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Kara McGinley
Kara McGinley
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“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
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Updated 9:44 a.m. UTC Feb. 20, 2024
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Aetna
Blueprint Rating
Via Healthcare.com's website
NCQA quality rating
3.3/5
NAIC complaint level
Low
What you should know
Aetna offers HMO and EPO Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans in these states: Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Utah, Texas and Virginia.
Aetna’s individual options are Aetna CVS Health plans, which provide access to no-cost or low-cost care at more than 1,100 national MinuteClinic locations inside CVS or Target stores. Aetna also offers supplemental coverages, like dental, vision, accident, critical illness and indemnity plans.
Eligible Aetna health insurance plans include access to the Attain by Aetna app, which offers rewards and incentives for completing healthy activities. The app combines your personal health history and wearable device data to provide personalized tips for nutrition, mindfulness, sleep and long-term health improvements.
Weigh the pros and cons of this insurer in our Aetna health insurance review.
Pros
- Affordable plan rates.
- Discounts at CVS MinuteClinics.
- Rewards for living a healthy lifestyle with some plans.
Cons
- No PPO plan available.
- No short-term insurance option.
Why trust our health insurance experts
Our team of insurance experts evaluates hundreds of insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 129 health insurance companies analyzed.
- 864 health insurance plan rates reviewed.
- 5 levels of fact-checking.
About Aetna health insurance
Aetna was founded in 1853 in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1963, Aetna paid the first Medicare claim in the U.S. Aetna was acquired by CVS Health Corp. in 2018. Around 39 million people receive health care services from Aetna, with a network of 1 million providers nationwide.
Types of health insurance offered by Aetna
Aetna offers individual, family plans and group health insurance policies. Individual and family health insurance plans are sold under the brand Aetna CVS Health ACA plans.
Besides health insurance policies, Aetna members, individuals and families can also purchase:
- Dental insurance.
- Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP).
- Medicaid.
- Medicare Advantage.
- Medicare prescription drug plans.
- Medicare supplement insurance plans.
- Supplemental accident, illness and hospital insurance plans.
- Vision insurance.
Types of plans and coverage available from Aetna
In addition to the plans above, there are two types of Aetna plans available in the health insurance marketplace:
- EPO: Exclusive provider organization (EPO) plans only cover in-network physicians, specialists and hospitals. Referrals typically aren’t necessary when seeing a specialist.
- HMO: The health maintenance organization (HMO) plans usually only cover provider care that you receive in the plan’s network. You will usually need to get a referral to see a specialist if you have an HMO.
Comparing Aetna plans side by side
Although EPO and HMO health plans seem similar, they work differently.
HMO
An HMO is one of the most affordable health insurance types. When you purchase an HMO policy, you’ll choose a doctor as your primary care physician (PCP). Your PCP will see you for regular checkups and provide referrals so you can see a specialist, such as a dermatologist or allergist. Although you may have to pay coinsurance and fixed copays, you will typically get lower deductibles and health insurance premiums, making an HMO a budget-friendly health insurance plan, whether you get it individually or through your employer.
EPO
EPOs aren’t as common, and you may not have heard of this type of health insurance plan. Like an HMO, an EPO only covers in-network health care, but you may not need a referral for specialists like you do with an HMO. It also has a larger network, making an EPO preferable if you have a specific doctor or specialist you prefer. You’ll likely pay higher premiums with an EPO than an HMO, but both are still typically cheaper than preferred provider organization (PPO) plans.
Additional benefits offered by Aetna
Aetna CVS Health plans offer extra benefits through the pharmacy chain. Aetna members can receive low-cost or free health care at more than 1,100 CVS MinuteClinic locations across the country. They can also receive a 20% discount when shopping CVS brand health care products.
How much does Aetna cost?
The following sections show Aetna health insurance example rates for various family makeups at different metal tier levels.
Aetna health insurance plans vary in cost, depending on your age, any spouse and dependent ages, plan type and coverage needs. Generally, the more you opt to pay out-of-pocket for health care services, the lower your premiums will be.
