- About us
- Agent Login
- 855.214.2291
Kaiser Permanente vs. UnitedHealthcare Insurance
Which health insurance company is the best option for you and your family? Compare Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare side by side.
Compare Health Insurance Rates in Your Area
 Written & Edited by Fran Majidi Fran MajidiFran Majidi manages content on SmartFinancial's website. She's had nearly a decade's worth of experience writing about i... Read more |
Editorial Standards SmartFinancial Offers Unbiased, Fact-based Information. Our fact-checked articles are intended to educate insurance shoppers so they can make the right buying decisions. Learn More
Kaiser Permanente vs. UnitedHealthcare: What You Need to Know
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 were 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.
UnitedHealth Group provides health insurance services to roughly 85 million individuals, with plans that include Medicare Advantage (MA), managed Medicaid, employer-sponsored insurance, and individual insurance. Worth $107.1 billion, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is the largest insurance provider in the US. Headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, the company also offers benefits and services in more than 125 countries. UnitedHealth Group has ranked in the Fortune 500.
To learn more about each company, you can check out the Kaiser Permanente Overview and UnitedHealthcare Overview.
What is Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Rating?
Which health insurance company is better? We've made it easy to compare companies side by side. See how Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare ranked among the industry ratings.
| Comparison | Kaiser Permanente | UnitedHealthcare |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1945 | 1977 |
| Medicare Star Rating | 5 stars (out of 5) | 4.5 stars (out of 5) |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 0.36% for group health |
Get Personalized Health Insurance Quotes Here
Pros & Cons of Kaiser Permanente or UnitedHealthcare
Pros
Kaiser Permanente
- Affordable marketplace plans with different tiers of coverage.
- Low complaint ratio for group health plans.
UnitedHealthcare
- Robust health plans and benefits for Medicare and Medicaid recipients.
- Marketplace plans for individuals and families that do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.
- Popular mobile app makes it easy to stay on top of your account.
- UnitedHealth is available in all 50 states.
Cons
Kaiser Permanente
- Kaiser Permanente is only available in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
UnitedHealthcare
- Plans are in general more expensive than those of other health insurance providers.
Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare Mobile Apps Options
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.
The Health4Me app from UnitedHealthcare allows you to look for doctors and review your coverage and benefits.
| Kaiser Permanente Mobile App | ||
|---|---|---|
| iOS | 3.1 | 2K users |
| Android | 4.3 | 16,728 users |
| UnitedHealthcare Mobile App | ||
|---|---|---|
| iOS | 4.5 | 10.1K users |
| Android | 4.6 | 16,316 users |
Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare Enrollment Process
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.
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.
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealth Group offers plans through the health insurance marketplace.
Each state has its own marketplace. If you’re not sure where to begin, visit https://www.healthcare.gov/.
How to File a Claim with Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare Insurance
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).
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealth Group pays network providers directly but if you are billed by a provider, you can contact UnitedHealth Group at 1 (800) 328-5979. If you are filing a claim for an out-of-network provider for an emergency or because you were referred to the provider by UnitedHealth Group you must submit the following information
- The Policyholder's name and address.
- The patient's name and age.
- The number stated on your ID card.
- The name and address of the provider of the service(s).
- The name and address of any ordering Physician.
- A diagnosis from the Physician.
- An itemized bill from your provider that includes the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes or a description of each charge.
- The date the Injury or Sickness began.
- A statement indicating either that you are, or you are not, enrolled for coverage under any other health insurance plan or program. If you are enrolled for other coverage you must include the name of the other carrier(s).
The above information should be sent to: UnitedHealthcare P.O. Box 740800 Atlanta, GA 30374-0800
If filing a claim for Outpatient Prescription Drug Benefits, your claims should be submitted to: Optum Rx P.O. Box 29077 Hot Springs, AR 71903
Common Questions About UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser Permanente Insurance
Kaiser Permanente
What states have Kaiser Insurance?
Kaiser Permanente is available in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia and Washington D.C.
Who takes Kaiser Insurance?
To search for a doctor according to the insurance they accept visit here. There are over 8,000 internists and over 7200 family doctors and thousands of specialists who accept Kaiser Insurance.
What does Kaiser Permanente insurance cover?
Kaiser Permanente offers different coverages to different people, depending on the plan. Kaiser focuses on prevention as well as taking care of existing conditions. You can sometimes see a specialist without a referral from a primary care doctor.
How to check Kaiser coverage:
To see the status of your coverage or to see your benefits, sign onto kp.org. Select “Coverage & Cost” from the dashboard. Under “Plan Ahead” select “Eligibility and benefits.”
Check out our full list of common questions about Kaiser Permanente.
UnitedHealthcare
What is the UnitedHealth Group?
UnitedHealth Group is an American for-profit managed health care company based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. They offer a wide variety of health plans for individuals and businesses. They also offer Medicare and Medicaid.
What Are UnitedHealth Medicare Advantage plans?
Medicare Advantage is Medicare Part C, which replaces original Medicare Parts A and B and is administered through a private insurer. Medicare Advantage plans offer some benefits that Original Medicare does not. UnitedHealth also offers special Medicare Advantage plans for patients with Alzheimer’s or chronic dementia.
Is UnitedHealth the same as UnitedHealthcare insurance?
Yes, in 1998, the company rebranded and changed the name UnitedHealthcare insurance to the UnitedHealth Group.
What is UnitedHealth insurance coverage for Individuals and Families?
If you don’t have health insurance through an employer, you can buy private insurance for yourself and/or your family with UnitedHealth insurance. For health insurance rates visit here and fill out a brief form.
Check out our full list of common questions about UnitedHealthcare.
Get Personalized Health Insurance Quotes Here
Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Contact Info
| Kaiser Permanente Contact Info | |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Kaiser Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612 |
| Phone | 1 (510) 271-5910 |
| Website | https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/ |
| https://www.facebook.com/kpthrive/ | |
| Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqZdtT_o6xZbMkRbLZJ7Zvg |
| https://twitter.com/aboutKP | |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaiser-permanente/ | |
| UnitedHealthcare Contact Info | |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 1459, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1459 |
| Phone | 1 (800) 328-5979 |
| Website | https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/ |
| https://www.facebook.com/groups/uhgemployees/ | |
| Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/user/UnitedHealthGroup |
| https://twitter.com/UnitedHealthGrp | |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitedhealth-group/ | |
Fran Majidi manages content on SmartFinancial's website. She's had nearly a decade's worth of experience writing about insurance-related topics. Prior, she was an arts and entertainment editor in New York City. She has a B.A. from Barnard College and an M.F.A. in writing from The New School. She writes books under her given name, Afarin Majidi.
Compare Health Insurance Rates for Free
Answer a few questions and let Penny find the best rates in your area.