With a MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100, Blue Shield offers the best health insurance in California, balancing affordability, customer service and coverage. If Blue Shield isn't available near you, Molina Health Care, Western Health, Aetna Health and Anthem Blue Cross also provide excellent coverage options.
Best Health Insurance in California
Updated: June 24, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, Blue Field offers the best and most balanced coverage in California for health insurance.
Western Health provides the best cheap health insurance in California, with Silver-tier plans averaging $437 monthly, where available.
To find the best health insurance in California, educate yourself on companies available to you, decide coverage needs beforehand and compare plan quotes from several companies.
Best Health Insurance Companies in California
Best Provider | MG Score | Best Plan |
|---|---|---|
Blue Shield | 90 | Blue Shield Silver 73 Trio HMO |
Molina Health Care | 84 | Molina Health Care Silver 73 HMO |
Western Health | 80 | Western Health Silver 73 HMO |
Aetna Health of California Inc. | 74 | Aetna Health of California Inc. Silver 73 HMO |
Anthem Blue Cross | 71 | Anthem Blue Cross Silver 73 EPO |
*Our picks are the best companies for 40-year-olds looking for Silver-tier plans.
Best Health Insurance in California by Category
While we've given our top picks overall, the best company for you may differ depending on your profile and preferred plan type. So below, we've broken down the top picks for common categories to make more personalized recommendations.
Category | Best Provider |
|---|---|
Young Adults | Blue Shield |
Seniors | Blue Shield |
PPO | Blue Shield |
HMO | Molina Health Care |
EPO | Anthem Blue Cross |
Best California Health Insurance Reviews
So that you can learn about our recommendations, we've broken down our top picks overall, for affordability and customer service reputation.
Blue Shield: Best Overall
pros
Strong regional presence and comprehensive plan options
Best overall for most in the state
cons
Poor customer service and claims processing issues
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Blue Shield of California is a top overall choice, earning a 90 out of 100 MoneyGeek score due to its strong reputation and competitive costs. Founded in 1939 and serving 4.8 million members, Blue Shield's Promise Health Plan earned a coveted 4-star rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, making it one of the highest-ranked commercial Medi-Cal plans in the state, with high scores in disease prevention, overall care and member satisfaction.
Western Health: Best Cheap Overall
pros
Cheapest rates in California for most plan tiers
Extensive provider network
Comprehensive coverage options
cons
Complex prior authorization requirements
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Western Health Advantage offers some of California's most affordable health insurance options, with plans starting at $437 per month and consistently ranking among the cheapest providers alongside Health Net and Valley Health. As a 501(c)(4) community benefit, non-profit health plan created by local doctors and hospitals since 1996, Western Health Advantage extends affordable, quality health care access to over 100,000 members across 10-14 Northern California counties through a network of over 3,000 local, trusted doctors and specialists from leading medical groups including Hill Physicians, Dignity Health's Mercy Medical Group and NorthBay Health.
How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in California
The following recommendations will ensure that buying health insurance that is ideal for you is easy.
Decide on your coverage needs before buying
When looking for the best health insurance, weigh the monthly cost against the maximum out-of-pocket limits for plans. If you go to the doctor often, a plan with a higher monthly fee but lower MOOP can save you money. But you may not need as much coverage if you're not high risk. Also, compare health insurance plan types to ensure how flexible a provider will be in covering you.
Compare company offerings and reputations
Before comparing rates, understand what plans the top companies in your area offer and their terms. Also, look into company reputations through forums and industry sources like J.D. Power to ensure a smooth buying and coverage claims process.
Shop around
Comparing multiple plans from many providers ensures you get the best possible deal. We found that rates can start as low as $437 monthly in California, depending on your profile and chosen plan type. Open Enrollment lasts from November 1 to January 15, but you may also qualify for Special Enrollment if you've lost your job, divorced or had a child.
Take advantage of federal programs and subsidies
Those with low income, have a qualifying disability or illness, or are 65 years old or older can receive subsidies or be eligible for Medicare plans. In some cases, depending on your details, you can have up to 100% of your premiums covered if you're low-income or have significant savings if you're eligible for Medicare. MoneyGeek also provides information for finding the top California Medicare Supplement and best Medicare Advantage plans in California if you want to learn more.
Best Health Insurance in California: Bottom Line
Our top three picks for California health insurance are Blue Shield, Molina Health Care and Western Health. However, the best possible health insurance plan for you will vary widely depending on your personal details and coverage needs. Compare as many plans and companies as possible to get the right fit.
Best California Health Insurance: FAQ
Below, we've answered frequently asked questions about the best health insurance in California:
What is the best health insurance provider in California for 2025?
Blue Shield provides the best health insurance in California for 2025. However, the best choice for you will depend on your unique circumstances and needs and if coverage is available in your county.
What should you look for when shopping for the best health insurance plan in California?
When finding the best health insurance plan, compare premium costs and coverage breadth to ensure the plan meets your specific medical needs without gaps in essential services. The ideal plan balances affordability with comprehensive coverage that aligns with your health requirements and anticipated medical expenses.
How We Chose the Best Health Insurance in California
To rank health care insurance providers in California, MoneyGeek researched premiums, out-of-pocket costs, claims denial rates and plan types for each available company and compared them across different categories. We then weighted each category to calculate an overall MoneyGeek score and derive rankings.
We weighted most categories as follows:
- Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) score (30%): The MOOP is the most you'll pay per year for health care costs outside of your monthly premiums. The provider with the lowest average MOOP scores the highest.
- Claims denial score (30%): How often a provider denies claims. The provider with the lowest claims denial rate scores the highest.
- Rate score (20%): How much the provider's monthly plans cost. The cheapest provider, on average, gets the highest score.
- Plan type score (20%): Providers score better if they have plan types with broader coverage. A provider with many PPO plans will get the highest score.
In some cases, we adjusted the weightings as follows:
- For the categories "Best Cheap Health Insurance in California" and "Best Health Insurance in California for Low Income," we increased the rate score weighting to 50%. We decreased every other category by 10%.
- For the category "Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in California," we decreased the plan type score weighting to 0% to reflect that we are comparing providers' plans like-for-like. We increased MOOP and claims denial score weightings by 10% each.
Sample Consumer:
MoneyGeek collected data on all available plans in California for consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Unless otherwise noted, all monthly premiums are for a 40-year-old buyer, such as the category for young adults. Plans analyzed in each section include the relevant cited metal tiers, which include Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.