We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1 (877) 486-2048) 24 hours a day/7 days a week to get information on all of your options.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance Review
Over 60 million American were enrolled in Medicare for health insurance coverage in 2016. Of that number, just over six million consumers lack supplemental Medicare coverage, putting them at risk of being saddled with unaffordable medical bills.
Blue Cross Blue Shield companies offer Medicare supplement insurance, also called Medigap plans, to help consumers pay out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare Part A and Part B. When you buy a Medicare supplement plan, you will pay less or nothing for deductibles, copays and coinsurance in exchange for paying a low monthly premium in addition to your Medicare Part B premium.
Anthem, Inc. is the largest independent health insurance company within Blue Cross Blue Shield. Also known as Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, the company offers Medicare supplement plans in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Pros
- Flexibility to see any physician in the United States who accepts Medicare without a referral
- Instant quotes online
- Automatic annual re-enrollment in your plan
Cons
- Copays for some services may not be covered
How to Get a Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance Quote
Enter your ZIP code on the Blue Cross Blue Shield website under Medigap Insurance to get a link to your state’s Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliate site. Enter your gender, birthdate and when you want coverage to start and you will get rates for the plans offered in your state. Blue Cross Blue Shield pushed Medicare Advantage plans on some state sites, so you may need to click a tab or link, or scroll down the page to see the Medicare supplement rates. Of course, you can call the number on the Blue Cross Blue Shield site or your local insurance agent to get quotes as well.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Coverage
As you shop for a Medicare supplement plan, details may vary slightly by state, however, policies are standard in the forms of Plans A through N. Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplement insurance plans A through G tend to have higher premiums and minimal out-of-pocket costs. Plans K through N are fairly similar to each other, all having a higher out-of-pocket cost and lower premiums.
If you’re unfamiliar with the types of plans, check out our article about what Medicare supplement plans cover. It breaks down Plans A through N in detail.
Cost of Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance
We provided sample rates for Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplement insurance for a male born in 1953 below for four cities across the country. As you can see, prices vary depending on your location. Since Medicare supplement insurance plans are regulated by both state and federal governments, you’ll find the same benefits for each plan across insurance companies. However, insurance companies don’t all charge the same amount, so it’s wise to compare rates. Below you’ll see sample Blue Cross Blue Shield monthly premiums from cities in the U.S. from the west coast to the east coast.
| Plan | Los Angeles | Tulsa | Chicago | Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Deduct. Plan F | $152.14 | $33.70 | $48 | N/A |
| Plan K | N/A | N/A | $78 | $55.19 |
| Plan L | N/A | N/A | $112 | N/A |
| Plan N | $121.28 | $110.70 | $109 | $112.38 |
| Plan A | $126.17 | $114.40 | $74 | $118.68 |
| Plan C | N/A | N/A | $163 | $267.62 |
| Plan F | $172.80 | $164.40 | $158 | $165.44 |
| Plan G | $144.41 | N/A | $147 | $151.88 |
Some Blue Cross Blue Shield companies offer premium discounts for non-smokers, low cholesterol or setting up automatic electronic payments from your bank account. Medicare supplement Plans A through N core benefits are the same across all insurance companies due to federal government regulations, but not all states carry each plan. Some insurance companies offer additional services like fitness club or vision care discounts with the plans, and you will find a variety of rates between providers.
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers Blue365 with discounts for members on fitness, hearing, vision, diet, cell phone plans and other deals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance Complaints
The Better Business Bureaus lists some Blue Cross Blue Shield state offices with ratings ranging from “B” to “F”. We found no ratings specifically for Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplement insurance on consumer review sites. Ratings for the company as a whole and local branches are inconsistent. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield gets a 9.9 out of 10-star rating on TopTenReviews.com and many 1.2 out of 5-star ratings on ConsumerAffairs. The respected J.D. Power Health Plan Satisfaction Survey scores Blue Cross Blue Shield as average to above average across most states. Blue Cross Blue Shield has an “A” financial strength rating from AM Best.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance FAQ
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What are Medicare Part C and Part D I saw using the Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan Finder?
Medicare Part C and Part D are sold separately from the supplement plans. Part D is a Medicare Advantage plan which takes the place of Parts A and B, and Part D is insurance for prescription drug coverage not included in Medicare Parts A and B. -
Are some Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplement plans more popular than others?
The most popular Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplement plans are Plan F, Plan G and Plan N. Plan N has lower monthly premium costs with moderate out-of-pocket expenses. Plan F and G cost a bit more but offer lower out-of-pocket expenses. Plan F also has a higher deductible option to keep monthly premiums down and is a reasonable choice for those who have amassed a significant amount of retirement income. -
Can I enroll in Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement plans simultaneously?
No, consumers must choose between the Medicare Advantage plan or a Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplement plan. It is against Federal law to be covered by both plans. If an insurance agent tries to sell you both plans after you tell them you are covered by one or the other, report them to the U.S. Office of Inspector General. -
Can my application for a Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplement plan be denied?
To avoid having your Medicare supplement insurance application denied, you must enroll during one of the official enrollment periods. There is a slight possibility your application could be rejected due to pre-existing conditions unless you live in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts or New York, where insurance companies can’t deny the right to purchase a Medicare supplement plan. -
What’s the difference between Blue Cross Blue Shield and Anthem, Inc.?
Anthem, Inc. is the largest managed health care company under the Blue Cross Blue Shield Umbrella. Its final merger to the Blue Cross Blue Shield organization came in 2004 and it now operates in 13 states as we mentioned earlier.
Conclusion
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplement insurance offers consumers enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B a way to fill gaps in health insurance coverage and pay deductibles. The plans defray medical costs for seniors with relatively flexible insurance coverage, and Blue Cross Blue Shield has a strong financial rating. Shopping for a plan on the Blue Cross Blue Shield website or setting up an appointment to see an agent is easy to do, and you can elect to automatically re-enroll in your Medicare supplement insurance so you don’t miss the annual enrollment deadline.
Start a quote online or call 877-630-2860