Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Review: 2027 Update

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Insurance Review for 2027

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is the most widely used health insurance brand in the U.S. It isn’t one company. It’s a system of 33 independent, locally operated companies that together cover about 118 million people, roughly 1 in 3 Americans, in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

For 2027, many Blue companies are raising ACA Marketplace rates by double digits, several are leaving Medicare Advantage and star ratings are mixed. Here’s what to know before you pick a plan.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• One of the largest provider networks in the country: more than 2 million doctors and hospitals contract with BCBS companies
• Broad plan selection for under-65 and Medicare members
• Care when you travel through BCBS national and global programs
• Blue companies ranked first in at least 11 regions in J.D. Power’s 2026 commercial health plan study
• 4.5-star Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 in several states, including Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania

Cons

• Service, prices and networks vary by state, since each Blue company is run separately
• Large 2027 Marketplace rate increases in many states
• Several Blue companies are leaving Medicare Advantage for 2027
• BCBS scored 75 in the latest ACSI study, just below the industry average of 76

Coverage Area (2027)

United States

BCBS companies operate in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. The Blue company you can buy from depends on where you live, such as Florida Blue in Florida, Highmark in parts of Pennsylvania and Anthem in states like California, New York and Ohio. All Blue ACA-compliant plans cover the 10 essential health benefits.

International

Blue Cross Blue Shield trademarks are used in more than 170 countries, and BCBS global programs help members get care while traveling or living abroad. What’s covered outside the U.S. depends on your plan, so check before you travel.

Provider Network

More than 2 million doctors and hospitals contract with BCBS companies, according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Most Blue plans also let you get care from other Blue companies’ providers when you’re away from home, but rules vary by plan type.

Confused by health insurance terms and coverage?

Our simple Glossary makes it easy to understand.

Plan Types Offered (2027)

Under-65 (Individual and Family)

• ACA Marketplace Plans
  Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum plans, with HMO, EPO and PPO options depending on the state. Premium tax credits can lower your cost if you qualify.
• Short-Term Medical (STM)
  Availability varies by state, and not all BCBS companies offer short-term plans.
• Employer-Sponsored Plans
  Large and small group coverage with benefits employers can customize.
• Student Health Plans
  Some Blue companies, including Anthem, offer university-sponsored student insurance.
• Medicaid
  Many BCBS companies offer Medicaid managed care plans, depending on the state.

Medicare (65+)

• Medicare Advantage
  HMO, PPO and Special Needs Plans (SNPs), including D-SNPs for people with Medicare and Medicaid, C-SNPs for chronic conditions and I-SNPs for people in nursing homes. Availability is changing for 2027, so see the exits below. Compare options in MedicareGuide’s best Medicare Advantage plans for 2027.
• Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
  Standardized Medigap plans that fill gaps in Original Medicare.
  • Learn more in our BCBS Medicare Supplement Review from MedicareGuide, our sister educational site.
• Part D Prescription Drug Plans
  Offered in many states, as stand-alone plans or built into Medicare Advantage plans.
• Retiree Group Medicare
  Group Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for employer and union retirees.

What’s Changing for BCBS in 2027

ACA Marketplace rates

Most Blue companies are raising individual-market rates for 2027, partly because the enhanced premium tax credits ended after 2025. Here are average changes for several Blue plans:

Sources: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Oct. 16, 2026), Pennsylvania Insurance Department (Sept. 18, 2026), Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, Covered California (July 21, 2026) and ACASignups. Your own change depends on your plan, age and county.

For 2027 coverage, you get no premium tax credit if your income is above 400% of the federal poverty level. If you’re close to that line, read how paying back the premium tax credit works.

Medicare Advantage star ratings

CMS released 2027 star ratings on October 8, 2026. Results for Blue plans are mixed:

• 4.5 stars: BCBS of Michigan, Blue Care Network (Michigan), Highmark, Blue Cross NC, BCBS of Louisiana and the BCBS of Massachusetts HMO. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah rose from 3.5 to 4.5 stars.
• Notable drops: CareFirst Advantage PPO fell from 4 to 2.5 stars, BCBS of Arizona from 4.5 to 3.5 and BCBS of Tennessee’s main plan from 4 to 3.5. Two Florida Blue contracts each fell by half a star, to 3.5 and 3.

