What are the best individual health insurance plans for a self-employed buyer who wants broad provider network coverage?

If you’re self-employed and want the broadest provider access, the “best” individual health insurance plans are usually the ones with the largest PPO/POS networks available in your state—though availability varies a lot by location.

Usually the best places to look

• Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) PPO plans
  Often among the broadest networks, especially if you travel or want access to many specialists.
• UnitedHealthcare PPO plans
  Can offer wide national networks in some markets.
• Aetna PPO plans
  Often solid network breadth, depending on your state.
• Cigna PPO plans
  Sometimes good for larger networks, but market availability varies.
• Oscar / Ambetter / Kaiser / HMO-style plans
  These can be cheaper, but usually have narrower networks, so they’re less ideal if broad access is your top priority.

What to prioritize

Look for:

• PPO or POS plans rather than HMO
• No referral requirement for specialists
• Out-of-network coverage if you need flexibility
• Confirmation that your doctors, hospitals, and medications are in-network
• Reasonable deductible, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket max

Best practical strategy

1. Check your state’s ACA marketplace plans and filter for PPO.
2. Compare network size using the insurer’s provider directory.
3. Verify your preferred doctors and hospitals directly with the provider office.
4. If you’re open to non-marketplace coverage, also compare private PPO plans through an agent or broker.

Important note

In many states, true broad-network PPOs are limited on the ACA marketplace. The “best” plan may simply be the one from a carrier with the strongest local network, even if it’s not the cheapest.

If you want, I can help you narrow this down by state and whether you want ACA marketplace plans or off-market private plans.