Best Private Health Insurance Plans Compared for 2025: An Employer’s Guide
Discover the best private health insurance plans for employers in 2025. Compare health insurance options, costs, and providers to find affordable, comprehensive employee benefits in North America.
Choosing the best private health insurance plan for your employees in 2025 is more important than ever. With medical costs on the rise, healthcare policies changing, and a growing demand for solid employee benefits, the right plan is key to a healthy workforce and attracting top talent. This guide will walk you through the different private health insurance options, highlight what employers need to consider, and give you a clear path to creating a great benefits package.
Why Employers Need to Prioritize Private Health Insurance in 2025
- Keeping your team happy: Good health insurance coverage is a major reason why people stay with a company.
- Staying competitive: Offering quality corporate health insurance helps you keep up with legal rules and what other companies are doing.
- Fewer sick days: When your team has good medical coverage, they're more likely to get preventive care, which means less time off work.
- Growing with your business: As your company changes, you need flexible group health insurance that can adapt to your needs, especially with hybrid work models.
What Is Private Health Insurance?
Private health insurance is any health insurance policy you buy from a private company instead of the government. employers can offer it as part of a group plan, or people can buy it for themselves or their families.
- Group health insurance plans: These are offered by employers, who usually help pay for them.
- Individual & family plans: Great for freelancers or small businesses, these are bought directly from an insurance company.
- Supplemental insurance: You can add extra coverage for things like dental, vision, or critical illness.
Who can get health insurance? Most full-time employees can get group plans, while part-time workers might need to look for their own coverage.
2025’s Top Private Health Insurance Companies (North America)
Here are some of the leading health insurance providers in the USA and Canada that employers should look at:
- GoKlaim: Group, Employee Benefits, Wellness. Automated claims, digital tools. Canada, USA. Wellness tracking.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield: Group, Individual, Family, Global. Extensive network, wellness discounts. USA, global. App, telemedicine.
- Aetna CVS Health: Group, Individual, Family, Dental, Vision. Preventive care, pharmacy integration. USA, some int'l. 24/7 virtual care.
- Independence Blue Cross: HMO, PPO, Individual, Family. Wide tier options, low Rx cost. USA, esp. Northeast. Guided shopping tool.
- GEHA: FEHB, PPO, High Deductible. Federal employee focus, HSAs. USA. Online plan compare.
- eHealth (Broker): Group, Individual, Family. Plan comparison, custom quotes. USA, some global. Side-by-side compare.
Always check the specific plan networks to see what's available for your team.
How Does Private Health Insurance Work for Employers?
Employers team up with a health insurance provider to offer a group health insurance plan. They usually split the premium costs with employees and might offer extra perks like wellness programs or supplemental health insurance.
How do employee benefits work? Employers choose the coverage levels and network types, and employees can sign up and pick a plan that works for them. Digital platforms like GoKlaim make it easy to manage claims and employee wellness allowances, which saves a lot of administrative headaches.
Comparing 2025’s Best Private Health Insurance Plans
Key Features to Evaluate
- Premiums & deductibles: What you pay each month and what employees pay before coverage kicks in.
- Co-pays & coinsurance: The fixed fee for a visit or the percentage you share after the deductible.
- Provider networks: Different types of networks, like HMO or PPO, which affect who you can see.
- Prescription drug coverage: How much you'll pay for generic versus brand-name drugs.
- Wellness programs: Perks for living a healthy lifestyle, like gym reimbursements or a wellness allowance.
- Telehealth & digital access: Being able to book appointments online or have virtual visits.
Plan Comparison List
- GoKlaim Group Health: Deductible: Custom; PCP Visit: Custom; Specialist Visit: Custom; Inpatient Hospital: Custom; Rx (Generic): Custom; Notable Extras: Streamlined digital claims.
- Keystone HMO Gold Proactive: Deductible: $0; PCP Visit: $15; Specialist Visit: $40; Inpatient Hospital: $350/day; Rx (Generic): $3; Notable Extras: Tiered network savings.
- Personal Choice PPO: Deductible: $0–$1,250; PCP Visit: $30–20%; Specialist Visit: $65–20%; Inpatient Hospital: $750/day–20%; Rx (Generic): $3; Notable Extras: Flexible access.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield: Deductible: Varies; PCP Visit: Varies; Specialist Visit: Varies; Inpatient Hospital: Comprehensive; Rx (Generic): Varies; Notable Extras: Global coverage, discounts.
