Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Insurance Review & Complaints: Health Insurance (2024)
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare provides Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug coverage to customers in the US. Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplement insurance is also available as an add-on to regular Medicare coverage. Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare plans are sold through the many BCBS licensed insurance companies across the U.S.
Read moreFree Health Insurance Comparison
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Schimri Yoyo
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Schimri Yoyo is a financial advisor with active life and health insurance licenses in seven states and over 20 years of experience. During his career, he has held roles at Foresters Financial, Strayer University, Minnesota Life, Securian Financial Services, Delaware Valley Advisors, Bridgemark Wealth Management, and Fidelity. Schimri is an educator eager to assist individuals and families in ...
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
UPDATED: Mar 8, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
UPDATED: Mar 8, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
One of the biggest names in healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is actually a federation of various companies, each with their own service area. While all of the companies operated under the BCBS name and banner, their plans and service differ depending on the company and the state. Among the products offered by BCBS companies are individual and group health insurance, including marketplace plans, and Medicare options. BCBS has companies in every state as well as D.C. and Puerto Rico.
It’s hard for any Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare review to cover all of the possible policies and companies since there are so many companies operating under the BCBS name. We’ll give you a rundown of some of those and a sample of what plans are out there, as well as how to get Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare quotes.
Before you dive into our BCBS Medicare review, see what options are out there for you. Compare Medicare rates now with free quotes.
About BCBS
The two companies that form Blue Cross Blue Shield have separate histories that eventually came together. Blue Cross has its roots in the American Hospital Association, founded in 1929. A decade later they began using the symbol of the blue cross, and by 1960 the Blue Cross Association had become a household name.
Blue Shield was founded to provide coverage to workers in logging and mining camps in the Pacific Northwest, but it didn’t start officially offering health care policies until 1939 in California. The blue shield symbol came into use in 1948, and the company eventually started to use that name.
The two companies merged officially in 1982, creating a major healthcare company that would go on to license its recognizable name and symbols to smaller companies across the nation. These companies include big names like Anthem, Highmark, and Wellmark. In some states, there are several different BCBS plans in operation, while others have only one.
Both of the companies became Medicare administrators early on in the program; Blue Cross was, in fact, the first company licensed to administer Medicare plans. Today their offerings vary from company to company, which is similar to the way other large companies have different plans in various states. The main Blue Cross Blue Shield website directs visitors to the correct company for their area.
Read more: Wellmark Medicare Insurance Review & Complaints: Health Insurance
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
BCBS Medicare Plans
Since there are so many companies with different plan options, it is difficult to create a full overview of the available products. For the purpose of this review, we will look at the plans offered in Southern California.
Our sample area has two companies from which to buy Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare plans: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California. Both of these companies offer Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Part D coverage.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans for 2021 have some minor changes to coverage.
Blue Shield of California has two Medicare Advantage plans. Both are HMO plans and both have a $0 premium (above and beyond the regular Medicare premium).
We found few differences between the plans; both do not have a deductible and do not charge for office visits. The differences are slight, with one plan having a slightly lower out of pocket but a $5 specialist copay, while the other has no specialist copay but a slightly higher out of pocket limit. Both plans have prescription drug coverage, with the first plan offering a $0 copay on Tier one and the second a $3 copay.
Anthem Blue Cross offers a long list of Medicare Advantage plans in our sample area. Many plans are very similar that we found it difficult to understand why the company offers them all. Some of the plans appear to focus care on specific conditions.
Anthem Diabetes is a $0 premium plan that is designed specifically for people with diabetes. It is a zero premium and zero deductible plan without a copay for office visits either primary or specialist. The plan does not include Part D coverage.
Read more: Best Life Insurance Policies When You Have Diabetes
Anthem Heart is much like the diabetes plan, but instead of offering coverage focused on diabetes, it provides access to heart-care specific services. There is also a similar plan called Anthem Breathe, and a fourth called Anthem Touch. We had a hard time clarifying what really differentiates these plans.
Anthem Value Plus is yet another $0 premium plan that is again very similar to the previous plans. Dental, vision, and hearing are included with this plan.
MediBlue Select is an HMO plan that is similar to the diabetes plan – no premium, no deductible, and no copay for either primary or specialist visits. Part D is not included, but vision and dental can be added for a monthly charge.
StartSmart Plus is also a no premium plan, but it has a $5 copay for primary care visits. Specialist copays vary from $0-20. Again, Part D is not included with this plan.
Anthem Connect is another zero-premium plan. It has no copays for specialist visits or primary care visits, and as with the other plans, there is no Part D coverage included.
Anthem Connect Plus is the first plan on the list with a premium due each month. This plan has a 20% coinsurance for both primary care and specialist visits. Vision, dental, and hearing coverage are all included with this plan, although Part D is not.
