Cigna vs. Kaiser Permanente: 2026 Comparison

Compare Cigna and Kaiser Permanente across ACA marketplace plans, Medicare Advantage coverage and Medicare Supplement options to determine which health insurer offers the best value and quality for your needs.

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Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: March 19, 2026

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Cigna vs. Kaiser Permanente: ACA Health Insurance

Kaiser Permanente earns a 94.6 Quality Rating System score compared to Cigna's 73.71 and approves 92% of claims versus Cigna's 77% approval rate. Kaiser Permanente charges $598 monthly for HMOs and $548 for EPOs, $158 to $205 less than Cigna's $756 to $753 rates. Cigna covers 11 states while Kaiser Permanente operates in seven, with Colorado and Virginia as the sole overlapping markets.


Availability	11 States	7 States
Plan Types	HMO, EPO	HMO, EPO
Avg. QRS Score	73.71	94.6
Avg. Denial Rate	23%	8.3%


ACA State Availability	Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia	California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington
Plan Types	HMO, EPO	HMO, EPO

Neither insurer offers PPO or POS coverage that allows out-of-network care. Cigna and Kaiser Permanente both limit network options to HMO and EPO plans.

HMO plans: Require selecting a primary care doctor who manages treatment and issues specialist referrals. Coverage is limited to network providers except emergencies.
EPO plans: Allow seeing specialists without referrals but coverage is limited to network providers except for emergency care.

Kaiser Permanente charges $158 less monthly than Cigna for HMO plans and $205 less for EPO coverage. Cigna's HMO premiums exceed the national average by $78 while Kaiser Permanente costs $80 below it. EPO pricing shows an even wider gap, with Kaiser Permanente at $183 below the national benchmark of $731 and Cigna at $22 above it.
HMO
$756
$598
$678
EPO
$753
$548
$731
HMO and EPO plans from each insurer have similar pricing within their own offerings. Kaiser Permanente saves members $1,896 to $2,460 annually compared to Cigna across both plan types.
Kaiser Permanente leads by 20.9 points in overall Quality Rating System scores. Kaiser Permanente scores 96.11 in medical care quality versus Cigna's 71.73, a gap of 24.38 points. Plan administration shows Kaiser Permanente at 91.68 compared to Cigna's 80.29.

Cigna scores 93.59 in member experience versus Kaiser Permanente's 91.51, a 2-point advantage. Kaiser Permanente denies 8.3% of health insurance claims while Cigna rejects 23%, making Kaiser Permanente members nearly three times more likely to get submitted expenses covered.
Overall QRS Score
73.71
94.6
Medical Care QRS Score
71.73
96.11
Member Experience QRS Score
93.59
91.51
Plan Administration QRS Score
80.29
91.68
Avg. Denial Rate
23%
8.3%


HMO	$756	$598	$678
EPO	$753	$548	$731


Overall QRS Score	73.71	94.6
Medical Care QRS Score	71.73	96.11
Member Experience QRS Score	93.59	91.51
Plan Administration QRS Score	80.29	91.68
Avg. Denial Rate	23%	8.3%

Cigna vs. Kaiser Permanente: Medicare Supplement

Cigna operates Medicare Supplement plans in 43 states while Kaiser Permanente doesn't sell Medigap coverage. Cigna offers Plans A, B, C, D, F, G and N with Attained Age pricing that increases premiums as policyholders age. High-deductible versions of Plans F and G provide lower monthly costs for members willing to pay more upfront.


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

Cigna's Plans A, F, G and N appear in nearly all markets. Cigna's Plan B is available in 41 of 43 states, excluding Delaware and Ohio. New Jersey offers the complete lineup including rarely available Plans C and D. Minnesota and Wisconsin residents get state-specific Medigap options instead of standard lettered plans.

Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington don't have Cigna Medicare Supplement coverage. Delaware and Ohio lack Plans B and N.


Alabama	A, F, G, N	N/A
Alaska	A, F, G, N	N/A
Arizona	A, F, G, N	N/A
Arkansas	A, F, G, N	N/A
California	A, F, G, N	N/A
Colorado	A, F, G, N	N/A
Connecticut	A, F, G, N	N/A
Delaware	A, F, G	N/A
Florida	A, F, G, N	N/A
Georgia	A, F, G, N	N/A
Hawaii	A, F, G, N	N/A
Idaho	N/A	N/A
Illinois	A, F, G, N	N/A
Indiana	A, F, G, N	N/A
Iowa	A, F, G, N	N/A
Kansas	A, F, G, N	N/A
Kentucky	A, F, G, N	N/A
Louisiana	A, F, G, N	N/A
Maine	N/A	N/A
Maryland	A, F, G, N	N/A
Massachusetts	N/A	N/A
Michigan	A, F, G, N	N/A
Minnesota	Medigap $20 & $50 Copay Plan, Medigap Basic Plan, Medigap Extended Basic Plan, Medigap Extended Basic Plan-new, Medigap High Deductible Plan	N/A
Mississippi	A, F, G, N	N/A
Missouri	A, F, G, N	N/A
Montana	A, F, G, N	N/A
Nebraska	A, F, G, N	N/A
Nevada	A, F, G, N	N/A
New Hampshire	A, F, G, N	N/A
New Jersey	A, C, D, F, G, N	N/A
New Mexico	A, F, G, N	N/A
New York	N/A	N/A
North Carolina	A, F, G, N	N/A
North Dakota	A, F, G, N	N/A
Ohio	A, F, G	N/A
Oklahoma	A, F, G, N	N/A
Oregon	A, F, G, N	N/A
Pennsylvania	A, B, F, G, N	N/A
Rhode Island	N/A	N/A
South Carolina	A, F, G, N	N/A
South Dakota	A, F, G, N	N/A
Tennessee	A, F, G, N	N/A
Texas	A, F, G, N	N/A
Utah	A, F, G, N	N/A
Vermont	N/A	N/A
Virginia	A, F, G, N	N/A
Washington	N/A	N/A
Washington D.C.	A, F, G, N	N/A
West Virginia	A, F, G, N	N/A
Wisconsin	Medigap Basic Plan	N/A
Wyoming	A, F, G, N	N/A

