Tuesday, April 22nd
2025 Medicare Supplement Plan Reviews
Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Quoted prices around $185.98 - $263.14
- Online quotes available
- Only sells its own insurance
- Detailed blogs and resources online
- "A+” rating from the BBB in some states
Blue Cross Blue Shield, or BCBS, is a well-known insurance giant with a long history in the field. You may also recognize them as Anthem in certain states (like Wisconsin).
Dedicated Medicare Supplement site
What sets them apart is that BCBS offers a dedicated website specifically for Medicare Supplement Plans. This way you can effortlessly access details about the plans you care about without sifting through irrelevant health insurance details not related to your Medicare Supplement Plan search. While the company doesn't say how many states it serves, you can easily check if there is coverage for your state by entering your zip code on Blue Cross Blue Shield. If there are options, you will be redirected to a page where you can explore the coverage for your state.
Easy navigation and tons of details
Navigating the BCBS website showcases an impressive amount of information available. The Medigap coverage section is information-packed, covering terms, enrollment periods, and more. We particularly liked that BCBS offered "limitations” and "considerations” sections on the site to help you get a clear idea of what things to look out for, or areas where you may not receive coverage. To actually get to the part where you initiate a quote, head to the right side of the page where it prompts you to "Enter Zip Code and Find Coverage."
Call as soon as you can for details
Once you're redirected to the coverage page for your state, you'll be asked to provide information in a form or to call a representative directly at 855-536-6475. While you can find a few basic quotes on the site (like a summary of average fees and costs), you'll spend a lot of time clicking through different pages and looking for tiny links to get there. So, the fastest way to get a true and accurate quote is to call in ASAP, especially since when we requested a call for a quote, BCBS never called us back.
You can dig for details but calling is faster
A notable feature is BCBS allowing you to initiate your Medicare Supplement Plan application online, setting them apart from other providers requiring a phone call. Simply have your Medicare card and relevant documents like a Power of Attorney (POA) or guaranteed issue notice ready. However, for those, like us, seeking a quote for a designated profile - say, a 65-year-old woman in Wisconsin who has never smoked seeking Plan G coverage - it's faster just to call the representative. When we called we weren't even placed on a hold, which was impressive. However, the representative struggled to work with his program, which created a very lengthy quote process. This could be a one-time problem, but it was very frustrating.
Mid-tier pricing options
For our example customer (the 65-year-old Wisconsin woman), the premium quoted by BCBS was $185.98 with no riders, or $263.14 with all possible riders. This is much more expensive than at competing companies, which could make the long call and difficulties getting quotes not worth your time in the end.
Assists with customer concerns online
While we maintain that it's faster to talk to a rep at BCBS, the site has an impressive array of blogs and extra details to help you be more connected to the process. With blogs that answer questions like "What is a health insurance claim?” or "How does telehealth work?” BCBS shows that it is listening to the concerns of customers and responding with easily accessible information. With a quick search on the site (or even on Google) you can find extra information about BCBS' methods and policies without ever needing to pick up the phone.
Some concerning ratings from the BBB
Finding a Better Business Bureau (BBB) listing for BCBS can be tricky due to separate offices in each state. What we did gather shows that the BBB ratings for BCBS vary significantly. For instance, South Carolina enjoys an "A+” rating with seven customer complaints, whereas New York holds a "D-”, and the BBB score for Wisconsin is a concerning "F” rating. This divergence suggests that service quality and customer response may differ based on your location, and with some "F” ratings on the board, it might be smarter to pick a company that has higher ratings on average.
Mid-tier service overall but low ratings bring it down
Overall, BCBS stands as a reliable source for Medicare Supplement Plans, though if you're looking for the top-rated service, this might not be it. There's a good amount of pros like easy web navigation and tons of details on the website, as well as the ability to search for coverage without calling. However, with cons like "F” ratings in some states and a slow quote process, BCBS isn't one of the top options in our review.
More Medicare Supplement Plan Reviews
The 10 Best Medicare Supplement Plans
Which Medicare Supplement Plan is the Best?
If you or a family member is approaching the age of 65, or if you are soon eligible for Medicare Parts A and B due to other qualifying reasons, now is the perfect time to start looking at additional coverage options for your Medicare. While Medicare insurance covers many of your medical expenses, it doesn't cover everything. To help pick up the extra slack, you can dive into a Medicare Supplement plan, often referred to as "Medigap”.
These plans work to address the gap between the 80% of medical concerns covered by Medicare and the remaining 20% that isn't covered. This way, you can reduce your out-of-pocket medical expenses and feel safer and more comfortable with your coverage.
Medicare Supplement Plan FAQ
Continued from above...
The Medicare Supplement Plans are assigned letter names to differentiate them, which can sometimes lead to confusion. With an ever-evolving landscape of plans and their coverage, keeping up with changes like swapping Plan F (once a popular choice but was discontinued for new enrollees after January 1, 2020) with its successor, Plan G, (which offers similar benefits but introduced an annual deductible) can be extremely confusing. Paying attention to the changes in the market will help you make a more informed decision about your healthcare coverage and help you recognize what coverage you need and what you don't.
One thing to keep in mind as you plan for your Medicare journey is the "guaranteed issue period”. This is a period that spans the six months following your 65th birthday. During this period, you can get a Medicare Supplement Plan without any prerequisites beyond paying your premiums.
For example, this means that while health conditions won't disqualify you, being a smoker might result in higher premiums. However, once this six-month grace period concludes, insurers may request more detailed health information, such as your history of diabetes or heart conditions that may potentially impact your premiums and change what plans are available to you.
When it comes to purchasing a Medicare Supplement Plan, you have two primary options: buying directly from an insurance company or getting your plan through the services of a broker. Going with an insurance company means you might be able to continue using a company you already trust, which may be appealing due to lower rates or trustworthy insurance adjusters. On the other hand, if you choose to go with a broker, the company gives you access to a range of insurance providers, so you can compare rates and plans side by side, including the rates offered by your preferred insurance company.
Regardless of whether you choose to work with a broker or purchase directly from an insurance company, the most important thing about choosing a Medicare Supplement Plan is that you need to do your research. While you can initially explore various providers' websites, keep in mind that Medicare rules dictate plans must be sold either in person or over the phone, so you should be prepared to talk with a representative to finalize your Medicare Supplement Plan.
If you're not sure where to start with your Medicare Supplement Plan, we've put together a few things that might help you narrow down your options:
- Cost. When it comes to the cost of Medicare Supplement Plans, your health and your pre-existing conditions may change the costs depending on which company you choose. To manage costs effectively, you'll want to compare companies to find the most budget-friendly options. However, keep in mind rates can also change over time.
- Coverage. There are tons of different plans and different names to choose from. As you look through Medicare Supplement Plans, make sure that you spend your time researching providers that offer coverage in your state. Given the time-consuming nature of this process, you may not want to have a phone call with a company that turns out not to have competitive plans or prices in your state.
- Reputation. To get a smooth and stress-free experience, it is recommended to select a reputable company. Whether you go through an insurance company directly or a broker, checking reviews and the Better Business Bureau ratings can provide valuable insights into the company's track record so you can pick one that really cares about its clients.
To help you stress less about your Medicare plans, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best Medicare Supplement Plans available today. This way, you can save both time and money in your search. All you need to worry about is finding the best provider using our handy list and detailed reviews and getting back to enjoying your golden years stress-free!
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