companies of 2026, earning an overall score of 4.42 stars out of 5. It’s an excellent choice for customers who value reasonably priced plans, a streamlined billing process and solid customer service.
Below is our full review of Kaiser Permanente. It’s based on third-party metrics as well as our comprehensive customer survey. Find the full methodology here.
Kaiser Permanente is a good choice for you if:
It might not be the best choice if:
Customers often cite cost as one of their primary concerns when selecting a health insurance policy. Although Kaiser Permanente may not have the lowest rates everywhere, policyholders are generally satisfied with the costs. Among the top health insurance providers, it ranked third for price and affordability, receiving 3.99 out of 5 stars.
Below is a comparison of Kaiser Permanente’s HMO rates in California with those of Blue Shield of California and Elevance Health. These are 2026 healthcare exchange rates for a single, 40-year-old man in excellent health with an annual income of $70,000.
Healthcare can be challenging to navigate on your own, which is why good customer service and robust digital tools (such as website and app functionality and ease of use) are crucial.
Policyholders give Kaiser Permanente relatively high marks for overall customer satisfaction. Seventy-eight percent of those surveyed hold a favorable opinion of the insurer, ranking it third. Humana (83%) earned the highest score in this category. Kaiser finished midpack among all ranked carriers for offering a satisfactory digital experience with its website and app, earning an 81% score.
A wide variety of policy offerings is also important, especially if you or your family require specialized medical care or need to balance affordability with access to care. With a score of 74%, Kaiser finished in the middle of the pack in this category.
In our survey, Kaiser Permanente performed behind many competitors when we asked three important questions:
Only a handful of carriers scored lower than Kaiser Permanente for customer recommendations and trustworthiness, suggesting that Kaiser could improve its service to its customers. When it comes to renewals, Kaiser scored 95%, indicating that the majority of policyholders are willing to stick with the insurer year after year.
Affordability is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing health insurance. A low deductible is crucial for making health coverage affordable, especially if your family requires frequent medical care. No insurer scored exceptionally high in this category. Kaiser (71%) is one of three carriers that tied for the No. 2 spot behind Humana (75%).
A robust provider network is also essential, both for convenience and access to treatment. In this category, Kaiser performed lower with a score of 75%; only three other carriers had a lower score. And while no one enjoys paying bills, a seamless payment process can make doing so less painful. Kaiser’s score of 86% was good for third place behind category leader Humana.
Kaiser Permanente offers a wide range of health insurance products. Plans vary based on availability.
Kaiser Permanente also offers a variety of other coverages. Availability varies based on location and plan.
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Policyholders can reach Kaiser Permanente by email or chat by logging into their online account. The insurer can also be reached by phone; hours vary by state.
Methodology
In 2025, Insure.com surveyed more than 2,000 insurance consumers through independent research firm Dynata. Customers named their health insurer and rated it on customer satisfaction, ease of service, policy offerings, affordability, deductibles, provider availability and whether referrals were required. We also asked whether they planned to renew, 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 calculate each company’s final rating:
Each insurer received a rating between 0.5 and 5 stars, with 5 stars representing the highest performance.