This directory lists 416 health insurance companies from around the world. The selection includes national insurers, regional carriers, nonprofit plans, and specialty providers.

Health insurance companies are organizations that collect premiums and pay for medical costs when members get sick or injured. They range from huge publicly traded firms to small mutual societies owned by their members. Some sell plans directly to individuals, while others work through employers or government programs. These companies matter because they shape who can afford care, which doctors people can see, and how much a hospital visit costs.

Interesting and little-known facts about Health insurance companies:

• The idea of prepaid health coverage goes back to the 1920s, when a Texas hospital sold school teachers a set number of hospital days for a fixed monthly fee.
• In the United States, more than 900 health insurers operate across the country, though a few large firms cover a big share of members.
• Many Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans are independent companies that share a common brand, not a single organization.
• Germany has one of the oldest systems, with sickness funds that date back to 1883.
• Some insurers are mutuals, which means policyholders, not outside shareholders, own the company.
• Insurers use large teams of actuaries, who study data to predict how much care members will need.

Below is the alphabetical index of all 416 companies. Each page lists the company name and a short Description, so readers can quickly see what each insurer does.