With good quality ratings, lower than average deductibles for silver plans, and three different types of health plans and four metal tiers available on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, Blue Cross Blue Shield is a consortium of 34 independent insurers.
Plans accessible on the marketplace in all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C.
Benefits:
- Over 1.7 million providers are in the network.
- provides access to the ACA marketplace’s four metal tiers: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum.
- offers the three health plan options available on the market: HMO, EPO, and PPO.
- lower than typical deductibles for silver plans.
- Excellent quality scores (3.5 out of 5) from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, with members complimenting the patient experience.
Negative:
- In comparison to the rest of the industry, the level of consumer complaints is marginally higher.
- greater ACA marketplace premiums compared to the rivals we looked at.
Contents Table of:
- Concerning Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross names Blue Shield Health Insurance Providers
- Kinds of Health Insurance That Blue Cross Blue Shield Provides
- Plan Types Offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Additional Advantages of Blue Cross Blue Shield
- How Much Do Health Insurance Plans Through Blue Cross Blue Shield Cost?
- How Much Blue Cross Blue Shield Charges in Relation to Other Businesses
- Health Insurance Grievances Regarding Blue Cross Blue Shield Practices
Concerning Blue Cross Blue Shield
There are 34 separate, regionally owned health insurance firms that make up Blue Cross Blue Shield.
If you don’t have access to job health insurance, you can compare health plans on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace at HealthCare.gov, which is largely made up of Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers. Preferred provider organization (PPO) and exclusive provider organization (EPO) plans are among Blue Cross Blue Shield’s offerings; PPO plans are less prevalent in the market than HMO and EPO plans.
In the ACA marketplace, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum tier level plans are offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. In the health insurance market, platinum plans—which have lower out-of-pocket expenses but higher premiums—are typically difficult to locate.
Blue365 offers complimentary health and wellness discounts to individuals who have specific Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance. Freshly meal boxes, Target Optical’s hearing and vision solutions, and Fitbit’s activity gear are all discounted.
Moreover, Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core gives members access to physicians and hospitals in more than 200 nations.
Blue Cross names Blue Shield Health Insurance Providers
Different Blue Cross Blue Shield firms offer health coverage in each state. There are even multiple Blue Cross Blue Shield locations in some states.
Alabama: Alabama Blue Cross Blue Shield
Alaska: Blue Shield and Premera Cross of Alaska
Arizona: Blue Shield of Arizona, Inc.
Arkansas: Blue Shield and Cross of Arkansas
California: Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross of California
Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Colorado Colorado
Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross in Connecticut
Delaware: Blue Shield by Highmark Delaware
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in the District of Columbia
Florida: BlueCross BlueShield of Puerto Rico and Florida Blue
Georgia: Blue Shield of Georgia Anthem Blue Cross
Hawaii: Hawaii Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Idaho: Regence BlueShield of Idaho and Blue Cross of Idaho
Illinois: Illinois Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Blue Shield and Wellmark Blue Cross in Iowa
Kansas: Blue Shield and Cross of Kansas
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Kentucky Kentucky
Louisiana: Blue Shield of Louisiana, Inc.
Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross in Maine Maine
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Maryland
Massachusetts: Blue Shield of the Commonwealth
Michigan: Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, in Minnesota
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, Mississippi
Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Missouri Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City and Missouri
Montana: Blue Shield of Montana, Inc.
Blue Shield and Cross of Nebraska, Inc.
Nevada: Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross Nevada
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, New Hampshire New Hampshire
New Jersey: New Jersey Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield
New Mexico: New Mexico Blue Cross Blue Shield
Empire, New York Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, and Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York
North Carolina: North Carolina Blue Cross Blue Shield
North Dakota: North Dakota Blue Cross Blue Shield
Ohio: Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross Ohio
Oklahoma: Oklahoma Blue Cross Blue Shield
Oregon: BlueShield of Regence in Oregon
Pennsylvania: Independence Blue Cross, Capital Blue Cross, Highmark Blue Shield, and Highmark Blue Cross
Rhode Island: The Rhode Island Blue Cross and Blue Shield
South Carolina: South Carolina Blue Cross Blue Shield
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in South Dakota
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc.
