BlueCross BlueShield
check_circleverifiedBlue Cross Blue Shield is a renowned health insurance provider. With Blue Cross Blue Shield, customers can have access to great member resources. Customers can also purchase dental and vision coverage.
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Blue Cross Blue Shield is also a parent company of other health insurance companies that provide Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance in specific regions and states. Blue Cross Blue Shield companies include Anthem, CareFirst, Regence, Wellmark, Highmark, Capital, Empire, Independence, Horizon, and Premera.
It oversees 36 different insurance companies, all of which are locally operated. As a nationwide company in the health insurance marketplace, BCBS has helped about 105 million people with health insurance plans since its founding in 1929.
The Good
- Types of Plans Offered
- Member Resources
- Unique Features
- Customer Service
- Availability and Acceptance
- Mobile App
Types of Plans Offered
Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans are nationwide and widely accepted at hospitals and doctor's offices. Coverage options range in every type-from a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) to Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). These plan-types indicate the kind of provider network available with the health plan. PPO plans generally offer coverage for seeing out-of-network providers, thought the coverage levels are not as high as for in-network providers. HMO plans only offer out-of-network coverage in emergency situations.
Blue Cross Blue Shield also offers plans with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs), and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). BCBS also offers indemnity, Point of Service (POS), and short-term health insurance plan.
Blue Cross Blue Shield also offers Medicare and Medicaid plans. Its Medicare plans include Medicare Supplement plans (Medigap), Part D (prescription drug plans), and Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans offer the coverage of Medicare Parts A and B in a single health plan. To qualify for Medicare, individuals generally must be at least 65 years old.
The coverage and details of each of these plans depends partially on your health situation (including age, number of group being insured, health status, etc.) and your location. When you initially search for a health plan to understand the benefits and costs of monthly payments, expect to put in your location and some personal information, as these points will help BCBS draw up a list of potential plans for you.
In addition to health care coverage options, the some Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan offerings include dental insurance plans and vision insurance. The BlueDental plans include access to a network of 140,000 dentists around the US. It covers the basics, including preventative care, fillings, crowns, and braces. There is no deductible for a dental checkup with this plan and no deductible for preventative care. The percentage of coverage, however, depends on your specific plan and the state you live in.
For vision insurance, the BlueVision plans are accepted at 3,000 retail locations around the US and function through VSP. Vision insurance here has the potential to save you 20 to 40 percent on your optometry bills. Those looking for vision or dental coverage can find good policies through Blue Cross Blue Shield.
As you evaluate your health insurance options, keep your health needs and budget in mind. In addition to considering the cost of premiums, you should also consider how expensive the out-of-pocket expenses will be. Sometimes paying a higher premium will mean having cheaper out-of-pocket expenses (copays and coinsurance).
Member Resources
Blue Cross Blue Shield keeps up its positive reputation with members with both basic and advanced tools. On the basic level, BCBS has a member portal with the capability of tracking your claims 24/7. There's of course a member-dedicated phone number you can call as well, and members can contact the company at any time of day if needed. Through the BCBS website, members can download any forms they need, such as for filing claims. Even potential members have the ability to get a quote of their coverage options before committing to the company.
As for advanced resources, members with Blue Cross Blue Shield plans have a lot to enjoy as well. BCBS goes above and beyond with their mobile app, to start out. While many health insurance companies have a mobile app just to access your patient portal, BCBS has one to help you find a doctor--both in terms of making sure a provider is in the BCBS network and in the sense that the app's GPS will give you directions to that facility.
The AskBlue tool is also worth mentioning. It's BCBS's tool for giving you detailed information about their health plans. Should you want more than basic information, you can just "Ask Blue" and get the prices, coverage points, deductibles, premiums, and more.
This is a great tool to compare plans and find the best one for you. Finally, BCBS cares about the education of its members and shows this by providing articles about health care-including the confusing terms in health insurance, the changing laws, and more. This makes you feel more informed about health and your insurance.
Unique Features
Blue Cross Blue Shield's network of doctors and specialists is gigantic. BCBS insurance is accepted all over the United States. Because of the wide acceptance, it should be easy to find hospitals and doctors in-network. Treatment and other medical services you receive from these provides will be covered in part by this company.
Another unique feature of the Blue365 program. Through Blue365, members can receive discounts on all sorts of health-related products, such as workout clothes, weight loss programs, hearing aids, and pedometers. Blue365 saves you money and provides added motivation for you to get and stay healthy.
BCBS also has tools like their mobile app and the AskBlue resource for finding out more about their health plans.