Cost examples for Aetna bronze plan
| Health insurance plan member | Health insurance monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Adult individual age 21 | $295 |
| Adult individual age 27 | $310 |
| Adult individual age 30 | $335 |
| Adult individual age 40 | $378 |
| Adult individual age 50 | $528 |
| Adult individual age 60 | $802 |
| Child age 0-14 | $226 |
| Child age 18 | $270 |
| Couple age 21 | $591 |
| Couple age 30 | $671 |
| Couple age 40 | $755 |
| Couple age 50 | $1,055 |
| Couple age 60 | $1,604 |
| Couple age 21 + 1 child | $817 |
| Couple age 30 + 1 child | $897 |
| Couple age 40 + 1 child | $981 |
| Couple age 50 + 1 child | $1,281 |
| Couple age 21 + 2 children | $1,043 |
| Couple age 30 + 2 children | $1,123 |
| Couple age 40 + 2 children | $1,207 |
| Couple age 50 + 2 children | $1,508 |
| Couple age 21 + 3 or more children | $1,269 |
| Couple age 30 + 3 or more children | $1,349 |
| Couple age 40 + 3 or more children | $1,433 |
| Couple age 50 + 3 or more children | $1,734 |
| Individual age 21 + 1 child | $522 |
| Individual age 30 + 1 child | $561 |
| Individual age 40 + 1 child | $604 |
| Individual age 50 + 1 child | $754 |
| Individual age 21 + 2 children | $748 |
| Individual age 30 + 2 children | $787 |
| Individual age 40 + 2 children | $830 |
| Individual age 50 + 2 children | $980 |
| Individual age 21 + 3 or more children | $974 |
| Individual age 30 + 3 or more children | $1,013 |
| Individual age 40 + 3 or more children | $1,056 |
| Individual age 50 + 3 or more children | $1,206 |
Cost examples for Aetna silver plan
| Health insurance plan member | Health insurance monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Adult individual age 21 | $373 |
| Adult individual age 27 | $391 |
| Adult individual age 30 | $424 |
| Adult individual age 40 | $477 |
| Adult individual age 50 | $667 |
| Adult individual age 60 | $1,013 |
| Child age 0-14 | $286 |
| Child age 18 | $341 |
| Couple age 21 | $747 |
| Couple age 30 | $848 |
| Couple age 40 | $954 |
| Couple age 50 | $1,334 |
| Couple age 60 | $2,027 |
| Couple age 21 + 1 child | $1,032 |
| Couple age 30 + 1 child | $1,133 |
| Couple age 40 + 1 child | $1,240 |
| Couple age 50 + 1 child | $1,619 |
| Couple age 21 + 2 children | $1,318 |
| Couple age 30 + 2 children | $1,419 |
| Couple age 40 + 2 children | $1,526 |
| Couple age 50 + 2 children | $1,905 |
| Couple age 21 + 3 or more children | $1,604 |
| Couple age 30 + 3 or more children | $1,704 |
| Couple age 40 + 3 or more children | $1,811 |
| Couple age 50 + 3 or more children | $2,190 |
| Individual age 21 + 1 child | $659 |
| Individual age 30 + 1 child | $709 |
| Individual age 40 + 1 child | $763 |
| Individual age 50 + 1 child | $952 |
| Individual age 21 + 2 children | $945 |
| Individual age 30 + 2 children | $995 |
| Individual age 40 + 2 children | $1,048 |
| Individual age 50 + 2 children | $1,238 |
| Individual age 21 + 3 or more children | $1,230 |
| Individual age 30 + 3 or more children | $1,281 |
| Individual age 40 + 3 or more children | $1,334 |
| Individual age 50 + 3 or more children | $1,524 |
Cost examples for Aetna gold plan
| Health insurance plan member | Health insurance monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Adult individual age 21 | $363 |
| Adult individual age 27 | $380 |
| Adult individual age 30 | $412 |
| Adult individual age 40 | $463 |
| Adult individual age 50 | $648 |
| Adult individual age 60 | $984 |
| Child age 0-14 | $277 |
| Child age 18 | $331 |
| Couple age 21 | $725 |
| Couple age 30 | $823 |
| Couple age 40 | $927 |
| Couple age 50 | $1,295 |
| Couple age 60 | $1,968 |
| Couple age 21 + 1 child | $1,003 |
| Couple age 30 + 1 child | $1,101 |
| Couple age 40 + 1 child | $1,204 |
| Couple age 50 + 1 child | $1,573 |
| Couple age 21 + 2 children | $1,280 |
| Couple age 30 + 2 children | $1,378 |
| Couple age 40 + 2 children | $1,482 |
| Couple age 50 + 2 children | $1,850 |
| Couple age 21 + 3 or more children | $1,558 |
| Couple age 30 + 3 or more children | $1,656 |
| Couple age 40 + 3 or more children | $1,759 |
| Couple age 50 + 3 or more children | $2,128 |
| Individual age 21 + 1 child | $640 |
| Individual age 30 + 1 child | $689 |
| Individual age 40 + 1 child | $741 |
| Individual age 50 + 1 child | $925 |
| Individual age 21 + 2 children | $918 |
| Individual age 30 + 2 children | $966 |
| Individual age 40 + 2 children | $1,018 |
| Individual age 50 + 2 children | $1,203 |
| Individual age 21 + 3 or more children | $1,195 |
| Individual age 30 + 3 or more children | $1,244 |
| Individual age 40 + 3 or more children | $1,296 |
| Individual age 50 + 3 or more children | $1,480 |
How Aetna compares to other health insurance companies
Aetna earns 4.5 out of 5 stars in our rating of the best health insurance companies. Kaiser Permanente is the only health insurance company that earns a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
Aetna’s rates are very close to Kaiser’s for each sample health insurance plan member, as you can see in the pricing chart in the next section.
| HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY | OUR RATING | LEARN MORE | ||||
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Monthly cost for ACA marketplace Silver plans by company
| Health insurance plan member | Aetna | Kaiser Permanente | Blue Cross Blue Shield | UnitedHealthcare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult individual age 21 | $373 | $372 | $484 | $431 |
| Adult individual age 27 | $391 | $390 | $511 | $452 |
| Adult individual age 30 | $424 | $423 | $552 | $489 |
| Adult individual age 40 | $477 | $476 | $621 | $551 |
| Adult individual age 50 | $667 | $665 | $868 | $770 |
| Adult individual age 60 | $1,013 | $1,011 | $1,317 | $1,170 |
| Child age 0-14 | $286 | $269 | $367 | $322 |
| Child age 18 | $341 | $306 | $433 | $376 |
| Couple age 21 | $747 | $745 | $968 | $862 |
| Couple age 30 | $848 | $845 | $1,104 | $978 |
| Couple age 40 | $954 | $952 | $1,241 | $1,102 |
| Couple age 50 | $1,334 | $1,330 | $1,736 | $1,540 |
| Couple age 60 | $2,027 | $2,021 | $2,633 | $2,340 |
| Couple age 21 + 1 child | $1,032 | $1,014 | $1,335 | $1,184 |
| Couple age 30 + 1 child | $1,133 | $1,114 | $1,471 | $1,300 |
| Couple age 40 + 1 child | $1,240 | $1,221 | $1,609 | $1,423 |
| Couple age 50 + 1 child | $1,619 | $1,599 | $2,103 | $1,861 |
| Couple age 21 + 2 children | $1,318 | $1,283 | $1,702 | $1,505 |
| Couple age 30 + 2 children | $1,419 | $1,383 | $1,838 | $1,622 |
| Couple age 40 + 2 children | $1,526 | $1,490 | $1,976 | $1,745 |
| Couple age 50 + 2 children | $1,905 | $1,868 | $2,470 | $2,183 |
| Couple age 21 + 3 or more children | $1,604 | $1,552 | $2,069 | $1,827 |
| Couple age 30 + 3 or more children | $1,704 | $1,652 | $2,206 | $1,943 |
| Couple age 40 + 3 or more children | $1,811 | $1,759 | $2,343 | $2,067 |
| Couple age 50 + 3 or more children | $2,190 | $2,137 | $2,838 | $2,505 |
| Individual age 21 + 1 child | $659 | $641 | $851 | $753 |
| Individual age 30 + 1 child | $709 | $692 | $919 | $811 |
| Individual age 40 + 1 child | $763 | $745 | $988 | $873 |
| Individual age 50 + 1 child | $952 | $934 | $1,235 | $1,091 |
| Individual age 21 + 2 children | $945 | $910 | $1,218 | $1,074 |
| Individual age 30 + 2 children | $995 | $961 | $1,286 | $1,133 |
| Individual age 40 + 2 children | $1,048 | $1,014 | $1,355 | $1,194 |
| Individual age 50 + 2 children | $1,238 | $1,203 | $1,602 | $1,413 |
| Individual age 21 + 3 or more children | $1,230 | $1,179 | $1,585 | $1,396 |
| Individual age 30 + 3 or more children | $1,281 | $1,230 | $1,654 | $1,454 |
| Individual age 40 + 3 or more children | $1,334 | $1,283 | $1,722 | $1,516 |
| Individual age 50 + 3 or more children | $1,524 | $1,472 | $1,970 | $1,735 |
Methodology
We analyzed insurers that sell individual health insurance plans to determine the best health insurance companies. Each health insurance company was eligible for up to 100 points, based on its performance in the following key categories:
- Cost (30 points). Health insurance companies with the lowest average monthly premium and deductible for Silver tier health insurance plans received the highest score.
- Consumer complaints (25 points). Health insurance companies with the lowest levels of complaints received the highest score. We collected complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which shows the volume of health insurance consumer complaints against each company.
- NCQA quality rating (25 points). Health insurance companies with the highest quality ratings received the highest score. We collected data from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), an independent, nonprofit organization that accredits health plans and produces ratings based on specific metrics.
- Variety of health insurance plans (10 points). Health insurance companies with the greatest variety of health insurance plans (HMO, EPO, PPO) received the highest score.
- Metal tier offerings (10 points). Health insurance companies with the most options of metal tier plans received the highest score.
Aetna health insurance review FAQs
Aetna is one of the oldest insurance companies, having been around for more than 170 years. It paid the country’s first Medicare claim in 1966 and became part of CVS Health in 2018.
Aetna has a financial stability rating of A (Excellent) with AM Best. This excellent rating shows the company’s ability to meet its monetary obligations, including paying out insurance claims. As an insurer with over $2 billion in assets, Aetna has a stable financial future, meaning it should have no problem paying out current and future health insurance claims.
See how Aetna compares to other insurers in our rating of the best health insurance companies.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
BLUEPRINT
Mandy is an insurance writer who has been creating online content since 2018. Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Mandy spent 15 years working as an insurance agent. Her work has been published in Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Insurance Bulletin, U.S. News and more.
BLUEPRINT
Kara McGinley is deputy editor of insurance at USA TODAY Blueprint and a licensed home insurance expert. Previously, she was a senior editor at Policygenius, where she specialized in homeowners and renters insurance. Her work and insights have been featured in MSN, Lifehacker, Kiplinger, PropertyCasualty360 and more.
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