The bottom line: Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans vary by company, and BCBS includes a network of 33 companies around the country. BCBS members often report high satisfaction on surveys, but it’s important to look into the costs and benefits of the BCBS plans available in your area. Jump to: Full Review
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Pros
- Accessible plans: BCBS companies offer Medicare Advantage plans in 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. There’s a good chance you have access to plans from a BCBS insurer.
- Member satisfaction: BCBS companies take 1st or 2nd place for member satisfaction in 8 out of 10 states surveyed in JD Power’s latest Medicare Advantage study.
Cons
- Variability: BCBS companies can vary a lot in terms of price, quality ratings and member satisfaction. Depending on your location, you may not have access to a strong Blue Cross Blue Shield company.
- Premiums: BCBS plans with a monthly premium can be pricey compared to competitors.
Compare against other providers
🔍 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Advantage plans
Compare against other providers
🔍 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Advantage plans
Our full review
45+ Medicare companies and brands analyzed by our team of experts.
30+ years of combined experience covering Medicare and personal finance.
Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet’s Medicare content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in Medicare. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, Nasdaq, MSN, MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance and other national and regional media outlets. They have been cited in publications including Healthline, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast.
NerdWallet star rating for Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans earned 4.1 out of 5 stars for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account premiums, out-of-pocket costs, government quality ratings, customer complaints, disenrollment survey data, third party quality accreditation and more.
NerdWallet star ratings are different from CMS ratings for Medicare plans.
Our data-driven, consumer-first scoring rubric for Medicare Advantage plans includes crucial metrics like cost and a wider range of data sources for quality and customer satisfaction in addition to the information incorporated into CMS ratings.
Government quality ratings for Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage
Average CMS star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans get an average star rating of 4 out of 5 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for 2026, weighted by enrollment. That’s almost exactly equal to the all-company weighted average of 4.02 stars.
Of Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Medicare Advantage members who are in rated plans, 67% are in plans that are rated 4 stars or higher for the 2026 plan year.
CMS maintains its own database of star ratings, which rank each plan from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.
All Medicare Advantage plans are evaluated on health plan measures, and Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage are also evaluated on drug plan measures.
You can find a plan’s rating with Medicare's plan finding tool.
How much does Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage cost?
Premiums
About 57% of Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 premium.
BCBS plans with a monthly premium cost about $60.57 per month on average, weighted by enrollment. That’s on the high end compared to most major competitors.
With any Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll also be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is at least $202.90 per month in 2026.
Most people pay this standard amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you’ll pay the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). Some Medicare Advantage plans pay some or all of your Part B premium.
Prescription drugs
About 91% of BCBS Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage.
Here’s what you might pay for prescription drugs at some common price points.
Tier 1 (Preferred generics) 96.3% of BCBS Medicare Advantage plans have $0 copays/coinsurance.
$3.66: Average out-of-pocket cost for a drug with a $15 retail price, among BCBS plans with copays or coinsurance at Tier 1 (after deductible, if any).
Tier 2 (Most generics) 47% of BCBS Medicare Advantage plans have $0 copays/coinsurance.
$9.71: Average out-of-pocket cost for a drug with a $50 retail price, among BCBS plans with copays or coinsurance at Tier 2 (after deductible, if any).
Tier 3 (Preferred brands) 0.7% of BCBS Medicare Advantage plans have $0 copays/coinsurance.
$43.88: Average out-of-pocket cost for a drug with a $200 retail price, among BCBS plans with copays or coinsurance at Tier 3 (after deductible, if any).
Other out-of-pocket costs
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans have an average maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) spending cap of $5,899, weighted by enrollment. That’s pretty close to average among the companies NerdWallet reviews.
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in network or out of network, or how often you may go out of network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and whether the plan charges for them.
To get a sense of costs, Medicare.gov and most other Medicare shopping tools can help you compare plans' premiums and out-of-pocket costs for certain services and prescription drugs in your location.
Why do people leave BCBS Medicare Advantage plans?
