Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente (2026 Comparison)

See how Aetna and Kaiser Permanente stack up across ACA marketplace plans, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement coverage to determine which insurer offers the right benefits and pricing for you.

Find the right health insurance for you.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: June 30, 2026

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

MoneyGeek's analysis of ACA, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage coverage found Aetna and Kaiser Permanente competing directly in only one of the three. Aetna exited the ACA marketplace on January 1, 2026, so Kaiser Permanente is the only option for individual market coverage between the two. Aetna is the only choice for Medicare Supplement.

In Medicare Advantage, Kaiser Permanente's average CMS star rating of 4.37 beats Aetna's on quality. Aetna counters on cost: 62% of its plans have no monthly premium versus 36% for Kaiser Permanente.

Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente: ACA Health Insurance

Aetna stopped selling ACA marketplace plans on January 1, 2026. That leaves Kaiser Permanente as the only private health insurance option between the two companies. Kaiser Permanente sells HMO and EPO plans in seven states and holds strong Quality Rating System (QRS) scores.


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%

ACA State Availability
N/A
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington
Plan Types
N/A
HMO, EPO
Kaiser Permanente offers ACA marketplace coverage in seven states, with both HMO and EPO plan choices available. Aetna has withdrawn from the individual market and no longer provides ACA plans.
- HMO plans require members to select a primary care doctor who manages their treatment and issues referrals for specialist visits.
- EPO plans provide added flexibility by letting you see specialists without a referral, but coverage is limited to providers within the plan’s network.
HMO
N/A
$598
$678
EPO
N/A
$548
$731
We reviewed Kaiser Permanente's ACA premium data across both plan types. Its HMO plans average $598 per month versus the $678 national average, an $80 monthly gap. The EPO advantage is larger: $548 against a $731 national average, a $183 monthly difference that adds up to $2,196 per year. For members who don't need a primary care doctor managing referrals, the EPO is the stronger pick.
Overall QRS Score
N/A
94.6
Medical Care QRS Score
N/A
96.11
Member Experience QRS Score
N/A
91.51
Plan Administration QRS Score
N/A
91.68
Avg. Denial Rate
N/A
8.3%
Kaiser Permanente scores 94.6 overall on the QRS, with Medical Care at 96.11, Member Experience at 91.51 and Plan Administration at 91.68. Its 8.3% average claim denial rate is lower than the 18% national average. The Medical Care score of 96.11 is the number worth paying attention to: it measures preventive care, chronic disease management and care quality directly, not member perception.


ACA State Availability	N/A	California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington
Plan Types	N/A	HMO, EPO


HMO	N/A	$598	$678
EPO	N/A	$548	$731


Overall QRS Score	N/A	94.6
Medical Care QRS Score	N/A	96.11
Member Experience QRS Score	N/A	91.51
Plan Administration QRS Score	N/A	91.68
Avg. Denial Rate	N/A	8.3%

Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente Medicare Supplement

Aetna provides Medicare Supplement (Medigap) coverage in 43 states, with seven of the 10 standardized plan types: A, B, C, D, F, G and N. High-deductible versions of Plans F and G are also available. Kaiser Permanente does not offer Medicare Supplement plans, so Aetna is the only choice between the two for Medigap coverage.

Most Aetna Medigap policies use attained-age pricing, so premiums rise every year after enrollment. Plan G starts at $144 per month at 65 and reaches $169 by 75. Plan C costs $276 at 65 and $325 by 75.


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 sells Medicare Supplement plans in 43 states. Plans A, F, G and N are available in nearly every listed state. Plan B is available in most states except Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, New Mexico and Rhode Island. New Jersey and Vermont are the only states where Aetna offers Plans C and D. Ohio is the only state without Plan N.


Alabama	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Alaska	A, F, G, N	N/A
Arizona	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Arkansas	A, F, G, N	N/A
California	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Colorado	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Delaware	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Florida	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Georgia	A, F, G, N	N/A
Idaho	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Indiana	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Iowa	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Kansas	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Kentucky	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Louisiana	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Maryland	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Michigan	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Minnesota	Meets state standards	N/A
Mississippi	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Missouri	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Montana	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Nebraska	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Nevada	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
New Hampshire	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
New Jersey	A, B, C, D, F, G, N	N/A
New Mexico	A, F, G, N	N/A
North Carolina	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
North Dakota	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Ohio	A, B, F, G	N/A
Oklahoma	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Oregon	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Pennsylvania	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Rhode Island	A, F, G, N	N/A
South Carolina	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
South Dakota	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Tennessee	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Texas	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Utah	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Vermont	A, B, C, D, F, N	N/A
Virginia	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
West Virginia	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Wisconsin	Medigap Basic Plan	N/A
Wyoming	A, B, F, G, N	N/A


A	$206	N/A	$242	N/A
B	$244	N/A	$286	N/A
C	$276	N/A	$325	N/A
D	$217	N/A	$250	N/A
F	$185	N/A	$215	N/A
G	$144	N/A	$169	N/A
N	$172	N/A	$206	N/A

Plan G starts at $144 per month at age 65 and rises to $169 by age 75. Plan C goes from $276 at 65 to $325 at 75. Plan G costs $41 less per month than Plan F at enrollment for a 65-year-old and covers the same benefits except Part B excess charges, which most providers don't bill above Medicare rates anyway.

Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage

Aetna and Kaiser Permanente both offer Medicare Advantage plans, but they serve different priorities. Kaiser Permanente earns an average CMS star rating of 4.37 versus Aetna's 3.88. Aetna counters with broader geographic reach (43 states versus eight) and a higher share of $0-premium plans: 62% of Aetna's plans carry no monthly premium compared to 36% for Kaiser Permanente. Aetna also offers PPO plans, Kaiser Permanente does not.

Medicare Advantage enrollment is limited to specific windows. The Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. A new Special Enrollment Period applies if you move out of your plan's service area or lose current coverage. Plans rated 4.0 stars or higher also qualify for a Star Rating Special Enrollment Period, which lets members switch to a highly rated plan once between December 8 and November 30. Aetna's 3.41 HMO-POS rating means that plan type doesn't qualify for this window.


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%

Aetna has Medicare Advantage plans in 43 states. Kaiser Permanente operates in only eight, a footprint less than one-fifth the size of Aetna's. Kaiser Permanente does have a unique presence in Hawaii, where Aetna doesn’t operate.

Aetna covers both in-network and out-of-network care through its HMO, HMO-POS and PPO plans.
- Aetna Availability: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
- Kaiser Permanente Availability: California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington


HMO	76%	38%	$7	$46	$5,020	$4,815
HMO-POS	66%	31%	$6	$46	$5,643	$5,708
PPO	56%	N/A	$88	N/A	$5,168	N/A

Aetna's Medicare Advantage premiums are lower across every plan type the two insurers share. Its HMO plans average $7 per month against Kaiser Permanente's $46. Seventy-six percent of Aetna's HMO plans carry no monthly premium; only 38% of Kaiser Permanente's do. The HMO-POS gap is nearly identical: Aetna at $6 per month, Kaiser Permanente at $46.

Kaiser Permanente's HMO out-of-pocket maximum averages $4,815, which is $205 below Aetna's $5,020. Kaiser Permanente's maximum out-of-pocket limit is $205 higher, while its premium is $39 more per month. Aetna is also the only one of the two insurers that offers PPO plans, which average $88 per month and have a $5,168 maximum out-of-pocket limit.

HMO
4.14
4.37
HMO-POS
3.41
4.37
PPO
4.05
N/A
Kaiser Permanente outscores Aetna on CMS star ratings across every shared plan type. Its HMO plans average 4.37 stars compared to Aetna's 4.14. The HMO-POS gap is larger: Kaiser Permanente holds 4.37 stars while Aetna trails at 3.41. Plans rated below 4.0 stars don't qualify for special enrollment periods and don't receive the additional member benefits that higher-rated plans earn.

Aetna's 3.41 HMO-POS score is the only rating below that threshold between the two insurers and it's a real limitation for members who want those enrollment and benefit advantages. Aetna's PPO plans average 4.05 stars. Kaiser Permanente's HMO-POS plans average 4.37 CMS stars versus Aetna's 3.41, a 0.96-point gap that is the largest quality difference between the two insurers across all plan types.
Aetna's low premiums and wide availability make it the default choice for many beneficiaries, but its 3.41 HMO-POS star rating is a genuine concern. Plans below 4.0 stars lose access to special enrollment periods and certain enhanced benefits. If you're selecting an HMO-POS plan specifically, Kaiser Permanente's 4.37 rating is nearly a full star higher than Aetna's 3.41. Plans rated below 4.0 stars don't qualify for the Star Rating Special Enrollment Period, which lets members switch to a higher-rated plan once between December 8 and November 30.

Members who prioritize quality of care over cost, and who live within Kaiser Permanente's eight-state footprint, are likely to get more from Kaiser Permanente's plans over time. Aetna saves $39 per month versus Kaiser Permanente's HMO rate, but Kaiser Permanente's 4.37 CMS star rating reflects higher preventive care and chronic disease management scores than Aetna's 3.88 average.

