Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance 2024 Review

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance pros and cons

Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Medigap offerings have advantages and disadvantages.

Our full review

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 plan types 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.

Medicare Select policies add network requirements

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^[0]

Cost for Blue Cross Blue Shield Medigap plans

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 21% higher than the least expensive alternative, and Plan N averaged about 51% higher.

Plan G

Plan N

Discounts

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^[0]

NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.

Blue Cross Blue Shield’s spending on care

79.6% for member benefits

Blue Cross Blue Shield plans spent about 79.6% of premiums on member benefits, according to the most recent annual data^[0]

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%^[0]

Additional benefits

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%^[0]

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medigap customer service

Here’s how Blue Cross Blue Shield Medigap members can contact customer service:

• Call the toll-free number on your Blue Cross Blue Shield member ID card.

• Find your BCBS company online for direct contact information.

» MORE: Read our review of Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans