▶Watch: Private PPO vs. ACA Marketplace — which is right for you? (50 sec)
Can you still get private health insurance in California? Yes — and in 2026 it is often the smarter buy. If you don't qualify for a Covered California subsidy (or lost most of it when the enhanced federal credits expired), buying a private medical plan directly from the carrier can get you a stronger PPO network for a similar or lower premium than an unsubsidized marketplace plan. We compare private health insurance side by side with Covered California, in every region of the state.
For 2026, California's individual market is served by Blue Shield of California, Health Net, Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, Molina, and strong regional carriers — L.A. Care in Los Angeles, Sharp in San Diego, IEHP in the Inland Empire, Western Health Advantage in Sacramento, CCHP in San Francisco, and Valley Health Plan in San Jose. Availability varies by pricing region.
Carriers, networks, and prices differ sharply between regions. Start with your area:
UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, Keck/USC, City of Hope, Huntington Health.
MemorialCare Long Beach and St. Mary Medical Center.
UCI Health, Hoag, Providence, MemorialCare, CHOC.
UC San Diego Health, Scripps, Sharp, Rady Children's.
UCSF, Sutter/CPMC, Stanford — and the city's only PPO.
UC Davis Health, Sutter, Mercy, Western Health Advantage.
Loma Linda, Eisenhower, Kaiser Fontana/Ontario, Riverside Community.
Central Valley carriers, networks, and rates.
Kern County carriers, networks, and rates.
Your exact premium depends on your age, ZIP code, and household size — California uses 19 pricing regions, and the same plan can cost hundreds more a few counties over. We quote every carrier, on- and off-exchange, before recommending anything.
Traditional on- and off-exchange plans are not the only route. Many Californians — especially the self-employed, independent contractors, and small-business owners — also qualify for true employer-level group coverage regulated under federal ERISA and Department of Labor rules. Qualifying as a bona fide employee takes only a few basic requirements — full-time work is not required — and pre-existing conditions are covered, just as with any employer group plan. You get the same kind of group PPO coverage large employers offer, with nationwide networks like Cigna, Multiplan/PHCS, Aetna, First Choice Health, and in some states Blue Cross with national Blue Card, and enrollment is open year-round, not just during open enrollment. Availability is subject to eligibility. Call us to see if you qualify.
Some of the most common questions we hear: which health insurance plans cover Cedars-Sinai? Which plans include UCLA Health, UCSF Medical Center, Stanford Health Care, or Scripps Health? These are five of California's most sought-after health systems — and many lower-cost Covered California plans use narrow HMO and EPO networks that leave out one or more of them. Choosing on premium alone can quietly cost you access to the hospital and specialists you actually want.
Los Angeles — nationally ranked for heart, cancer, and digestive care; one of the most requested hospitals in Southern California.
Los Angeles, Santa Monica & Westside — Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica, and a large network of specialty clinics.
Palo Alto & the Bay Area — academic medicine, Stanford Cancer Center, and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.
San Francisco — UCSF Health at Parnassus and Mission Bay, the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals.
San Diego County — Scripps La Jolla, Scripps Green, Encinitas, Memorial and Mercy, plus Scripps Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Center at Scripps.
We work with a range of private PPO plans — off-exchange PPOs, employer-level group PPOs, and other exclusive plans generally not published online — on PPO networks that can include Stanford, UCSF, Scripps, UCLA Health, and Cedars-Sinai. Tell us which hospital and doctors matter to you and we will shop the private health insurance options that include them, then confirm network status for your exact plan before you apply.
The honest answer: it depends on your subsidy. Covered California adds a surcharge to Silver plans sold on the exchange, so if you get little or no premium tax credit, the identical (or better) private medical plan bought off-exchange is frequently cheaper. If you qualify for meaningful savings, the marketplace usually wins. Since the enhanced federal subsidies expired at the end of 2025, a lot of California households have shifted from the first group to the second — and many haven't re-checked their options. A five-minute comparison settles it, and our service is free either way.
Between 55 and 65 and not on Medicare yet? Early retirees in California, people between jobs, and anyone whose spouse is moving to Medicare can compare private PPO, ACA, and COBRA options side by side in our guide to health insurance before Medicare.
Yes. Beyond on- and off-exchange marketplace plans, we also offer exclusive private, employer-group (ERISA) PPO options with nationwide networks like Cigna, Multiplan/PHCS, Aetna, First Choice Health, and in some states Blue Cross with national Blue Card. These plans aren’t published on the public marketplace, enrollment is open year-round, and availability is subject to eligibility. Call us to see if you qualify.
Yes. Every ACA-compliant private plan covers pre-existing conditions — no medical questions, no exclusions. ERISA employer-level group plans cover pre-existing conditions as well, just as with any employer coverage.
Often, yes — this is the main reason people choose private healthcare PPO insurance, which has broader networks than most marketplace HMOs. We check your doctors against each plan's network before you enroll.
It depends on the specific plan, not just the carrier. Many lower-cost Covered California HMO and EPO plans leave out one or more of these systems, while private PPO plans — off-exchange PPOs, employer-level group PPOs, and other exclusive plans — can include Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, UCSF Medical Center, Stanford Health Care, and Scripps Health. Participation changes year to year, so we confirm your hospital and doctors for your exact plan before you enroll.
ACA plans: during open enrollment (fall through January), or year-round within 60 days of a qualifying life event. Employer-level ERISA group plans: enrollment is open year-round for those who qualify. We also have other exclusive, proprietary private healthcare PPO plan options beyond what is published online. Contact us for specific details.
No. Premiums are identical with or without an agent — carriers pay us, not you. You get the comparison and enrollment help at no cost.
Compare Every Private & Covered California Plan at Your ZIP Code
Free comparison from a licensed California advisor — ACA, off-exchange, and employer-level coverage buy-in options.
Call (800) 939-3330 Get My Plan Options
Plus exclusive, proprietary private healthcare PPO options generally not published online — click Get My Plan Options or call us for details.
Rates shown are 2026 sample premiums from Covered California's published data and vary by age, ZIP code, and household size. Employer-level group plan availability subject to eligibility requirements.