For enrollees with chronic conditions or regular prescription needs, a $39 monthly premium difference is a smaller factor than access to plans rated 4.37 stars versus 3.41 stars on care quality.
Kaiser Permanente's Medicare Advantage plans average 4.37 CMS stars, the highest in this comparison. Geography rules out the plans for most people before cost or quality enters the picture: Kaiser Permanente operates in only eight states. Residents of the other 42 states default to Aetna or another insurer for Medicare Advantage. Members inside Kaiser Permanente's footprint who travel often or split time between regions run into a harder limit. Kaiser Permanente has no out-of-network coverage. A hospital stay while traveling can leave you with bills your plan won't pay.

Budget-focused enrollees should also look closely at Aetna first. Paying $46 per month for Kaiser Permanente's HMO when 76% of Aetna's HMO plans cost nothing adds up to $552 per year before you use a single benefit. Kaiser Permanente earns its premium through care quality scores, but if you're in good health and rarely use services, that quality advantage may never translate into a practical benefit.


HMO	4.14	4.37
HMO-POS	3.41	4.37
PPO	4.05	N/A

Bottom Line

Kaiser Permanente is your only ACA coverage option between the two companies. Its premiums average $80 to $183 a month below national averages, depending on plan type. Aetna is the only one of the two that sells Medicare Supplement coverage, and its Plan G costs $144 a month for a 65-year-old, the best value in its lineup.

Aetna's HMO plans average $7 a month for Medicare Advantage versus Kaiser Permanente's $46, and Aetna sells plans in 43 states compared to Kaiser Permanente's eight. Kaiser Permanente's average CMS star rating of 4.37 beats Aetna's HMO-POS score of 3.41 by nearly a full star.

If you live in one of Kaiser Permanente's eight states and need ongoing care for prescriptions or chronic conditions, the higher rating may be worth the higher premium. Outside that area, or if cost matters more, Aetna's $0-premium HMO plans are the practical starting point.

FAQ: Kaiser Permanente vs. Aetna

It depends on what you're optimizing for. Kaiser Permanente earns a 4.37 average CMS star rating versus Aetna's 3.88, and its HMO plans average $4,815 in annual out-of-pocket maximums compared to Aetna's $5,020. Aetna counters with 76% of its HMO plans at $0 monthly premium versus 38% for Kaiser Permanente. If you're in good health and want to keep costs low, Aetna's HMO plans are worth comparing first. If you have ongoing health needs and live in one of Kaiser Permanente's eight states, its 4.37 CMS star rating justifies the $39 monthly premium difference over Aetna's HMO average of $7.

Kaiser Permanente sells ACA marketplace plans in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia and Washington. Aetna exited the ACA marketplace on January 1, 2026 and no longer sells individual health insurance plans in any state.

Aetna sells Medigap plans in 43 states across seven standardized plan types: A, B, C, D, F, G and N. High-deductible versions of Plans F and G are also available. Kaiser Permanente does not offer Medicare Supplement coverage in any state. If you need Medigap coverage, Aetna is your only option between the two.

Aetna is cheaper on monthly premiums. Its HMO plans average $7 per month versus $46 for Kaiser Permanente, and 62% of Aetna's Medicare Advantage plans have no monthly premium at all. Kaiser Permanente's HMO out-of-pocket maximum averages $205 less per year than Aetna's, but that ceiling difference doesn't offset $39 more per month in premiums for most beneficiaries.

Not without a qualifying event. Medicare Advantage plan changes are limited to the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) and Special Enrollment Periods triggered by events like moving, losing employer coverage or a plan leaving your area. Plans rated 4.0 stars or higher also offer a Star Rating Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through November 30.

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 produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

Read Full Bio »

Sources

CMS.gov. "What are you looking for today?." Accessed July 10, 2026.
CMS.gov. "About the Quality Rating System (QRS)." Accessed July 10, 2026.
Medicare.gov. " Welcome to Medicare." Accessed July 10, 2026.
HealthCare.gov. "Welcome to the Health Insurance Marketplace." Accessed July 10, 2026.

Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente (2026 Comparison)

Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente: ACA Health Insurance

Plan & State Availability

Pricing

Customer Experience

Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente Medicare Supplement

Plan & State Availability

Pricing

Aetna vs. Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage

Plan & State Availability

Pricing

CMS Star Ratings

When to Avoid Aetna Medicare Advantage

When to Avoid Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage

Bottom Line

FAQ: Kaiser Permanente vs. Aetna

Is Kaiser Permanente or Aetna better for Medicare Advantage?

Which states have Kaiser Permanente ACA plans?

Does Aetna or Kaiser Permanente offer Medicare Supplement (Medigap) coverage?

Which is cheaper, Aetna or Kaiser Permanente for Medicare Advantage?

Can I switch from Aetna to Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage mid-year?

Related Pages

Sources