- Aetna CVS Health: Deductible: Varies; PCP Visit: Varies; Specialist Visit: Varies; Inpatient Hospital: Comprehensive; Rx (Generic): Varies; Notable Extras: Pharmacy integration.
Always look at the latest Summary of Benefits for the exact details.
Pros and Cons of Private Health Insurance for Employers
- Pros:
- Attract and keep top talent
- Scales with your business
- Customizable coverage options
- Potential tax benefits
- Healthier, more productive employees
- Cons:
- Can be more expensive than public options
- Choosing a plan can be complicated
- Premiums can go up each year
- Some plans have network restrictions
- Requires some administrative work
How to Choose the Best Health Insurance Plan for Your Business
- Figure out what your employees need: Think about their families, ages, and how they use medical services.
- Compare health insurance plans: Use online tools to see the details side by side.
- Check the networks: Make sure there's coverage where your employees live, especially if they're remote.
- Balance cost and coverage: Think about what you'll save on monthly premiums versus what you'll pay out-of-pocket.
- Use digital tools: Platforms like GoKlaim can give you a clear picture of costs and help with wellness programs.
- Look for extras: Things like a wellness allowance or HSA-eligible plans can make a big difference.
Which health insurance is best for small business?
Plans from GoKlaim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Aetna are often good choices. Look for plans with affordable premiums, big networks, and good administrative support.
What’s Included in Private Medical Insurance?
- Hospital and doctor visits
- Prescription drugs
- Preventive care like screenings and shots
- Emergency care
- Specialist visits
- Optional coverage for dental, vision, mental health, and more
Private Health Insurance vs. Public Health Insurance
- Private Health Insurance:
- Access to care: Broader, faster
- Plan customization: High (add-ons, deductibles, etc.)
- Premiums: Usually higher
- Network: Wide, sometimes global
- Best for: Employers, individuals, families
- Public Health Insurance (e.g., Medicare/Medicaid):
- Access to care: May have longer wait times
- Plan customization: Limited
- Premiums: Income-based or government-funded
- Network: Region/language limited
- Best for: Seniors, low-income, specific groups
Tips for 2025: Making the Most of Employee Health Benefits
- Educate your team: Hold meetings to explain the plans and hand out guides.
- Promote wellness: Use platforms like GoKlaim to track wellness, handle reimbursements, and manage claims.
- Use telemedicine: Make it easy for your team to get care, especially if they work remotely.
- Offer extra insurance: Think about adding dental, vision, or accident coverage.
- Get feedback: Ask your employees what they think so you can make improvements each year.
Conclusion
Choosing the best private health insurance for your team in 2025 is a big deal for your business and your employees' happiness. Take the time to compare reputable health insurance companies, use digital tools to make things easier, and don't be afraid to switch if your current plan isn't cutting it. Platforms like GoKlaim can make a big difference in how easy it is to manage benefits and how happy your employees are with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is private health insurance?
Private health insurance is coverage you get from a private company, not the government. It offers different plans for individuals, families, and groups, like the benefits you get from an employer.
How does health insurance work?
You pay a monthly fee, called a premium, and the insurance company helps pay for your medical bills. You might have to pay a certain amount yourself, called a deductible, before the insurance kicks in.
How do I compare health insurance policies?
You'll want to look at the premiums, deductibles, network size, what you'll pay for visits, prescription coverage, and any extra perks. Using online tools can make this easier.
Who can get health insurance?
Most full-time employees can get insurance through their job, but if you don't have that option, you can buy a plan directly from an insurance company.
What does health insurance cover?
It usually covers doctor visits, hospital stays, emergency care, and prescription drugs. Many plans also include mental health and other supplemental coverage.
Is private health insurance worth it?
For a lot of people, it's worth it for the faster access to care, wider choice of doctors, and better coverage. It's especially valuable for businesses that want to support their employees.
How to buy health insurance online?
You can use digital platforms or work with a broker to compare and sign up for a plan completely online. It's usually a pretty simple process.
Can I add family members to my health insurance?
Yes, most plans let you add your spouse and kids.
Are wellness allowances taxable in Canada?
It depends on how your employer sets it up, but sometimes a wellness allowance can be a taxable benefit.
Can you have two health insurance plans?
Yes, you can. It's called dual coverage, and it can help cover more of your costs, but there are rules to prevent getting paid twice for the same thing.
