With a MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield offers the best health insurance in Pennsylvania, balancing affordability, customer service and coverage. If it's unavailable in your area, Oscar and Ambetter also provide excellent coverage options.
Best Health Insurance in Pennsylvania
Updated: June 24, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield offers the best and most balanced health insurance coverage in Pennsylvania.
Oscar offers the best cheap health insurance in Pennsylvania, with Silver-tier plans averaging $417 monthly, where available.
To find the best health insurance in Pennsylvania, educate yourself on companies available to you, decide coverage needs beforehand and compare plan quotes from several companies.
Best Health Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania
Best Provider | MG Score | Best Plan |
|---|---|---|
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield | 83 | Together Blue EPO Premier Silver 0 |
Oscar | 82 | Silver Classic Standard |
Ambetter from PA Health and Wellness | 80 | Clear Silver |
*Our picks are the best companies for 40-year-olds looking for Silver-tier plans.
Best Health Insurance in Pennsylvania 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 | Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield |
Seniors | Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield |
PPO | Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield |
HMO | Oscar |
Best Pennsylvania 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.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield: Best Overall
pros
Second-most-affordable rates in the state
Highest customer reputation score in Pennsylvania
cons
Largest number of in-network counties
Does not offer out-of-network coverage unless there is a medical emergency
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Overall, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield was our pick for both the best health insurance and best customer reputation in Pennsylvania due to its comprehensive coverage options and trusted local presence. Highmark offers robust benefits with extensive provider networks throughout Pennsylvania, while maintaining strong member satisfaction, responsive claims processing and reliable customer service that Pennsylvania residents have trusted for decades.
Oscar: Best Cheap Overall
pros
Cheapest rates in Pennsylvania for most plan tiers
User-friendly mobile app and technology
Convenient prescription and wellness benefits
cons
High complaint rates and customer service issues
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Oscar offers some of the most affordable health insurance options in Pennsylvania through its competitive pricing and streamlined digital approach. With monthly premiums as low as $417 and cost-effective plan designs, Oscar makes health care coverage accessible for cost-conscious Pennsylvania residents while providing user-friendly technology tools and essential health benefits throughout the state.
How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in Pennsylvania
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 different providers ensures that you get the best possible deal. We found that rates can start as low as $417 per month in Pennsylvania, depending on your personal profile and plan type chosen. 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 Pennsylvania Medicare Supplement and best Medicare Advantage plans in Pennsylvania if you want to learn more.
Best Health Insurance in Pennsylvania: Bottom Line
Overall, our top three picks for Pennsylvania health insurance are Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Oscar and Ambetter. 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 Pennsylvania Health Insurance: FAQ
Below, we've answered frequently asked questions about the best health insurance in Pennsylvania:
What is the best health insurance provider in Pennsylvania for 2025?
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield provides the best health insurance in Pennsylvania for 2025. The ideal option varies based on specific needs, circumstances and local plan availability.
What should you look for when shopping for the best health insurance plan in Pennsylvania?
When finding the best health insurance plan, compare both 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 Pennsylvania
To rank health care insurance providers in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania" and "Best Health Insurance in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania," 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 Pennsylvania 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.