Affordable low-cost Pennsylvania family health insurance plans are offered by many major carriers such as United Healthcare, Aetna, Independence Blue Cross, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and HealthAmerica. Family plans typically feature comprehensive benefits such as copays on covered office visits and prescriptions,  preventative and wellness coverage, and high lifetime limits on catastrophic claims.

Some of the most popular, yet competitively priced Pennsylvania family health insurance plans are Aetna’s PPO 5000 and 2500 plans, United HealthCare’s Copy Select and Copay Saver plans and the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield DirectBlue plan.

Aetna’s PPO 2500 plan features a $30 copay for covered office visits ($40 for specialists). Generic prescriptions are subject to a $15 copay while copays on non-generic prescriptions are subject to higher copays ($35-$50) and a $500 deductible. Unlike many stripped-down Pennsylvania plans, there is no limit to the number of covered office visits.

This Aetna family health plan includes comprehensive preventative coverages that are not subject to policy deductibles. The lifetime maximum per insured is $5 million and the major medical deductible is $2500 (office visits and prescriptions are not subject to the deductible). A PPO 5000 plan is also available with significantly lower premiums. Copays and deductibles, however, are higher.

United HealthCare’s Copay policies are the most comprehensive family Pennsylvania health plans in their portfolio. There is no limit on the number of covered office visits ($35 copay) and prescription coverage is very good ($15 generic copay and higher copays on non-generic). United HealthCare offers dozens of riders including increased prescription and maternity coverages.

Lifetime maximums of $3 million can be increased for only $7 per month extra. Rates on this particular plan seem to be more competitive in Eastern Pennsylvania. Preventative coverage is very comprehensive, but is subject to a 90-day waiting period.

The Pennsylvania Highmark Blue Blue Shield DirectBlue plan (available in the 29 Western Pa counties) features preventive benefits (routine physical, mammogram, gynecological exam, pap test and pediatric immunization) that are not subject to a deductible. Most other coverages are paid at 90% after the selected deductible has been met. Some of these coverages include office visits, hospital facility expenses (including maternity), medical/surgical expenses and diagnostic services. The lifetime maximum is $5 million ($1 million in any one year).