CMS surveys people who voluntarily leave their Medicare plans about their reasons for leaving. Here’s the breakdown of problems people identified with their former Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare plans.
Problems getting covered care: 9% (All-company average: 11%).
Problems with doctor/hospital networks: 14% (All-company average: 17%).
Financial issues: 20% (All-company average: 17%).
Problems with prescription drug benefits: 3% (All-company average: 3%).
Problems getting information from the plan: 7% (All-company average: 9%).
(Members can give more than one reason for leaving on the survey and might leave plans for other reasons, so the categories won’t add up to 100%.)
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan types
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage.
Plan offerings include the following types:
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.
HMO point of service (POS) plans are HMO plans that allow members to get some out-of-network services, but they’ll pay more for those services.
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.
Blue Cross Blue Shield’s private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans allow you to see any Medicare-approved provider who accepts your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. You won’t have to pick a primary doctor, and you won’t need a referral to see a specialist.
Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. Hence, the benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members. Blue Cross Blue Shield offers three types of SNPs:
Chronic Condition SNP: Designed to meet the needs of members living with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and cardiovascular disease.
Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
Institutional SNP: For people living in a BCBS network nursing home or assisted living community, or another plan-approved spot.
Third-party ratings
AM Best
Financial Strength Rating: A+ (Superior) to C++ (Marginal)
AM Best is a credit rating agency that specializes in the insurance industry. Because Blue Cross Blue Shield is a collection of companies, AM Best has rated some — but not all — Blue Cross firms.
As of Sept. 26, 2025, AM Best affirmed the following ratings for Blue Cross Blue Shield companies:
Company
Financial Strength Rating
Anthem Health Group (and subsidiaries)
A (Excellent).*
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
A (Excellent).
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, A Mutual Insurance Company
A (Excellent).
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of South Carolina
A+ (Superior).**
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
A+ (Superior).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Inc.
A (Excellent).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
A- (Excellent).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
A+ (Superior).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Inc.
A- (Excellent).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
A+ (Superior).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
A+ (Superior).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
A+ (Superior).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
C++ (Marginal).***
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mutual Insurance Company
A (Excellent).
Blue Shield of California
A (Excellent).
Florida Blue
A+ (Superior).
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
A (Excellent).
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia
A (Excellent).
Highmark Blue Shield
A (Excellent).
Premera Blue Cross
A (Excellent).
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
A (Excellent).
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah
A (Excellent).
Regence BlueShield
A (Excellent).
Regence BlueShield of Idaho Inc.
A (Excellent).
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
A (Excellent).
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield (South Dakota)
A (Excellent).
* An A or A- rating in this category indicates that AM Best believes the company has an excellent ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations.
** An A+ rating in this category indicates that AM Best believes the company has a superior ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations.
*** A C++ rating in this category indicates that AM Best believes the company has a marginal ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations and its financial strength is vulnerable to adverse changes in underwriting and economic conditions.
JD Power
JD Power releases an annual study measuring member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans. It uses eight factors, such as level of trust, ability to get health services, ease of doing business and resolving problems or complaints.
Here’s how Blue Cross Blue Shield companies ranked among major providers in the 10 Medicare markets surveyed:
California: Blue Shield of California is 4th out of 8. Anthem Blue Cross is 8th out of 8.
Florida: Florida Blue is 4th out of 6.
Georgia: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is 2nd out of 5.
Illinois: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is 1st out of 5.
Michigan: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is 1st out of 5.
New York: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is 1st out of 6.
North Carolina: Blue Cross NC is 2nd out of 4.
Ohio: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is 1st out of 4.
Pennsylvania: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is 2nd out of 7. Independence Blue Cross is 3rd out of 7.
Texas: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is 1st out of 6.
NCQA accreditation: 11.5% of plans
About 11.5% of BCBS Medicare Advantage plans are NCQA accredited as of the most recent annual update in September 2025.
