Kaiser Permanente vs UnitedHealthcare:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, UnitedHealthcare had more branded searches than Kaiser Permanente among health insurance brands worldwide. UnitedHealthcare had about 1.2 million branded searches, while Kaiser Permanente had 1 million. UnitedHealthcare made up 27.2% of all health insurance brand searches we track, and Kaiser Permanente accounted for 22.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about health insurance brands, Kaiser Permanente appeared in three of the five answers and UnitedHealthcare in two. Kaiser Permanente was mentioned before UnitedHealthcare in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
UnitedHealthcare, about 22% more searches than Kaiser Permanente
Who does AI mention more?
Kaiser Permanente, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, UnitedHealthcare in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Kaiser Permanente, named ahead of UnitedHealthcare in 2 of 3 answers
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Top health insurance brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kaiser Permanente was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. UnitedHealthcare was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Kaiser Permanente was listed before UnitedHealthcare in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Blue Cross Blue Shield4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Kaiser Permanente3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
UnitedHealthcare2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Aetna2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Oscar Health2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Cigna2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
AXA0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Humana0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Bupa0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about health insurance brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which health insurance brand should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best health insurance brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best health insurance brand for employee benefits?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best health insurance”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“group health insurance”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Kaiser Permanente or UnitedHealthcare more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine health insurance brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for UnitedHealthcare, Kaiser Permanente. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | AXA | UnitedHealthcare | Kaiser Permanente | Blue Cross Blue Shield | Aetna | Oscar Health | Cigna | Humana | Bupa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 26.8% | 18% | 26.8% | 21.9% | 2.4% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.73% | 0.06% |
| Nov 2025 | 29.1% | 16.1% | 29.1% | 19.7% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.97% | 0.65% | 0.07% |
| Dec 2025 | 29% | 16% | 29% | 19.6% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 0.96% | 0.64% | 0.07% |
| Jan 2026 | 29.5% | 16.2% | 24% | 24% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 0.8% | 0.65% | 0.07% |
| Feb 2026 | 27.9% | 15.4% | 27.9% | 22.8% | 2.1% | 2.5% | 0.76% | 0.62% | 0.08% |
| Mar 2026 | 32.2% | 14.5% | 26.2% | 21.5% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 0.71% | 0.58% | 0.08% |
| Apr 2026 | 28.8% | 13% | 28.8% | 23.6% | 1.7% | 2.6% | 0.78% | 0.52% | 0.07% |
| May 2026 | 32% | 14.4% | 26.2% | 21.6% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 0.87% | 0.58% | 0.08% |
| Jun 2026 | 29.7% | 20% | 24.4% | 20% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.81% | 0.54% | 0.07% |
| Jul 2026 | 29.8% | 20.1% | 24.4% | 20.1% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.66% | 0.54% | 0.07% |
| Aug 2026 | 27.1% | 27.1% | 22.2% | 18.3% | 2% | 2% | 0.74% | 0.49% | 0.06% |
| Sep 2026 | 27.2% | 27.2% | 22.3% | 18.3% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.74% | 0.49% | 0.08% |
How has the Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: UnitedHealthcare took it in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kaiser Permanente’s share of searches among health insurance brands worldwide moved from 26.8% to 22.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.2M to 1M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, UnitedHealthcare’s share of searches among health insurance brands worldwide moved from 18% to 27.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 823K to 1.2M.
How did search popularity change for health insurance brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

UnitedHealthcare’s share of searches among health insurance brands worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 20% to 27.2% in September 2026.

Estimated monthly branded searches for Kaiser Permanente worldwide fell 18% over 12 measured months, from 1.2M to 1M in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kaiser Permanente’s and UnitedHealthcare’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Kaiser Permanente
1 branded search term
- kaiser permanente
UnitedHealthcare
1 branded search term
- united healthcare
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