The best health insurance companies are the ones that sell plans in your ZIP code, include your doctors and prescriptions, and score well on independent checks: CMS Marketplace quality stars, NCQA health plan ratings and complaint records from state regulators. No single national company is best for everyone, because plans, networks and prices change county by county.
Updated October 2026 for the 2027 plan year
Key facts (2027 plan year)
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rates Marketplace plans from 1 to 5 stars (5 is highest) on medical care, member experience and plan administration (CMS Quality Rating System).
- Star ratings for the current year are based on the previous year’s data, and new or small plans may have no rating, which HealthCare.gov says doesn’t mean they are low quality (HealthCare.gov).
- Metal levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) “have nothing to do with the quality of care”; they only describe how you and the plan split costs (HealthCare.gov).
- The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) released its 2026 Health Plan Ratings on September 15, 2026, covering commercial, Medicare and Medicaid plans (NCQA).
- As of October 7, 2026, 11 insurers had announced Marketplace exits in some or all states for 2027, and 6 had announced entries into new states (KFF).
- For 2027, no ACA plan can have an in-network out-of-pocket maximum above $12,000 for one person or $24,000 for a family (CMS 2027 payment notice; see deductible vs. out-of-pocket maximum).
- Who are the best health insurance companies?
- Why does “best” depend on your ZIP code?
- How do CMS quality star ratings work?
- What do NCQA ratings tell you?
- How do I check an insurer’s complaint record?
- How do network and drug list change the answer?
- How to judge a health insurance company in 7 steps
- How Honesty compares insurers without bias
- Frequently asked questions
Who are the best health insurance companies?
There is no single best health insurance company for everyone. The best one for you is an insurer that sells in your county, keeps your doctors in network, covers your prescriptions at a reasonable tier, and has solid quality ratings and a clean complaint record. That answer changes by ZIP code and household.
National “top 10” lists of the best health insurance companies usually rank brands, not plans. But you don’t buy a brand. You buy one specific plan, with one network, one drug list and one set of costs, sold in your rating area. The same company can run a broad PPO in one state and a narrow HMO in the next, with very different quality scores.
That is why Honesty doesn’t rank insurers. Instead, this guide shows you the same tests regulators and researchers use, so you can judge any company on your own list. You can run every check below for free in under an hour.
Short version: start with the plans sold at your address, cut any that miss your doctors or drugs, then compare what’s left on total yearly cost, star rating and complaint record.
Why does “best” depend on your ZIP code?
“Best” depends on your ZIP code because insurers choose which counties they serve, build different provider networks in each area and file separate rates by rating area. A company that is excellent in one city may not sell plans in yours at all.
Lists of the best health insurance companies also go stale fast, because insurer lineups change every year. For 2027, KFF reports that Cigna is leaving the individual market in all 11 states where it sold plans, both on and off the exchange (KFF). Other insurers are pulling out of some states or entering new ones. If your 2026 insurer is leaving, you’ll need to pick a new plan during Open Enrollment.
Prices move too. KFF found insurers proposed a median 15% premium increase for 2027 (KFF). An insurer that was the best value last year may not be this year, so compare fresh instead of auto-renewing.
| Factor | Where to check | What good looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Sells in your county | HealthCare.gov or your state exchange, by ZIP code | Several plans to choose from at your address |
| Your doctors and hospitals | Insurer’s provider directory, then call the office | Every must-keep provider in network |
| Your prescriptions | Plan formulary (drug list) | Covered, on a low tier, few prior-authorization limits |
| Quality stars | CMS star rating on HealthCare.gov | Higher overall rating, especially medical care |
| Independent quality rating | NCQA Health Plan Report Card | Strong rating and current accreditation |
| Complaints | NAIC Consumer Insurance Search or your state insurance department | Complaint index at or below 1.00 |
| Total yearly cost | Premium after tax credit + deductible + out-of-pocket maximum | Lowest likely yearly total for your expected care |
How do CMS quality star ratings work?
CMS quality star ratings score each Marketplace plan from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 the highest. The overall rating combines three parts: medical care, member experience and plan administration. You see the stars next to each plan when you shop on HealthCare.gov.
