Humana vs. Kaiser Permanente Insurance

Which health insurance company is the best option for you and your family? Compare Humana and Kaiser Permanente side by side.

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Humana vs. Kaiser Permanente: What You Need to Know

In 2001, Humana partnered with Navigy to create an online web portal called availity.com, which enables physicians and health providers to conduct business with the two companies. Four years later Human partnered with Virgin Group, offering financial incentives to those with healthier lifestyles. In 2006, Humana launched RightSource, a nationwide pharmacy business. In March 2008, Fortune Magazine named Humana one of the top five “most admired healthcare companies in the U.S.

Humana (HUM) is the third-largest health insurance provider in the US. Their headquarters are in Louisville, Kentucky. Humana has over 13 million customers in the U.S and is 73rd in Fortune 500 rankings. Humana no longer offers individual medical insurance. However, you can shop rates on their website with partner carriers. Or, you can compare quotes with SmartFinancial.

After the war ended the shipyard workforce fell from 90,000 to 13,000. Only 12 of 75 medical group providers remained. On July 21, 1945, the Permanente Health Plan opened to the public to continue the health care delivery set up by Kaiser and Garfield. In 10 years, more than 300,000 people enrolled in Northern California with the support of two unions, the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union and the Retail Clerks Union.

In 1953, the name of the health plan and the hospitals was changed from Permanente to Kaiser Permanente. Even today, there are ties between the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals and the Permanente Medical Groups. 

To learn more about each company, you can check out the Humana Overview and Kaiser Permanente Overview.

What is Humana and Kaiser Permanente Insurance Rating?

Which health insurance company is better? We've made it easy to compare companies side by side. See how Humana and Kaiser Permanente ranked among the industry ratings.

Comparison Humana Kaiser Permanente
Year Founded 1961 1945
Medicare Star Rating 3 stars (out of 5) 5 stars (out of 5)
BBB Rating A+ A+
NAIC Complaint Index 0.40% for individual health 0.36% for group health

Pros & Cons of Humana or Kaiser Permanente

Pros

Humana
  • Humana Health Insurance is a trusted and reliable source for Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage.
  • Humana offers commercial health insurance options.
Kaiser Permanente
  • Affordable marketplace plans with different tiers of coverage.
  • Low complaint ratio for group health plans.

Cons

Humana
  • Humana Health Insurance no longer offers individual and family health plans.
Kaiser Permanente
  • Kaiser Permanente is only available in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

Humana and Kaiser Permanente Mobile Apps Options

The MyHumana app allows users to find doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies, view claims, and pay your bill. They also offer an app called Humana Pharmacy which helps you to manage your prescriptions.

The Kaiser Permanente app allows users to find doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies, view claims, and pay your bill. They also offer an app called Humana Pharmacy which helps you to manage your prescriptions.

Humana Mobile App
iOS      3.1 561 users
Android      3.9 3,372 users
Kaiser Permanente Mobile App
iOS      3.1 2K users
Android      4.3 16,728 users

Humana and Kaiser Permanente Enrollment Process

Humana

You can begin the enrollment process here or you can have an agent assist you for several free health insurance quotes.

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente offers plans through the health insurance marketplace. You can begin searching plans here or you can get several free health insurance quotes with SmartFinancial.

Each state has its own marketplace. If you’re not sure where to begin, visit https://www.healthcare.gov/. You can also schedule a personal appointment with a local Kaiser Permanente Medicare specialist: 1-866-973-4588.

How to File a Claim with Humana and Kaiser Permanente Insurance

Humana

To submit electronic claims, you or your billing agent need to use a third-party claims clearinghouse vendor, like Availity. For paper claims, you need to complete the right claim forms.

Paper claims and encounters submission addresses for Humana medical claims:

Humana Claims: P.O. Box 14601, Lexington, KY 40512-4601

HumanaDental® claims: P.O. Box 14611, Lexington, KY 40512-4611

Humana encounters: P.O. Box 14605, Lexington, KY 40512-4605

Claim overpayments: Humana, P.O. Box 931655, Atlanta, GA 31193-1655

HumanaOne® claim submissions: HumanaOne, P.O. Box 14635, Lexington, KY 40512-4633

Kaiser Permanente

To submit claims for reimbursement, contact member services at 1-888-901-4636. Otherwise, you should be covered except for copay. If you need reimbursement for Medicare Part D prescriptions, you must use the Member reimbursement drug claim form (PDF). For all other prescriptions (non-Medicare and Medicare without Part D) you must use this Prescription claim form (PDF).

Common Questions About Kaiser Permanente and Humana Insurance

Humana

Where is the policy number on the Humana insurance card?

Your policy number can be found on the front of your insurance card.

Is Humana dental insurance good?

Humane offers PPO, DHMO, discount, and value dental plans. You can find dental insurance for any budget. Humana also has an extensive list of in-network providers.

What does Humana’s vision plan cover?

Humana’s affordable vision plan includes an annual vision exam, yearly allowance toward contact lenses or set of eyeglass lenses with minor copay plus options for specialty lenses (progressive bifocals, anti-scratch, tinted, etc.), frame allowance every 12-24 months (includes designer brands) and potential discounts on services like Lasik or PRK.

Does Humana PPO cover cataract surgery?

Humana’s Medicare Advantage plan offers the MyOption Vision Plan which may cover eye surgery such as cataract surgery.

Does Walmart accept Humana insurance?

New in 2020 is Humana’s Walmart Value Rx Plan, which is $13.20 a month and available in 47 states plus the District of Columbia.

Check out our full list of common questions about Humana.

 

Kaiser Permanente

What is Kaiser Insurance?

Kaiser Permanente is a nonprofit, group-practice health plan with headquarters in Oakland, California. It is an example of high-quality, integrated health care.

Does Kaiser Permanente have good reviews?

Kaiser Permanente has a better than average complaint ratio, especially for its group plans.

Who is eligible for Kaiser Permanente?

Individuals, families, and people whose employers offer Kaiser Permanente are eligible for coverage. Kaiser also offers Medicare Supplement plans and Medicare Advantage, which is the alternative to Original Medicare.

What pharmacies accept Kaiser Permanent’s health insurance?

If your health plan benefits include a prepaid prescription drug plan, you must use a Kaiser pharmacy to obtain drugs at plan prices. You can fill your initial prescription at many MedImpact pharmacies, which include Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Kroger, Safeway, and Costco, but you’ll need to order any refills through a Kaiser Permanente pharmacy or a mail-order refill service through Kaiser.

Check out our full list of common questions about Kaiser Permanente.

Humana and Kaiser Permanente Insurance Contact Info

Humana Contact Info
Address 300 E. Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60601
Phone 1 (800) 654-7385
Website https://www.humana.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Humana/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/humana
Twitter https://twitter.com/Humana
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/humana/
Kaiser Permanente Contact Info
Address 1 Kaiser Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone 1 (510) 271-5910
Website https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kpthrive/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqZdtT_o6xZbMkRbLZJ7Zvg
Twitter https://twitter.com/aboutKP
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaiser-permanente/

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