California Health Insurance
As a resident of California, you have plenty of California health insurance options to choose from. There are multiple insurance companies in California that provide a range of plans for a variety of health needs.
Here you'll be able to get helpful information for finding health insurance in California. See some of the state’s top health insurance companies and read about the important California health insurance laws and regulations you should be aware of as you look for your plan. You can also find information about financial assistance and public California health insurance programs.
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If you would like to get free quotes and compare California health insurance plans now, start with our simple form on the right.
Resources on this page
California Health Insurance Companies
California Health Insurance Laws and Regulations
Public Health Insurance Programs for California Residents
Contact Info for the California Department of Insurance and Health Care Services
The following list of companies offer health insurance plans in California:
Celtic Health Insurance
Celtic concentrates on individual health insurance, offering a wide variety of plans for both individuals and families.
Anthem Blue Cross of California Health Insurance
Since 1937, Blue Cross of California has made healthcare more affordable for California residents. Today, they have over 6.8 million members.
Time Insurance Health Insurance
Today, Time Insurance is known as Assurant Health with insurance coverage for individuals, students, families, seniors, and businesses.
Blue Shield of California Health Insurance
Since 1939, Blue Shield of California has been a leading health insurance provider. Today, they're a non-profit company with 3.2 million members.
Health Net California Health Insurance
Almost 7 million Americans from coast to coast are members of Health Net. With affordable health insurance plans, policyholders get access to high-quality care.
Health Net Farm Bureau Health Insurance
For residents of California, Nationwide provides affordable access to health care with plans for individuals, families, and seniors.
John Alden Health Insurance
John Alden Life Insurance has been selling health coverage throughout America since 1961. Today, they are part of Assurant. John Alden plans include individual health and small group coverage. They also sell Health Savings Account plans.
Aetna Health Insurance
Aetna is one of the largest health insurance providers in America with more than 30 million members. Their network includes over 787,000 health care professionals.
WorldIns - ExpressMed Health Insurance
World Insurance offers several types of individual health insurance ranging from dental coverage to comprehensive major medical plans.
MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company
At The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company, the focus is on personalizing a health plan that meets your needs.
California Health Insurance Laws and Regulations
As a California health insurance shopper, there are a few different laws to be aware of as you search for a plan.
Under California health insurance law, any HIPAA-eligible resident is guaranteed to be able to purchase a health insurance plan from any company. California health insurance companies are also prohibited from requiring exclusion periods for HIPAA-eligible residents.
Residents who have left their employer's group health plan are protected under the federal law COBRA.
Once a resident is accepted for coverage, their policy is guaranteed renewable and insurance companies cannot cancel their coverage if they get sick.
California health insurance law also requires that private health plans cover certain medical services. These required services include:
- Routine care for cancer clinical trials
- Breast, prostate and cervical cancer screenings
- Continuity of medical care for pregnant women
- Vaccinations
- Some care services for residents with diabetes
The law also requires California health insurance companies to have the same coverage limits and benefits for mental health conditions also known as mental health parity.
All insurance rate reductions or increases must be approved by the state's insurance commissioner before the change goes into effect.
Also, group health insurance for small groups of 2 to 50 people is guaranteed issue in California.
California Public Health Insurance Programs
Here are the California health insurance programs for low-income residents:
- Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal is the Medicaid program in California that provides health insurance for some low-income residents. If you want to learn more about Medi-Cal, visit them online. Eligibility requirements for Medi-Cal coverage can be found here. - Healthy Families
Healthy Families is the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in California, designed for children under age 19 who do not qualify for Medi-Cal and cannot afford private coverage. To learn more about Healthy Families, visit their website. - Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP)
California also offers a high-risk pool (MRMIP) for residents with pre-existing conditions who are unable to find health insurance through a private company. To learn more about this California health insurance program, visit http://www.mrmib.ca.gov/. - Access For Infants and Mothers (AIM)
This program provides health insurance coverage for some pregnant women who have no insurance or are underinsured. Visit http://www.aim.ca.gov/ for more information. - Every Woman Counts
California's Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program offers Medicaid coverage to eligible women who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer. The website for this California health insurance program can be found here.
Some residents in California may also be eligible for the Federal Health Coverage Tax Credit for assistance in purchasing a plan. Visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) online for more information.
Universal Health Care in California
San Francisco is the only city in California that provides all uninsured residents with access to health insurance coverage. Residents earning up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level qualify for the program, Healthy San Francisco.
Only residents of the city qualify for the universal coverage, and they must receive care within the city limits. Their website is at http://www.healthysanfrancisco.org/.
California Department of Insurance and Health Care Services
Find the contact information for the California health insurance and health care services departments at:
California Department of Insurance
Consumer Services Division
300 South Spring Street, South Tower
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone: (916) 322-3555
http://www.insurance.ca.gov/
California Department of Health Care Services
P.O. Box 997413
Sacramento, CA 95899-7413
Phone: (916) 445-4171
http://www.dhcs.ca.gov
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