Texas: Blue Shield of Texas, Inc.
Utah: BlueShield of Utah Regence Cross
Vermont: Vermont Blue Cross Blue Shield
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Virginia
Premera Blue Cross and Regence BlueShield in Washington
West Virginia: Blue Shield and Highmark Cross Virginia
Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Wisconsin Wisconsin
Wyoming: Blue Shield of Wyoming, Inc.
Kinds of Health Insurance That Blue Cross Blue Shield Provides
Blue Cross Blue Shield provides individual health insurance as well as group health insurance through companies.Plans for Medicare Advantage are also offered by it.
International travelers and Americans residing overseas can get health insurance coverage from GeoBlue, a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association licensee.
Plan Types Offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield
On the ACA marketplace, Blue Cross Blue Shield provides three different kinds of plans: HMO: Generally, only in-network care provided by network providers is covered under health maintenance organization (HMO) policies. A primary care physician must be designated by HMO members in order to monitor treatment and obtain referrals to specialists. EPO: Unlike HMOs, exclusive provider organization (EPO) plans often do not require a reference in order to see a specialist; instead, members must receive treatment inside the network. PPO: Compared to HMOs and EPOs, preferred provider organization (PPO) plans have higher health insurance premiums but give greater flexibility. PPOs let members receive care outside of their network. Receiving care from providers who are not in the network is more expensive than going outside of it. Moreover, PPOs do not need references in order to see experts.
Additional Advantages of Blue Cross Blue Shield
Extra advantages like MyBlue, an online account that allows users to check their coverage, locate doctors in the network, track and manage claims, and submit fitness and weight-loss reimbursements, are frequently offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.
You can receive member discounts on Blue365 for services related to personal care, lifestyle, fitness, financial health, and health and wellbeing.
How Much Do Health Insurance Plans Through Blue Cross Blue Shield Cost?
Blue Cross A 30-year-old with an ACA marketplace plan pays, on average, $506 a month for Blue Shield health insurance. Usually, that expense rises with age.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Premium Average by Age
Plans in the ACA marketplace are categorized under four metal tiers: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum, according to price. The lowest premiums are found in bronze and silver plans, but the highest out-of-pocket expenses arise when medical care is required. Gold and platinum offer lower out-of-pocket expenses but higher premiums.
Platinum plans are rather uncommon, while bronze and silver plans are the most popular types.
Blue Cross Blue Shield by Metal Plan Average Costs
How Much Blue Cross Blue Shield Charges in Relation to Other Businesses
Costs for health insurance policies can fluctuate significantly depending on the provider, and there are numerous varieties of Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurers.
Though you should verify with your local Blue Cross plan to find out what that particular firm charges, generally speaking, average Blue Cross Blue Shield costs are higher than top rivals’ rates.
Complaints about Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance
State insurance departments have received slightly more complaints against Blue Cross Blue Shield for individual health insurance than the industry average, but fewer than some of its rivals.
Techniques
The following information was utilized to identify the top health insurance providers.
30% of the score was derived from complaints filed with state insurance departments. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners provided the complaint data.
The National Committee for Quality Assurance’s plan ratings account for 30% of the total score. An independent nonprofit agency called the National Committee for Quality Assurance accredits health plans and assigns ratings based on predetermined criteria.
Average deductible for silver plans (20% of score): The annual maximum that you must spend for medical treatments before your health plan starts to reimburse you for a portion of the expenses is known as your deductible.
Health insurance providers may provide up to four different plan benefit designs (PPO, HMO, EPO, and POS). This accounts for 10% of the total score.
Offerings of metal tiers (10% of score): Businesses that provide more metal tiers received points from us. There are four metal tier tiers in the ACA marketplace.