Oscar Health is a U.S. health insurer built around a technology-first philosophy. Founded in 2012, it now serves roughly 1.6 million members in its ACA (Affordable Care Act) plans. Oscar stands out for a friendly mobile app and 24/7 telehealth features that make it easy to shop for and use health coverage. In Oscar’s own words, the company aims to give people “the freedom to select plans that work best for them” so members know exactly what they’re buying and how it compares to other products. Oscar offers individual and family plans, and has even expanded into small-business solutions through the ACA marketplace, emphasizing transparency and convenience.
Digital Experience & Telemedicine
A key part of Oscar’s value is its digital-first member experience. Oscar’s app and website let you have digital doctor visits and 24/7 telemedicine at no extra cost. Members can video-chat with doctors for urgent or routine care instead of going to an emergency room, and virtual primary care visits are even free with many plans. The Oscar app also includes tools for price transparency (you can check in-network costs before care) and medication reminders. Oscar assigns each member a concierge-style care team to answer questions and guide them through care. This tech-driven approach has won praise – users rate Oscar’s app highly – and Oscar reports very fast online enrollment and nearly instant claims updates. (For example, their NPS score is about 66, roughly double the industry average.)
Specialized Care & Support
Oscar goes beyond basic coverage with personalized care programs. In some states Oscar offers multi-condition plans for members with chronic illnesses (diabetes, asthma, heart disease, etc.) that include $0 copays for relevant specialists, labs and medications. Each member gets a dedicated care team — a group of nurses and health guides available round-the-clock to help with scheduling, billing or general health questions. Oscar’s “Oscar Care” platform means you can have free virtual urgent care or routine primary care visits at any time. By using this data-driven care coordination, Oscar reports meaningful improvements (for example, its AI-powered telehealth tool has cut ER visit rates by about 20%). In short, Oscar aims to act more like a health adviser: combining technology with human support to keep you healthy.
Plan Options and Enrollment
Oscar offers the usual ACA metal-tier plans (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Catastrophic) for individuals and families. Depending on your state, you’ll find Oscar EPO/HMO/PPO plans in each tier. Oscar also uses plan variations named “Simple,” “Classic,” or “Elite,” which trade off premiums vs. out-of-pocket costs (for example, a Simple plan has lower monthly premiums but higher copays when you see a doctor). In recent years Oscar has expanded its offerings – for 2025 it even announced new Spanish-language “Buena Salud” plans and guided-care HMOs for chronic care needs. Small businesses (especially under 50 employees) can now offer Oscar: employers can contribute to employees’ individual plans via a pre-tax arrangement, and Oscar provides 24/7 concierge support to those employees. You can enroll in Oscar during the annual Open Enrollment period or after a qualifying life event. Oscar’s website and the ACA marketplace allow you to compare plans and get quotes for your ZIP code and situation, so you can see your premium and estimated costs before you decide.
Pricing and Competitor Comparison
In terms of cost, Oscar is often mid-to-high range among insurers. One analysis found Oscar’s plans come in cheaper than only Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) on average. For example, ValuePenguin reported a 40-year-old’s Silver plan ran about $582/month with Oscar versus $603 with BCBS (and only BCBS was higher). By contrast, some companies like Kaiser Permanente or Aetna may offer significantly lower premiums in certain markets (in one case a Kaiser Silver plan was $100 cheaper than Oscar’s). MoneyGeek notes Oscar’s average Silver premium ($512 for a 40-year-old) is competitive and its claims approvals are strong. In fact, MoneyGeek rated Oscar their #1 overall private insurer, thanks to its broad plan selection and low claim-denial rate.
Legacy insurers have different strengths. Blue Cross Blue Shield plans generally offer wider national networks, though often at higher cost. UnitedHealthcare also has broad coverage and extra perks (wellness programs, telehealth benefits, etc.). However, Oscar’s nimble tech platform gives it an edge on convenience and digital care that some big carriers can’t match. For shoppers, the best approach is to compare health insurance quotes: check Oscar’s offerings against BCBS, UnitedHealthcare or local options in your state. Tools like healthcare.gov and Oscar’s own site let you enter your ZIP code, get a quote, and see costs side-by-side.
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