Assurant Review

PROS / Assurant works with secondary networks, increasing your choice of doctors.

CONS / The premiums are, on average, more expensive.

 VERDICT / While it's more expensive than the other health insurance companies we evaluated, Assurant has flexibility and additional plans that make it worth examining.

Assurant Health provides a multitude of health insurance plans, from major medical plans required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to short-term and international plans. While its rates are some of the highest we found, it offers secondary networks to widen your choice of doctors.

The online quote system only asks the most basic questions: age, zip code and whether you smoke. It does not seek specifics like pre-existing conditions. It then gives you a choice of health insurance plans. You can filter them, sort by price or popularity and select up to three to compare. Selecting a plan brings up its details, including price, copay, deductibles and the full details of the specific benefits; for example, how many office visits you are allowed each year.

The premiums are, on average, more expensive than those of the other health insurance companies we looked at for the case studies we used, especially for 55-year-olds. Of course, what you pay depends on a variety of factors. It's a good idea to pick a few of the services and run through the online quote systems to see which has the best rates for you. One advantage to Assurant, however, is that it has secondary network agreements with First Health and MultiPlan, which gives you a greater choice of doctors and discounts on your visits.

You can get plans for as short as 30 days and as long as 180 days. These can help if you are waiting for employer benefits to start or if you are between jobs. If you are concerned about critical illnesses like cancer, perhaps because you have a family history, you have the option of adding critical illness insurance. This insurance pays you a lump sum of cash should you or anyone on the plan be diagnosed with a critical illness. You then have money on hand for any expenses not covered by your insurance or to handle bills if you cannot work during treatments.

The plans are not available in all states, however. Other plans offered by Assurant include dental, accident and international health coverage. The international coverage comes with short-term and long-term policies.

Summary

Assurant offers many plans to help you fulfill the ACA's requirements, plus short-term health insurance plans for gaps in coverage, international health care and critical care. We found the rates in general were higher than those of the other top health care insurance companies. Assurant is worth checking out, especially if you are concerned about satisfying the financial strains of a critical illness or accident.

Cigna Review

PROS / The website offers useful information for making the best healthcare decisions.

CONS / Cigna only has medical plans for 12 states.

 VERDICT / Cigna provides a fair choice of healthcare plans for the 12 states it operates in. In addition, it has a strong site with useful information for its clients.

Cigna health insurance company provides plans that can cover major medical care in accordance with the Affordable Care Act, plus dental insurance and global plans. While it can be used across the United States, the plans themselves are available only in 12 states, and you cannot get short-term plans that handle gaps in your coverage.

The website has several handy features. Like most health insurance company sites, you can find a doctor in your area that is in the network. Cigna, however, also has a search function for finding specific drugs. This allows you to see if your medication is covered by your plan as well as in what forms and if there are restrictions. This tool can help you work with your doctor to find a treatment that works for you and your budget.

Getting a quote online requires only your zip code and some basic identifying information. This health insurance company has medical plans for Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. You can find dental plans for other states.

The site presents you with both dental and health plans. You can select plans to compare, and it shows them to you side-by-side to help you make the best decision. You can also download the specifics in a PDF to view them at your leisure or discuss them with your spouse or partner.

This health insurance company also has global health insurance policies and dental plans. However, you cannot get a short-term plan from this health insurance company. Short-term plans are useful for filling temporary gaps in coverage that might arise from a change in employment or other life event.

Aside from the lack of short-term coverage, Cigna provides amenities common among most health insurance agencies: It has a large network of doctors, high-deductible plans, health savings accounts and a customer portal where you can manage your account or check on claims. It allows for home-care services, wellness programs and mail-order pharmacies. These are typical of most companies.

Summary

Cigna is a reputable health insurance company that provides policies for 12 states. It is easy to get a quote online, and the website offers information on finding a doctor and what drugs it covers. It lacks short-term coverage plans, but otherwise is a service worth looking into.

UnitedHealthcare Review

PROS / The online tools are easy to use and extensive.

CONS / It's one of the most expensive health insurance companies according to our tests.

