:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Blue_Cross_Blue_Shield-c8b7f152cc8646f0bf5d1cd3efae9294.jpg)
Elizabeth Rivelli is an insurance writer passionate about helping people navigate the complex world of insurance to help them make empowered choices.
Updated September 04, 2024 Fact checked by Fact checked by Betsy PetrickBetsy began her career in international finance and it has since grown into a comprehensive approach to journalism as she's been able to tap into that experience along with her time spent in academia and professional services.
Catastrophic health plans are sold through the Health Insurance Marketplace or each state’s exchange. A few companies offer them if you’re under 30 years old or if you have a qualifying exemption that makes a Marketplace or job-based health plan unaffordable. Catastrophic plans aren’t a replacement for regular medical insurance. They have low premiums but high deductibles, so you pay for most routine medical expenses out of pocket.
To select the best catastrophic health plan companies, we analyzed top health insurers across key categories including National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and healthcare.gov customer satisfaction ratings, state availability, plan features, types of plans, plan benefits, dental coverage, discounts and incentives, and cost.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is our top pick as the best overall provider of catastrophic health insurance because it is available nationwide, with an extensive network of doctors and hospitals. The company also has high third-party ratings and offers additional member discounts.
Pros & ConsLike all catastrophic plans, BCBS catastrophic plans cover 100% of most medical services, including doctor’s visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations, once the deductible is met. Unlike all other providers, though, BCBS has an extensive nationwide provider network with more than 1.7 million doctors and hospitals providing nationwide coverage. If you need medical care while traveling domestically or internationally, you can use your BlueCard to submit claims outside of your local BCBS coverage area.
The company also has good third-party ratings. In the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Commercial Health Plan Study, BCBS was rated the top health insurance company for overall customer satisfaction in eight of 22 regions. Its average NCQA rating is 3.73 out of 5, which is the second-highest score of the companies we reviewed.
Another perk of BCBS is its Blue365 program, which gives you access to discounts on things like healthy food, fitness classes, medical devices, personal care items, and travel. Because BCBS plans are sold and administered by 34 independent and local organizations, the plan options and plan costs will vary based on your location.
