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Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance 2024 Review
The 33 Blue Cross Blue Shield companies offer a variety of Medigap plans and added benefits, depending on your location.
Alex Rosenberg Lead Writer | Medicare, health care, legislation
Alex Rosenberg is a NerdWallet writer focusing on Medicare and information technology. He has more than 10 years of experience researching and writing about health care, insurance, technology, data privacy and public policy. His research has supported lawmakers in the Wisconsin State Legislature as well as health systems and national health authorities in the U.S. and more than 10 other countries. He is based in Stoughton, Wisconsin.
Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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Best for Nationwide availability
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield is a collective of 33 companies. BCBS plans are available throughout the country, but plan types, prices and performance vary.
Plan types offeredMedigap plan types the company generally offers (availability may vary by location). Options include Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N
A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N.
NAIC complaint rateHow often the company’s members file complaints about their policies as compared to the industry average, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Close to expected
Premium discounts availableBased on the number and size of a company’s available discounts on monthly premiums, in comparison to other insurance companies.
Average
Pros
"Blue to Blue" program could mean easier changes to coverage in the future.
Available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Cons
Offerings and experiences vary depending on BCBS company.
Cheaper Medicare Select plans have network requirements.
Plan types offeredMedigap plan types the company generally offers (availability may vary by location). Options include Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N
A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N.
NAIC complaint rateHow often the company’s members file complaints about their policies as compared to the industry average, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Close to expected
Premium discounts availableBased on the number and size of a company’s available discounts on monthly premiums, in comparison to other insurance companies.
Average
Pros
"Blue to Blue" program could mean easier changes to coverage in the future.
Available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Cons
Offerings and experiences vary depending on BCBS company.
Cheaper Medicare Select plans have network requirements.
Blue Cross Blue Shield companies make up about 43% of the total U.S. health insurance market
and offer Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. While they share a name, individual companies within the 33-company BCBS collective vary.
BCBS companies are licensed by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, but they function independently. You can find the company that serves your location on the BCBS website.
Here’s what you should know about Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance.
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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.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance pros and cons
Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Medigap offerings have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
Flexibility: The "Blue to Blue" program could make it easier and less expensive to change your coverage in the future.
Nationwide availability: BCBS companies offer Medigap policies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Cons
BCBS companies vary: Prices, plan types, extras and member experiences can vary depending on your local BCBS company.
Medicare Select networks: BCBS' Medicare Select plans can be cheaper than standard versions, but you have to stay in-network.
Still deciding on the right carrier? Compare Medigap plans
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance plans
Blue Cross Blue Shield companies offer different selections of Medigap plan types depending on the state and company. There are as many as eight Medicare Supplement Insurance plans available for purchase by any Medicare member:
Medigap Plan A — the basic benefits included in every Medigap plan without any extras.
Medigap Plan B — basic benefits plus coverage for the Medicare Part A deductible.
Medigap Plan D — a mid-cost option that covers most Medigap benefits.
Medigap Plan G — the highest-coverage option available to new Medicare members. Available as either a standard plan or a high-deductible option in some locations.
Medigap Plan K — the lowest-cost Medigap plan, with 50% coverage for most benefits.
Medigap Plan L — a low-cost option with 75% coverage for most benefits.
Medigap Plan M — coverage for most benefits, but only half of the Part A deductible.
Medigap Plan N — a plan with lower premiums but higher copays.
Blue Cross Blue Shield also offers Medigap Plan C, Medigap Plan F and the high-deductible version of Plan F in certain locations for qualifying beneficiaries who were eligible to enroll in Medicare prior to 2020. Newer Medicare members can’t buy these plans from any company.
In addition, Blue Cross Blue Shield offers plans in Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin according to each state's Medigap plan standards, which differ from the standardization system used in the majority of the country.
Blue Cross Blue Shield’s plan offerings vary by state. In some states, multiple BCBS companies can offer different selections of plans. Enter your ZIP code on Blue Cross Blue Shield’s website to check out the BCBS company and plan offerings available in your location.
From our Nerds: Are Blue Cross Blue Shield Medigap plans good?
“It depends. Taken all together, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans are pretty average. But BCBS is a collective of more than 30 companies, and their offerings and performance vary. You’ll need to look into your local BCBS licensee to check whether it’s a good fit.”
In some locations, Blue Cross Blue Shield companies offer Medicare Select versions of policies in addition to the standard version.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare Select is "a type of Medigap policy sold in some states that requires you to use hospitals and, in some cases, doctors within its network to be eligible for full insurance benefits (except in an emergency)."
In exchange for the network restrictions, Medicare Select plans offer lower premiums than their non-Select counterparts.
Review the materials for a Medicare Select policy you’re considering to learn about the network limitations and in-network facility list for the policy.
