Best Health Insurance Companies in Texas for 2023

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is the largest health insurance provider in the state by market share, and was our top pick for the best health insurance company overall. BCBS plans have a 3-star Healthcare.gov rating—we didn’t see any other insurance providers in Texas with a higher rating. And the insurer’s gold plans are a particularly good value, with relatively low deductibles and the lowest estimated annual cost, on average, of available plans. 

What’s more, there’s a 24/7 nurse line, and you can get virtual care from a doctor 24/7 for more than 80 health conditions, all from your phone. And Blue365 is one of the more extensive discount programs in the industry, offering a variety of discounts on wellness-related products and services. You can even save on gym memberships and weight loss programs.

But Texans looking for a more affordable plan designed for people who need infrequent doctor’s visits may be better served by another company, since BCBS Texas premiums are relatively high for silver and bronze plans. It should also be noted that the company’s customer satisfaction rating in Texas was just slightly below average in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Commercial Member Health Insurance Study. BCBS received a score of 732 out of 1,000, when the region average was 737.

Aetna provides great value for people who don’t have extensive health needs. The company’s bronze plans offer the cheapest premiums, even compared to other companies’ plans with the same deductible. If you have low health needs, Aetna offers the lowest estimated annual cost plans. What’s more, you’ll get access to free virtual care 24/7 and free or low cost walk-in visits at more than 1,100 MinuteClinic locations for things like health screenings and minor injuries. Taking advantage of these perks can save you money on healthcare throughout the year. 

Aetna’s plans aren’t yet rated by healthcare.gov or the NCQA. However, Aetna ranked second out of five companies in Texas and scored 750 compared to an average of 737 in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study. And Aetna’s plans are eligible for the maximum premium tax credit, landing the company a spot on our lists of the most affordable health insurance companies and the best health insurance for self-employed people. 

The main drawback of choosing Aetna is that the company’s gold plans don’t provide the best value. If you expect frequent visits to the doctor or hospital, your overall annual costs may be higher with Aetna than with Blue Cross Blue Shield. 

Ambetter offers plans with adult dental and vision coverage, which is a rarity among marketplace providers. These plans may include an annual children’s eye exam and glasses as well, but not child dental. Ambetter’s health insurance plans with dental and vision benefits are EPOs, which means you don’t need a primary care doctor’s referral to see a specialist. You’ll still be limited to in-network doctors, however. Ambetter also offers 24/7 virtual care along with $0 urgent care, which can save you a lot of cash.

But the estimated annual cost of Ambetter’s silver and bronze plans is relatively high for people with low and medium medical needs. Unless it makes sense for you to purchase a gold plan, you may want to opt for one of Aetna’s plans and purchase private dental coverage separately. Ambetter plans have just a 2-star rating on Healthcare.gov, which means you may get better quality with a plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield. 

With a $0 deductible health insurance plan, you’ll get coverage right away, without having to pay the full cost of certain services before you meet the deductible. UnitedHealthcare offers one of the lowest premium $0 deductible plans in Texas. It’s a gold plan that has $3 generic drugs, free primary care visits, and includes child dental. UnitedHealthcare is an option for adult dental and vision as well, but Ambetter’s plans are generally less costly. Still, UnitedHealthcare has the highest financial strength grade of any of the companies on this list. An A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best indicates a superior ability to pay claims. 

The company ranked last of Texas health insurance providers reviewed in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study. UnitedHealthcare’s plans are not yet rated on the exchange.