Mediblue Coordination Plus also has a premium, and it has very similar coverage to the Connect Plus plan.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement
Medicare Supplement plan offerings again differ by state, although most states use the same letter-coded standardized system. That means that Plan A is Plan A, regardless of where you live.
Check out all of the different plan types in the table below.
Medicare Supplement Plan Comparison
Coverage | Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Plan D | Plan F | Plan G | Plan K | Plan L | Plan M | Plan N |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Part B coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
Blood (first 3 pints) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
Part A deductible | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | 50% | Yes |
Part B deductible | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Part B excess charge | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Foreign travel exchange (up to plan limits) | No | No | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | No | No | 80% | 80% |
Out-of-pocket limit in 2020 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $5,880 | $2,940 | N/A | N/A |
On the Anthem site, five letter-coded plans are available. Plan A is the base plan, covering all coinsurance amounts and the first three pints of blood each year. Plans N and G are also available, as well as what is called Innovative Plan F. It is unclear how this differs from regular Plan F, which covers nearly all out of pocket costs, but is likely a deductible plan although we did not see a deductible listed.
All of Anthem’s Supplement plans offer the option to added dental, vision, or both.
We were unable to find any plans listed for our sample area on the Blue Shield of California website although they do appear to offer them in other zip codes.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Part D (Prescription Drugs)
Both of the two California companies we compared for Medicare Advantage also offer Part D.
Blue Shield of California has two plans. Rx Plus has a deductible of $405 and copays starting at $2, while the more expensive plan, Rx Enhanced, has no deductible, but slightly higher copays, starting at $4
Anthem has three Part D plans available. The first is similar to Blue Shield’s base plan, with a $405 deductible and copays starting at $1. The other two plans have no deductible, with similar copay amounts.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Rates
Both Anthem and Blue Shield offer rates right up front on their website.
As noted, both of Blue Shield’s Advantage plans are $0 premium plans. Anthem has a long list of $0 premium plans, and their most expensive plan is the Coordination Plus at $31.50 a month. It is worth noting that none of these plans includes Part D, which is why the rates are so low. Even with that in mind though, we found these rates to be very reasonable.
Anthem’s Part D plans are priced at $26.10 for the Enhanced plan, $79.90 for the Plus plan, and $84.20 for the Standard plan
Blue Shield’s two Part D plans are priced similarly, with the deductible option at $82.50 a month and the no deductible plan at $111.30 a month.
Finally, Plan A for Medicare Supplement at Anthem has a rate of $131.29 for our sample of a 65-year-old woman. Plan G iss the most expensive at $157.78.
On the whole, all of the rates we found were in line with other companies. Some were on the low side, including the Advantage plans. We found the Part D plans to be a bit pricey, but when combined with the Advantage plans they can add up to a reasonable rate overall. Anthem’s Supplement plans are a little expensive on the low end – Plan A, but pretty reasonable on the high end – Plan F.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Claims Process
Ease of Filing a Claim
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare offers multiple convenient methods for filing claims, making it easy for policyholders to navigate the process. You can file a claim online through their website, over the phone, or through their mobile app.
The flexibility in filing options ensures that policyholders can choose the method that suits them best, whether they prefer the convenience of online filing or speaking with a representative over the phone.
Average Claim Processing Time
The average claim processing time with Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare is typically efficient. Thanks to their streamlined online systems and experienced claims processing teams, policyholders can expect timely handling of their claims.
While exact processing times may vary depending on the nature of the claim and individual circumstances, Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare strives to provide quick and efficient claim resolutions.
Customer Feedback on Claim Resolutions and Payouts
Customer feedback on claim resolutions and payouts for Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare is an essential aspect to consider. Policyholders’ experiences play a crucial role in evaluating the overall quality of service.
While specific feedback may vary, it’s advisable to explore customer reviews and testimonials to gauge how Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare handles claims and whether they provide fair and satisfactory payouts to their policyholders.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Digital and Technological Features
Mobile App Features and Functionality
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare offers a comprehensive mobile app designed to enhance the user experience. The app provides access to various features and functionalities, allowing policyholders to manage their insurance on the go.
With the mobile app, users can check their coverage, view claim status, locate healthcare providers, and even contact customer support, all from the convenience of their smartphones.
Online Account Management Capabilities
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare’s online account management capabilities provide policyholders with a user-friendly platform to manage their insurance policies and related information. Through their secure online portal, policyholders can review policy details, update personal information, track claims, and make payments.
This online convenience simplifies policy management and ensures that policyholders have easy access to essential information.
Digital Tools and Resources
In addition to the mobile app and online account management, Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare offers a range of digital tools and resources to assist policyholders. These tools may include educational resources, cost estimators, and healthcare provider directories.