Cigna's Medigap Plan G costs $162 monthly at age 65, increasing to $203 by age 75. Cigna's Plan N costs $175 at 65 and increases to $227 at 75. Plans A through D range from $205 to $269 at age 65 and $249 to $318 at age 75.

Cigna's Plan F premiums average $252 for 65-year-olds and $307 for 75-year-olds. Cigna's Plan B costs $205 for younger enrollees and increases to $249 a decade later. Attained Age pricing means every plan type sees monthly costs increase as policyholders age, with percentage increases varying by plan coverage level.


A	$237	N/A	$295	N/A
B	$205	N/A	$249	N/A
C	$269	N/A	$318	N/A
D	$218	N/A	$270	N/A
F	$252	N/A	$307	N/A
G	$162	N/A	$203	N/A
N	$175	N/A	$227	N/A

Cigna vs. Kaiser Permanente: Medicare Advantage

Cigna operates Medicare Advantage plans in 29 states compared to Kaiser Permanente's eight-state footprint. Cigna includes 86% of plans with $0 premiums versus Kaiser Permanente's 36%. Kaiser Permanente has a 4.37 CMS Star rating compared to Cigna's 3.66 and lower maximum out-of-pocket limits. Cigna offers PPO plans while Kaiser Permanente limits plan types to HMO and HMO-POS networks.


Availability	29 States	8 States
Plan Types	HMO, HMO-POS, PPO	HMO, HMO-POS
Avg. CMS Star Rating	3.66	4.37
Drug Benefits	Basic, Enhanced	Enhanced
% $0 Premium Plans	86%	36%

Cigna and Kaiser Permanente overlap in Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia and Washington. Hawaii is Kaiser Permanente's sole exclusive market. Cigna is the single Medicare Advantage option in 21 states. Kaiser Permanente limits plan types to HMO and HMO-POS networks while Cigna adds PPO flexibility for members who want out-of-network provider access.
- Kaiser Permanente Availability: California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington
- Cigna Availability: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington

Cigna HMO plans average $8 monthly, with 85% requiring no premium beyond Medicare Part B. Kaiser Permanente charges $46 per month on average, with 38% offering $0 premiums. HMO-POS plans cost $34 for Cigna versus $46 for Kaiser Permanente, and Cigna provides more zero-premium options at 60% compared to 31%.


HMO	85%	38%	$8	$46	$5,585	$4,815
HMO-POS	60%	31%	$34	$46	$5,329	$5,708
PPO	83%	N/A	$1	N/A	$6,578	N/A

Kaiser Permanente's HMO maximum out-of-pocket limit averages $4,815 versus $5,585 for Cigna, a $770 difference that protects members needing extensive care. Cigna's HMO-POS plans have lower caps at $5,329 compared to Kaiser Permanente's $5,708. Cigna's PPO plans average $1 monthly with 83% requiring no additional premium.

HMO
3.77
4.37
HMO-POS
3.96
4.37
PPO
3.01
N/A
Kaiser Permanente earns 4.37 stars for HMO and HMO-POS plans, qualifying for special enrollment periods and Medicare quality bonuses. Cigna HMO plans average 3.77 stars while HMO-POS plans score 3.96. Cigna's PPO plans average 3.01 stars, below the 3.5 threshold for quality bonuses.

Plans rated four stars or higher receive additional member benefits including enhanced dental, vision or hearing coverage. Kaiser Permanente's ratings in both categories meet this standard. Cigna's HMO-POS plans approach the four-star level.


HMO	3.77	4.37
HMO-POS	3.96	4.37
PPO	3.01	N/A

Bottom Line

Kaiser Permanente wins ACA marketplace coverage through 94.6 quality scores, 92% claim approval rates and premiums $158 to $205 lower than Cigna. Cigna is the sole Medicare Supplement option since Kaiser Permanente doesn't sell Medigap. Medicare Advantage buyers choose between Cigna's 29-state reach with 86% zero-premium plans versus Kaiser Permanente's 4.37 CMS stars and $770 lower out-of-pocket caps.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in 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!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

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Cigna vs. Kaiser Permanente: 2026 Comparison

Cigna vs. Kaiser Permanente: ACA Health Insurance

Cigna vs. Kaiser Permanente: Medicare Supplement

Cigna vs. Kaiser Permanente: Medicare Advantage

Bottom Line

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