What are the major individual health insurance carriers?

When shopping for individual coverage through Remodel Health or the health insurance Marketplace, you’ll likely encounter carriers like UnitedHealthcare, Ambetter, Oscar Health, Elevance Health, Molina Healthcare, and Kaiser Permanente.

But carrier availability varies by state and county, so not every carrier will be an option where you live. Understanding your health insurance options helps you compare coverage available in your area.

In this article, we'll cover the major individual health insurance carriers, how to check what's available in your area, and what to consider when comparing plans.

In this article, you'll learn:

• How individual health insurance availability varies by location.
• How to compare carriers and individual health plans.
• How a CHOICE Arrangement, formerly known as an ICHRA, can give employees more flexibility when choosing individual coverage.

Major individual health insurance carriers

For the 2026 plan year, Ideon¹ and KFF's analysis of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace insurer participation² identifies several of the largest national insurance companies participating in the individual market. Insurers are grouped by parent company.

Prior to exiting the Marketplace for the 2026 plan year, CVS Aetna provided plans in 17 states. Cigna will also be leaving the Marketplace for the 2027 plan year.

These companies represent some of the largest national players in the ACA Marketplace, but they aren't the only individual health insurance carriers. Numerous regional and state-based insurers also participate in the individual market.

KFF found that an average of nine insurers participated in each state's ACA Marketplace in 2026. Texas had the most, with 15 insurers, followed by New York with 12 and California, Florida, and Wisconsin with 11 each.

UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is the largest national Marketplace participant by state footprint in 2026, offering individual health insurance plans in 30 states.

UnitedHealthcare operates through different affiliated health plans and brands depending on the market. Specific plans, provider networks, premium payments, and benefits vary by location.

Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation offers individual Marketplace coverage primarily through its Ambetter Health brand. Ambetter operates in 29 states for the 2026 plan year.

Centene is also one of the largest insurers in the individual market. KFF reports that Centene accounted for 18% of individual-market enrollment in 2024, based on its analysis of insurer enrollment data.

Oscar Health

Oscar Health offers individual Marketplace coverage in 20 states for 2026.

Oscar has continued expanding its Marketplace footprint, including entering Alabama for the 2026 plan year. Like other carriers, however, its plans aren't necessarily available throughout every county in a state where it operates.

Elevance Health

Elevance Health participates in the individual Marketplace through affiliated health plans and brands, including plans associated with the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield system and Wellpoint.

Elevance operates Marketplace plans in 18 states in 2026. Because Blue Cross Blue Shield companies are independently operated licensees, consumers should look at the specific local insurer and plan available in their area rather than assuming every Blue Cross Blue Shield plan has the same network or benefits.

Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare offers Marketplace plans in 14 states in 2026.

Molina is another significant participant in the individual market, although its availability varies considerably by geography. As with other insurers, consumers should verify the specific plans and service areas available in their county.

Cigna Healthcare

Cigna Healthcare offered individual Marketplace plans in 11 states for 2026. However, it will exit the market in 2027.

Cigna was also among the major insurers participating in the individual market, although its Marketplace footprint was considerably smaller than some of the other national carriers. Those with individual coverage through Cigna will need to choose a new carrier for 2027 coverage.

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente offers individual Marketplace coverage in 10 states in 2026.

Kaiser operates through regional health plans (often called Kaiser Foundation plans) and an integrated healthcare system, so its coverage is generally tied closely to the geographic areas where Kaiser operates. Consumers should verify that both the plan and the providers they want to use are available in their area.

What about Blue Cross Blue Shield?

Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the most recognizable names in health insurance, but it isn't a single nationwide insurance company.

Instead, the Blue Cross Blue Shield system consists of independent, locally operated companies. A Blue Cross Blue Shield plan in one state can therefore have different provider networks, premiums, plan designs, customer service operations, and financial ratings from a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan in another state.

For example, Elevance Health is one of the major parent companies associated with Blue Cross Blue Shield plans through its Anthem brand, but not every Blue Cross Blue Shield company is owned by Elevance.

When comparing coverage, look at the specific Blue Cross Blue Shield company and plan available in your area, rather than relying only on the national brand name.

There are 63 Blue Cross Blue Shield companies nationwide³, including:

• Blue Shield of California
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
• Regence BlueShield
• Anthem Blue Cross
• Florida Blue
• Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia

Carrier availability depends on your location

KFF's 2026 analysis found that insurers can significantly change their geographic footprints from year to year. For example, UnitedHealthcare reduced its footprint in Kansas from 87% of counties in 2025 to 33% in 2026, while expanding its Oklahoma footprint from 18% to 74% of counties. Centene also reduced its North Carolina footprint from all counties in 2025 to 63% in 2026.

In 2026, 165 counties had only one insurer offering ACA Marketplace plans, up from 93 counties in 2025. Overall, one-third of counties saw a decrease in participating ACA insurers compared with the previous year. That's why you should never treat a national list of insurance carriers as a list of plans available to every consumer.

How to check which carriers are available to you

To see your actual options, visit HealthCare.gov or your state’s health insurance marketplace if it operates its own Marketplace. During the Open Enrollment period, you can compare the individual health plans and carriers available in your area.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also publishes detailed Marketplace data, including service-area information by state, county, and ZIP code in its Exchange Public Use Files⁴.

