Who is the largest healthcare payer in the United States?

Asked by: Freda Toy  |  Last update: January 3, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (74 votes)

Medicare is the single largest payer for health care services in the United States.

Who is the largest healthcare payer in the US?

Based on data from 2022 and 2021, here is a rundown of the top five largest health insurance payers in the US.
  • UNITEDHEALTH GROUP. 2022 Net Revenues: $324.2 billion. ...
  • ELEVANCE HEALTH (FORMERLY ANTHEM) 2022 Net Revenues: $156 billion. ...
  • CENTENE. 2022 Net Revenues: $144.5 billion. ...
  • AETNA. 2022 Net Revenues: $322.5 billion. ...
  • CIGNA.

Who is the largest health care provider in the US?

10 of the largest US healthcare companies by revenue | 2024
  • UnitedHealth Group: $371.6 billion.
  • CVS Health: $357.8 billion.
  • McKesson: $301.5 billion.
  • Cencora: $271.6 billion.
  • Cardinal Health: $216.2 billion.
  • Cigna: $195.3 billion.
  • Elevance Health: $170 billion.
  • Centene: $154 billion.

Is UnitedHealthcare bigger than Blue Cross Blue Shield?

Blue Cross Blue Shield is a collective of 33 different companies, and star ratings and member experience scores vary among providers. UnitedHealthcare offers the largest Medicare Advantage network of all companies, with more than 1 million network care providers.

Is CMS the largest payer in the US?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the single largest payer for health care in the United States. Nearly 90 million Americans rely on health care benefits through Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

The real reason American health care is so expensive

30 related questions found

Who is the largest third party payer in the United States?

The largest third-party-payer insurance company in the U.S. is United Health Care. Health insurance in the U.S. is multifaceted, with many obtaining coverage through employment or governmental programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Thus the correct answer is b) United Health Care.

Which health insurance company denies the most claims?

According to the analysis, AvMed and UnitedHealthcare tied for the highest denial rate, with both companies denying about a third of in-network claims for plans sold on the Marketplace in 2023, respectively.

What is the disadvantage of UnitedHealthcare?

Cons About UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage

You may only have access to certain HMO or PPO plans in your area. And while UnitedHealthCare has competitive pricing, your location may only have access to plans with higher deductibles, more copays, and fewer additional benefits.

Who is the largest PPO provider?

The MultiPlan PHCS network is the nation's largest and most comprehensive independent PPO network. This network offers access in all states and includes more than 700,000 healthcare professionals, 4,500 hospitals and 70,000 ancillary care facilities. How do I find PHCS providers?

What is the richest hospital in the United States?

The top U.S. hospital by net patient revenue is St. Luke's University Hospital – Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with a total revenue of $8.9 billion. As the headquarters of the nonprofit St.

Who is UnitedHealthcare's biggest competitor?

The main competitors of UnitedHealth Group include Elevance Health (ELV), The Cigna Group (CI), Humana (HUM), Centene (CNC), Molina Healthcare (MOH), Oscar Health (OSCR), Alignment Healthcare (ALHC), Clover Health Investments (CLOV), Trupanion (TRUP), and NeueHealth (NEUE).

Who is number 1 in healthcare?

According to the 2024 edition of the CEOWORLD Magazine Health Care Index, Taiwan ranks as the country with the best healthcare system globally, with an overall score of 78.72. South Korea (77.7) and Australia (74.11) follow closely behind.

Who is the largest provider of healthcare?

1. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) UnitedHealth Group holds its position at the forefront of the healthcare sector, pushing the boundaries of digital and personalized care.

Where does Blue Cross Blue Shield rank?

Overall, Blue Cross Blue Shield was the top health insurance company in 16 states, followed by Elevance Health in nine states. While UnitedHealth Group is America's largest insurer on a national level, it is comparatively less concentrated state-wide, being the top provider in states such as New York and Arizona.

Who is Aetna owned by?

Aetna is proud to be a part of the CVS Health® family of companies. The following Aetna companies provide their own products and services.

Why do doctors not like Medicare Advantage plans?

Across the country, provider grumbling about claim denials and onerous preapproval requirements by Advantage plans is crescendoing. Some hospitals and physician practices are so fed up they're refusing to accept the plans — even big ones like those offered by UnitedHealthcare and Humana.

Why does AARP recommend UnitedHealthcare?

AARP does not necessarily argue that UnitedHealthcare is the right choice for every Medicare beneficiary, but it does proclaim it as a trusted healthcare partner and resource. Of course, there may be an additional reason other than UHCs good name. UnitedHealthcare pays AARP for the use of its name.

Why did UnitedHealthcare drop?

Health insurance stocks fell Thursday after UnitedHealth Group reported a weaker-than-expected quarter for its insurance division, raising concerns that the industry's doldrums will extend into the new year.

What is the most expensive health insurance?

Platinum health insurance is the most expensive type of health care coverage you can purchase. You pay low out-of-pocket expenses for appointments and services, but high monthly premiums.

What health insurance company is most reliable?

Investopedia's analysis ranks Kaiser Permanente as the best health insurance company for 2025 because of its blend of affordability and low customer complaints. UnitedHealthcare and Aetna also earned top marks. We evaluated nine insurers using dozens of criteria, such as customer satisfaction, plan types, and costs.

Who is the most trusted insurance company?

Here are the best car insurance companies of 2025:
  • Travelers: Best car insurance company overall.
  • Auto-Owners: Best for affordability.
  • State Farm: Best mobile app ratings.
  • American Family: Best for customer satisfaction.
  • USAA: Best for military members.

Does State Farm deny a lot of claims?

A lot of those claim denials or problems involve car accident policies. This means that State Farm does deny a significant number of claims every year.