Florida Blue Medicare Advantage Review
Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans let you visit 90% of all doctors and hospitals in America. However, its plans are expensive and below average in quality.
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Editor's Rating
You can see a large network of doctors with a Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plan. Customers also get a wide range of benefits. These include services like transportation to and from doctor appointments and meal delivery.
However, Florida Blue has high rates and poor-quality plans. It also gets a high number of complaints.
Florida Blue is another name for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBS FL). When shopping for a plan, you may find the two names used interchangeably.
Pros and cons
Pros
Large network of doctors
Extra benefits like transportation
Many $0 rate plans
Good customer service
Cons
High number of complaints
High rates for some plans
Only available in Florida
Florida Blue Medicare Advantage costs
Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans cost $26 per month on average.
That's nearly twice as expensive as the Florida statewide average, $14 per month. In addition, Florida Blue scores below average on most quality metrics according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS).
In addition, Florida Blue has a high out-of-pocket maximum on average. That makes Florida Blue a bad deal because it has both high rates and you're responsible for a large portion of your medical costs.
Medicare Advantage plan cost and quality rating by company
Average monthly cost |
Star rating
| |
|---|---|---|
| Cigna | $0 | 4 |
| Aetna | $0 | 3.8 |
| AARP/UnitedHealthcare | $1 | 3.9 |
| Wellcare | $18 | 3.2 |
| Florida Blue | $26 | 3.7 |
| Humana | $28 | 4.2 |
Averages based on 2024 Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage in Florida
Florida Blue $0 plans
Most Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plan choices have no monthly cost. These $0 Medicare Advantage plans are widespread and popular. However, it's important to read over your plan details before you get one.
Many $0 plans don't have as much coverage as more expensive plans. For example, you may pay more when you visit the doctor with a $0 Medicare Advantage plan. In addition, $0 plans may have fewer extra benefits like transportation or meal services compared to plans with monthly rates.
You also still have to pay your $174.70 Medicare Part B monthly rate, even if you have a $0 Medicare Advantage plan. However, some Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans will pay for some or all of your Part B rate. This is called a Part B give-back program.
Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plan options
Florida Blue offers three Medicare Advantage plan types with different coverage levels and costs.
- HMO: HMOs typically cost the least of any plan type. However, you're restricted to a network of doctors, and you can't see a specialist without a referral from your primary care physician.
- PPO: PPOs cost more than HMOs but don't require referrals and let you see out-of-network doctors, although you'll pay more for those services.
- HMO-D-SNP: HMO-D-SNPs offer "dual eligible special needs" coverage to people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.
You can buy a Florida Blue plan anywhere in the state. But, cost, quality and availability vary depending on where you live. For example, the FHCP Medicare Premier Advantage (HMO) costs $0 per month, it has a low out-of-pocket maximum of $3,650 and a good four-star CMS rating. However, it's only available in a small area around Orlando.
By contrast, you can buy Florida Blue's BlueMedicare Choice (Regional PPO) anywhere in Florida'. This plan has an expensive rate of $67 per month, a high $6,500 out-of-pocket maximum and a low 3.5 out of 5 quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS).
Florida Blue Medicare Advantage medical benefits
Along with coverage for everyday health needs such as hospital services, doctor visits and preventive care, all Florida Blue plans include benefits like mental health services and skilled nursing facility care.
Additional benefits vary by plan.
HMO | HMO-D-SNP | PPO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No medical deductible | In select plans | ||
| Nonemergency out-of-network services covered | |||
| Specialist visits allowed without a referral | |||
| Dental coverage | In select plans | ||
| Vision, hearing and prescription coverage | In select plans | ||
| Transportation | In select plans | ||
| Meals-at-home program | In select plans |
Only certain medical conditions qualify you for the meals-at-home program.
Member extras
Many Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans offer extra benefits that go beyond what a standard health plan would offer.
- Meals at home: This benefit is a free meal delivery service that members can use if they've been hospitalized for certain conditions.
- SilverSneakers fitness program: The SilverSneakers program offers access to many fitness centers and online exercise programs.
- Transportation: Florida Blue will pay to have a car or van pick you up from your home for routine, nonemergency trips to the hospital or pharmacy.
- HealthyBlue Rewards: Certain preventive tests and screenings earn HealthyBlue rewards, which you can redeem for gift cards from places like Walmart and Walgreens. Reward points don't carry over, so you must use them by Dec. 31 of each year.
It's usually not a good idea to pick a Medicare Advantage plan only because of its extra benefits. However, if you've narrowed your choices down to two or three plans, these benefits can act as a tie-breaker.
Customer reviews and complaints
Florida Blue has a 4.5 out of 5 CMS star rating for customer service which reflects a high level of excellence. However, the company gets nearly three times as many customer complaints compared to an average Medicare Advantage company of the same size. Keep in mind that complaints are about the company as a whole and not just its Medicare Advantage program.
Florida Blue has an average score of 3 out of 5 stars in its most recent report card from the NCQA, an industry group. The star rating measures things like patient experience, treatment, prevention and equity when creating its ratings.
Frequently asked questions
Is Florida Blue Medicare Advantage good?
With a Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plan, you have access to the nation's largest network of doctors. However, these plans are expensive compared to the Florida state average. Florida Blue also gets significantly more complaints compared to an average insurance company of the same size.
Consider Humana if you're looking for a top-rated Medicare Advantage company in Florida.
Which doctors take Florida Blue?
Florida Blue customers have access to the more than 1.7 million doctors and hospitals nationwide in the Blue Cross Blue Shield program. Blue Cross Blue Shield has an online tool that lets you find a doctor in your area. If you have a PPO plan, you can visit out-of-network doctors, but you'll have to pay more.
What is the difference between Blue Cross and Florida Blue?
Florida Blue is just one of the 34 separate companies that make up Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Sources and methodology
Plan information and comparisons are based on Florida Blue Medicare and Medicare.gov data. Rating information was obtained from the Better Business Bureau, CMS, NAIC and NCQA.
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