As of January 1, 2026, Aetna no longer offers plans on the ACA marketplace. That leaves Kaiser Permanente as the only option between the two for private health insurance. Kaiser Permanente provides HMO and EPO plans in seven states, featuring competitive premiums and strong Quality Rating System (QRS) ratings.
Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente (2026 Comparison)
Updated: May 8, 2026
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Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente: ACA Health Insurance
Availability | N/A | 7 States |
Plan Types | N/A | HMO, EPO |
Avg. QRS Score | N/A | 94.6 |
Avg. Denial Rate | N/A | 8.3% |
Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente Medicare Supplement
Aetna offers Medicare Supplement (Medigap) coverage in 43 states, with a lineup of seven out of ten standardized plans, including A, B, C, D, F, G and N. It also provides high-deductible versions of Plans F and G. Most Aetna policies use attained-age pricing, meaning premiums increase as you get older.
Kaiser Permanente, however, doesn’t offer Medicare Supplement plans, so Aetna is the only option between the two if you’re looking for Medigap coverage.
Availability | 43 States | N/A |
Plan Types | A, B, C, D, F, G, N | N/A |
High-Deductible F and G | Yes | N/A |
Dominant Pricing Style | Attained Age | N/A |
Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage
Aetna and Kaiser Permanente both sell Medicare Advantage plans, but they differ in availability, quality and cost. Aetna operates in 43 states, while Kaiser Permanente is only available in eight.
Kaiser Permanente leads in quality, earning an average CMS star rating of 4.37 compared to Aetna’s 3.88. But Aetna leads on price, with 62% of its plans featuring $0 premiums versus 36% for Kaiser Permanente. Aetna also offers greater plan flexibility, including HMO, HMO-POS and PPO options, while Kaiser Permanente is limited to just HMO and HMO-POS plans. Both insurers include enhanced prescription drug benefits.
Availability | 43 States | 8 States |
Plan Types | HMO, HMO-POS, PPO | HMO, HMO-POS |
Avg. CMS Star Rating | 3.88 | 4.37 |
Drug Benefits | Enhanced | Enhanced |
% $0 Premium Plans | 62% | 36% |
Bottom Line
Kaiser Permanente is your only option for ACA coverage between the two companies, with competitive premiums and strong QRS scores. Aetna, meanwhile, is the only provider with Medicare Supplement coverage. For Medicare Advantage, the better provider depends on your priorities. Aetna has broader availability and lower Medicare Advantage premiums, while Kaiser Permanente delivers higher CMS star ratings and lower maximum out-of-pocket limits.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he has produced original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek so people can make coverage decisions with confidence. His insurance insights have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other media outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). He began his career in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!