BCBS is also noted for being very involved in health-related causes in the community. Through associations with the American Diabetes Foundation, the YMCA, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation (again, just to name a few), BCBS has made a big difference in encouraging health and making healthier lives a reality.
Customer Service
The Blue Cross Blue Shield website is extremely detailed and full of resources for members and potential customers alike. For anyone who would benefit from it, they have general information about health care, health insurance, terminology, legal changes, and how all these factors affect people who need health insurance.
More specifically, though, through the website you can find answers to questions about actual health plans offered by BCBS. You can search for plans and get a quote, narrowing your search by location and the type of plan you're looking for.
They answer frequently asked questions, have social media outlets to connect with clients more personally, and of course, provide mailing information for when you need to mail in a form or contact them via snail mail. Should all of these resources not be enough, though, BCBS provides phone numbers, an email address, live chatting, and even a 24/7 secure inquiry form that you can submit to the company for personalized answers.
In short, Blue Cross Blue Shield takes lots of different steps to meet the needs of customers all over the US. They are available 24/7 to members and have set up their customer service tools to be convenient, immediate, and of course, helpful-even in the details.
Availability and Acceptance
BCBS is available in all 50 states, and is widely accepted by doctors and hospitals. Specific provider network access, however, does depend on the individual health plan. It goes without saying that this convenience alone trumps the hassles of lesser-known insurance plans.
Mobile App
The BCBS mobile app is slightly different from other companies' apps. Their Find a Doctor app not only helps you identify a doctor or hospital you can use your insurance at; it literally helps you find the location with its GPS ability.
The Bad
- State-Specific Coverage
State-Specific Coverage
For better or worse, the coverage you receive through your health plan depends partially on the state you live in (the state in which you would use that insurance). In other words, you can't just look up a PPO plan at BCBS and expect the same coverage percentages, out-of-pocket costs, and deductibles for any state. Prices are determined in part by location, which could work for or against you.
The Bottom Line
In many ways, it's not surprising that there are inconsistencies in health insurance plan details at Blue Cross Blue Shield. After all, the health insurer is large, provides coverage nationwide, and has such an extensive history and reputation.
Its growth has brought both positive and negative consequences. For example, it's positive that BCBS is accepted at such a high percentages of hospitals, doctors, and urgent care centers because it is a well-known brand in the health insurance marketplace. But on the other hand, the office you work with locally could be one of those with a poor reputation since BCBS doesn't micromanage each subsidiary.
It's important to make sure any health plan you choose offers the medical coverage you need and is affordable. The best health insurance plan for someone else may not necessarily be the best fit for your situation. Be sure to understand your health needs and what would fit into your budget. Choosing a reliable health insurer is also important. Reading health insurance reviews from customers can give you a sense of the general quality Blue Cross Blue Shield offers.
Long story short, BCBS is still a recommended health insurance option. There are some regional differences with Blue Cross Blue Shield, so interested people should work with the insurer directly to learn more about coverage, benefits, premium rates, deductible, and out-of-pocket limit available with each health plan.
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User Reviews
Star Rating
287 Reviews
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I had BlueCross BlueShield for a couple of years and thought they did a great job supporting us as we needed to use them. They were responsive and quick to pay. They didn't have as large of a network in my area as I would have liked but we were able to make it work.
I have had blue cross blue shield for years and I’m always impressed how many medical providers are on their preferred listings.
The coverage from Bluecross blueshield was good. The only problem is that they do not cross state lines very well. We traveled to another state and needed some medical attention and there was difficulty getting things ironed out over that claim.
We currently have BlueCross BlueShield for our health insurance. They have many physicians to choose from and they have a great co pay as well. We have been really happy working with them for our health needs.
Blue cross calls me to make sure I don’t miss going to the doctor and they are very happy to help and get you information you may need.
We were searching for private insurance and got an estimate. It was so much higher than the other companies that we looked at that we went with another company.
When we had BCBS, I loved our coverage! They covered a wide variety of providers and services and were prompt in paperwork.
My husband is retired however we are blessed with BCBS of Texas through his former employer. He pays nothing for his and the cost for mine seems to be very reasonable. We are overall very pleased with the coverage.
Most amazing insurance I ever had. They were fantastic and covered everything. The customer service was especially helpful. No hoops to jump through.
Although it was very many years ago that I used this insurance, it was a positive experience, no major issues with the billing process.
We are fairly new to Blue Cross Blue Shield but we haven't had any problems at all. All of our favorite healthcare providers accept this insurance.
