Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is Investopedia’s choice for the best overall health insurance for college students who are shopping on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Health Insurance Marketplace. It offers a wide range of plans, including 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:prefe⭕rre♉d provider organizations (PPOs), across all metal tiers. Unlike health maintenance organizations (HMOs)༺, PPOs still provide some coverage if you go outside the plan's network. 

BCBS operates in 33 states, the most in Investopedia’s study, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:receives few customer complaints. Altogether, students are likely to find a plan that fits their budget and still get access to care, whether they𓆏’re at school, home, or tra🐓veling.

While the BCBS Association comprises 33 ♏separate companies, the BlueCard program can help you get care when you’re away from your primary coverage 🌠area. It lets you use your insurance in most places without being out-of-network.

However, students should know that average premiums f🧔or BCBS plans are the highest 🎀among the companies we reviewed. A Silver plan for a 21-year-old would cost $530 a month. A similar plan from Kaiser Permanente would cost just $390.

The Blue Cr🌼oss Blue Shield A💙ssociation was founded in 1929, and its headquarters are in Chicago.

Anthem is a budget-friendly choice suitable for older college students. It offers the lowest premiums among the insurers we reviewed. In particular, its average premiums for Bronze plans were the lowest in our study, at $301 for 21-year-olds and $315 for 27-year-olds.๊

It offers 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:catastrophic plans designed for young adults who want to keep monthly costs low while staying protected against serious medical events. These plans are only avail♊able to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption.

Anthem is part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. We reviewed Anthem separately because it competes wi🌌th other BCBS plans in some markets, such as California and New York.

While premiums may be low, Anthem’s plans come with high out-of-pocket costs, so you’ll pay more if you need frequent care. Its average 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:deductible for Bronze pla🅘ns is $9,140, the highest in our study. 𒐪Plans are also only available in 14 states.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is a subsidi✤ary of Elevance Health, which was founded in the 1940s and is based in Indianapolis𝓀.

Kaiser Permanente is a strong option for cost-conscious college students who live or attend school in its service area: California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, or Washington D.C. It has the second-lowest average premiums in Investopedia’s study, including the lowest monthly premiums for Expanded Bronze and Silver plans for 21- and 27-ye🦹ar-olds. 

But students should weigh these costs against Kaiser’s deductibles, which were theꦇ highest in our study for Expanded Bronze plans: $7,274 a year.

Kaiser offers multiple medical management programs for chronic conditions, including asthma and heart disease. Kaiser gets few💖er complaints than expected for its size and has one of the top-rated mobile apps, which can make managing care easier.

While its coverage area is limited, you can access care from a Kaiser Permanente clinician by 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:phone or online.

Kaiser Permanente was founded𒈔 in 1945 an♊d is based in Oakland, California.

Aetna could be a good fit for college students who regularly visit doctors or need ongoing prescriptions. It offers the lowest copays for doctor visits and drugs in our study. 

Plus, you get access to free visits at CVS Min💜uteClinics and discounts on CVS H𝓀ealth products. While Aetna only offers plans in 17 states, CVS walk-in clinics are located in 32 states and Washington, D.C.

Aetna also has fewer customer complaints thanꦺ expected, suggesting smooth service and claims handling. Aetna Student Health offers insurance plans through about 200 universities. The benefits of these plans may differ from the Marketplace plans we reviewed. 

One downside is that Aetna’s plans coꦉme with high premiums. The average premium for Expanded Bronze plans ($406 a month) is among the highest in our study, though the deductible for Expa𝓀nded Bronze plans is the lowest ($3,312). 

Aetna was founded in 1853. Its💯 parent compan♚y, CVS Health, is based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.