Blue Cross Blue Shield vs. UnitedHealthcare: Medicare Plans

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) are two of the biggest names in the Medicare insurance industry. They both offer Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Supplement (Medigap), and Medicare Part D plans.

I’ve been teaching people about Medicare for 15+ years and have worked with both of these companies extensively. Today, I’m going to compare BCBS and UHC based on my research and personal experience.

Key Takeaways:

Blue Cross Blue Shield and UHC are basically tied when it comes to Medigap premium costs.

UHC offers Medicare Advantage in more states than BCBS, and provides access to a broader network of Medicare Advantage healthcare providers.

Both companies offer solid extra benefits like fitness programs and discounts.

Throughout this review, I’ll cover:

• Medicare plan availability 
• Medigap premium comparison
• Customer satisfaction and ratings
• My final thoughts – what’s best for you?

Let’s dive in and begin with overviews of BCBS and UHC.

BCBS Medicare Plan Highlights

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Summary:

• BCBS offers Medicare Advantage plans in 47 states (except Alaska, Mississippi, and Wyoming) and Puerto Rico.
• Prescription drug plans are available in 42 states (not in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oregon, or Washington).
• Blue Cross Blue Shield provides Medicare Supplement plans in all 50 states.
• BCBS offers nine of the ten standardized Medigap plans, including A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, and N, in most states.

Pros:

• Third largest Medicare Advantage provider in the US
• Consistently ranks high in customer satisfaction
• Great extra benefits like fitness memberships and discounts

Cons:

• Medicare Advantage plans are not available in all states
• Hard to gauge overall member satisfaction because of 33 affiliate companies

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Plan Highlights

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Summary:

• UHC offers Medicare Advantage plans in all 50 states.
• Prescription drug plans are available in all 50 states.
• UHC provides Medicare Supplement plans in all 50 states.
• UHC offers nine of the ten standardized Medigap plans, including A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, and N.

Pros:

• The biggest Medicare Advantage provider – covering around 25% of the market
• Renew Active program with gym and online fitness options
• Healthy food allowance, HouseCall home health program
• $0 copays for virtual visits

Cons:

• Premiums can be higher in some locations
• Their customer service scores could use improvement

Next, let’s look even further into what both companies have to offer.

BCBS vs. UHC: Medicare Plan Availability

Medicare Advantage

Both BCBS and UHC offer Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, which combine Parts A and B (hospital and medical insurance), often include Part D (prescription coverage), and come with additional benefits.

Blue Cross Blue Shield: Offers Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), and Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNP) in many regions.

• Note:  HMO plans often have lower premiums but limit you to in-network providers, while PPO plans offer more flexibility at a higher cost.  In 2024, only about 41% of BCBS MA plans have a $0 premium​.

UnitedHealthcare: Offers various MA plan types, including HMO, PPO, and Special Needs Plans (SNP), along with stand-alone prescription drug plans.

• Around 61% of UHC’s plans are $0-premium plans.

Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap)

Medigap plans, offered by private insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare, are here to help cover those extra costs that Original Medicare Parts A and B don’t—like deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.

Both companies offer Medigap plans in all 50 states.  It’s important to remember that all Medigap plan benefits are standardized – meaning they’re the same no matter which provider you choose. The only differences are their premiums and any extra benefits offered.

BCBS oversees 33 companies offering Medigap across the US, each with different extra benefits, such as coverage for eye and hearing exams, SilverSneakers memberships, and health discounts through Blue365.

UHC’s Medigap plans often come with added perks such as access to wellness programs, discounts on vision and hearing services, and 24/7 nurse hotlines.

• Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap:

  The #1 question we receive at my office is: do I choose Medicare Advantage or Medigap?

  I 100% recommend choosing a Medigap plan for anyone who can afford it.

  More on this topic:  MA vs. Medigap

Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)

BCBS and UHC both provide Part D plans. BCBS’s drug deductibles start as low as $40, while UHC’s plans vary but tend to offer competitive copays and deductible options, along with $0 copays on certain virtual visits for routine care.

BCBS vs. UHC: Medicare Plan Costs

Medicare Advantage

The average monthly cost of a Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan is around $44.61. That said, the price can vary a lot depending on your plan and where you live.

The average monthly premium for UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans is $62.59, although about 61% of their plans have a $0 premium option.

Even with a $0 premium, it’s important to think about other costs like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. These can really add up depending on the plan and the services you use.

Also, if you’re on Medicare Advantage, you’ll still need to pay the standard Medicare Part B premium, which will be $185 per month in 2025.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap)

Monthly premiums for BCBS Medicare Supplement plans typically range from $103 to $300. The exact cost depends on several factors, including age, gender, tobacco use, and location. BCBS also offers potential discounts on Medigap plans, such as savings for setting up automatic payments or paying in advance.

UnitedHealthcare offers a range of Medigap plans, with monthly premiums usually between $105 and $300. The cost also depends on your age, gender, location, and the plan you choose.

To give you a clearer picture, I’ve compared the premium costs of popular BCBS and UHC Medigap plans across different states. Let’s see how they stack up:

• Georgia:

  Medigap Plan	Blue Cross Blue Shield	UnitedHealthcare
  G	$144.00	$137.50
  F	$247.00	$255.00
  N	$155.00	$136.50
  A	$103.00	$136.50
  Sample quotes are for a 65 y/o nonsmoking female in GA zip code 30127.

• Florida:

  Medigap Plan	Blue Cross Blue Shield	UnitedHealthcare
  G	$214.30	$206.61
  F	$243.50	$252.67
  N	$176.59	$176.60
  A	$175.30	$178.30
  Sample quotes are for a 65 y/o nonsmoking female in FL zip code 32503.

• Texas:

  Medigap Plan	Blue Cross Blue Shield	UnitedHealthcare
  G	$140.36	$155.99
  F	$197.49	$193.50
  N	$114.20	$105.59
  A	$264.00	$139.89
  Sample quotes are for a 65 y/o nonsmoking female in TX zip code 76092.

Based on this data, both companies offer relatively similar premium costs, typically ranging from $103 to $255.

BCBS and UHC might have competitive pricing, but they’re not always the cheapest option out there. It’s worth checking out other providers like Allstate, ACE, or Aflac and taking the time to compare your options.

Customer Satisfaction and Ratings

When picking a Medicare plan, it’s a good idea to think about how each company treats its customers and how happy their members are – that can make a big difference in your experience.

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) ratings vary by regional affiliate. On average, BCBS Medicare Advantage plans score 3.7 out of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), slightly below the national average of 3.9.

Due to BCBS’s decentralized structure, customer satisfaction differs by state. While several affiliates hold strong A+ financial ratings from AM Best, reviews highlight areas for improvement, particularly in customer support and claims handling.

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) has a strong, consistent reputation across most states. With an A+ rating from AM Best for financial stability, UHC’s Medicare Advantage plans scored an average of 3.82 out of 5 stars from CMS in 2025, close to industry averages.

Members appreciate its large provider network and benefits like home health services, though overall member experience is rated as average compared to other top providers.

Bottom Line

Both companies offer quality Medicare plans, but the best choice depends on your lifestyle and healthcare priorities.

Let’s say you’re looking at a Medicare Advantage plan:

• If having a big, reliable network across the country is important to you—especially if you travel a lot or have providers in different locations—UHC might be the way to go.
• On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more community-focused with local expertise, BCBS could be a better fit. Their regional affiliates work closely with local providers, which is great if your healthcare needs are more local and you value a personal touch.

Or, if you’re looking at a Medigap plan:

• This choice will vary more based on your location (which determines the premium cost) and your personal preference for the company’s added benefits.

If you have questions or need help picking the right plan or company—just reach out to us. We’re here to chat, do a personalized needs analysis, and help you find the best option for your unique situation. Thanks!

Sources: UHC Medicare Plan Info  |  BCBS Medicare Plan Info  | Medicare.gov

FAQs

• Do these plans cover prescription drugs?

  Most Medicare Advantage plans from BCBS and UHC include Part D, but Medigap and SNP plans may require a separate Part D plan.

• Are vision and dental benefits included?

  UHC includes some dental and vision benefits with most of its Medicare Advantage plans, while BCBS offers these benefits in select plans depending on the region.

• Can I keep my current doctor if I switch to one of these plans?

  It depends on the plan and your doctor. Both BCBS and UHC have extensive networks of providers, but it’s always best to check with your current provider before making a switch to ensure they are in-network. If you want to keep seeing your current provider, make sure they accept the plan you are considering.

• Are there any additional costs associated with these plans?

  Besides monthly premiums, additional costs such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles for services utilized may be included. These costs can vary depending on the plan and the specific services needed. Additionally, certain plans may have out-of-pocket maximums that limit how much you will need to pay in a given year.