Best PPO Health Insurance Companies for 2026
Blue Cross Blue Shield sells the best PPO plans for most people because of its good coverage and widespread availability.
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Best PPO health insurance companies
ValuePenguin chose the best PPO health insurance companies after researching average rates, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and state and county availability for every company that sells PPOs on HealthCare.gov or state marketplaces.
HealthCare.gov ratings and ValuePenguin's own editor ratings, which use rates, customer service, coverage offerings and unique value, were also taken into consideration.
Read our full methodology.
On this page
Best PPO health insurance for most people: Blue Cross Blue Shield
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| HealthCare.gov rating: | |
| Average monthly cost of a PPO: | $823 |
Blue Cross Blue Shield's PPO plans are widely available and come with good coverage and service.
Pros
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Available in 24 states and D.C.
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Generally good customer service
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Plans often come with extra perks
Cons
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Average rates
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Service varies by region
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) sells high-quality and widely-available PPO plans on HealthCare.gov and state marketplaces. Most companies only sell PPOs in one or two states, but Blue Cross Blue Shield sells plans in about half the country.
About 85% of the doctors and hospitals in the country are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Although PPO plans let you see out-of-network doctors and still have some coverage, you'll pay lower costs for medical care when you stay inside the network. Getting a PPO from BCBS gives you the flexibility to choose your doctors, but it also gives you access to a large network to help you keep your medical costs low.
Blue Cross Blue Shield sells high-quality plans that generally come with good customer service. However, because BCBS is a collection of independent companies, your customer service experience will depend on the BCBS company in your area.
If you shop on HealthCare.gov or a state marketplace site, BCBS sells PPO plans in 24 states and Washington, D.C.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
You may be able to get a PPO through BCBS in another state if it's a group plan or another type of insurance.
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Best PPO health insurance for cheap medical care: Ambetter
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| HealthCare.gov rating: | |
| Average monthly cost of a PPO: | $678 |
Ambetter's PPO plans let you spend less on medical care because they have lower out-of-pocket costs than plans from other companies.
Pros
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Lower medical costs vs. some other companies
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Cheap monthly rates
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Extra perks include discounts and rewards
Cons
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Only available in three states
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Service and plan quality isn't as good as BCBS
Ambetter is a good option if you want a cheap PPO plan that also helps you keep your medical bills down.
PPO plans from Ambetter cost $678 per month, on average. That's $158 cheaper than the national average for a PPO, which is $836 per month.
Plus, Ambetter's plans have lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums than many other companies. That means you'll pay less for your medical care before your plan starts splitting the cost with you, and less overall before your plan starts paying your bills in full.
However, if you're looking for an Obamacare plan, Ambetter only sells PPOs in three states: Arkansas, California, and Oklahoma. If you live anywhere else, Blue Cross Blue Shield or a more local company may be the only option.
Ambetter only sells marketplace PPOs in three states:
- Arkansas
- California
- Oklahoma
You might be able to get a PPO from Ambetter in another state if it's another type of plan, such as a plan from your job.
Best PPO health insurance in California: Blue Cross Blue Shield
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| HealthCare.gov rating in CA: | |
| Average monthly cost of a PPO in CA: | $856 |
Blue Cross Blue Shield sells good quality PPO plans throughout California.
Pros
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Customers are happy with their coverage
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Available in every CA county
Cons
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Higher-than-average rates
Blue Cross Blue Shield sells PPO plans throughout California. BCBS has a reputation for selling good quality plans, and its California members are consistently happy with the medical care they're able to get with a BCBS plan.
At $856 per month, Blue Cross Blue Shield's PPO plans in California are slightly more expensive than the state average of $840 per month. However, BCBS plans are usually worth the higher cost because of their good quality and service.
Ambetter is also a good option in California, but it's only in eight counties. If you live in one of these counties and want a PPO, compare both Blue Cross Blue Shield and Ambetter to see which is right for you.
Blue Cross Blue Shield sells PPO plans throughout California.
Is a PPO right for you?
A PPO is a good option if you want a flexible plan and you can afford the higher monthly rate.
The most common types of health insurance networks are PPOs and HMOs.
Choose a PPO if:
- You want the flexibility to see any doctor
- You want to see specialists without referrals
- You travel often
- You have the budget to pay a higher monthly rate
- You have chronic or complex medical conditions
Choose an HMO if:
- All your doctors are in-network
- You have a tighter monthly budget
- You're okay getting referrals to specialists
- You're generally healthy
- You understand you have to pay the full cost if you go out of network
How much does a PPO cost and where are they available?
PPOs cost $836 per month, on average.
You can buy a PPO plan in 28 states and Washington, D.C. if you shop on HealthCare.gov or a state marketplace.
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You might be able to get a PPO in more states if you have coverage through your job, called group insurance. Each employer has different coverage options, though, so your choices will depend on where you work.
PPO cost and availability by state
State | Monthly rate | Companies |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $683 | Blue Cross Blue Shield |
| Alaska | $1,037 | Blue Cross Blue Shield Moda Health |
| Arizona | PPOs not available | |
| Arkansas | $839 | Ambetter Blue Cross Blue Shield |
| California | $840 | Ambetter Blue Cross Blue Shield |
Availability is based on HealthCare.gov and state marketplace plans. PPOs may be available from employer plans and other types of coverage.
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PPO vs. other networks
PPOs offer the most flexibility of any plan network type.
That's because PPOs don't require you to have a primary care doctor, they let you see specialists without referrals, and they let you go outside the network and still have some insurance coverage. However, if you go to an out-of-network doctor, you'll likely pay more than if you had used a doctor that was in-network.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PPO health plan?
A PPO, or "preferred provider organization," is a type of health insurance plan that gives you flexibility to choose doctors that are both inside and outside the network. You'll pay more when you go to an out-of-network doctor, though. You can also see a specialist without needing a referral from a primary doctor.
Is PPO the best type of insurance?
PPOs are a good choice for most people because they let you go to any doctor and still have some coverage. With some other plan types, like HMOs, you have to pay the full cost for your medical care if you go outside the network. However, PPOs cost more each month because of the added flexibility they offer. This means they aren't the best option if you're on a tight budget.
Which is better, HMO or PPO?
PPOs are the best option if you want flexibility, while HMOs are better if you're on a budget. That's because PPOs let you choose any doctor you want and still have some coverage. HMOs are cheaper each month and can help you save money if you're okay with only using in-network doctors.
Methodology
Average health insurance rates, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and plan availability for 2026 are from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website. ValuePenguin used the CMS public use files (PUFs) to find average rates for different plan tiers, geographic locations and family sizes. ValuePenguin's health insurance experts used the files to find average rates and other plan info for PPO plans.
Your costs and plan options will vary; plans aren't always available in all parts of a state or county.
Ratings
ValuePenguin's experts rank companies based on cost, coverage options, customer satisfaction and unique value. Ratings are out of 100 possible points. ACA ratings show how the company performs for medical care, member experience and plan administration. This 2026 plan quality data from CMS is based on data from last year. Ratings are not available for new plans or plans with low enrollment.
About the Author
Insurance Writer
Cate Deventer is a ValuePenguin writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare & Medicaid
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
- Wall Street Journal
Education
- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
