Best Affordable Health Insurance Companies

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Blue Cross Blue Shield made our ranking due to their healthcare options for individuals who work remotely and need to buy coverage on their own. This includes the option to buy coverage that works in all 50 states and global health insurance for short-term or long-term travel.

Blue Cross Blue Shield was originally founded in 1929 and has since expanded to offer high-quality health insurance coverage across the U.S. The company provides coverage for 76 of America's Fortune 100 companies, 6.9 million people who work for small employers, 17 million unionized workers, and millions of others.

Ultimately, however, we chose Blue Cross Blue Shield for our ranking due to its options for remote workers, including health insurance that works across the country or even worldwide. 

Blue Cross Blue Shield lets you buy health insurance coverage that works in all 50 states, and it's widely accepted by doctors and specialists nationwide. They also offer coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, which means eligible customers can get subsidies to make their health insurance premiums affordable. You can even buy worldwide health insurance coverage that works for short-term or long-term travel—both real possibilities if you can work from home or anywhere in the world.

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We Chose UnitedHealthcare for our ranking because they offer short-term health insurance coverage when you need it. This type of plan can work well if you're in between employer-based plans or you need temporary coverage for any reason.

UnitedHealthcare was originally founded in 1977, yet it has grown tremendously and now serves more than 70 million customers. This provider also works directly with more than 1.3 million physicians and healthcare providers, as well as 6,500 hospitals and medical centers around the U.S. We chose UnitedHealthcare for our ranking based on their short-term health insurance options, which help consumers bridge gaps when they're in between plans.

Short-term insurance from UnitedHealthcare can be a good choice if you missed open enrollment for the ACA, you're waiting for coverage to start, or you're in between jobs. You can get covered the day after you apply, and you can pick your coverage length as well as your deductible. You also have the option to drop your short-term coverage with no penalty if a long-term insurance option comes along.

Note that short-term health insurance plans from UnitedHealthcare are underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, which has an A+ rating from AM Best for financial strength.

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We chose Kaiser Permanente because it administers its own Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), which can help you save for health costs on a tax-advantaged basis.

Kaiser began offering health insurance plans to the public starting in 1945 and has grown to become one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health insurance providers. Kaiser serves 12.5 million members in eight states plus Washington D.C.

When you pair a high deductible health plan (HDHP) from Kaiser Permanente with a Health Savings Account (HSA), you get a convenient debit card that lets you cover eligible expenses with your HSA funds directly and without any added paperwork. Your HSA plan also comes with no hidden fees, and you can get the $3.25 monthly plan fee waived if you maintain an HSA balance of $2,000 or more.

Kaiser may also offer ACA-compliant plans in your area, so it's possible you could apply subsidies you receive to make your premiums more affordable.

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We chose Cigna as best coverage for employees due to plan features that you may be eligible for. Stand-out benefits include $0 annual check-ups, 24/7 health line access, and a mobile app.

Cigna was originally founded in 1792, making it one of the longest-running insurance companies in the world. While Cigna coverage areas are limited nationwide, we chose them for our ranking based on the special benefits they offer individuals and their employee plans.

Cigna customers enjoy perks like $0 annual checkups and a 24/7 health line that lets you call in and get medical questions answered by a nurse. The myCigna app can also help you keep track of your medical care and your medical bills, as well as your overall healthcare goals. 

A variety of plans are available for employers who select this option, including dental, vision, pharmacy, and health and wellness coverage. While employee plans are available, Cigna has also expanded its ACA-compliant offerings to serve 13 states in 2022.

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We chose Oscar as best for convenience because it offers a mobile app and myriad ways to save time and money on healthcare via phone or video chat.

Oscar was only founded in 2012, so this technologically-driven healthcare company does not have some of its competitors' long history. Still, they serve more than 560,000 members in 497 counties across 19 states. They have plans to expand to 22 total states soon. This means their coverage area is still limited, but you may still find value in their policies if you live in one of their coverage areas.

Ultimately, we chose Oscar for our ranking based on their digital healthcare experience, which keeps everything convenient through a mobile app and the ability to book healthcare appointments via phone or video.

Oscar makes it easy for customers to maintain a digital ID card, book appointments, and find in-network providers using their mobile app. You can take care of tasks like prescription renewals and preventative care over the phone or via video chat. With Oscar's Virtual Urgent Care and Virtual Primary Care, you can also book unlimited virtual visits for $0.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to buy an ACA-compliant plan through Oscar that is made more affordable thanks to healthcare subsidies. You can check healthcare.gov during open enrollment to see coverage options in your area.

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We chose Humana due to its many Medicare Advantage plans options, which can make sense for Medicare members who want additional coverage.

Humana was originally founded as a nursing home company in 1961, yet it evolved to become one of the larger health insurance providers in the U.S. We chose them for our ranking based on their generous coverage options for Medicare Advantage and Medigap customers. 

Medicare Advantage plans from Humana come in many different forms, including HMO plans, PPO plans, PPFS plans, and SNP plans. While coverage options vary, their Medicare Advantage options include basic benefits like coverage for hospital stays and emergency transportation, telehealth visits, preventative care and specialist visits, medical supplies and equipment, and outpatient care and procedures. You also get coverage for lab work, X-rays, screening, and imaging.

Humana is also well known for its Medicare Supplement plans, frequently referred to as Humana Medigap plans. These plans are different from Medicare Advantage plans, and they are offered in most states. Like Medicare Advantage, Medigap plans can help fill in the gaps traditional Medicare coverage leaves.