These digital resources aim to empower policyholders with the information they need to make informed healthcare decisions and get the most out of their Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare coverage.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Ratings and Consumer Reviews
Before we take a look at some of the ratings and reviews out there, it is worth noting once again that BCBS companies differ from state to state, and that reviews and ratings for the sample companies we selected do not apply to other BCBS-branded companies. Take a look at the reviews for the BCBS company in your area for more specific information.
It should also be noted that these companies provide much more than Medicare, and ratings often reflect the business as a whole rather than Medicare plans specifically.
Anthem has many different Better Business Bureau (BBB) pages since they serve so many areas. Since we have focused this review on Anthem Blue Cross of California, which has an A+ rating with the BBB. There are 63 complaints on file in the past three years.
Anthem has seen an improvement in its Medicare Star ratings overall in the past few years. This report applies across the country, so the star ratings for each individual plan may vary.
There are 414 reviews on Anthem on Consumer Affairs; overall the star rating is just under two stars. There are a lot of complaints regarding claims being denied. Again, as noted previously, this applies to all of Anthem’s business and not just Medicare. When looked at from that angle, the complaint volume isn’t high.
Blue Shield of California has several BBB pages as well. Most of them have no rating, and the page for the San Francisco location has an F rating, something we rarely see. The site states the reason for this as the failure of the company to respond to 46 complaints and 12 complaints that were not resolved. 179 complaints in total are listed for the past three years. This may not apply to all areas of the state, but it is certainly very concerning.
Consumer Affairs has 210 reviews with an overall one-star rating. While this is not a huge number of complaints overall, considering this is also for all of the company’s business, combined with the BBB rating it looks a lot worse.
In general, Anthem appears to have a much better reputation than does Blue Shield.
Pros and Cons: Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
There’s a lot of information here, so let’s break it down into a quick list of pros and cons to help you decide.
Pros
- A reputable and well-known health insurance company
- Lots of plans and more than one company to choose from
- Several $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans
- One-stop shopping for all of your Medicare coverage needs
Cons
- The different companies under the BCBS umbrella can be confusing
- Part D isn’t included in all Advantage plans
- Customer service reputation isn’t great
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare: The Bottom Line
BCBS companies are widely varied, and this review cannot touch on all of them. Based on what we have seen from two California companies, the number and type of plans vary greatly, as does the company reputation. If you are seeking Medicare coverage in California, Anthem appears to be a good bet. For coverage from any other BCBS company, we suggest checking out the individual reputation of the company before making a decision.
There may be several affordable Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare plans available to you, but check out all of your options before you buy. Enter your ZIP code now for free quotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare?
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare provides Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug coverage to customers in the US. Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplement insurance is also available as an add-on to regular Medicare coverage. Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare p
How can I get Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare quotes?
To get Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare quotes, you can visit the Blue Cross Blue Shield website and provide your information to receive a quote. Alternatively, you can contact a licensed insurance agent who represents Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare plans.
What types of Medicare plans does Blue Cross Blue Shield offer?
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement plans, and Part D Prescription Drug plans. The specific plans available may vary depending on the state and the BCBS company in your area.
How do Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans work?
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans are offered by BCBS companies and provide an alternative way to receive your Medicare benefits. These plans often include additional benefits beyond what Original Medicare offers, such as prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and hearing services. Medicare Advantage plans are typically offered as HMO or PPO plans, and you may need to use network providers to receive the full benefits.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement insurance?
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement insurance, also known as Medigap, is designed to fill the gaps in coverage left by Original Medicare. These plans help pay for certain out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Blue Cross Blue Shield offers different Medigap plans, labeled with letters such as Plan A, Plan B, etc. These plans are standardized, meaning the benefits are the same regardless of the BCBS company you choose.
How do I file a claim with Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare?
Pros of Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare:
- Wide range of plan options available through various BCBS companies
- Additional benefits offered with Medicare Advantage plans
- Medicare Supplement plans help cover out-of-pocket costs
- Well-known and established brand in the healthcare industry
Cons of Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare:
- Plan availability and coverage may vary by state and BCBS company
- Some customer complaints regarding claims and customer service
- Rates for Part D Prescription Drug plans can be higher compared to standalone plans
Please note that the pros and cons mentioned here are based on the information provided in the content and may not reflect the entire range of advantages and disadvantages of Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare. It’s always advisable to research and compare different insurance options to find the best fit for your specific needs.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Schimri Yoyo
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Schimri Yoyo is a financial advisor with active life and health insurance licenses in seven states and over 20 years of experience. During his career, he has held roles at Foresters Financial, Strayer University, Minnesota Life, Securian Financial Services, Delaware Valley Advisors, Bridgemark Wealth Management, and Fidelity. Schimri is an educator eager to assist individuals and families in ...
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.