The three parts measure different things (HealthCare.gov):
- Medical care. How well the plan’s network doctors deliver care such as screenings, vaccines and managing ongoing conditions.
- Member experience. Survey results from members on their doctors, their care and how easy it was to get appointments.
- Plan administration. How well the plan is run, including customer service and access to information.
The data comes from clinical quality measures and the Qualified Health Plan Enrollee Survey, which insurers must submit to sell on the Marketplace (CMS). State-based exchanges have also been required to display quality ratings since 2020, though each can present them its own way.
Two cautions. Ratings use last year’s data, so they lag behind recent changes. And an unrated plan isn’t a bad plan; it may just be new or small. Use stars to sort the best health insurance companies in your area from the rest, but only among plans that already fit your doctors and budget.
What do NCQA ratings tell you?
NCQA health plan ratings are an independent, nonprofit score of a health plan’s clinical quality and patient experience. Plans get up to 5 stars based on HEDIS clinical measures and CAHPS member surveys, with bonus points for NCQA accreditation.
NCQA’s 2026 ratings were released on September 15, 2026 and cover commercial, Medicare and Medicaid health plans (NCQA). The overall rating is a weighted average of a plan’s HEDIS and CAHPS measure ratings, plus a bonus for plans with current accreditation.
NCQA rates an insurer’s product line in a state, not a single Marketplace plan. That makes it a useful second opinion on how a company performs where you live, especially when the Marketplace plan you’re looking at has no CMS stars yet. Search by insurer and state on the NCQA Health Plan Report Card.
| Check | Who publishes it | What it rates | Scale | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marketplace quality rating | CMS, shown on HealthCare.gov and state exchanges | Each Marketplace plan | 1 to 5 stars | Comparing plans side by side while you shop |
| Health plan rating | NCQA (nonprofit) | An insurer’s commercial, Medicare or Medicaid plans by state | Up to 5 stars | Second opinion on a company’s clinical quality |
| Complaint index | NAIC and state insurance departments | An insurance company, by line of business | 1.00 = average | Spotting service and claims problems |
| Financial strength rating | Independent agencies such as AM Best | An insurance company’s finances | Letter grades | Background check on a smaller or newer insurer |
How do I check an insurer’s complaint record?
Check an insurer’s complaint record with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Consumer Insurance Search tool or your state insurance department. Both report confirmed complaints, and many show a complaint index that compares a company’s complaints with its size.
The NAIC compiles closed, confirmed complaints from state insurance departments and lets you search the past three years by company and type of insurance (NAIC Consumer Insurance Search). Search the company’s exact legal name from the plan documents, because large insurers run several subsidiaries.
How to read a complaint index
A complaint index compares a company’s share of complaints with its share of business. The Indiana Department of Insurance explains it this way: an index of 1.00 means the insurer’s share of complaints equals its share of business, 0.50 means half as many complaints as expected, and 2.00 means twice as many (Indiana DOI).
Use it with care. Even the best health insurance companies get some complaints; what matters is how many relative to their size. Compare the same line of business, such as accident and health, and look at more than one year. The NAIC itself advises consumers not to use just one factor to choose an insurance company. Your state insurance department can also tell you whether an insurer is licensed and how to file a complaint.
One more signal: the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to spend at least 80% or 85% of premium dollars on medical care, depending on the market, or pay rebates (CMS medical loss ratio). And every Marketplace plan must offer internal appeals and independent external review if a claim is denied (HealthCare.gov).
Honesty.AI checks your 2027 subsidy, then compares every plan that fits your doctors and drugs. Chat, voice or text, 24/7.
How do network and drug list change the answer?
Network and drug list often decide which company is best for you before price or ratings do. A top-rated insurer is the wrong choice if your doctor, hospital or daily medicine isn’t covered. Check both for every plan you’re still considering.
Network
Look up each doctor and hospital in the insurer’s directory for the exact plan name, then call the office to confirm. HMO and EPO plans generally don’t cover out-of-network care except emergencies, while PPO and POS plans may. Our guides to in-network vs. out-of-network care and HMO vs. PPO vs. EPO vs. POS explain the trade-offs.
