9 top health insurance stocks to buy in 2024

The best health insurance stocks depend on your portfolio and investment goals — while volatility can be ideal for day traders, long-term investors will want to look to stocks with steadier gains over time.

9 popular health insurance stocks picks to buy in 2024

We round up a selection of stocks in or related to the medical insurance industry, weighting the list more heavily towards popular mid- and large-cap US stocks.

1. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)
2. Aflac Incorporated (AFL)
3. MetLife (MET)
4. Humana (HUM)
5. HCA (HCA)
6. Oscar Health (OSCR)
7. Anthem (ANTM)
8. Primerica (PRI)
9. Globe Life (GL)

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The health insurance stocks industry is affected by a range of complex factors such as trade policies, regulations, and fluctuating supply and demand. So when considering health insurance stocks to buy, it's important that you have access to vital information about a company's financial health, leadership team, and market positioning.

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How to invest in health insurance stocks

1. Choose an online stock trading platform. Choose from our Top Picks above, use our comparison table below or jump straight to the best stock trading apps of 2024.
2. Sign up for an account. Provide your personal information and sign up.
3. Set up a funding method to pay for the transaction. Deposit funds into your account by linking your banking information.
4. Choose the stocks you want to buy. Search for the stock by name or ticker symbol like UNH or AFL.
5. Place your order. Buy the stock. It's that simple.

Take a deeper dive into health insurance stocks

If you're interested in investing in the medical insurance industry, take a closer look at what companies in this industry do and how the stocks have historically performed. Keep in mind that positive past performance doesn't guarantee that a stock will continue to rise in the future.

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1. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated stock opened the day at $488.96 after a previous close of $487.30. The latest price was $495.01 (25-minute delay). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD379.5 billion and employs 440,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $454,679,396,352
• P/E ratio: 30.1271
• PEG ratio: 1.2393

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2. Aflac Incorporated (AFL)

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. The company operates through Aflac Japan and Aflac U. S. segments.

Aflac Incorporated stock opened the day at $84.09 after a previous close of $84.28. The latest price was $83.66 (25-minute delay). Aflac Incorporated is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$18.7 billion and employs 12,785 staff.

• Market capitalization: $46,596,542,464
• P/E ratio: 10.4087
• PEG ratio: 0.93

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3. MetLife (MET)

MetLife, Inc. , a financial services company, provides insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services worldwide. It operates through six segments: Retirement and Income Solutions; Group Benefits; Asia; Latin America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and MetLife Holdings.

MetLife stock opened the day at $72.36 after a previous close of $72.72. The latest price was $71.29 (25-minute delay). MetLife is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$66.9 billion and employs 45,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $52,578,017,280
• P/E ratio: 40.1768
• PEG ratio: 0.1052

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4. Humana (HUM)

Humana Inc. , together with its subsidiaries, provides medical and specialty insurance products in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell.

Humana stock opened the day at $314.73 after a previous close of $315.98. The latest price was $309.65 (25-minute delay). Humana is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$106.4 billion and employs 67,600 staff.

• Market capitalization: $39,157,932,032
• P/E ratio: 16.2334
• PEG ratio: 1.6395

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5. HCA (HCA)

HCA Healthcare, Inc. , through its subsidiaries, owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the United States. It operates general and acute care hospitals that offers medical and surgical services, including inpatient care, intensive care, cardiac care, diagnostic, and emergency services; and outpatient services, such as outpatient surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy.

HCA stock opened the day at $321.40 after a previous close of $319.02. The latest price was $314.10 (25-minute delay). HCA is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$65 billion and employs 220,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $80,697,008,128
• P/E ratio: 16.0753
• PEG ratio: 1.4419

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6. Oscar Health (OSCR)

Oscar Health, Inc. operates as a health insurance in the United States. The company offers health plans in individual and small group markets, as well as +Oscar, a technology driven platform that help providers and payors directly enable their shift to value-based care.

Oscar Health stock opened the day at $17.12 after a previous close of $17.59. The latest price was $17.89 (25-minute delay). Oscar Health is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$5.9 billion and employs 2,400 staff.

• Market capitalization: $3,779,009,536

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7. Anthem (ANTM)

Anthem, Inc. , through its subsidiaries, operates as a health benefits company in the United States. It operates through four segments: Commercial & Specialty Business, Government Business, IngenioRx, and Other.

Anthem is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$144.4 billion and employs 98,200 staff.

• Market capitalization: $116,342,792,192
• P/E ratio: 18.9917
• PEG ratio: 1.4719

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8. Primerica (PRI)

Primerica, Inc. , together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. The company operates in four segments: Term Life Insurance; Investment and Savings Products; Senior Health; and Corporate and Other Distributed Products.

Primerica stock opened the day at $219.26 after a previous close of $221.88. The latest price was $219.01 (25-minute delay). Primerica is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$2.9 billion and employs 2,849 staff.

• Market capitalization: $7,461,522,432
• P/E ratio: 13.4991
• PEG ratio: 1.05

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9. Globe Life (GL)

Globe Life Inc. , through its subsidiaries, provides various life and supplemental health insurance products, and annuities to lower middle- and middle-income families in the United States. The company operates in four segments: Life Insurance, Supplemental Health Insurance, Annuities, and Investments.

Globe Life stock opened the day at $77.30 after a previous close of $78.60. The latest price was $76.31 (25-minute delay). Globe Life is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$5.4 billion and employs 3,636 staff.

• Market capitalization: $6,112,398,336
• P/E ratio: 6.4548

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Bottom line

While it’s possible to turn a profit investing in health insurance stocks, keep in mind that — like any investment — health insurance stocks are not immune to risk. These stocks are subject to fluctuating conditions — both in the market and in the medical insurance industry, so carefully vet your picks before you invest. And if you’re new to investing, or if it’s been awhile since you’ve taken a critical look at your investing accounts, compare brokers to make sure you’re getting the best features in your trading account.

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