 VERDICT / Although plan prices vary by individual cases, our test cases showed UnitedHealthcare to be one of the most expensive medical insurance providers. However, this company offers a feature-rich online support system, making it a good choice for people who want to manage their health care electronically.

UnitedHealthcare offers health insurance to meet the Affordable Care Act (ACA) guidelines and protect your family. Our tests showed its plan prices to be higher than most of the other health insurance companies we reviewed. United Healthcare's plan choices run about average by comparison.

UnitedHealthcare has a strong online presence, including an online account manager that tracks all aspects of your plan's status, including the ability to order prescriptions, access to wellness programs and a nurse hotline. As such, this health insurance provider is a good choice for those who prefer to handle their financial and wellness issues electronically.

We looked at plans for three age groups at five zip codes across the United States in order to get an average of plan choices and pricings. Overall, UnitedHealthcare's premiums were higher than those of nearly all the health insurance providers we tested, up to $600 a year more in some cases. This is, of course, an average based on highest and lowest cost plans for a specific customer profile. Your personal results may vary, and we suggest selecting at least three companies and pricing out the plans for yourself. As with all the health insurance providers we reviewed, you can do this online in just a few minutes with a minimal amount of personal information.

We found UnitedHealthcare's website to be extensive and user-friendly. When looking at plans, you can sort or filter them and select some to compare directly. All of the plan information is easy to understand, especially since there are pop-up windows to define any terms you might not know if you are new to insurance shopping.

There are many online tools to help you to manage your accounts, get refills of prescriptions, track deductibles and expenses and find doctors in your area. The nurse hotline, which all the health insurance companies we reviewed offer, is useful if you have a question that does not require a doctor's appointment. The Health4Me smartphone app allows you to access all this from your smartphone or tablet. UnitedHealthcare also has wellness programs and information on its website.

Summary

UnitedHealthcare is a large nationwide health insurance provider with plans to cover your major medical insurance needs and assist you in maintaining overall wellness. While its plans are in general more expensive than those of other health insurance providers we reviewed, it offers strong online tools to help you manage your account and other aspects of your health care.

Aetna Review

PROS / The premiums are among the least expensive of those health insurance plans we evaluated.

CONS / It lacks short-term policies to cover gaps in insurance caused by changes in employment or other issues.

 VERDICT / While individual results vary, Aetna provides some of the least expensive health insurance plans of the providers we tested. It does not provide short-term coverage, but it has several supplemental programs and is a solid program worth considering.

Aetna is a longstanding health insurance company that provides a multitude of different insurance plans, including health insurance available privately and through the health exchange, dental and vision plans, student insurance and international insurance. It can also provide supplemental insurances to augment your current plan, such as hospital or critical care plans. It lacks short-term policies to cover gaps in insurance but does have some of the cheapest rates of the companies we tested.

We surveyed prices based on three client profiles across five zip codes in the United States. We found Aetna's plans to be average in selection, except in the case of 55-year-olds, which didn't have as many offerings. The prices were overall cheaper – $600/year cheaper for each case study, averaged across the zip codes. Your results may vary, of course, based on your individual needs, but Aetna is certainly worth considering for this reason alone.

With Aetna, you do not get the option of short-term plans. This is a drawback if you are between jobs, a recent college graduate or waiting to be enrolled in your company's insurance. Aetna makes it easy to add dental and vision coverage to your health insurance. You can also add life insurance through Aetna.

It takes several clicks to find contact information on the website; the contact page pushes you to use the FAQs first. However, you can tweet Aetna for assistance. The live chat is a nice feature not found with many health insurance provider websites, but it's only available when looking at quotes.

We didn't find the quote feature quite as smooth as those of other health insurance companies we tested. Aetna had a series of sliding windows that asked questions, and in some cases, directed us to a different website where we had to input information a second time. A few times the comparison tool failed, so we could not look at two plans side by side. These are minor annoyances, however.

