As most Americans will agree health insurers have a bad reputation for appearing to offer the requested coverage but when the time comes to process a claim it can become very complicated, unclear and take an unacceptable amount of time. Since simply finding coverage can be difficult for many, people primarily look for an insurer who will deliver on what they promise and who won’t drop them in the case of a new job or a move to a different state. For others coverage is unfortunately limited by the health insurance coverage offered through their employer.

A recent survey released by J.D. Power, uncovered that health insurance companies, primarily those who trade publicly on the stock exchange were out preformed by private health care providers. Among them were insurance companies such as Aetna, Cigna and UnitedHealth Group. Two of the reasons given by consumers for the below average rating were due to lack of proper consumer service communication and informational material. Another factor that fell into play was the fact that shareholders and short-term performance goals heavily dictated the actions taken by a publicly traded health insurance company.

The private health insurers were acknowledged for their recognition and accommodation to issues their customers held dear; adhering to their needs for clear, accessible and quick customer service support and statements. Short waits for processing and approval of claims, plus the option to choose ones own doctor as well as offering good coverage, all impacted the consumer’s positive experience. The Health insurance providers who performed well were Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim, Wellmark and Kaiser. Some private health insurance companies can offer better coverage and all around services due to the non-profit status they are have allowing them advantageous tax provisions.

It is only fair to keep in mind that there were some states, although very few, where public came out on top of private insurance. Public insurers are at a disadvantage compared to private insurers who have tax benefits and no shareholders to please. But nonetheless, if you are looking for a health care plan and are not covered by your employer’s health care plan; as with all types of insurance it is always wise to shop and compare to find the best coverage at the best price.