If variety is the spice of life, as the saying goes, then healthcare insurance in California is indeed a lively thing.
There are currently 11 companies participating in the state’s health exchange, Covered California, and there are many others that have opted not to be a part of the Obamacare marketplace program. While there are dozens of options depending on what part of California you live in, there are essentially just eight or nine major players in the field.
And, of these, the top three in just about every category and metric are:
- Kaiser Permanente
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
However, there are others who hold a significant share of the remaining healthcare coverage market in California including UnitedHealthcare and Health Net.
And, while not a major provider of traditional healthcare insurance coverage, Humana Health Insurance plays a significant role as an insurance provider in Northern California.
About Humana Health Insurance
Humana began as a nursing home company in the 1960s, which eventually became the largest such company in the United States. By the 1990s, the company’s name had officially changed to Humana. In addition to being the largest hospital operator in the county, Humana had also created its own health insurance plans.
Eventually, Humana chose to focus entirely on its managed healthcare plans and sold its hospital division. Today, Humana, Inc. is a Fortune 500 company based in Kentucky and one of the largest health insurance companies in the nation.
In addition to being well known by Medicare recipients for providing several supplemental options, including prescription drugs and Medicare Advantage plans, the company also administers the TRICARE health insurance program for the United States military.
Although Humana does provide Medicare and Medicaid, it does not currently offer individual health insurance on state health insurance marketplaces. Overall, the company has slightly negative reviews but actively attempts to fix issues and is financially stable and is able to pay claims.
A review of the company in ValuePenguin noted that,
“Humana provides health insurance coverage to businesses of any size including those small businesses with less than 50 employees. Employers have a variety of policies to choose from when selecting health insurance for their employees.”
According to the company website, Humana no longer offers individual health insurance policies. The company removed all these health insurance plans from the state and government exchanges beginning with the 2018 enrollment period.
The 3 Healthcare Provider Options from Humana’s Health Insurance Plans
According to an article in The Balance, there are typically three healthcare provider options through Humana’s health insurance plans:
1. HMOs
If you use an HMO, you will be limited to only using healthcare professionals and facilities within the company’s provider network. There are a fairly large number of choices available, though you must stay within the provider network. This is the least expensive option for healthcare coverage through Human.
2. PPOs
With the Preferred Provider option, you have a little more flexibility. You have the option of using an out-of-network provider; however, if you do, the insurance company will cover less of the expenses. You save money if you use the hospitals, clinics, and doctors that are within the preferred provider network.
3. Traditional Indemnity Plans
Through purchasing a traditional indemnity healthcare plan, you have the freedom to choose a healthcare facility or doctor you choose. However, this plan is much more expensive to buy than an HMO or PPO plan.
Since Human Health Insurance does not offer individual plans, the state’s Office of the Patient Advocate does not have a Health Plan Report Card for the company.
However, the website WalletHub posted a review of Humana based on over 250 user ratings from WalletHub and across the Internet and scored the healthcare insurance provider with just a 1.4 out of 5 rating.
On the other hand, a recent review page from Consumer Affairs listed 2,141 ratings (as of 05/14/2021) that gave the company a robust 4.0 out of 5.0 star rating.
In addition to offering employer plans, Humana Health Insurance also offers plans for Medicare, Dental, Vision, and Medicaid.
When it comes to Medicare, this is where Humana seems to shine. According to a review of their Medicare plans, the website at Investopedia noted,
“Humana Medicare plans are available in all 50 states, and Humana’s Medicare Advantage is available in 84% of counties, more than any other insurer. Many Humana plans score well for quality and customer satisfaction, and the company offers a robust set of extra benefits.”
Humana Health Insurance in California: Where Does It Actually Fit in 2026?
If you’re shopping for Humana health insurance in California, there’s an important distinction to make before you start comparing plans: Humana is not one of the companies selling individual and family medical plans through Covered California. That’s not a minor detail—it changes the entire conversation. Covered California currently has 11 health insurance companies offering plans for the 2026 coverage year, including familiar names such as Kaiser Permanente, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Health Net, Molina Healthcare, and others, with availability depending heavily on your location. Humana’s current California health insurance presence is much more focused on Medicare and related coverage. Its California Medicare offerings include Medicare Advantage plans, with HMO and PPO options available in qualifying areas, along with other Medicare products. So if you’re under 65 and looking for an individual health insurance policy, searching for a “Humana marketplace plan” can send you down the wrong rabbit hole. If you’re eligible for Medicare, though, Humana becomes a much more relevant name to put on the comparison list.
\What Humana Offers California Consumers in 2026
This is where Humana Medicare Advantage deserves a closer look. Medicare Advantage, also called Medicare Part C, combines the coverage provided by Medicare Parts A and B through a private health plan, and many Humana plans include prescription drug coverage along with additional benefits such as routine dental, vision, and hearing coverage. Depending on the plan and your ZIP code, you may see HMO options that emphasize staying within a defined provider network or PPO plans that give you more flexibility when seeing providers outside that network. But—and this is where you should ignore the shiny brochure for a minute—extra benefits aren’t the whole story. Check whether your doctors are actually in the network. Check whether your prescriptions are covered and at what cost. Look at the deductible, copays, coinsurance, and annual out-of-pocket maximum. A plan that looks inexpensive on the first page can look very different once you start using it. Covered California makes the same basic point for marketplace shoppers: plan networks, costs, metal tiers, and available providers all need to be compared rather than judging a health plan by its monthly premium alone.
Choosing Health Insurance in California Means Comparing the Details, Not the Logo
The California health insurance market has changed considerably since this article was first published. For 2026, Covered California reported that every Californian has access to at least two marketplace choices, while 92% of enrollees can choose from three or more carriers. At the same time, costs and financial assistance have shifted, making it even less useful to pick a carrier simply because you recognize the name. If you’re shopping for individual or family health insurance in California, start by checking what is actually available in your ZIP code, whether your preferred doctors and hospitals participate, what your prescriptions will cost, and what you’ll pay when you actually need care. If you’re shopping for Medicare, then compare Humana Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and prescription drug options alongside the alternatives available in your area. There isn’t one “best” health insurance plan for everyone—and anyone promising otherwise is probably selling something. The better question is much less exciting but far more useful: Which plan gives you the doctors, coverage, prescriptions, and out-of-pocket costs that make sense for your situation? That’s the comparison that can save you money long after the enrollment paperwork is finished.
Your Local Experts for Health Insurance in California
J.C. Lewis Insurance is a family-owned firm of expert brokers based in Sonoma County and we offer California health insurance plans only from the leading health insurance carriers licensed to do business in California.
In addition to being expert brokers, we are also licensed and certified by each of the insurance carriers we work with. This allows us to offer a full range of coverage to small group employers, families, and individuals, in addition to offering Medicare supplemental and prescription drug plans for seniors.
If you are self-employed, or your employer doesn’t provide health benefits, an individual or family plan may be the best option for you or you and your family.
And, if you’re looking to purchase medical insurance for you and your family, it’s quite likely you have several questions and concerns. Bring your questions about health coverage insurance and you can be confident that JC Lewis Insurance Services will help you find the right solution.
