Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Plans 2022
Pros
- The provider coverage network is large
- Credit ratings are strong
- Numerous tools for comparing costs
- Plans for special needs are also available
- Many cost-effective options
- Drug coverage is included in most plans
Cons
- The customer rating is below average
- Costs for treatment outside the network are higher
- Plans are not available in 9 states
BCBS is a top-rated and reliable insurer in America. A survey from the KFF showed that Blue Cross Blue Shield covers about 15% of the Medicare Advantage enrollees. And this makes Blue Cross Blue Shield the third biggest Medicare Advantage Insurance provider.
To know more about BCBS and Blue Cross Medicare Advantage 2022, read along.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield features one of the largest provider networks.
Also, BCBS is a secure & stable insure with a range of Medicare Advantage Plans to offer.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield is a combination of 36 companies that are operated locally. It has delivered health coverage within the USA for over 8 decades.
As the Blue Cross Blue Shield offers a pretty large provider network, its plans are accepted by around 95% of hospitals and doctors across the country.
The plans BCBS offers are highly rated. Most of its plans have a 4-star rating according to Medicare Rating System.
Who is BCBS recommended by?
Numerous independent companies collaborate to form the BCBS. And these companies are recognized each year for several recognitions and awards. Here are some honors received by the companies that form the BCBS: –
- A BCBS plan was ranked one of the top ten plans in the year 2020 by The J. D. Power and Associates Medicare Advantage.
- In the year 2021, the US News & World Reports ranked Blue Cross Blue shield as one of the USA’s best insurance providers.
- BCBS also holds accreditation from the (NCQA).
- The Ethisphere Institute named BCBS as one of the globe’s top ethical companies in 2013, 2012, 2017 & 2018.
- The NCQA accredited BCBS for disease management in the below years: –
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
Medicare Advantage insurance
Medicare Advantage Plans by BCBS are available in around forty-two states and include Puerto Rico as well. However, Medicare Advantage plans are not available in the following 10 states: –
- Alaska
- Columbia
- Iowa
- Wyoming
- Delaware
- Mississippi
- South Dakota
- North Dakota
- Vermont
Let’s understand how it works. A Medicare Advantage will take the place of the Medicare plan that offers Part A and Part B coverage. The Medicare Advantage Plan covers much more than your Original plan does. You’ll find numerous Medicare Advantage plans that offer extra benefits like: –
- Prescription Drug Cover
- Vision, Hearing, dental services
Almost every Blue Cross Medicare Advantage 2022 plan comes with a pre-determined provider network. There are some cost-sharing tasks such as: –
- Health & Drug Deductibles
- Copays for visits to a doctor
- Premiums
You can also find some plans by BCBS that come with a $0 premium. However, to determine the overall price and plan availability, you need to check with the nearest insurance provider.
Which Medicare Advantage plans are available with BCBS?
BCBS features around 36 affiliates that operate in forty-two states and even in Puerto Rico. This shows how extensive the plans seem to be. Usually, the price and coverage for a Medicare Advantage plan depend on your location. However, BCBS categorizes its plans in two main categories: –
- PPOs
- HMOs
Here are some common examples for your reference: –
- BlueMedicare Choice
The BlueMedicare Choice PPO (Florida) is a plan with 3.5-star overall rating. If you have registered with this plan, you can check both in and out-of-network service providers at lower prices.
If you visit an out-of-network provider, you’ll have to pay the difference in the discounted price and the price of services availed outside the network. If you’re a member, you won’t have to secure a referral for seeing a specialist.
Here is the pricing for BlueMedicare Choice PPO (Florida): –
- The monthly premium amount for the year 2021 is $47.90
- The out-of-pocket amount limit for the year 2021 is $6,500
- It comes with a drug cover with a $250 deductible
The plan receives good ratings because of the: –
- Good Customer support
- Timely decisions involving customer appeals
- Health screenings
The plan receives poor ratings because of the enrollee experience with: –
- Statin therapy
- Drug plan
- Pricing of Diabetes drugs
- Anthem MediBlue Extra
This is a plan with an average 4-star rating.
If you’re registered under this plan, most of the care will come from the providers within the network. It means you’ll have to choose a physician.
You’ll also need a referral to meet a specialist. This plan doesn’t cover the care you receive outside the network, which means you’ll have to pay 100% of the bill.
