Chris Kissell has been a journalist for three decades and has written extensively about insurance and other personal finance topics for the past 20 years. For the last 14 years, he has been a full-time freelance writer and editor, contributing to sit.
Chris Kissell Insurance WriterChris Kissell has been a journalist for three decades and has written extensively about insurance and other personal finance topics for the past 20 years. For the last 14 years, he has been a full-time freelance writer and editor, contributing to sit.
Written By Chris Kissell Insurance WriterChris Kissell has been a journalist for three decades and has written extensively about insurance and other personal finance topics for the past 20 years. For the last 14 years, he has been a full-time freelance writer and editor, contributing to sit.
Chris Kissell Insurance WriterChris Kissell has been a journalist for three decades and has written extensively about insurance and other personal finance topics for the past 20 years. For the last 14 years, he has been a full-time freelance writer and editor, contributing to sit.
Insurance Writer Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
| Lead Editor, Insurance
Updated: Aug 21, 2024, 3:49am
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We like Aetna’s excellent average rates for its Affordable Care Act plans, but the company also has the highest average silver plan deductible of the companies we analyzed. That means you may pay higher out-of-pocket costs for those excellent premiums.
Our star ratings are based on a range of criteria and are determined solely by our editorial team. See our methodology for more information.
Provider network More than 1 million providers Average silver plan cost for a 40-year-old $451 a month Average deductible for a silver plan $8,375 a yearKey Takeaways
How We Chose the Best Health Insurance Companies
We analyzed complaints to state insurance departments, quality ratings, deductibles, breadth of health plans and metal-tier offerings. Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the methodology for the ratings below.
Aetna’s roots stretch all the way back to 1853, when the company was formed In Hartford, Connecticut. Nearly a century later in 1951, Aetna offered its first major medical coverage policies.
Aetna merged with U.S. Healthcare in the 1990s to become Aetna U.S. Healthcare, and within three years it was the nation’s largest provider of health benefits. CVS Health Corp. acquired Aetna in 2017.
Aetna provides services to about 39 million people Aetna across the U.S. The subsidiary of CVS Health Corp. has a network of 1 million health insurance providers across the U.S. that offer health care services to Aetna policyholders.
Aetna offers both group health insurance and individual health insurance. The company’s individual health insurance plans are branded as Aetna CVS Health Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans.
Aetna also offers:
Aetna offers two types of insurance plans on the health insurance marketplace:
The company offers three metal tiers on the ACA marketplace:
Insurers can offer bronze, silver, gold and platinum on the marketplace at HealthCare.gov. Bronze plans have the lowest premiums but the highest deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Gold plans have the highest premiums but lowest out-of-pocket costs.
When shopping for a health plan, consider how much healthcare you’ll likely need and what you expect in the coming year. For instance, if you expect to need an expensive surgery and rehab in the coming year, you may want a lower deductible. If you don’t need healthcare often, a high-deductible plan like a bronze plan may be a better choice.
Aetna’s health plans are available in the health insurance marketplaces in:
Aetna offers multiple member benefits that go beyond standard health insurance.
Aetna health insurance plans cost $414 monthly on average for a 30-year-old with an ACA marketplace plan. Age is one cost factor for ACA plans. A 40-year-old pays $466 monthly on average while a 50-year-old spends $651 on average.
ACA plan costs vary by age, location, type of plan, metal tier and smoking status. Your health or gender don’t affect health insurance costs.
When looking for a health insurance marketplace plan, you should compare quotes from companies offering plans in your area. You can do that through the marketplace website. Cost is an important factor, but you should also consider the health insurance deductible, coinsurance and provider network when choosing a health plan.
Source: Healthcare.gov. Based on unsubsidized ACA plans. Aetna doesn’t offer many Platinum plans, so we didn’t include those averages.
See More See LessAetna has the lowest average health insurance premiums of the major national insurers we analyzed.
Complaints filed with state insurance departments against Aetna for individual health insurance are about twice as high as the industry average.
Other ratings for Aetna include:
Aetna received slightly better than average NCQA marks among the companies we analyzed. Aetna had four health plans that received four out of five stars: PPO/EPO combined plans in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.
AM Best gives Aetna an A (Excellent) financial strength rating. The rating company highlighted Aetna’s “balance sheet strength,” as well as its “strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
We used the following data to determine the best health insurance companies.
Yes, Aetna CVS Health is the same as Aetna health. CVS purchased the insurance company in 2017 and offers marketplace health insurance plans in 17 states.
Yes, Aetna CVS Health has an app on Apple’s App Store and Google Play. The app includes your ID card, benefit details, deductible tracking, claims information, provider network list, cost estimates and health reminders.
A 40-year-old pays $466 monthly on average for Aetna coverage on the ACA marketplace. Age is one factor marketplace health insurers use for health insurance costs. A 50-year-old spends $651 on average per month for an Aetna plan and a 60-year-old pays $990 on average. However, you may qualify for lower rates depending on your household income.
Aetna received 2.6 stars out of 5 stars in our best health insurance analysis. Aetna does well in terms of having the lowest ACA premiums compared to other large health insurers analyzed. It also has better quality ratings than some competitors. But Aetna plans may also have high deductibles and a higher complaint level to state departments of insurance than some other large insurers.
Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.
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