Summary

Aetna has been in the insurance trade since the 1890s and continues to provide quality programs today. In addition to Affordable Care Act-approved plans, it offers supplemental insurance for specific cases, from vision to critical care, although it lacks short-term plans for coverage gaps. While the quote feature had some problems that made it more difficult than the others we tested, it still isn't difficult to get a quote, and the lower average premiums make it worth checking out.

Kaiser Permanente Review

PROS / The premiums are, on average, less expensive than those of other insurance agencies, especially for older people.

CONS / This service limits you to the Kaiser Permanente system of doctors and hospitals in eight states only.

 VERDICT / Kaiser Permanente covers eight states and has its own system of doctors and facilities. Its premiums and breadth of plans make it a strong option for health insurance.

Kaiser Permanente is a healthcare system in eight states and Washington, DC. It provideshealth insurance using its system of doctors and hospitals. It has some of the lowest rates and a breadth of choices compared to all the health insurance companies we tested, which earns it our Top Ten Reviews Bronze Award. However, this insurance provider limits you to the Kaiser Permanente system, so while it's definitely worth examining the plans, you should also check out the reputation of Kaiser Permanente in your area. This is particularly important if you have special healthcare needs.

Selection of Plans

Because Kaiser Permanente has its own medical system of doctors, hospitals and specialists, you are limited to its system. It does not cover outside specialists, nor will Kaiser doctors refer you outside the network. Thus, it's important to examine the quality of care in your local Kaiser network, especially if you have particular medical need that requires the care of specialists. Nonetheless, we found the breadth of plan options to be about average of the health insurance companies we tested and above average for our hypothetical 35-year-old we used as our test case.

This health insurance agency covers eight states: California, Colorado, Virginia, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, Georgia and Hawaii, plus the District of Columbia. This lack of coverage is a drawback if you have children who work or are attending college out of state but are still under your plan. If they are living outside the state, Kaiser Permanente may not cover their medical care unless they return to the state in which they were insured.

Nonetheless, if you or anyone on your plan travels abroad and has a medical emergency, you may be able to have it covered by Kaiser Permanente even if you are not near a designated hospital or medical center. You would contact member services to find a doctor and make arrangements. Not all medical insurance companies provide coverage outside the U.S., making this a good choice if you travel outside the country regularly.

Sample Premium Rates

The rates for Kaiser Permanente were some of the least expensive as found in our testing. For our tests, we examined policy options for single non-smokers ages 35, 45 and 55. We priced plans for each of these cases across five zip codes, and then averaged highest- and lowest-priced plans. The prices were less expensive across the board, but even more so for the 55-and-older crowd. Thus, this is a good choice to examine if you are older.

Naturally, how much your policy costs depends on multiple factors not examined in our case study. Therefore, we suggest selecting three or more insurance providers and obtaining a quote yourself. With all of the providers on our list, we were able to secure quotes in a matter of minutes, so the process is not difficult and certainly worth the money it could save you. Be sure to check for exceptions in coverage, such as specialists that you know you need that may not be covered by Kaiser's medical system. You will pay out-of-pocket for these services.

Enhancements

This health insurance company also offers some benefits to its members, such as health information and tips on its website and live classes at its many facilities. It's an advantage for those who are interested in learning more about taking control of their own health.

Within the eight states plus DC, Kaiser Permanente has 38 hospitals, 618 medical offices and outpatient facilities, and 17,425 physicians. You can find the closest facility or physician through the website. If you need translation assistance – because you are abroad, do not speak English or are deaf – this health insurance provider has trained interpreters who can help translate medical information into Spanish, Chinese or American Sign Language.

The website has FAQs and information about Kaiser, and you can switch it to Spanish. The site lists a toll-free number and live chat for questions about its policies. A general phone or email contact was not as easy to find on the main website, although you may be able to find it through your membership site. If you need TTY for hearing impaired calling, you can get that service.

You can access your health insurance account details, make appointments, order medications and access your medical records through the company's mobile app. This health insurance company has an app for both iPhone and Android systems.

