UnitedHealthcare vs. Aetna Health Insurance in 2025 [Which is Better for You?]
Comparing UnitedHealthcare vs. Aetna health insurance shows that Aetna has lower rates, better customer service ratings, and overall higher scores. Aetna’s rates start at $180 per month, while UnitedHealthcare’s start at $220. However, UHC offers a wider selection of health insurance policies.
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Jeff Root
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jeff is a well-known speaker and expert in life insurance and financial planning. He has spoken at top insurance conferences around the U.S., including the InsuranceNewsNet Super Conference, the 8% Nation Insurance Wealth Conference, and the Digital Life Insurance Agent Mastermind. He has been featured and quoted in Nerdwallet, Bloomberg, Forbes, U.S. News & Money, USA Today, and other leading...
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UPDATED: Mar 7, 2025
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Mar 7, 2025
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance providers please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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When you compare UnitedHealthcare vs. Aetna health insurance, you’ll find both companies are fairly similar. However, Aetna tends to beat out UHC by a bit in several areas.
For example, Aetna’s health insurance rates are lower on average than those of UnitedHealthcare. Aetna also does slightly better in its customer service ratings.
Either way, you can find some of the best health insurance plans by state, regardless of where you live.
UnitedHealthcare vs. Aetna Health Insurance Rating
| Rating Criteria | ![]() | ![]() |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Business Reviews | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Claim Processing | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Company Reputation | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Coverage Availability | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Coverage Value | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Customer Satisfaction | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Digital Experience | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Discounts Available | 3.1 | 2.5 |
| Insurance Cost | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| Plan Personalization | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Policy Options | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Savings Potential | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| United Healthcare | Aetna |
Read on to compare all the health insurance options from UnitedHealthcare and Aetna. Then, enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool to see health insurance rates in your area.
- Aetna’s rates start at $180 per month, which is much lower than UHC’s
- UnitedHealthcare offers more private plan options
- Aetna has better customer service ratings than UnitedHealthcare
Aetna vs. UnitedHealthcare Cost Comparison
Health insurance is often one of the biggest expenses Americans face, especially if they’re buying private coverage. While there are many things to consider when you’re shopping for health insurance, there’s no denying that the cost of your policy is crucial.
You can compare average Aetna insurance vs. UnitedHealthcare rates below.
UnitedHealthcare vs. Aetna Health Insurance Monthly Rates
| Age & Gender | ![]() | ![]() |
|---|---|---|
| 16-Year-Old Female | $220 | $180 |
| 16-Year-Old Male | $230 | $190 |
| 30-Year-Old Female | $300 | $270 |
| 30-Year-Old Male | $320 | $290 |
| 45-Year-Old Female | $450 | $400 |
| 45-Year-Old Male | $480 | $420 |
| 60-Year-Old Female | $750 | $680 |
| 60-Year-Old Male | $800 | $720 |
As you can see, Aetna tends to be significantly cheaper than UnitedHealthcare. However, the rates listed above are only averages for just a few types of health insurance plans – you’ll need to compare personalized quotes to see which company is cheapest for you.
You can fill out a form for personalized quotes on both the Aetna and UnitedHealthcare websites. Or, if you’d like to compare rates with more than just these two companies, you can enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool.
Aetna and UnitedHealthcare look at the same factors to determine your health insurance costs including your age, location, and tobacco usage.Ty Stewart Licensed Insurance Agent
While insurance companies look at the same factors when determining your premiums, they use unique formulas. This is why comparing rates is so important — you may be surprised by which company offers you the lowest quote.
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UnitedHealthcare vs. Aetna Health Insurance Options
While both UnitedHealthcare and Aetna offer employer-based health insurance plans, individual shoppers will need a private plan. Picking between Aetna versus UnitedHealthcare means you’ll need to review each type of coverage offered to make the right choice.
To start with, you can purchase the following private plans from UnitedHealthcare:
- Short-Term Plans: Need temporary health insurance coverage? UnitedHealthcare offers temporary plans to ensure you have the coverage you need.
- Value Plan: Pick only the coverage you want with UHC’s Value Plan. Choosing the bare minimum coverage ensures you’ll have the least expensive premiums possible.
- Essential Plan: This UHC plan covers preventative visits and emergencies but costs more for other doctor visits. The Essential Plan is a great option if you want low premiums and don’t need to regularly visit the doctor.
- CoPay Focus Plan: With a zero-dollar deductible and clear co-pays, you’ll always know what you’ll pay for health care with this plan.
- Advantage Plan: If you don’t mind paying more per month, this UHC plan offers a lower deductible and more coverage options.