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) evaluates health insurance plans based on clinical measures and customer experience survey results. To earn NCQA accreditation, plans need to meet standards related to quality, population health management, provider networks, member experience and more.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage service area
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers Medicare Advantage plans in 47 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Nearly 5.1 million Medicare beneficiaries have a Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan for 2026.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield began as two companies — Blue Cross and Blue Shield. They grew and merged to form the current Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in 1982. Today, the association includes 33 independent Blue Cross Blue Shield companies. Nationwide, it provides health care coverage to 118 million members.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has two main offices, in Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama.
Premera Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alaska.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Anthem Blue Cross (California).
Blue Shield of California.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Colorado.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Connecticut.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (Washington, D.C.).
Florida Blue.
BlueCross BlueShield of Puerto Rico.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Hawaii.
Blue Cross of Idaho.
Regence BlueShield of Idaho.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Indiana.
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Iowa).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Kentucky.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Maine.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (Maryland).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Missouri.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Missouri).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nevada.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield New Hampshire.
Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (New York).
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York.
Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York.
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (New York).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Ohio.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma.
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon.
Capital BlueCross (Pennsylvania).
Highmark Blue Shield (Pennsylvania).
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (Pennsylvania).
Independence Blue Cross (Pennsylvania).
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina.
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield (South Dakota).
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (Virginia).
Premera Blue Cross (Washington).
Regence BlueShield (Washington).
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Wisconsin.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming.
» MORE: Read our review of Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage customer service
Blue Cross Blue Shield members can contact their plan’s customer service in the following ways:
Call the toll-free number on the back of your member ID card.
Find your BCBS company for specific contact information.
Compare Medicare Advantage companies
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage insurance companies. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
Find the right Medicare Advantage plan
It’s important to do your research before selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for yourself. Here are some questions to consider asking:
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have preferred medical providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
- BCBS companies offer plans in 47 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.
- BCBS companies often take top spots in customer satisfaction surveys.
- Cost, quality and benefits vary among BCBS companies, and you may not have access to one of the best BCBS plans.
- Plans with premiums can be pricey.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. 2026 Star Ratings Data Tables. Accessed Apr 24, 2026.
- 2.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. Monthly Enrollment by Plan. Accessed Apr 24, 2026.
- 3.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. CY2026 Landscape 202603. Accessed Apr 24, 2026.
- 4.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans. Accessed Apr 24, 2026.
- 5.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. Beneficiary Cost File. Accessed Apr 24, 2026.
- 6.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. 2026 Star Ratings Data Table - Disenrollment Reasons (Oct 8 2025). Accessed Apr 24, 2026.
- 7.AM Best. AM Best Rating Services. Accessed Oct 15, 2025.
- 8.JD Power. Medicare Advantage Plan Member Satisfaction Facing Headwinds; Digital Innovation an Emerging New Solution, JD Power Finds. Accessed Apr 24, 2026.
- 9.NCQA. Health Plans. Accessed Apr 24, 2026.
Medicare Advantage review methodology
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage ratings are based on premiums, out-of-pocket costs, prescription drug coverage, quality data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, consumer experience and more. We calculate each health insurance company’s rating on a curved 5-point scale.
NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed companies covering about 87% of all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in the United States. We reviewed 25 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurance companies having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.)
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies. In many places, one company serves more than half of the market. At the national level, NerdWallet’s reviews include each of the 10 largest brands by enrollment.
At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in every state where Medicare Advantage plans are sold, and includes the top two insurers in 40 of those 49 states. (Alaska doesn't offer Medicare Advantage plans.) We also look at online search volume to identify regional and other notable players in the space.
These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.
Compare Medicare Advantage plans
Insurance company | CMS star rating | States available | Members in high-rated plans | Member experience | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 4.11 | 4.11/5 | 48 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.74 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.79 | 3.79/5 | 46 states and Washington, D.C. | Low (49% or less) | 3.82 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet | 4.20 | 4.20/5 | 43 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.89 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.76 | 3.76/5 | 29 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.96 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |