But what if you get sick or injured and need medical care? How can you protect your health and wealth from unexpected expenses and losses?
The answer is simple: health insurance.
Health insurance is a type of insurance that covers some or all of the costs of medical services and treatments.
It can help you pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, preventive care, and more.
It can also protect you from financial hardship and debt in case of a serious illness or injury.
But not all health insurance plans are created equal.
That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive review of the best health insurance companies .
Let’s get to it!
What to Look for When Choosing Health Insurance
Before diving into the best health insurance companies in 2023, let’s review some key factors to consider when choosing health insurance.
These factors can help you narrow your options and find the best fit for your budget, lifestyle, and health needs.
Coverage
Health insurance coverage refers to the types and amounts of medical services and treatments your health insurance plan covers.
- Primary care covers routine visits to your primary care provider (PCP), such as check-ups, physical exams, immunizations, screenings, etc.
- Specialist care covers visits to cardiologists, dermatologists, neurologists, etc., who provide specialized care for specific conditions or diseases.
- Emergency care covers emergency services, including ambulance rides, ER visits, urgent care centers, etc., needed in case of a sudden or life-threatening illness or injury.
- Hospital care covers inpatient services, such as surgery, anesthesia, nursing care, lab tests, etc., provided at a hospital.
- Prescription drugs cover some or all of the costs of prescription medications prescribed by your doctor or other health care provider.
- Preventive care covers services to help prevent or detect illnesses or diseases early on, like mammograms, colonoscopies, flu shots, etc.
- Mental health and substance abuse cover services to treat mental health conditions or substance use disorders.
- Dental and vision covers services that help maintain or improve oral and eye health, including exams, cleanings, fillings, glasses, contacts, etc.
The amount of coverage you get depends on your plan type. There are different types of plans available in the market.
When choosing a plan type, consider how often you need medical care, your provider choices, and how much you can afford to pay out-of-pocket each time you use a service.
Cost
Cost refers to the money you have to pay for your health insurance plan and the medical services you use.
- The insurance premium is the monthly payment to your health insurance company to keep your plan active. It may vary depending on age, location, plan type, and other factors.
- The deductible is the out-of-pocket amount you pay each year before your plan starts paying for your covered services.
- A copay is the fixed amount you must pay each time you use a covered service, like visiting a doctor, filling prescriptions, etc.
- Coinsurance is the percentage of the cost of a covered service that you have to pay after you meet your deductible.
- The out-of-pocket maximum is the maximum you have to pay for your covered services each year. After you reach this limit, your plan pays 100% of the cost of your covered services for the rest of the year.
These costs vary depending on your plan type and level of coverage. So, keep them in mind when choosing an affordable health insurance plan.
In-network doctors
In-network doctors have contracted with your health insurance to provide services at a discounted rate.
You usually pay less when seeing an in-network doctor than an out-of-network doctor.
When choosing a plan, consider whether your current or preferred doctors are in-network or out-of-network, how easy or difficult it is to find an in-network doctor near you, and how satisfied you are with the quality and availability of in-network doctors.
Best Health Insurance Companies
Now that you know what to look for when choosing top health insurance services, let’s look at some of the best health insurance companies in 2023.
We’ve selected these companies based on their ratings, reviews, customer service, financial strength, network size, plan options, and benefits.
Here are our top picks:
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is one of the US’s most respected and recognized health insurance companies. They offer integrated plans that combine health care and health insurance in one.
Kaiser Permanente has a 4.3 out of 5 from the National Committee for Quality Assurance and 5 out of 5 from Forbs Advisor.
They have over 70 years of experience providing health care and health insurance to millions of Americans.
They also have a large network of over 23,000 providers, 700 medical offices, and 39 hospitals.
United Healthcare
United Healthcare is one of the US’s largest and most diversified health insurance companies. They offer a variety of plans for individuals, families, employers, Medicare beneficiaries, Medicaid recipients, and military members.
They also offer supplemental plans for dental, vision, hearing, critical illness, accident, and more.
United Healthcare has a 3.7 out of 5 from the National Committee for Quality Assurance and 4 out of 5 from Forbs Advisor.
They also have a large network of over 1.3 million providers and 6,500 hospitals nationwide.
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield is a federation of 36 independent and locally operated health insurance companies.
They offer plans for individuals, families, employers, Medicare beneficiaries, Medicaid recipients, and federal employees.
They also offer supplemental plans for dental, vision, life, travel, and more.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has 4.5 out of 5 from Forbs Advisor.
They have over 90 years of experience providing health care coverage and services to Americans.
They also have a large network of over 1.7 million providers and hospitals nationwide.
Where to Find the Best Health Insurance Companies
These are just the tip of the health insurance industry’s iceberg. So, how can you find a health insurer near your zip code?
Through JNA.org, of course!
JNA.org is a global leader in intelligent customer experiences.
We will connect you to the best health insurance companies that match your needs and budget. With JNA.org, you can find thousands of options and one perfect fit.
Don’t wait any longer.