When you compare Aetna vs. UnitedHealthcare PPOs, you’ll find more variety in private plan options at UHC. You can explore your options in our UnitedHealthcare health insurance company review. However, Aetna offers some unique health insurance plans to choose from.
When you shop at Aetna, you can choose from the following private health insurance plans:
- Aetna CVS Health: Aetna has partnered with CVS for its private health insurance policies. You’ll get a discount at the CVS pharmacy on top of a large network of providers.
- High Deductible Health Care Plan: Aetna offers a health insurance policy with a much higher deductible than usual. This helps keep your monthly costs down and is ideal for people who rarely need medical care.
- Student Plans: Aetna has partnerships with universities all across the country to help young students get the health coverage they need.
- International Plans: Frequently leave the U.S.? Aetna has insurance plans that keep you covered anywhere you go.
Additionally, both companies sell supplemental Medicare and Medicaid plans. While you don’t need private health insurance to participate in these plans, you can buy extra coverage.
Choosing between Aetna vs. UHC coverage is a crucial task to make sure your health care needs are met. However, coverage options aren’t the only thing to look at – you should also see what real customers have to say.
UnitedHealthcare vs. Aetna Insurance Customer Reviews
Unlike other types of insurance, it can be much harder to get positive reviews as a health insurance company. When you’re wondering, “Is UnitedHealthcare better than Aetna?”, customer reviews can be an essential part of picking a provider.
To start, consider the musings of these Reddit users about whether UHC or Aetna is a better choice.
United Healthcare vs Aetna health insurance customer service?
byu/Raspyy inHealthInsurance
As you can see from these Reddit users, your personal situation is the deciding factor on which company is a better choice.
One of the biggest complaints made against UHC involves claims denials. Many customers feel that UHC denies more claims than expected.Dani Best Licensed Insurance Producer
Each company has strengths and weaknesses. For example, UHC is considered one of the best temporary health insurance providers, while Aetna is a great choice for people who travel internationally.
UnitedHealthcare vs. Aetna Health Insurance Business Reviews
When you compare Aetna vs. UnitedHealthcare reviews, you shouldn’t limit yourself just to what customers have to say. Third-party rating companies also offer valuable insights into how well insurance providers operate.
For starters, you can compare Aetna and UnitedHealthcare scores from third-party rating companies below.
Insurance Business Ratings & Consumer Reviews: UnitedHealthcare vs. Aetna
| Agency | ![]() | ![]() |
|---|---|---|
| Score: 845 / 1,000 Avg. Satisfaction | "Score: 835 / 1,000 Avg. Satisfaction" |
|
| Score: A Excellent Business Practices | Score: A+ Excellent Business Practices |
|
| Score: 74/100 Good Customer Feedback | Score: 70/100 Avg. Customer Satisfaction |
|
| Score: 1.08 Avg. Complaints | Score: 0.75 Fewer Complaints Than Avg. |
|
![]() | Score: A Excellent Financial Strength | Score: A Excellent Financial Strength |
As you can see, both companies have similar ratings. However, Aetna outranks UnitedHealthcare in matters of customer satisfaction and complaints received.
Read more: Aetna Health Insurance Company Review
When you shop at UHC or Aetna, you’ll be shopping at one of the largest health insurance companies in the country. Check below to compare how much of the health insurance market each provider claims.
With the rankings so close, you’re likely to be satisfied with either provider. The best way to choose between an Aetna PPO vs. UnitedHealthcare PPO is to compare plan options and costs.
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UnitedHealthcare Health Insurance Pros and Cons
Picking the right coverage is more than just understanding what health insurance covers. UnitedHealthcare may be one of the most well-known names in the health insurance market, but there’s a lot more to consider than a famous name. Before you decide between UHC vs. Aetna, you should familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of each company.
For starters, you’ll have the following advantages to look forward to when UnitedHealthcare covers you:
- Large Provider Network: Finding a doctor you like within your provider network is usually easy with UHC.
- Optum Delivery: UnitedHealthcare offers pharmacy deliveries with Optum, bringing your prescriptions right to your doorstep.
- Digital Options: Using the MyUHC coverage portal allows you to view your coverage, find care, and even set up virtual doctor visits.
While UHC has a lot of strengths, it also has a fair share of weaknesses. Make sure you’re comfortable with the following before you sign up for a policy at UHC:
- Negative Customer Reviews: UnitedHealthcare is plagued by negative reviews, with many customers upset about the quality of service they’ve received.
- High Number of Claims Denials: Another area customers frequently leave negative reviews for is how many claims UHC denies, including for prescription medication.
When considering either UnitedHealthcare or Aetna for health insurance needs, many shoppers express concern about UHC’s claims denial rates. While UnitedHealthcare hasn’t released its actual claims denial rates, it has a reputation for frequent denials.
