When shopping on eHealth, you have the advantage of variety. Instead of searching health insurance companies one by one, and then comparing plans available from the company you choose, you get to compare free quotes from different health insurance companies and plans all in one place. In addition to having access to the largest private online Marketplace for health insurance, you can rest assured that you’re seeing plans from the best health insurance companies out there.

Health care needs are incredibly specific to individuals, families, and small businesses, so it’s up to you what the “best” health insurance company is. Keep reading to learn about some of the top health insurance companies offered at eHealth, and visit our website where you can easily compare quotes on plans from some of the best health insurance companies in the health care industry.

The importance of choosing the right health insurance

Choosing the right health insurance company is crucial for safeguarding both your physical and financial health. Health insurance plays a pivotal role in ensuring access to quality healthcare services when needed, thereby promoting overall well-being and longevity. Additionally, having adequate health coverage can provide peace of mind, knowing that you are protected against unexpected medical expenses that could otherwise lead to financial strain. By selecting the right health insurance plan from a reputable company, individuals can effectively manage their healthcare needs while maintaining financial stability. It’s essential to carefully evaluate different options and choose a plan that aligns with your healthcare requirements and budgetary constraints.

What to look for in health insurance

Provider coverage

One of the most important aspects of any type of insurance is the actual coverage you receive. When searching for the best health insurance companies, compare coverage tiers, costs, as well as premiums, co-pays, and deductibles included with each individual plan.

Comparing the standard benefits that come with the health insurance plans you are considering is also imperative, as not all plans provide the same level of coverage. While some health insurance policies may cover all prescription drugs without a co-pay, other providers may require high deductibles alongside co-pays for the type of medication(s) you require.

Plan type

Learning the difference between PPO, EPO, and HMO plans can help in your search to find the best company for health insurance for your healthcare coverage needs. While an HMO insurance provider may limit you to specific healthcare providers within the same network, a PPO has the most flexibility altogether, allowing you to choose a provider that is either in or outside of insurance’s own network. With an EPO plan, you are not required to find specific referrals from your primary care provider, but you are required to seek healthcare services from physicians and medical specialists inside your network.

When you are in the market for new insurance, it is also important to consider the type of deductibles and co-pays that are required from each insurance plan available to you.

Network of healthcare providers

 When considering health insurance plans, one crucial aspect to evaluate is the network of healthcare providers. A robust network ensures that you have access to a wide range of doctors, hospitals, and specialists, giving you the flexibility to choose healthcare providers that meet your specific needs. A comprehensive provider network is essential for receiving timely and quality care, whether it’s for routine check-ups or specialized treatments. Having access to a diverse network of healthcare professionals can make a significant difference in your overall healthcare experience, ensuring that you receive the care you need when you need it. Therefore, it’s essential to assess the breadth and depth of provider networks when selecting a health insurance plan to ensure you have access to the best possible care.

Affordability and premiums

The best company for health insurance will also consider its own affordability when it comes to providing a range of insurance plans. When you are searching for an insurance provider, you will first need to set a budget in place while comparing the coverage each provider offers for the cost.

Premiums are a significant factor to consider when assessing the affordability of health insurance plans. Premiums are the monthly payments you make to your insurance company to maintain coverage. While lower premiums may seem appealing, they often come with higher out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. On the other hand, higher premiums typically result in lower out-of-pocket costs when you need healthcare services. Therefore, it’s essential to strike a balance between monthly premiums and out-of-pocket expenses based on your healthcare needs and budget. Comparing premiums and evaluating how they align with your financial situation is crucial in choosing the right health insurance plan.

Customer service and satisfaction

Customer reviews and verified testimonials can provide valuable insight into the overall value or quality of an insurance provider and the type of insurance plan you are interested in for yourself. Customer reviews provide an overview of the plan’s benefits, perks, as well as deductibles, co-pays, and any potential issues patients may have experienced with individual providers.

Policy flexibility

 When it comes to choosing health insurance, policy flexibility is key. A good health insurance company will offer a range of customization options and flexibility in policy terms to meet the diverse needs of its customers. This includes the ability to add on extra coverage options or riders tailored to specific healthcare needs. Whether you’re looking for additional maternity coverage, dental benefits, or coverage for alternative therapies, having the flexibility to customize your policy ensures that you get the coverage you need without paying for services you don’t. When exploring health insurance options, be sure to consider the extent of policy flexibility offered by each provider to find the plan that best suits your individual needs.

Best Health Insurance Companies offered at eHealth:

United Healthcare:

• United HealthCare (UHC) was founded in 1977, and currently serves all 50 U.S. States.
• According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)’s most recent annual report, UHC’s market share of healthcare is 15.34%, making UHC the top health insurance company in terms of market share.
• “Highest overall experience” in Arizona according to J.D. Power ranking, and ranked “among the best” health insurance companies in Texas.

Aetna:

• Named on Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list, Aetna provides coverage to about 22.1 million people.
• If age and experience is what you’re looking for, then consider Aetna the best health insurance company in that sense—they’ve been around since 1853.
• Ranked as “better than most” for J.D. Power Member Satisfaction Index Ratings in Florida.

Kaiser Permanente:

• Founded in 1945 in Oakland California, Kaiser Permanente has grown to become the largest managed care organization in the U.S.
• Kaiser’s market share according to NAIC’s report: 6.18%.
• According to J.D. Power rankings, Kaiser ranks the highest in six regions: Maryland, South Atlantic, California, Virginia, Northwest and Colorado.

Anthem:

• With 40 million health plan members, Anthem is the largest for-profit managed health care company within the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, placing it among what some might consider the best health insurance companies.
• Anthem BlueCross BlueShield (Blue Card) in Massachusetts was ranked “among the best” for J.D. Power Member Satisfaction Index Rankings.

Humana:

• In the 1960’s Humana was a small nursing home company, but twenty years later, broke into the health insurance business. Humana has been ranked #1 in Fortune’s “Social Responsibility” category.
• Humana’s market share according to NAIC’s report: 6.03%.
• Ranked “better than most” in Florida for J.D. Power’s Member Satisfaction Index Rankings.

Cigna:

• Cigna was founded officially in 1982, but traces their roots back 200 years with the Insurance Company of North America (INA).
•  Cigna’s market share according to NAIC’s report: 2.39%.
• Ranked “among the best” in Florida for J.D. Power’s Member Satisfaction Index Rankings.

Blue Cross Blue Shield:

• Setting it apart from the other top health insurance companies on this list, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is actually comprised of 36 independent and locally operated health insurance companies.
• If you put your trust in volume, then you may consider BCBS to be among the best health insurance companies, with 106 million plan members insured under this umbrella company.
• BCBS’s market share according to NAIC’s report: 1.15% (This share is representative of BCBS in California only, which holds the most significant share compared to BCBS in all other states) The sum of Blue Cross Blue Shield and all of it’s subsidiaries actually holds a much larger amount of the market share.
• Ranked “among the best” for J.D. Power Member Satisfaction Index Rankings in Massachusetts.

Wellcare:

• Wellcare was founded in 1985 and specializes in government-sponsored health care products like Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans.
• If you’re in the market for government-sponsored health care, then you’ll have a good chance finding a plan with quality care from one of Wellcare’s 571 thousand contracted healthcare providers.
• Wellcare’s market share according to NAIC’s report: 0.50%.

Highmark:

• Highmark’s offers Blue Cross Blue Shield-branded health plans in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia.
• If dental insurance plays a big role for you in deciding what the best health insurance company is, then you’ll be happy to know that Highmark health insurance offers dental coverage through Concordia Dental in all 50 U.S. States.
• Highmark’s market share according to NAIC’s report: 1.32%.
• Highmark Blue Cross BlueShield of Delaware was ranked highest according to J.D. Power ranking.

Ambetter:

• Ambetter Health products are offered by Centene Corporation, a multi-national Fortune 500 company established in 1984.
• Plans from Ambetter have 3 different coverage levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold – with each plan having different monthly premiums depending on your coverage level.
• Ambetter is offered 29 states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Nebraska, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.

Oscar:

• Oscar was founded in 2012 with the mission of creating a health insurance company that behaves like a doctor in a family.
•  Oscar is the 3rd largest for-profit national insurer in the U.S. based on membership for the individual market.
• Oscar’s market share according to NAIC’s report: 0.34%.
• One of Oscar’s key differentiators is the seamless experience provided by its mobile app. At any time, a member can use the app to list a condition, and then be offered a free phone call or visit to a doctor with an estimated price.

Molina Healthcare:

• Molina Healthcare was founded in 1980, and serves over 4 million customers who rely on government sponsored programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
• Molina Healthcare is a Fortune 500 company and has been named to the “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list by Business Ethics magazine.
• Molina Healthcare’s market share according to NAIC’s report: 1.99%.
• The NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance) has ranked Molina health insurance plans among the nation’s top Medicaid plans since 2005.

HealthPartners:

• HealthPartners was founded in 1957 as a cooperative, and now serves more than 1.8 million medical and dental plan members nationwide. Its care system includes a multi-specialty group practice of more than 1,800 physicians.
• HealthPartners is one of the top-rated private health plans in Minnesota and one of the highest-rated plans in the nation, with a rating of 4.5 out of 5, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2018-2019.
• HealthPartner’s Healthcare market share according to NAIC’s report: 0.31%.
• Researchers at IBM Watson Health evaluated nearly 2,500 hospitals and 324 health systems across the country. HealthPartners was ranked number 2 in the medium health systems category.

 Harvard Pilgrim:

• Harvard Pilgrim was founded by doctors in 1969, and has a partnership with an expansive network of doctors and hospitals.
• Health care options from Harvard Pilgrim include wellness and savings programs, such as personal health coaching, stress reduction, weight management and more.
• Over 80,000 doctors and other clinicians in the region and 183 hospitals participate in the Harvard Pilgrim network.

Now that you know a few things about some of the “best” health insurance companies, you can start comparing products and getting free quotes for plans in your area. You’ll be able to search plans from these top health insurance companies plus others, and get free quotes from eHealth. You can always count on eHealth to offer plans from the top health insurance companies, and provide all the information and options that you’ll need to pick a health insurance plan that works for you, your family, or your small business. Visit eHealth today to start looking at plans from some of the best health insurance companies in the industry.