Summary

Kaiser Permanente has a large system of doctors and medical facilities, but it is limited to eight states and the District of Columbia. Further, it does not allow for care outside the Kaiser Permanente system. As with all health insurance, prices and benefits vary by the individual, and in this case, it's important to check the availability and quality of care of Kaiser doctors and facilities in your local area. It is nonetheless one of the best health insurances overall, because within the system, the choice of health insurance plans is good, and the prices are well below average, according to our evaluation. Overall, it is definitely worth putting on your list of healthcare providers to explore.

Humana Review

PROS / Humana provides health insurance at lower prices than most of the health insurance companies we tested, and the policies have additional benefits.

CONS / It is only available in 22 states.

 VERDICT / If you live in one of the southern, western or midwestern states that has Humana insurance, its premiums, variety of available plans and additional wellness programs make it one of the best choices for health insurance.

Humana earns our Top Ten Reviews Silver Award for health insurance because it provides a large variety of health insurance plans at some of the lowest rates of those we evaluated. If you live in one of the 22 states in which Humana operates, it should be on your list of insurance plans to look at when doing your own pricing and comparisons.

Selection of Plans

One drawback of Humana is that it only covers 22 of the 50 states, primarily the lower half of the U.S. and up through the Midwest. However, if you have a nationwide PPO plan, you can still find a provider across the country. This is important to know if you have children under your plan who move out of state. This is not the case for HMO plans, although if you have an emergency, your care may be covered.

You can find a good variety of plans. In our testing, we found it to be consistently above average in the number of options it gave us for our test cases – usually around a dozen plans. The plans may include dental, according to the requirements of the state or your preferences. Humana can also add on vision plans.

Humana also includes home healthcare in many of its plans. This is an important consideration for people who are older or who have chronic illnesses that might affect their ability to manage care on their own. Home health includes ongoing care for the homebound, transition care for those recovering after a hospital stay and SeniorBridge, which is especially for the elderly homebound.

Humana does not provide short-term plans. Thus, it's not a good health insurance provider to consider if you only need to cover a temporary gap between insurance, such as between changing jobs or waiting for your new job's insurance to begin. It also does not generally provide international coverage, so you may want to consider a different company or an upgrade if you plan to travel abroad. If you purchase the Humana Medicare Advantage plan, you get international coverage.

Sample Premium Rates

For our tests, we examined policy options for single non-smokers ages 35, 45 and 55. We priced plans for each of these cases across five zip codes, and then averaged highest- and lowest-priced plans. The prices were, across the board, less expensive, by about $100 to $300 annually. Although not the cheapest of the health insurance providers we tested, it is among the best three for price.

Because your policy costs depend on multiple factors, our case studies are only benchmark guides. We encourage you to select three or more insurance providers and obtain quotes yourself to find the policies that best meet your individual needs. With all of the providers on our list, we were able to secure quotes in a matter of minutes, yet could save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Enhancements

In addition to better-than-average premiums, Humana offers wellness features. Many health insurance companies have started providing information and tools online to help their clients take charge of their health, but Humana has taken this a step further. First, it offers HumanaVitality, an online rewards program for developing healthy habits. You can use the points for discounts on healthy foods, plus products and services from movie tickets to sports equipment.

Second, it has Humana Guidance Centers in its client states. These are physical centers where people can attend cooking and exercise classes, join social activities and attend seminars. You don't have to be a Humana policy owner to attend a guidance center activity, but there are agents at each center to answer questions about this health insurance provider and the policies.

Humana has 24-hour phone service for medical advice; it also has extensive information online, including member guides that explain their policies. If you are hearing impaired, you can find a TTY extension to communicate via phone.

It has 200 interpreters available for 200 languages; they have experience with medical information, so they can provide accurate translation. You can also click an option to display the website in Spanish.

The mobile app lets you access your account information, view your coverage, find a doctor or pharmacy, set yourself medication reminders or set text alerts and access the Humana Vitality dashboard. You can also get a separate mobile app for the HumanaVitality program to record and redeem points.

You can also order prescriptions online using the Humana RightSource program. You can get a three-month supply of prescription medications so you only need to renew four times a year or if your prescription changes.