This is my new health insurance from my company. WE had a different health carrier for the past few years but the company switched to BCBS because they offer more for the premium. So far so good.
This is the insurance we used to have. The were GREAT! We could do whatever tests the doctor wanted/needed done without any pre-approval. They would pay their share without any issues at all
We have used Blue Cross Blue Shield for our health insurance needs for many years. We have never had an issue with claims. We love that the company now offers an app, with instant and easy access to our account. With few exceptions, we have felt that the coverage is good, with good options and choices for providers.
My husband and I have been fighting with blue Cross and blue shield for a while now. My husband and I have been seeing a doctor for about a year now and we have gone in for different appointments and procedures and everything had been fine and covered until June when my husband had a procedure scheduled. We called ahead to Blue Cross to get preauthorized for my husband's procedure, before calling Blue Cross we talked to our doctors billing department and they gave us the billing codes which we then gave to Blue Cross. When we called, the representative from Blue Cross stated that the procedure was covered and we asked if there was anything else we needed to do which he stated No, everything was covered. A few weeks after the procedure we found out that Blue Cross denied the charges stating we did not have a referral, we explained that when we called there was no mention of a referral and we had not needed one for any of the prior visits or procedures. We had a referral submitted and Blue Cross responded with, too much time had passed and so they are denying the claim. In an attempt to file an appeal we contacted Blue Cross and asked for transcripts and any other supporting documentation involved with this particular claim. They explained to us that we would have to submit a written request and we would have to pay them $40 for the information we are requesting.
Well every time I have to call this guys First for start the people how answer the phone You can ask for some information about your company And they never know nothing about They always tell you Your company that’s not have that program They take to long to answer the phone and when that happen you will end up with to much frustration Because of their job Secondly and list importan They take to long to aprove something
Expect to wait on hold for 30 minutes at a time before having customer service hang up with out saying anything. Repeat this several times and you MIGHT get a person. Not worth the aggravation!
When I was first married my husband and I lived back east and our insurance was BlueCross BlueShield. We were well taken care of especially after our first birth of our son at Humana Hospital. We had some complications and the representative we worked with was so helpful in getting all of our benefits and all of the customer service reps were awesome!
I never felt a strong connection to anyone from BC/BS. It was just a bill we paid every month. Very little costumer service.
I will tell you from 1st hand experience, this is the worst insurance ever!!!! They do not keep up to date with National Coding Guidelines. Deny claims when they shouldnt. Request refunds instead of reprocessing claims. This used to be the best and has now worked their way to 1 of the worst!!! If you want an insurance that processes your claims timely and correctly, go elsewhere. This is NOT for you! If you want to do unnecessary foot work and have time to waste by all means......apply to BCBS!!
This is horrible insurance, it doesn’t cover cost of medication. Customer service won’t reply and when they did finally it was so rude and disrespectful! I am looking into new coverage now. I am sure they won’t post this but by the slim chance they do, any customer concern should be treated with respect! Lord forbid I get sick and need this till I can change care!
I purchased COBRA coverage between job changes for a month. BCBS rescinded all of my prior authorizations for medication, and then, they drug their feet approving the medications again so that I couldn’t get them on time and fill them the two times I should have been able to under my paid insurance plan. Really crappy thing to do when people need their medications and pay for insurance for that purpose. Worst part-I will still have the same coverage at my new job. BCBS jerks.
Overall, they are excellent. I have had them on/off since the 1980's and they have improved vastly in that time.
Like them they are helpful with referrals and our plan has lots of room to make our own decisions. They could improve their negotiating skills with UPMC
Coverag acceptance ease of getting answers to questions
They are always there and at times gone the extra mile to help with a problem.
Great coverage and fast communication. My out of pocket is much lower now that I'm trying BCBS
REASONABLE PRICES FOR A GOV EMPLOYEES. INFORMATIVE ; GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE AMD WEBSITE
They are good. Like any other company, trying to talk to an actual person can be difficult
Pretty easy to deal with, not as many hoops to jump through for approval with some procedures.
