Humana vs. Kaiser Permanente
- Humana and Kaiser Permanente both offer Medicare plans in parts of the country. Comparing Humana vs. Kaiser may not be apples to apples, but our Medicare plan review can help you learn more about each insurance carrier.
Comparing Humana vs. Kaiser Permanente may be considered by some to be an unfair fight. But when you consider the fact that Humana is one of the largest health insurance carriers in the U.S. while Kaiser is a small and narrowly focused health care organization, you can begin to weigh the advantages and drawbacks of the Medicare plans offered by each company.
Humana is one of the most popular insurance companies in the country. Nearly 1 out of every 5 (18%) Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan beneficiaries were enrolled in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan in 2024.
6% of all Medicare Advantage plan beneficiaries were members of a Kaiser Permanente Medicare plan in 2024.
Humana vs. Kaiser Permanente: Types of Insurance Plans Offered
Humana sells a wide variety of insurance plans, including Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans and Medicare Advantage plans. Humana also offers group insurance plans, standalone dental insurance plans, vision plans and more.
Kaiser Permanente offers Medicare Advantage plans in some states but does not sell Medicare Part D plans or Medigap plans in any parts of the country.
Areas Served
Humana Medicare plans can be found in parts of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Humana Medicare Advantage plans were sold in 90% of U.S. counties in 2024.
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plans are sold in just eight states (CA, CO, GA, HI, MD, OR, VA and WA) and the District of Columbia.
Provider Access
As one of the nation’s largest health insurance carriers, plan members in most U.S. locations likely won't have trouble finding a health care provider who accepts Humana.
Kaiser is a much smaller company with a unique business model. To use a Kaiser Medicare Advantage plan, you must visit a Kaiser-branded hospital or medical facility.
Financial Ratings
Humana maintains steady financial ratings from the leading credit agencies including Standard & Poor’s (BBB+), Moody’s (Baa3), Fitch Ratings (BBB) and A.M. Best (bbb-). The company also holds an “A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Kaiser Permanente financial ratings include an “AA-” from Fitch Ratings to go along with an “A-” rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Medicare Star Ratings
Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Stars are used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to indicate various measures of plan quality, with five stars being the highest score.
For 2024, 94% of Humana Medicare Advantage plan members were enrolled in a plan rated four stars or higher.
Kaiser is known for the quality of its plans, and that reputation is reflected in the 4.5-star rating for 2025 Medicare Advantage plans in four of the seven regions where the company sells plans.
Customer Experience
Humana members may perform a variety of tasks online. Beneficiaries can find providers or pay premiums online, and they can download the MyHumana app to manage benefits even more closely. Customers and Medicare plan shoppers can call the Humana phone number to speak with representatives directly, and the company even answers basic questions on Twitter seven days a week.
Kaiser Medicare plan holders can have an similarly easy time managing their benefits online or through a mobile app that earns high ratings in both the Apple and Google Play app stores. Kaiser customer support is also available via phone, email and live chat.
Kaiser Permanente vs. Humana: The Verdict
Humana may be quite a bit larger than Kaiser, but that’s not to say it’s necessarily better. Each company has its respective perks, and the one that’s best for you will come down to your personal preferences and the type of plan that best suits your health care and budget needs.
Helpadvisor.com is owned and operated by Tranzact, the parent company of TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, which is the owner/operator of Medicareadvantage.com and other websites mentioned on HelpAdvisor and which has a financial relationship with some of the carriers listed on HelpAdvisor. This may influence which products we write about, but HelpAdvisor maintains editorial independence, and our opinions and evaluations are our own.