Ratings apply to each plan contract, not the whole company, so check the rating for the exact plan you’re considering.

Blue companies leaving Medicare Advantage

These Blue companies are leaving Medicare Advantage for 2027: BCBS of Texas, BCBS of Oklahoma, BCBS of Montana, Wellmark (Iowa and South Dakota), BCBS of Mississippi, BCBS of North Dakota and Braven Health in New Jersey. BCBS of Minnesota is staying but ending most of its 2026 plans.

If your plan is leaving, you can pick a new Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare, and you may have a right to buy a Medigap plan. See what to do if your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving in 2027.

Consumer Experience Snapshot

Complaint Index

Complaints vary by state and company. Some BCBS companies have below-average complaint ratios, while others draw criticism for claims processing and customer service delays.

Satisfaction Scores

BCBS scored 75 out of 100 in the 2025 ACSI insurance study, down 3% from the year before and just below the health insurance average of 76.

In J.D. Power’s 2026 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study, Blue companies ranked first in at least 11 regions. Leaders included BCBS of Michigan (614), Florida Blue (603, tied with Cigna) and Blue Cross of Idaho (601), against an industry average of 562.

Methodology

Our Health Insurance Rating Methodology scores insurers across five main categories, each rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best. The overall score is the average of these five categories: Coverage Breadth and Accessibility, Plan Variety and Customization, Affordability and Value, Innovation and Care Quality, and Consumer Experience and Transparency.

Coverage looks at factors like how widely an insurer operates, whether it offers Medicare and Medicaid, emergency coverage abroad and the size of its provider network. Plan variety considers the types of plans offered (like HMO, PPO or Medigap), extra benefits (like dental or vision) and support for groups like students. Affordability focuses on premiums, deductibles, financial protections and pricing stability. Innovation and quality cover mental health access, coordinated care, wellness tools and efforts to address social health factors. The consumer experience rating reflects how easy it is to compare and enroll in plans, handle claims or appeals and use the insurer’s online tools, along with how often customers file complaints.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Blue Cross Blue Shield one company?

No. Blue Cross Blue Shield is a system of 33 independent, locally operated companies. Each one sets its own plans, prices and networks in its area, such as Florida Blue, Highmark or Anthem.

How much are Blue Cross Blue Shield rates going up in 2027?

It depends on the state and company. Approved or final average Marketplace increases for 2027 include 9.5% and 18.8% for Florida Blue’s two companies, 14.5% for Highmark Inc. in Pennsylvania and 20.3% for Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon.

Is Blue Cross Blue Shield leaving Medicare Advantage in 2027?

Some Blue companies are. BCBS of Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, Mississippi and North Dakota, Wellmark and Braven Health are leaving Medicare Advantage for 2027. Other Blue companies, such as BCBS of Michigan and Highmark, still offer plans.

What star rating does BCBS Medicare Advantage have for 2027?

Ratings vary by plan. Several Blue plans earned 4.5 stars for 2027, including BCBS of Michigan, Highmark and Blue Cross NC, while others fell, such as CareFirst Advantage PPO at 2.5 stars.

When can I enroll in a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan for 2027?

Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. ACA open enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and states that run their own exchange may set different dates.

Bottom Line

Blue Cross Blue Shield is still a top choice if you want a large provider network and many plan types. For 2027, though, your experience depends heavily on your state: compare your local Blue company’s new rates and star ratings with other insurers before you renew, and act quickly if your Blue Medicare Advantage plan is leaving.

Sources

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, The Blue Cross Blue Shield System
• Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, 2027 Individual Market Rate Table (Oct. 16, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Insurance Department, 2027 ACA Rates (Sept. 18, 2026)
• Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, Final 2027 Rates
• Covered California, 2027 Rates and Plans (July 21, 2026)
• ACASignups, North Carolina 2027 Rate Changes
• CMS, 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings (Oct. 8, 2026)
• Becker’s Payer Issues, Payers Exiting Medicare Advantage in 2027
• ACSI, Insurance Study 2025 (Oct. 28, 2025)
• J.D. Power, 2026 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study (May 27, 2026)

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HealthCareInsider.com or HealthCare, Inc.