If your employer offers you a CHOICE Arrangement (formerly ICHRA) through Remodel Health, you can browse available plans and shop for coverage through the Remodel Health platform. Those with complex medical situations can also use our licensed Benefit Advisors to help you determine which plans best fit your needs.

How should you compare individual health insurance carriers?

Once you know which carriers are available in your area, the next step is to compare the plans, not just the company names.

Here are four factors to consider.

1. Provider network size

A plan's provider network determines which doctors, hospitals, and other providers you can use for covered medical services. A national carrier doesn't necessarily have the largest or most useful network in your area.

Before choosing a plan, check whether its network includes:

• Your primary care provider
• Your preferred specialists
• Nearby hospitals
• Your preferred pharmacies
• Providers you expect to use regularly

A plan with a lower premium payment may not be the best fit if your preferred providers aren't in network. You can check which providers are in network through an exchange. You can also verify if your preferred providers accept an insurance plan by contacting them directly.

2. Plan types and network structure

Individual carriers may offer different plan types⁵ depending on the market, including:

• HMO: Typically requires members to use a defined network and may require referrals for specialist care.
• EPO: Generally requires members to use in-network providers except for emergencies, but may not require specialist referrals.
• PPO: Typically provides more flexibility to see out-of-network providers, usually at a higher cost.
• POS: Combines features of HMO and PPO plans, typically requiring a primary care provider and referrals for specialists while offering some coverage for out-of-network care.

Availability varies by carrier and location, so compare the actual plan designs offered in your area.

3. Customer satisfaction and quality ratings

The Marketplace provides quality information that can help consumers compare plans.

CMS's Quality Rating System⁶ (QRS) uses a 1-to-5-star scale to rate eligible qualified health plans. The ratings consider three categories:

• Medical care
• Member experience
• Plan administration

The member experience category includes measures of enrollee satisfaction, including ratings of personal doctors and healthcare.

Remember that these ratings apply to individual health plans, not necessarily an entire insurance company. The same carrier can offer plans with different networks and quality ratings in different markets.

4. Financial strength

Financial strength can provide another data point when comparing insurance companies.

AM Best's Financial Strength Rating (FSR) evaluates an insurer's ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations. When reviewing an AM Best rating, look for the rating assigned to the specific insurance entity underwriting the policy, rather than assuming a parent company's rating applies to every affiliated insurer.

Compare the plan, not just the carrier

Knowing the major individual health insurance carriers is useful, but the carrier name alone doesn't tell you whether a plan is right for you.

The most important factors are often specific to the plan available in your area:

• Does it include your preferred doctors and hospitals?
• What type of network does it use?
• How much is the monthly premium?
• What's the deductible?
• What's the out-of-pocket maximum?
• What quality rating does the plan have?
• How strong is the financial position of the insurer underwriting the coverage?

Because carrier participation changes from year to year, it's important to verify current availability rather than rely on an older list.

How a CHOICE Arrangement gives employees more carrier choice

For employers considering a CHOICE Arrangement, formerly known as an individual coverage health reimbursement arrangement (ICHRA), understanding the individual insurance market is especially important.

With a traditional group health insurance plan, the employer typically chooses the carrier and plan or set of plans employees can select from.

With a CHOICE Arrangement, employees can receive employer-funded contributions to help pay for individual health coverage. Employees can then shop for an individual health plan that fits their needs from the options available in their area.

That can give employees more flexibility when choosing health plans that fit their needs, including:

• Their preferred provider network
• Plan type
• Premium
• Deductible and out-of-pocket costs
• Covered benefits
• Carrier

However, the same geographic limitations apply. Employees can only choose from individual health plans available where they live.

For employers and brokers, understanding the individual market's carrier landscape can therefore be an important part of evaluating how a CHOICE Arrangement can give employees greater choice and flexibility.

How Remodel Health helps employees compare coverage

Remodel Health is the nation's largest CHOICE Arrangement administrator. Trusted by thousands of customers nationwide, we help both small businesses and applicable large employers (ALEs) offer individualized health benefits to their employees.

With ClearChoice by Remodel Health, employees receive dedicated support throughout the benefits lifecycle.

Remodel Health can provide:

• Education and resources. Employees have access to enrollment help, including virtual or in-person education sessions (in-person is dependent on employer size), CHOICE Arrangement guides, and personalized support from Launch Coordinators to help them understand their benefits and coverage options.
• Personalized guidance and enrollment assistance. Employees can compare and shop for individual health plans using Remodel Health’s decision-support tools and recommended plan features.
• Ongoing support. Employees can get year-round help with questions about their health plan or CHOICE Arrangement, including provider and prescription issues, medical authorizations, benefits questions, and complex claims.

With the right education, tools, and support, employees can feel more confident choosing and using their individual health coverage throughout the year.

Conclusion

Before choosing a plan, check what's available in your area and compare more than just the carrier name. Consider the network, plan design, costs, quality ratings, and the insurer's financial strength. For employers considering a CHOICE Arrangement, the individual market can give employees more flexibility to choose coverage that fits their needs.

References

1. Ideon Planwatch Medical (ACA) 2026
2. KFF: How Has Insurer Participation in the ACA Marketplaces Changed in 2026?
3. BCBS: Local Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies and Licensees
   
4. CMS.gov: Health Insurance Exchange Public Use Files (Exchange PUFs)
5. Healthinsurance.org: HMO vs PPO vs POS vs EPO: What’s the difference?
6. CMS.gov: About the Quality Rating System (QRS)
   
7. AM Best