Add-on coverage for dental and vision
Some plans allow you to purchase additional coverage with cost sharing for services not included in standard Medigap policies. For example, some Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans offer Anthem Extras packages, which can cover some costs for dental cleanings, dental procedures and eye exams, plus an allowance for eyeglasses or contact lenses.
These add-ons require premiums in addition to the cost of the Medigap policy. For example, Anthem Extras packages with dental and vision coverage in Georgia cost between $19 and $48.40 per month depending on the coverage level
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medigap premiums vary depending on the BCBS licensee. In the estimates obtained for this review, BCBS’ premiums weren’t extraordinarily high or low. Plan G premiums averaged about 25% higher than the least expensive alternative, and Plan N averaged about 54% higher.
How we evaluate Medigap companies’ prices
The following price estimates were obtained for three metropolitan areas representing above-average, average and below-average costs for the most popular Medicare Supplement Insurance plans (Plan G and Plan N)
NerdWallet analysis of American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance data. Best Costs Medigap 2024 – Plan G. Accessed Feb 9, 2024.
Los Angeles: More expensive than average. Blue Shield of California is the BCBS licensee.
Atlanta: Average cost for the U.S. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is the BCBS licensee.
Dallas: Less expensive than average. BlueCross BlueShield of Texas is the BCBS licensee.
The sections below show pricing information from Blue Cross Blue Shield for a 65-year-old female nonsmoker as filed with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
. (Note: Some Medigap prices may be higher for males.)
For comparison, each table also includes the price for the least-expensive option to buy the same plan from any company that filed prices. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield’s lowest price for Medigap Plan G in Los Angeles appears alongside the lowest price on Medicare.gov for all Plan G policies available in Los Angeles to an applicant with identical demographics.
Here are a few examples of discounts Blue Cross Blue Shield offers to qualifying Medicare Supplement Insurance applicants:
Automatic payments: Some plans offer discounts on premiums if you set up automatic payments from your bank account.
Prepayment: Some plans offer discounts on premiums if you pay for a full year in advance.
Household: Some plans offer discounts if a spouse or household member is also enrolled in a Medigap policy from the same company.
Available discounts may vary according to factors such as your location, household status and how you apply for a policy.
Blue Cross Blue Shield member complaints
6% fewer complaints than average
Members file complaints about Medicare Supplement Insurance policies from Blue Cross Blue Shield companies at rates about 6% below the market average for all Medigap plans, according to 2022-2023 data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for BCBS companies that sell Medigap policies
National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Company Complaint Index. Accessed Jul 19, 2024.
. (The other 20.4% went to overhead expenses like administrative costs, marketing, salaries and commissions.) For comparison, the average for all companies is 80.4%.
Medicare Supplement Insurance companies must report data on the premiums they collect and how much they spend to provide benefits for members. The minimum required by law for individual Medigap policies is 60%
Medigap plans have standardized Medicare benefits, but insurance companies can offer additional perks. Here are examples of extras included with some Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance policies:
Blue to Blue: Some plans allow qualifying members to switch between Medicare Advantage and Medigap plan types at certain times during the year without underwriting, so there’s no extra cost or chance of denial due to your health status or medical history.
Fitness: Some plans offer SilverSneakers or similar fitness programs that can include gym memberships, fitness classes, training sessions and tracking apps.
Discount programs: Some plans offer access to programs that provide discounts on, for example, prescriptions, over-the-counter health and wellness products, vision services, eyewear, hearing services or hearing aids.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance service area
Blue Cross Blue Shield companies offer Medicare Supplement Insurance policies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
In total, BCBS companies cover about 3.5 million Medigap beneficiaries, and their combined share of the total Medicare Supplement Insurance market is about 27%
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Supplement Insurance companies. These insurers offer Medigap plans in most states, but specifics may vary depending on your location.
Blue Cross Blue Shield began as two companies — Blue Cross and Blue Shield — that offered affordable health care solutions in the early 1900s and started to come together in the 1940s. It was made official in 1982 when they formed the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, which now includes 33 independent and locally operated companies across the country. Nationwide, it provides health care coverage to 115 million members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has two main offices, in Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Because Medigap plans are standardized, you can get precisely the same Medicare benefits from any company offering the plan. So when you shop, keep these considerations in mind to find the best policy to fit your needs:
Is your preferred plan available? Health insurance companies don’t always sell every plan, so check who sells the plan you want to buy in your area.
What are the premiums? Prices for the same plan can vary between companies, so check to find the most competitive rates.
Will your premiums change over time? Most policies cost more as you age, but some companies offer policies that let you lock in a price when you sign up.
Are there extras? Medigap plans’ core benefits are standardized, but in certain cases, some companies include such perks as discount programs or gym memberships.
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
