Best Catastrophic Health Insurance of 2023

Like all catastrophic plans, BCBS catastrophic plans cover 100% of most medical services, including doctor’s visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations, once the deductible is met. Unlike all other providers, though, BCBS has an extensive nationwide provider network  with more than 1.7 million doctors and hospitals providing nationwide coverage. If you need medical care while traveling domestically or internationally, you can use your BlueCard to submit claims outside of your local BCBS coverage area. 

The company also has good third-party ratings. In the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Commercial Health Plan Study, BCBS was rated the top health insurance company for overall customer satisfaction in 12 of 22 regions. Its average NCQA rating is 3.73 out of 5, which is the second-highest score of the companies we reviewed.

Another perk of BCBS is its Blue365 program, which gives you access to discounts on things like healthy food, fitness classes, medical devices, personal care items, and travel. Because BCBS plans are sold and administered by 34 independent and local organizations, the plan options and plan costs will vary based on your location. 

Oscar offers health management programs for a variety of different conditions, including asthma, heart disease, depression, diabetes, pregnancy, weight loss, high blood pressure and cholesterol, pain management, and low back pain. It also offers low premiums on catastrophic plans, but offers the most affordable health insurance coverage for other metal level plans.

Oscar’s catastrophic plan members also get access to a variety of customer perks, like $0 virtual primary care and urgent care through Oscar Care, plus a dedicated team to answer your medical questions. You can also use the Oscar Health app to refill prescriptions, message your care team, and make appointments. You can even earn up to $75 per year for tracking your steps on the app. 

However, Oscar’s average NCQA rating is 2.75 out of 5, which is the lowest of the providers we reviewed. 

Kaiser Permanente has the best customer satisfaction out of the insurers we reviewed. In J.D. Power’s U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study, Kaiser Permanente is rated as the top provider for customer satisfaction in five regions. It also has the highest NCQA rating, with an average score of 4.28 out of 5. And the company’s plans get perfect 5-star ratings from healthcare.gov. 

Kaiser Permanente members have access to 24/7 virtual care and a 24/7 advice line with medical professionals. Some catastrophic health plans also include coverage for children’s vision exams and glasses at no charge.

You might be able to find some catastrophic health plans that include children’s dental insurance, but Kaiser Permanente doesn't offer adult dental coverage on any of its health insurance plans.