Companion Life (Pivot Health) Health Insurance Review

Companion Life Insurance Company (Pivot Health)

Companion Life Insurance Company is a long-standing U.S. insurer known for underwriting supplemental, ancillary, and short-term medical insurance products. Companion Life underwrites short-term medical policies for Pivot Health, a Healthcare.com company.

This means Pivot Health designs and sells the plan, but Companion Life provides the actual insurance. Within the individual health insurance market, Companion Life is best recognized as the primary underwriter for several Pivot Health short-term medical insurance lines. 

While it does not sell ACA-compliant major medical coverage, its collaboration with Pivot Health positions it as a leading STM underwriter with access to broad national PPO networks, competitive pricing, and flexible terms.

Short-term medical (STM) plans are temporary, fast-to-enroll health insurance options with lower premiums, flexible terms, and broad provider choice, designed for generally healthy adults ages 18–64 who can pass medical screening and don’t need coverage for chronic conditions or pregnancy.

If you’re new to STM coverage, our guide on what short-term health insurance is explains how these temporary plans work, who they’re designed for, and what they don’t cover.

Companion Life generally maintains a solid financial standing and a lower-than-average complaint index relative to national peers. Its STM products, delivered under the Pivot Health brand, appeal to consumers seeking temporary or gap coverage, such as those between jobs, outside open enrollment, aging off a parent’s plan, or waiting for new benefits to begin.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Lower premiums than ACA marketplace plans.
• Broad availability across most STM-friendly U.S. states.
• Multiple short-term plan series (Classic, Core, Quantum) with flexible benefits.
• Access to large national PPO Networks, including Cigna PPO for Quantum plans.
• Coverage options up to $1 million per coverage period.
• Wide range of deductibles and coinsurance levels for customization.
• Doctor visit copays are available on select plans.
  

Cons

• Not ACA-compliant (no guaranteed essential health benefits).
• Pre-existing condition exclusions apply.
• Limited major medical coverage in lower-tier plans (especially Core).
  
• Availability varies by state due to STM regulations.

Before choosing a Pivot Health plan underwritten by Companion Life, it’s important to review key things to know before buying a short-term plan, including exclusions, renewal limits, and state rules.

Coverage Area (2026)

United States

Companion Life underwrites Pivot Health STM plans in up to 31 states where short-term medical insurance is permitted. States with strict STM restrictions (such as CA, NJ, NY, MA) typically do not offer these plans.

• ACA-compliant plans: None offered
• Short-term plans: Available in most STM-permissive states
• Employer or group plans: Companion Life offers group ancillary products, but Pivot-branded STM plans are individual-only

International

• No foreign coverage beyond standard emergency benefits, depending on plan and state.

Provider Network

• Pivot Health plans underwritten by Companion Life offer broad PPO access, including:
  • One of the largest national PPO networks for Core plans.
  • Cigna PPO for Quantum plans.
  • Classic plans offer open access to see any provider – no network restrictions.
• The exact percentage of physicians/hospitals in-network is not publicly disclosed, but network breadth is considered a major selling point.
  

Plan Types Offered (2026)

Under-65 (Individual & Family)

ACA Marketplace Plans

• Not offered. Companion Life does not underwrite ACA major medical coverage.
  

Short-Term Medical (STM)

Companion Life underwrites several Pivot Health STM product lines:

Classic STM Plans

• Up to $1 million total coverage.
• Multiple deductible and coinsurance choices.
• Doctor visit copays available on select versions.
• Designed for people between jobs, outside open enrollment, or waiting for coverage to begin.
  

Core STM Plans

• Lower deductibles and lower maximum out-of-pocket exposure.
• Access to one of the largest national PPO networks.
• Limited coverage for major services (hospitalization/surgery).

Quantum STM Plans

• Access to the Cigna PPO network.
• Coverage up to $1 million per period.
• Deductible options from $2,500 to $10,000.
  

Employer-Sponsored Plans

• Companion Life separately offers group ancillary products, but these are not part of Pivot STM and are not included in this review.
  

Student Health Plans

• None offered under the Pivot/Companion Life arrangement.
  

Medicaid

• No Medicaid plans.
  

Medicare (65+)

Companion Life does not underwrite Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement,  or Part D Prescription Drug Plans for Pivot Health.

Recent Changes in Cost and Options (2026)

Premiums and Rate Changes

• Premiums remain significantly lower than unsubsidized ACA plans for healthy individuals.
  

Out-of-Pocket Costs

• Deductible ranges largely unchanged.
• Average deductible: $2,500–$10,000 depending on plan tier.
• Core plans continue to offer lower out-of-pocket maximums relative to Classic or Quantum.
  

Plan Enhancements

• Continued emphasis on large PPO access.
• Expanded availability of doctor visit copays across the Classic series.
• More consistent preventive care coverage is offered in non-Companion Life underwritten Pivot lines (Epic, SureCare), but not relevant to this review.
  

Network Agreements

• Quantum continues Cigna PPO access into 2026.
• Core and Classic maintain broad national PPO participation.
  

Consumer Experience Snapshot

Complaint Index (NAIC)

• Companion Life’s NAIC complaint index is below the national average, indicating relatively few complaints for its size.
• Most concerns relate to STM limitations, such as denied claims for excluded services or pre-existing conditions, not insurer misconduct.

Satisfaction Scores

• Pivot Health holds a 4.5/5 Trustpilot rating from thousands of reviews.
• Positive feedback highlights affordability and ease of enrollment.
• Negative reviews often stem from misunderstandings of short-term limitations.
  

Companion Life’s Pivot Health offerings also appear in our roundup of the best short-term health insurance companies, where they are compared on network size, affordability, and plan features.

Methodology

Our Health Insurance Rating Methodology scores insurers across five main categories, each rated on a scale of 1 to 10. The overall score is the average of: Coverage, Breadth and Accessibility, Plan Variety and Customization, Affordability and Value, Innovation and Care Quality, and Consumer Experience and Transparency. Categories assess provider reach, plan diversity, cost structure, care delivery, and member service experiences based on public data, filings, and expert analysis.

Bottom Line

Companion Life Insurance Company is a strong option for individuals seeking temporary health coverage through Pivot Health. Its plans deliver broad PPO access, flexible deductibles, and relatively affordable premiums—ideal for healthy adults between jobs, recent graduates, early retirees, or anyone needing short-term medical protection.

However, as with all STM products, plans are not ACA-compliant, exclude pre-existing conditions, and may provide limited major medical coverage. Consumers needing comprehensive care, maternity coverage, or full preventive benefits should consider ACA marketplace alternatives.

Companion Life best serves consumers who want flexible, gap-period medical coverage at an affordable price and understand STM limitations.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HealthCareInsider.com or HealthCare, Inc.