Kaiser Permanente Health Insurance Review (2026)

Kaiser Permanente provides both HMO and EPO health plans in a range of metal tiers, although the specific options available depend on where you live. Most enrollees choose an HMO plan, which limits coverage to care received within Kaiser Permanente’s network of physicians and medical facilities.

The metal tier you pick determines how you and Kaiser Permanente split your medical costs. Bronze plans feature lower monthly premiums but higher out-of-pocket expenses when you get care. Platinum plans have the highest premiums but cover a greater portion of your medical costs. Kaiser Permanente’s HMO offerings span every tier, from Catastrophic to Platinum. Its EPO plans are only available in Expanded Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers.

Kaiser Permanente is available in seven states and Washington, D.C. The company’s limited availability is its biggest drawback. Colorado has the largest selection with 27 HMO plans, while California, Hawaii, Maryland and Virginia only have HMO coverage with no EPO options. 

In Oregon, Kaiser Permanente offers 23 EPO plans but no HMO plans. Washington is the only state where you can choose between both plan types, with seven HMO and seven EPO options. Outside these states, you'll need a different insurer.

Kaiser Permanente's premiums run below the national average for both of its plan types, which is a meaningful advantage given its limited geographic availability. HMO plans average $586 per month, $91 below the national average, while EPO plans average $575 per month, $159 below average. The EPO discount is worth noting for Oregon residents especially, where it's the only plan type available.

Monthly premiums tell only part of the cost story. Kaiser Permanente's integrated care model can reduce overall out-of-pocket spending since your insurance and medical care come from the same organization. Before enrolling, add up deductibles and copays, not just the monthly premium.

Take a closer look at Kaiser Permanente’s typical premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, broken down by plan type and metal tier:

Unlike many other top health insurance companies, Kaiser Permanente runs its own hospitals, labs and pharmacies, which makes coordinating care more straightforward than traditional insurance. Plus, you’ll have access to the following benefits as part of your plan:

• Integrated Care Network: Kaiser Permanente members get primary care, specialist visits, lab work, imaging and pharmacy services at the same facilities. Having all providers in one system results in fewer duplicate tests and faster referrals.
• Telehealth: Scheduled phone and video visits are available through Kaiser Permanente providers for primary care, urgent care and mental health appointments. Digital access won't replace in-person care for all needs, but most routine visits qualify for telehealth.
• Mental Health Coverage: Plans cover outpatient therapy, psychiatric care and, where clinically appropriate, intensive outpatient programs. Members also have access to digital mental health tools for stress management, sleep and mood tracking at no additional cost.
• Mail-Order Pharmacy: Fill maintenance prescriptions through Kaiser Permanente's mail-order pharmacy, which delivers to home addresses in most service areas. This can lower per-refill costs compared to retail pharmacy pickup.
• Preventive Care: Routine screenings, annual wellness visits and immunizations are covered with no cost-sharing on most plans.
• 24/7 Nurse Advice Line: Call a registered nurse anytime, day or night, for guidance on symptoms, medications and whether to seek in-person care.

Kaiser Permanente scores well across quality and member experience metrics. HMO plans score higher on medical care and plan administration, while EPO plans lead in member experience. Both plan types maintain overall Quality Rating System (QRS) scores above 94, which reflects consistent performance across markets.

Kaiser Permanente’s denial rates are reasonable, with HMO plans denying 8.1% of claims on average and EPO plans denying 9.1%. Both rates are slightly above the industry benchmark of 7% but well below the average of 19% for ACA marketplace plans.

Use the table below to compare Kaiser Permanente plans available in each state. You can filter by age, policy type and metal level to compare monthly premium rates, deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits.

We rate the best health insurance providers based on premiums, out-of-pocket expenses, customer experience, claims denial rates and plan selection.

MoneyGeek health insurance provider scores are weighted as follows:

• Affordability (60%): When scoring providers on affordability, we considered monthly premiums, deductibles, and maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs. We weighted these factors as follows within the affordability score: monthly premiums (66.67%), deductible (16.67%), MOOP (16.67%).
• Customer Experience (30%): Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)’s Quality Rating System (QRS) overall rating for health-insurance plans. This is a 5-star rating system used to help consumers compare health plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Ratings are calculated based on three main categories: Medical Care, Member Experience, and Plan Administration. Providers with the highest overall rating get the highest score
• Denial Rate (10%): Denial rate is the percentage of submitted claims or applications that are rejected instead of approved. Providers with the lowest denial rate get the highest score.

Data sources

Health insurance plan and provider data was updated with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) exchange data released in October for the 2026 enrollment period as well as manual collection of health plan data from state insurance marketplaces for 22 states.

Sample consumer profile

We collected data on all available health plans for consumers ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Monthly premiums are based on a 40-year-old buyer unless otherwise noted, such as the category for seniors. We analyzed plans for each cited metal tier, which include Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.