Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage Review (2026)

Blue Cross Blue Shield provides four types of Medicare Advantage plans designed to suit a range of healthcare preferences and financial situations. Your plan type affects how you receive care and whether you’re limited to certain providers.

• HMO Plans: These plans require you to select a primary care physician who manages your care and provides specialist referrals. Coverage is limited to in-network providers, except in emergencies. Lower premiums are common, but flexibility is more limited.
• HMO-POS Plans: Operating like traditional HMOs for in-network services, these plans also allow you to seek care outside the network without a referral. Out-of-network visits cost more, though they give you more choice when needed.
• PPO Plans: With a PPO, you can visit any Medicare-approved provider without obtaining referrals. You’ll save more by staying in the network, as out-of-network care is more expensive.
• PFFS Plans: These plans let you see any Medicare-approved provider who agrees to the plan’s payment terms, with no network restrictions or referral requirements.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans are sold in 31 states, with PPOs available in most areas. Pennsylvania has the greatest selection, featuring 37 plans across HMO, HMO-POS and PPO network types. Arkansas is the only state where a Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan is available, while HMO-POS options are limited to eight states.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage CMS star ratings are mixed. HMO-POS plans are the strongest performers, averaging 4.09 stars, beating the national average by 0.15 stars. HMO plans fall 0.16 stars below average at 3.73, while PPO plans track nearly even with the national benchmark at 3.76. BCBS PFFS plans, only offered in one state, rate poorly at 3.5 stars. No plan type reaches 4.5 stars or higher, so Blue Cross Blue Shield isn't a standout for quality ratings overall.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans are more expensive than the national average across all four plan types. HMOs are the most affordable, averaging $31 per month, with 55% offering a $0 premium option. PPOs are more expensive at $67 per month on average but balance that cost with a lower-than-average maximum out-of-pocket cap.

HMO-POS plans are also more expensive in both premiums and cost sharing, while PFFS plans are in the midrange for premiums but have the highest out-of-pocket exposure and no $0 premium options.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans include extra benefits beyond what Original Medicare covers. Because Blue Cross Blue Shield operates as a network of independent regional insurers, specific benefits and allowance amounts vary by state and plan.

• Dental Coverage: Preventive services such as exams, cleanings and X-rays are included. Some plans also cover fillings, extractions and dentures.
• Vision Coverage: Plans include an annual eye exam and provide an allowance for glasses or contact lenses.
• Fitness Benefits: Get access to SilverSneakers or Silver&Fit for free gym memberships, virtual workouts and live online fitness classes.
• Over-the-Counter Allowance: You’ll get a quarterly allowance on a flexible benefits card for eligible items like vitamins, first aid supplies and personal care products.
• Transportation Assistance: Select plans include rides to medical appointments each year.
• Telehealth Services: Virtual visits with medical and behavioral health providers are covered, with low or no copay. Some affiliates partner with services such as MDLIVE for care.

Blue Cross Blue Shield provides a wide selection of Medicare Advantage plans, with availability depending on your state and county. Use the table below to see which plans are offered in your area and compare options across plan types.

MoneyGeek evaluated Medicare Advantage plans nationwide using a scoring system that weighs quality, affordability and availability. We analyzed data on all Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify the best plans across different plan types.

Scoring System

Our methodology evaluates three main factors to help you identify the best-value plans for your needs:

• Affordability (50%): Cost makes up half of our overall score, because it directly affects your budget. We evaluated monthly premiums for Part C and Part D coverage combined (30% weight) and in-network maximum out-of-pocket limits (20% weight). Plans with lower premiums and MOOP amounts score higher, since they reduce your total annual healthcare spending.
• Star Ratings (40%): CMS ratings measure plan quality across categories like care effectiveness, customer service and member satisfaction. The Overall Star Rating combines both Part C (medical coverage) and Part D (prescription drug) ratings on a scale from 1 to 5 stars.
• Availability (10%): We factor in how many states each provider operates in. Providers with broader geographic availability score higher because they're more likely to maintain coverage if you move and have more resources for customer support and plan improvements.