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Get Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best insurance companies and helpful information on how to find the best travel, auto, home, health, life, pet, and small business coverage for your needs.
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Kaiser Permanente is the most affordable health insurance company, according to our analysis of seven health insurers. Our research found that Kaiser Permanente has the cheapest home insurance rates, on average, for multiple ages and metal tiers on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. For instance, a 40-year-old pays $351 monthly on average for a Kaiser Permanente unsubsidized Bronze plan, compared to $378 for an Aetna plan and $392 for an Oscar plan.
You usually can only buy a new health insurance plan or change your coverage during the annual open enrollment period unless you have a qualifying life event. For instance, open enrollment for ACA marketplace plans runs from November 1 to January 15 in most states, though some states have longer open enrollment periods. A qualifying life event, such as losing your health coverage, getting married or having a baby, typically kicks off a special enrollment period. During a special enrollment period, you can sign up for overage or change your existing health coverage.
No, you can’t typically negotiate health insurance costs. The health insurance company may offer another plan that would be a better fit for you. For instance, an insurer may suggest a lower-cost bronze plan, going with a higher deductible or choosing a more restrictive plan like a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan. Those options often have lower premiums than more expensive coverage options.
Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.
Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine editor covering consumer technology, a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires and local newspaper reporter.
Health Insurance ExpertPatrick T. Padgett is executive vice president/CEO of the Kentucky Medical Association. He served two tours with the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, one as a military prosecutor and a second working with Naval Intelligence. Patrick joined the KMA staff in 1996 and served for 11 years as KMA’s counsel before being elevated to CEO in 2007.
He has authored a number of papers and booklets, including the KMA Legal Handbook for Kentucky Physicians and is a frequent speaker on such topics as the basics of health insurance, laws and regulations impacting health insurance, healthcare policy, leadership and personal finance.
He is the former chair of the American Medical Association Litigation Center Executive Committee; a former member of the Ronald McDonald House of Kentuckiana Board of Directors; and for the 2023-2024 term, the chair of the Kentucky Humane Society Board of Directors. Patrick is married to his wife Elizabeth, and has two dogs named Henry and Sophie.
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