Aetna vs. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
- In this review, we explore Aetna vs. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare plans. Learn more about the types of plans each company offers and what they can cover.
Aetna and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are two popular names in the private Medicare insurance industry. In this review, we give you an overview of Aetna vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield that highlights some of the similarities and differences between these companies.
The first consideration when comparing two insurance companies is whether or not they sell plans in the area in which you live. After all, you can only enroll in a Medicare plan that is sold in your county or zip code.
Aetna vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Plan Availability
Aetna sells Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans, Medicare Part D drug plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans in certain parts of the country.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) sells Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and Medicare Supplement plans in a number of states, including through affiliate companies such as Wellpoint, Simply and other BCBS affiliates.
Aetna vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Plan Availability
Medicare plans come in all shapes and sizes, with a variety of prices and benefits. Shoppers like options, and companies like Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield give beneficiaries plenty of coverage choices.
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers:
- Medicare Advantage Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, HMO Point-of-Service (HMO-POS) plans, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans and Special Needs Plans (SNPs). Not each type of plan is available in all locations
- PFFS (Private Fee-For-Service) and Medicare Cost plans, which are slightly less common types of Medicare Advantage plans
Some Blue Cross Blue Shield's Special Needs Plans are available for people who are dual eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and some of their SNPs are designed for people with chronic conditions like diabetes, end-stage renal disease, heart disease and more.
Blue Cross Blue Shield and its affiliated companies offer several different Medicare Part D drug plans in many ZIP codes, giving consumers a variety of cost and coverage options.
Blue Cross Blue Shield and its affiliates also sell a number of the 10 standardized Medigap plans that are available in most states, such as Medigap Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L and N.
Aetna offers:
- Medicare HMO plans, PPO plans, HMO-POS plans and Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs)
- Different Part D plan options, including several SilverScript Medicare drug plans
- Aetna Medicare Supplement Insurance plans such as Medigap Plans A, B, C, D, F, G and N
Aetna vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Medicare Star Ratings
Every year, Medicare evaluates plans using a 5-star rating system. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rates all Medicare plan providers base on factors such as customer service and plan member health, with five stars being the best rating and three stars being an average rating.
88% of Aetna Medicare Advantage members are part of a plan rated 4 stars or higher for 2025.
Aetna vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Plan Costs
Cost is always an important factor to consider when choosing a Medicare plan.
When comparing the typical costs for Aetna Medicare plans and Blue Cross Medicare plans, we find plan costs to be fairly similar. Please note that the plan premiums, deductibles, copays and other costs for plans available where you live could be very different than these examples.
Aetna vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield Summary
When it comes to Aetna vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield, both companies are experienced and offer high-quality plan options. Aetna serves a slightly larger number of states, while Blue Cross Blue Shield offers a few more plan options in certain areas of the country.
With Aetna or Blue Cross Blue Shield, it’s hard to go wrong. You can also compare other insurance carriers, such as Aetna vs UHC.
Helpadvisor.com is owned and operated by Tranzact, the parent company of TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, which is the owner/operator of Medicareadvantage.com and other websites mentioned on HelpAdvisor and which has a financial relationship with some of the carriers listed on HelpAdvisor. This may influence which products we write about, but HelpAdvisor maintains editorial independence, and our opinions and evaluations are our own.
