Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Review (2026)

BCBS sells all 10 standardized Medigap plan types in select states. Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement insurance, covers the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare doesn't pay. Most Medigap insurers sell four to six plan types, so BCBS's full range gives buyers more options to compare from one insurer. 

Most BCBS premiums are above the national average. Plan G costs $170 per month at age 65, $15 above the average. In Attained Age Pricing states, a model where your monthly cost rises as you get older, that premium increases each year. Twenty-nine of 38 BCBS markets use this model.

Blue Cross Blue Shield premiums are above the national average for most plan types. Plan G, the most common choice for new enrollees, costs $170 per month at age 65 and is $15 above the national average for Plan G across all Medigap insurers. It covers the Part A deductible, skilled nursing co-insurance and most Part B costs.

Plan A at $279 per month at age 65 ranks fifth in the BCBS lineup by price. Plans M, B, C and D all cost more. Plans F, G, K and L all cost less than Plan A and cover a broader set of Medicare costs. Compare what each plan covers before comparing prices, a higher BCBS premium doesn't always mean broader coverage.

Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government, so a Plan G from BCBS covers the same Medicare costs as a Plan G from any other insurer. The plan type determines your coverage and the insurer determines your price. For most new BCBS enrollees, Plan G covers the widest range of Medicare costs at the lowest price in the BCBS lineup.

Select Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement plans include SilverSneakers at no extra cost, giving members access to thousands of fitness centers nationwide. Specific perks vary by state and local BCBS affiliate, so confirm what's included before enrolling.

• Any Medicare-Accepting Provider: See any doctor or specialist who accepts Medicare, with no referrals required. This applies nationwide, including when you travel.
• SilverSneakers Fitness Program: Select Blue Cross Blue Shield plans include SilverSneakers for free, giving you access to thousands of gyms and fitness centers nationwide, plus live and on-demand virtual workout classes.
• Blue365 Wellness Discounts: Blue365 gives you savings on health and wellness products and services, including vision, fitness, weight management, hearing and complementary care like chiropractic and acupuncture.
• TruHearing Discounts: TruHearing provides discounted hearing aids at participating providers, with savings that vary by device and location.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medigap plans cover 37 states plus Washington, D.C., with plan availability and premiums determined by your local affiliate. Two enrollees in different ZIP codes may find different plan types and different pricing methods under the same BCBS brand. Florida has the widest selection, with all 10 standardized plan types available. Most states offer Plans A, F, G and N.

Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin use their own standardized plan structures and don't follow the lettered plan format. 

Pricing method is the main factor to consider, Attained Age Pricing means your premium rises as you get older. Issue Age Pricing sets your rate at enrollment and stays lower over time. Community Pricing charges everyone in the same area the same rate, regardless of age.

Of the 38 markets where BCBS sells Medigap, 29 use Attained Age Pricing. The nine markets using Issue Age or Community Pricing are where BCBS premiums stay stable over time. 

In Attained Age Pricing states, BCBS Plan G at age 75 costs $55 more per month than at age 65, based on the rate data above. That's $660 more per year just from aging. Your state's pricing method is the single most important factor in evaluating BCBS.

Compare Blue Cross Blue Shield Medigap plans in your state:

UnitedHealthcare uses Community Pricing in 43 states, so premiums stay consistent as you age. BCBS Plan G's lower starting rate at age 65 erodes each year in Attained Age Pricing states. Aetna and Cigna price Plan G more competitively than BCBS in several markets. Compare Humana, Transamerica and Anthem alongside BCBS before enrolling.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is a national association of 33 independent, locally operated health insurance companies that share a brand name. The association formed in 1982 from the merger of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, two separate organizations. BCBS companies collectively provide health coverage to more than 118 million people across all 50 states.

In the 29 BCBS markets using Attained Age Pricing, premiums rise each year as you get older. A competing insurer with Community Pricing and a higher starting rate may cost less by your mid-seventies. The state availability table above shows which pricing method your local BCBS affiliate uses.

Next, confirm which plan types your affiliate offers. Plan G covers the most for most new enrollees. Plan N costs less per month but requires copays on office and emergency room visits. Plans K and L work for enrollees who want lower premiums and can absorb some cost sharing on each claim.

Compare at least two or three Medigap insurers on the same plan type before enrolling. Because Medigap benefits are standardized, a Plan G from BCBS covers the same costs as a Plan G from State Farm. The difference is the premium, the pricing model and the insurer's complaint history.

MoneyGeek collected data for all Medicare plans nationwide for ages 65 and 75 through the plan browsing tool at Medicare.gov. Unless otherwise noted, the data in this article references quotes pulled for 65-year-olds in the state.

We scored Medigap companies based on three main categories to create a weighted score out of 5:

• Affordability (50%): Monthly cost accounts for half the score. Plans priced below the national average for their type score highest.
• Pricing style (20%): Medigap insurers use three methods to determine premiums: community pricing, issue-age pricing and attained age pricing. We gave higher scores for more stable, equitable pricing styles: community pricing scored 1.0, issue-age pricing 0.8 and attained-age pricing 0.6. A community-rated plan with a higher starting premium can still outscore a cheaper attained-age plan that rises as you age.
• Plan and state availability (30%): A wider plan range scores higher, with extra weight given to Plan G, Plan F and Plan N. Broader coverage across more states also improves the score.