Summary

Humana is only available in about half the United States, but we think it's one of the best health insurance providers because of its good number of plan options, inexpensive prices and strong wellness programs that encourage a lifetime of health.

It does not offer short-term coverage plans, but does have plans that include home health. Further, it seeks to develop a sense of community with its guidance centers. While we suggest you comparison shop at least three or more health insurance companies to find the best one for you, Humana should be on that list if you live in one of the states it covers.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Review

PROS / With 37 companies across the United States, Blue Cross Blue Shield has the greatest variety of plans available on average.

CONS / Blue Cross Blue Shield is a group of multiple independent agencies, so the specifics of your care depend on the company servicing your area.

 VERDICT / Blue Cross Blue Shield provides a wide variety of healthcare plans at prices that fall within the average range of other insurance providers. However, quality may vary by local company.

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is a nationwide provider of health insurance. It's made up of 37 local and independently operated companies, which can have the advantage of more individualized attention, but it also means the quality of service depends on the location. Nonetheless, its good prices, wide range of options and discount programs on other health and wellness products and services make it the best health insurance service and worthy of our Top Ten Reviews Gold Award.

Selection of Plans

The BCBS network is expansive, and as a result, it offered a greater variety of plans compared to the other insurance providers we reviewed. In some cases, we were given a choice of nearly 20 different plans. It provides both subsidy-eligible plans and standard ones. You can sort through plans by several factors and select up to three at a time to compare side by side. The quote generator also provides sliding scales so you can pick a price range, deductible range, coinsurance options and other factors to narrow your search.

The side-by-side comparison is similar to features found on other health insurance sites. It shows the specifics of each plan and the costs or benefits involved. The benefits are clearly listed, and there are pop-ups and links for more information if you aren't sure about a specific benefit. A link lets you check whether your doctor is included in the plan.

This service also has international coverage in case you are traveling abroad. In addition, it has specific policies for business travelers or people planning to spend up to 180 days abroad. The international insurance plans cover evacuation in case you need to be brought to the U.S. for specialized care.

Sample Premium Rates

We found the premiums to be within the average price range for the providers we evaluated. For our tests, we looked at a policy for a single non-smoker of ages 35, 45 and 55. We priced plans for each of these cases across five zip codes, and then averaged highest- and lowest-priced plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield's policies were slightly above average for the 45- and 55-year-old, but not significantly so.

Of course, how much your policy costs depends on more factors than our case study. Therefore, we suggest selecting three or more insurance providers and running the quotes yourself. With all of the providers on our list, we were able to secure quotes in a matter of minutes, so the process is not difficult, and it's worth the money it could save you.

Enhancements

This insurance agency offers its members discounts in health and wellness programs through Blue365. This includes discounted enrollments in health clubs, fitness monitors, diet programs and other products and services. Over 20 of the BCBS companies offer this member benefit.

On the national website, you can get information about policies, find a doctor, access the Blue365 program and peruse the blog and media resources to get general information about BCBS and health issues. You can also find links to the individual company websites on the national BCBS page.

As with the health insurance companies we reviewed, you have access to a prescription manager and can reorder medications online or via mail order. You can contact nurses for medical advice that may not require a trip to the doctor. Accessing some of these services may depend on the individual Blue Cross Blue Shield company in your local area. The exact features offered may vary by individual company as well.

BCBS is an association of local companies. Thus, the way you contact them varies by location, but in general, you can find phone or online support across the board. You can speak to a BCBS representative in several languages, and there are accessibility features for the hearing impaired.

You can find in-network doctors across the globe online or using the mobile app. The mobile app gives you access to your account and medical information. The latter is very useful when traveling. Some BCBS companies offer other apps dedicated to health and wellness.

Summary

 Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the largest health insurance providers in the nation. An association of independent companies, it can offer a larger variety of plans and benefits than many of the providers we reviewed. While the exact details and service vary by specific location, it's still the best health insurance company and worth including on your list as you price out plans.