Here is the pricing for Anthem MediBlue Extra HMO (Ohio): –
- The monthly premium amount for the year 2021 is $25.30
- The out-of-pocket amount limit for the year 2021 is $7,550
- It comes with a drug cover with a $445 deductible
The plan receives good ratings because of the: –
- Good Customer support
- Diabetes Care
- Mental Health Coverage
The plan receives poor ratings because of the: –
- Drug plan
- Statin therapy
- Osteoporosis Management
- BlueAdvantage Diamond
This PPO plan comes with a 4-star average rating.
You don’t have to get a referral to consult a specialist inside the network. Also, you need not choose a primary care provider.
Similar to the first plan, for an out of network treatment, you’ll give the difference between PPO’s discounted price and
out of the network price.
Here are some example prices:
- The monthly premium amount for the year 2021: $89
- The out-of-pocket amount limit for the year 2021 is $3,500(within the network)
- It comes with a drug cover & with a $0 deductible
The plan receives good ratings because of the: –
- Good Enrollee Experience
- Care Coordination
- Coverage for Mental Health
The plan receives poor ratings because of: –
- Upholding appeals
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Chronic health care management
- BCBS Special Needs Plans (SNPs)
You can also find special-needs plans under the BCBS. Not everyone is eligible for such plans.
The SNPs are usually customized for people with special circumstances or diseases. Such plans are categorized in the following categories: –
Dual Eligible plans: It is for the beneficiaries eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. You may have low or simply no cost-sharing duties under this plan. However, the exact responsibilities depend on your Medicaid eligibility.
Chronic Condition plans: It’s for people with specific diseases. Such plans are linked with providers who are specialists in a particular chronic condition.
Common chronic diseases covered under this are: –
- Cancer
- Stroke
- HIV/AIDS
- Dementia
- Alcohol and drug dependence
- Chronic liver disease
- Cardiovascular disorders
- and more.
Institutional plans: It’s for the beneficiaries who need nursing care either in-home or nursing house.
How do Medicare Advantage plans by BCBS compare to different insurers?
There is a wide range of plans that BCBS provides. So, possibly anyone can find a suitable plan. Here are some characteristics for better understanding: –
- Blue Cross Blue Shield plans offer higher deductibles as compared to other insurers.
- BCBS offers great customer service
- It could be hard to find a personalized plan due to the expansive nature of the company
- BCBS offers easy plan comparison with its user-friendly mobile app and website.
- You can also file a claim, coverage offered, check claim status, and whatnot.
- You can go paperless as BCBS allows Virtual ID cards.
With all that said, Blue Cross Medicare Advantage 2022 offers good benefits and is worth a try.
What makes Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare plans unique?
If you’re seeking decent drug coverage, Medicare Advantage Plans from BCBS are for you. Most plans offer drug coverage and come with a low premium.
If you seek coverage from providers within the network, again, plans from BCBS are for you.
Features that make BCBS Medicare Advantage Plans are: –
- A free & easy to use comparison tool. Using this tool, you can compare the prices of more than 1600 procedures. Now, this is quite a benefit.
- Free SilverSneakers Membership which brings benefits such as free gym memberships & more
- Reward plan for the members to get gift cards for completing health care tasks in a year.
How is the pricing with BCBS, and can you aval some discounts?
In the past few years, the costs of BCBS Medicare Advantage plans have been reduced.
The average price for an advantage plan for the year 2021 is just $21. The deductible fell from 150 dollars to 130 dollars, and the out of the pocket maximum fell from 5,589 dollars to 5,415 dollars.
You can also find plans with a $0 premium now more than ever. According to the eHealth report, there’s a 0$ premium plan for every county in 1/3rd of the states.
There are options where low-income enrolls can get premium features. And if you’re eligible, you might get premium assistance where you’ll have to pay about 25, 50, or even 75% of the total premium.
How to check eligibility & register for a Blue Cross Medicare Advantage 2022?
You’re eligible if you: –
- Are eligible for Medicare & are over sixty-five years of age
- Live in Puerto Rico or the USA
- Live in a locality where an insurer is available
The right time to register for an Advantage plan from BCBS is during the initial enrollment. You can also register within the Open Enrollment between 15th October and 7th December annually.
If you are a member of the Medicare Advantage but are looking for something different, you can do that between 1st January and 31st March.
This period is known as Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. This was all about the Blue Cross Medicare Advantage 2022.
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