Before the Affordable Care Act was passed, many Americans thought getting affordable health insurance was a pipe dream. When Barack Obama signed sweeping healthcare reform into law in 2010, households with incomes between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) could get subsidies to help pay for health insurance premiums. Also, the Medicaid program for low-income people was expanded so that all adults with incomes of less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level could join. Let's explore the best affordable health insurance companies in 2022.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield made our list because they offer options for people who work from home and have to buy their health insurance. This includes the option to purchase health insurance that works in all 50 states and global health insurance for short-term or long-term travel. In 1929, Blue Cross Blue Shield began. Since then, it has grown, and now people all over the U.S. can get good health insurance from it. The company works with 76 of the Fortune 100 companies in the U.S., 6.9 million people who work for small businesses, 17 million union workers, and many more.

But in the end, we chose Blue Cross Blue Shield because it has options for remote workers, such as health insurance that works all over the country or even the world. Blue Cross Blue Shield sells health insurance that works in all 50 states and is accepted by most doctors and specialists all over the country. They also sell insurance on the marketplaces that the Affordable Care Act set up. This means that people who need help paying for their health insurance premiums can get subsidies. You can even get worldwide health insurance that works for short-term or long-term travel, both of which are possibilities if you can work from home or anywhere in the world.

UnitedHealthcare

We chose UnitedHealthcare since they give short-term health insurance when you want it. This type of plan can work well if you are between employer-based plans or need temporary coverage for any reason. UnitedHealthcare was started in 1977, but it has grown so much that it now helps more than 70 million people. This supplier also works with more than 1.3 million doctors and other medical professionals, as well as more than 6,499 medical centers and hospitals in the U.S. We put UnitedHealthcare at the top of our list because they have short-term health insurance that help people bridge the gap between plans. UnitedHealthcare's short-term insurance could be a good option if you missed the ACA's open enrollment period, are waiting for your coverage to start, or are between jobs.

Aetna

J.D. Power ranked Aetna second in Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio in 2021. It was also successful in the South Atlantic. 4 It is available in all 50 states and gets high marks for its financial strength. Aetna is one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States and has a good reputation. AM Best gives it an "A," which means it has excellent financial strength. 11 In 2018, CVS Health bought Aetna, but people can still get health plans through their employers in all 50 states. 12 Aetna doesn't sell private insurance to individuals, but it does sell Medicare, Medicaid, plans for employers, and plans for students.

Kaiser Permanente

We select Kaiser Permanente since it has its HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) and tax-advantaged ways to save money for health costs. In 1945, Kaiser began to sell health insurance plans to the general public. Since then, it has grown to become one of the biggest health insurance companies that don't make money. Kaiser cares for 12.6 million people in eight states and the District of Columbia.

When you combine HDHP (a high-deductible health plan) by Kaiser Permanente with an HSA (Health Savings Account), you get a debit card that lets you pay for eligible costs directly and without any extra paperwork. There are no hidden fees in your HSA plan, and if you keep a balance of $2,000 or more in your HSA, you can get the $3.25 monthly plan fee waived. Plans from Kaiser that meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act may also be available in your area (ACA). If this is the case, you might be able to get subsidies to lower the cost of your premiums.

Final Verdict

Even though we talked about some of the best cheap health insurance companies, notice that your premiums could be more or less depending on where you live, how many people are in your family, and if you be eligible for grants on plans from Healthcare.gov or your state exchange. The companies we looked at could fit your needs and budget, whether you work from home, like convenience, or want a provider who gives you other ways to save money.