Drug list
Every plan has a formulary, a list of covered drugs sorted into tiers. HealthCare.gov lets you add your prescriptions when you browse plans and shows whether each plan covers them (HealthCare.gov). Note the tier and any prior authorization or step therapy rules.
Total yearly cost
Only then compare money. Add twelve months of premium after your tax credit to the deductible and the costs you expect, and know the out-of-pocket maximum. If your income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, a Silver plan with cost-sharing reductions can beat a cheaper-looking Bronze. Our guide to the cheapest health insurance shows why the lowest premium isn’t always the lowest cost.
How to judge a health insurance company in 7 steps
To judge a health insurance company, confirm it sells in your county, check your doctors and drugs, then compare quality stars, NCQA rating, complaint record and total yearly cost. Here is how to find the best health insurance companies for your household for the 2027 plan year.
- List the insurers at your address. Enter your ZIP code on HealthCare.gov or your state exchange to see every plan sold where you live.
- Cut plans that miss your doctors. Check each must-keep doctor and hospital in the plan’s directory and call to confirm.
- Cut plans that miss your drugs. Add your prescriptions and note the tier and any restrictions.
- Compare CMS quality stars. Prefer higher overall and medical-care ratings among the plans left.
- Check NCQA and complaints. Look up the insurer on the NCQA Report Card and the NAIC Consumer Insurance Search.
- Price the whole year. Add premium after tax credit, deductible and expected costs, and know the out-of-pocket maximum.
- Enroll on time. For 2027 coverage on HealthCare.gov, enroll by December 15, 2026 for a January 1 start; Open Enrollment ends January 15, 2027.
For the full shopping walkthrough, including where to buy, see how to shop for health insurance and how to compare health insurance plans. Dates for every state are in our Open Enrollment 2027 guide.
How Honesty compares insurers without bias
Honesty®, a licensed AI insurance agent from Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC (NPN 21094885, licensed in 49 states and DC), compares ACA, alternative and ancillary plans by your family’s needs. It is unbiased among carriers and never steers you toward one company.
- Your ZIP code first. It shows only plans actually sold at your address.
- Your doctors and drugs. Tell it who you see and what you take, and it checks each plan’s network and drug list.
- Subsidy first. It checks Medicaid, CHIP and premium tax credit eligibility before showing prices.
- No data selling, no spam calls. We never sell or share your data.
- Enrolls in minutes, 24/7 by chat, voice or text. Honesty is not affiliated with HealthCare.gov or CMS.
Prefer a person-style walkthrough? Read what a health insurance broker does and how to vet one, or see why unbiased advice matters.
Find the best plan for your ZIP code, not a ranking
Honesty.AI is the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent. It checks your 2027 subsidy, compares ACA, alternative and ancillary plans for your family’s needs, and can enroll you, 24/7 by chat, voice or text. We never sell or share your data.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best health insurance company?
There isn’t one best company for everyone. The best health insurance company for you sells plans in your ZIP code, covers your doctors and prescriptions, and scores well on CMS quality stars, NCQA ratings and complaint records.
Where can I see health insurance company ratings?
HealthCare.gov and state exchanges show CMS 1-to-5 star quality ratings for each Marketplace plan. NCQA publishes independent health plan ratings on its Health Plan Report Card, and the NAIC Consumer Insurance Search shows complaint data.
Does a Gold or Platinum plan mean better quality?
No. HealthCare.gov says metal levels have nothing to do with the quality of care. They only describe how you and the plan split costs. Check the plan’s quality star rating separately.
What is a good complaint index for an insurance company?
An index of 1.00 means a company’s share of complaints matches its share of business. Below 1.00 means fewer complaints than expected and above 1.00 means more. Compare the same line of business across several years.
Why doesn’t my plan have a star rating?
New plans and plans with low enrollment may not have a rating yet. HealthCare.gov says that doesn’t mean the plan is low quality. Use the insurer’s NCQA rating and complaint record as a second check.
Should I switch insurers for 2027?
Compare before you renew. Insurers proposed a median 15% premium increase for 2027, and 11 insurers have announced exits in some or all states. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage on HealthCare.gov runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.
Keep learning: how to choose a health plan, Bronze vs. Silver vs. Gold vs. Platinum, health insurance quotes, 2027 subsidies and individual health insurance.