I canceled insurance, but they still charged me, I called to insurance four times, and asked for return me money back, but they just sent requests inside to company, and all the time request denied ( they don’t inform me, and I just spend at least 1-2 hours to call them
Specifically took an out of network eligible plan so that I could have a wide variety of doctors to choose from. They had a higher deductible and out of pocket. Both aspects I was aware of when i signed up. Found a out of network doctor who fit my needs. All good. Paid him up front and then went to BCBS for reimbursement. This is where things go downhill. BCBS has "approved" rates for each ICD code. They were half of what the doc actually charged. Their argument - "this is what we think this code should be charged at in your area". Now the kicker, they would only take half of what I paid even towards my deductible and out of pocket calculations. Now i am stuck with a massive bill while having chosen from the terms clearly laid out upfront. Was this "approved rate" mentioned upfront - NO Did they already compensate themselves with a higher deductible for going out of network - YES Was this in their fine print which you would find after 3 hours of looking at 8 levels deep on their site - YES So why are they double compensating their bottom line? If you have an approved rate, then just have an open network with no concept of in or out of network. It's the profit gouging practices like this which will make me hate each and every executive in BCBS. You lost a customer. Not that it matters to you. I really hope the BCBS executives experience being middle class and being hit with a surprise medical bill that is a result of profit gouging through shady practices.
Thugs who make me pay for pretty much every doctor visit. I pay high premiums and have a very high deductible. I pretty much absorb all my health care costs while paying these thugs premiums. Get rid of for-profit healthcare. Bring medicare for all by now and join every other first world nation. Private insurance is 3rd world BS.
First; 3 times asked for home visit to be done with both my husband and me. He had dementia and was very confused. Nurse called and wanted to come to see me only I refused. Second: Now a few years later I am on a patch for neuropathy that they will no longer cover $$$ so instead I will be on two more oral medications?
This is an extremely lousy and deceptive insurance company that I would strongly not recommend. They sent me a letter offering greater coverage if I provided them data via a form. Once I did so, with zero mention in the letter, there was a surprise mandatory health clinic visit required where they wanted to take my blood and perform tests. When I told them I didn't want to proceed with the health clinic visit that was not at all mentioned in the letter, I requested that they delete my data I had provided them through the form and at first they refused to do so. It took several weeks of calls with Blue Cross, educating them on PIPEDA (our privacy laws) that they were knowingly and willingly violating to finally delete this data. Weeks later I became locked out of my account and had to call them and they let me know they "accidentally" deleted my account and had me re-create my account, wasting a lot of time because of their incompetency and unwillingness to follow our laws.
Blue cross is great insurance they cover so much and I never have to worry when I get hurt or sick and have to see a doctor.
Fair; the company paid its portion of the bill.
This company is trustworthy and pays my medical bills right away. I. Ave not had any problems with my medical bills.
Excellent service and excellent provider network
We used this insurance for awhile but had to change due to a job change. This insurance was great and provided great coverage and benefits.
We have enjoyed working with BlueCross BlueShield in the past. We did think that the cost to add a family was too much though. I did appreciate the patience the customer service department showed when I would call in and I had a question. They always treated me with dignity and made me feel that my questions were important.
It is good but doesn't cover everything.
Costs are too high for what you get
This health insurance company always answers our questions immediately and helps us understand exactly what we are paying for, so I have had a positive experience with them.
We are not that pleased with BCBS. We pay more and get less, you have to jump thru hoops for the very few locations we can get our medications filled. It's just ridiculous..
Have through work. Has had a number one of different options for policies. Liked having so many choices.
I am looking for an alternative at this point. The premiums are ridiculous, the out of pocket maximums are unbelievable, and the billing service people don't have a clue about billing. I pay over $1300 a month for 2 people in their 40's. Our family out of pocket is almost $16,000. In March, I happened to log in online to look at some claim information and just happened to notice that my policy showed cancelled. I panicked because my husband was in the middle of arm surgery / infection treatment, and this was no time to not have insurance. After talking with BCBS billing/customer service for a week, they could not find a single piece of documentation showing who requested or why our policy had been cancelled. If I had not happened to log in that day and bring the situation to their attention, chances are they would not have paid the upcoming claims from our doctors and hospitals. Then 3 months later, I get an email stating my monthly draft is changing from $1300 to $2157. Again, I've not requested any changes to my plan. After the billing person threw out 4 different reasons for this, none of which made any sense at all, she finally put me on hold for about 20 minutes, and then said there is some discrepancy from 2016 in which we owe $800. And now she has to escalate it because she can't do anything about it. Another week of dealing with incompetent people. Not to mention all the stuff that isn't covered even though I have their most expensive plan. I am going broke on just a couple of arm surgeries.
Excellent coverage. Never had an issue with a claim. Most doctors in my area took this insurance giving us many choices.
Went through some surgical procedures and many Dr. visits. Getting them to pay what they owed was a nightmare and it is very much over price.
Mostly excellent service and product. Certainly not perfect in all areas, but tries. Health insurance is very important. Overall has been good, but sometimes policies get in the way of providing good service.