Investopedia’s analysis ranks Kaiser Permanente as the best health insurance company for 2025 because of its blend of affordability and low customer complaints. UnitedHealthcare and Aetna also earned top marks. We evaluated nine insurers using dozens of criteria, such as customer satisfaction, plan types, and costs. The top companies offer a strong mix of value and quality care, with low premiums, minimal complaints, and medical management programs.
Best Health Insurance Companies for 2025Best Overall and Best for Self-Employed
Why We Chose ItIf Kaiser Permanente isn’t an option where you live, UnitedHealthcare is a strong alternative. Its marketplace plans are available in 30 states.
MethodologyBest Overall and Best for Self-EmployedKaiser PermanenteInvestopedia’s Rating4.8Kaiser PermanenteAverage individual monthly premium (silver plan): $439Average annual deductible (silver plan): $3,631Customer complaints: Fewer than expectedLearn MoreWhy We Chose ItKaiser Permanente offers affordable premiums, a variety of medical management programs, and fewer complaints than expected for a company its size. Its low premiums also make it a great option for self-employed workers with variable incomes.Pros & ConsProsLow family and individual premiumsHighly rated mobile appGood selection of medical management programsConsPlans only available in eight states and Washington, D.C.High average out-of-pocket maximumsNo marketplace PPO planOverviewKaiser Permanente is a smart choice for cost-conscious health insurance shoppers. Its silver-level individual marketplace plan premiums average $439 a month, the second-lowest in Investopedia’s study, and its family plan average premium is the lowest at $1,513. However, higher-than-average out-of-pocket maximums may offset the savings.Kaiser has eight medical management programs for chronic conditions like asthma and heart disease, more than most insurers Investopedia reviewed. Its mobile app, rated 4.79 out of 5 stars across App Store and Google Play reviews, is a standout.Kaiser’s main limitation is its reach. Its plans are available in just eight states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, plus the District of Columbia. But if you live in those areas, Kaiser offers a strong combination of low premiums and tailored medical care options.Kaiser Permanente was founded in 1945 and is based in Oakland, California.Best Widely Available PlansUnitedHealthcareInvestopedia’s Rating4.1UnitedHealthcareAverage individual monthly premium (silver plan): $517Average annual deductible (silver plan): $2,824Customer complaints: Much fewer than expectedLearn MoreWhy We Chose ItIf Kaiser Permanente isn’t an option where you live, UnitedHealthcare is a strong alternative. Its marketplace plans are available in 30 states.Pros & ConsProsAvailable in 30 statesLow average deductiblesFew customer complaintsConsHigh average premiumsNo PPO plans on marketplaceNo medical management programsOverviewFor those prioritizing a low deductible and wide availability, UnitedHealthcare is a solid option. It offers coverage in 30 states, the second-largest area among insurers we reviewed. Its NAIC complaint index, a measure of customer complaints relative to market share, is second only to Aetna. Its three-year average index was 0.334, well below the industry benchmark of 1.However, UHC’s strengths come with caveats. Its average individual silver plan premium of $517 is higher than most competitors, despite not offering PPO plans, which typically cost more because they have broader in-network coverage. Also, its average out-of-pocket maximum is among the highest at $7,316, though it offsets this with the lowest average individual deductible at $2,824.UnitedHealthcare was founded in 1977 and based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Best for Low Complaints and Best for Chronic ConditionsAetnaInvestopedia’s Rating3.8AetnaAverage individual monthly premium (silver plan): $553Average annual deductible (silver plan): $5,880Customer complaints: Much fewer than expectedLearn MoreWhy We Chose ItAetna boasts the lowest NAIC complaint index among the insurers Investopedia received, indicating it receives few customer complaints. It has eight medical management programs addressing conditions like depression, asthma, and chronic pain. Combined with low copays for doctors and pharmacies, Aetna is an excellent choice if you’re managing chronic health issues.Pros & ConsProsFew customer complaintsLots of medical management programsLow copays for primary care visitsLow drug costsConsOnly available in 17 statesHigh average premiumsOverviewAetna’s average NAIC complaint index over the past three years is 0.208, showing it receives far fewer complaints than expected for its size.1 Its low copays and coinsurance for doctor visits and prescriptions should help if you’re managing chronic conditions, as well as its eight medical management programs for issues like diabetes.Perks like $0 CVS MinuteClinic visits and 20% off CVS Health products add value. But Aetna looks less affordable when you consider its average premiums ($553) and deductibles ($5,880) for individual plans are among the highest in Investopedia’s study.Aetna was founded in 1853 and based in Hartford, Connecticut. It offers plans in 17 states.Most AffordableMolina HealthcareInvestopedia’s Rating3.8Molina HealthcareAverage individual monthly premium (silver plan): $456Average annual deductible (silver plan): $4,739Customer complaints: Many more than expectedLearn MoreWhy We Chose ItMolina Healthcare offers some of the lowest premiums for individual and family plans, especially on the state marketplaces Investopedia analyzed.Pros & ConsProsLowest premiums for state marketplace plansLow deductibles for state marketplace plansConsFrequent customer complaintsOnly available in 15 statesNo PPO plans on marketplaceOverviewMolina Healthcare stands out in Investopedia’s research for its affordability. It offers the cheapest premiums in a sample of five state marketplaces, averaging $395 for individuals and $1,424 for families. Its plans also feature low average deductibles on state marketplaces: $2,542 for individuals and $5,083 for families. This makes it a strong choice if your budget is your top priority.However, Molina doesn’t offer PPO plans, which allow for out-of-network coverage and specialist visits without referrals. While its prices on state marketplaces are among the lowest, its premiums for federal marketplace plans aren’t as low and its deductibles are higher than average.Molina was established in 1980 and is based in Long Beach, California. Molina provides coverage in 15 states.Why Trust UsInvestopedia’s team of researchers, editors, and writers make recommendations based on a methodical and objective analysis of data. Our advice is unbiased and consumer-focused. While we may receive compensation if you click certain links, our advertising partnerships don’t influence how products are reviewed, though they may affect their order. Investopedia launched in 1999 and has helped readers find the best health insurance companies since 2019.How We Chose the Best Health Insurance CompaniesInvestopedia’s rankings of the best health insurance companies are based on our independent research into nine providers offering plans through federal and state marketplaces. We evaluated costs, customer satisfaction, plan benefits, and medical management programs. We analyzed market share, enrollment trends, and availability to select the nine companies in our review. Investopedia’s research for this ranking was conducted from Oct. 24 to Nov. 8, 2024. We collected data from HealthCare.gov, state marketplaces, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and directly from each company.After verifying this data with primary sources, we used it to create our scoring model to evaluate each company, based on the following weights:Customer Satisfaction: 20%Availability: 10%Plan Types: 11%Plan Benefits: 2%Medical Management Programs: 5%Federal Marketplace Cost Data: 26%State Marketplace Cost Data: 26%
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