Aetna Health Insurance Pros and Cons
While UnitedHealthcare is a trusted source of health insurance for millions of Americans, Aetna also has a solid reputation. When you shop at Aetna, you’ll get access to the following advantages:
- Affordable Premiums: For people looking for the cheapest health insurance possible, Aetna is a good place to start looking.
- Helpful Customer Service: If you have a question about a health insurance claim, Aetna representatives are ready to help you.
- Excellent Coverage Options: Aetna offers a variety of coverage options to meet the needs of its customers.
Before you sign up for a policy, you should be aware of the areas where Aetna struggles. These include:
- Limited Provider Network: An important part of keeping your health care costs low is to stay in-network for your care. Unfortunately, Aetna doesn’t have a very large network of preferred providers.
- Higher Out-Of-Pocket Costs: While the monthly premiums may be affordable, you’ll likely have a large deductible.
When you compare Aetna vs. UHC, looking at these pros and cons is a great start. However, you’ll need more than the basics to pick something as important as your health insurance. Looking at Aetna vs. UnitedHealthcare pros and cons isn’t enough to decide which company is best, however – make sure to compare prices and coverage options first.
Compare UnitedHealthcare vs. Aetna Health Insurance Rates Today
With health insurance costing so much, it’s more important than ever to find a policy at the right price. Aetna is the clear winner when you’re looking for cheap private health insurance, but UnitedHealthcare has a wider selection of private plans.
Now that you’ve compared UnitedHealthcare vs. Aetna health insurance, you should be ready to compare rates with other companies. Enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool to see rates in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions
Are Aetna and UnitedHealthcare the same company?
Aetna and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company are two well-known insurance providers that offer a range of health insurance options. While both companies offer similar types of coverage, they may differ in terms of network providers, plan options, and additional services.
What types of health insurance plans does Aetna offer?
Aetna provides a variety of health insurance plans, including individual and family plans, employer-sponsored group plans, Medicare plans, Medicaid plans, and student health plans. Aetna also offers excellent student and international health insurance plans.
What types of health insurance plans does UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company offer?
UnitedHealthcare offers a wide range of health insurance plans, including individual and family plans, employer-sponsored group plans, Medicare plans, Medicaid plans, and plans for military members and veterans. They provide comprehensive coverage for medical, dental, vision, and other healthcare services.
Is Aetna or UnitedHealthcare better?
Wondering, “Is Aetna better than UnitedHealthcare?” The coverage offered by Aetna and UnitedHealthcare can vary depending on the specific plan and individual needs. When you’re learning how to pick the best health insurance, it’s advisable to compare the coverage details, policy terms, and costs of various plans from both companies to determine which aligns best with your requirements.
Can I have both Aetna and United Healthcare Insurance Company policies?
In most cases, you cannot have both Aetna and UnitedHealthcare policies as primary coverage simultaneously.
How can I compare Aetna and United Healthcare Insurance Company plans?
To compare Aetna and UnitedHealthcare plans, consider factors such as coverage options, network providers, premium costs, deductibles, copayments, and customer reviews. You can obtain quotes and review plan details by entering your ZIP code into our free comparison tool.
Are Aetna and United Healthcare Insurance Company accepted by most healthcare providers?
Both Aetna and UnitedHealthcare have extensive networks of healthcare providers, but the specific coverage and network availability may vary depending on the plan and location. Aetna and UnitedHealthcare have partnerships with numerous healthcare providers across the country.
Can I purchase insurance directly from Aetna and United Healthcare Insurance Company?
Both Aetna and United Healthcare Insurance Company allow individuals to purchase insurance directly from them. You can explore their websites or contact their customer service to inquire about the insurance products they offer and initiate the purchasing process.
Is Aetna a good insurance company?
Yes, Aetna is widely recognized as a reputable health insurance provider offering a range of plans to meet various healthcare needs. It has a strong network of healthcare providers and offers comprehensive coverage options, making it a popular choice among individuals and employers alike. It’s also a good choice for Medicare supplemental health insurance.
Do UnitedHealthcare and Aetna offer dental insurance?
Yes, both UnitedHealthcare and Aetna sell top dental insurance coverage. You can compare Aetna vs. UnitedHealthcare dental plans in the same way you can look at health insurance policies.
Compare Insurance Providers Rates to Save Up to 75%
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Jeff Root
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jeff is a well-known speaker and expert in life insurance and financial planning. He has spoken at top insurance conferences around the U.S., including the InsuranceNewsNet Super Conference, the 8% Nation Insurance Wealth Conference, and the Digital Life Insurance Agent Mastermind. He has been featured and quoted in Nerdwallet, Bloomberg, Forbes, U.S. News & Money, USA Today, and other leading...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.




