What is the difference between Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross?

Asked by: Glenda Hamill  |  Last update: February 1, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (58 votes)

Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield are related, but they are not the same company. While they are both top health insurance providers in the USA, the big difference is that Blue Cross Blue Shield is the umbrella that is made up of several independent companies, and one of these smaller companies is Anthem.

Are Anthem and Blue Cross the same thing?

Anthem is part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield group. Blue Cross Blue Shield is made up of independent companies. Anthem is one of these companies. Other Blue Cross Blue Shield brands include Highmark, Regence and CareFirst.

Is Anthem the new name for Blue Cross Blue Shield?

As of January 1, 2024, the Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Empire BlueCross names are Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross. This will not impact your coverage, access to care, or level of support.

Is blue cross the same as Blue Cross Blue Shield?

In 1982, Blue Shield merged with The Blue Cross Association to form the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBS). Prior to 1986, organizations administering BCBS were tax exempt under 501(c)(4) as social welfare plans.

What states does Anthem Blue Cross cover?

We serve our members as the Blue Cross licensee for California and as the Blue Cross and Blue Shield, or BCBS, licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (in the New York City metropolitan area and ...

Kaiser Permanente vs Anthem Blue Cross in CA! Individual, Medicare and Small Business Markets

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Is Anthem Blue Cross Medicare?

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare Contract in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin, offer HMO, HMO D-SNP, HMO C-SNP, HMO I-SNP, LPPO, LPPO D-SNP and/or RPPO.

What states is Blue Cross Blue Shield accepted?

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield System

BCBS understands and answers the needs of local communities, while providing nationwide health care coverage for 115 million members in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Is Blue Cross cheaper than Blue Shield?

Depending on your region, the cheapest California health plan might be offered by Anthem Blue Cross or by Blue Shield of California. However, the rates tend to be about the same. The big difference is network. Which plan offers the most doctors, hospitals and medical provider networks?

Is Anthem Medicaid?

Medicaid Plans

We offer low-cost coverage for children, adults, and families who qualify for state-sponsored programs. Explore programs available in your state.

What happened to Blue Cross Blue Shield?

Court issues preliminary approval of $2.8 billion Blue Cross Blue Shield provider settlement. A $2.8 billion settlement from Blue Cross Blue Shield to health care providers resolving a 12-year antitrust lawsuit received preliminary approval yesterday from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

What is the other name for Anthem Blue Cross?

Prior to June 2022, Elevance Health was named Anthem, Inc. The company's services include medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, long-term care, and disability plans through affiliated companies such as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross in California, Wellpoint, and Carelon.

Does Anthem cover anesthesia?

The spokesperson added, "To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services. The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.”

Did Blue Cross change to Anthem?

As a reminder, on January 1, 2024, Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Empire BlueCross will become Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross. This will take place across Commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare lines of business. There will be no impact to your contract, reimbursement, or level of support.

Does Blue Cross cover anesthesia?

"As a result, we have decided to not proceed with this policy change," an Anthem spokesperson wrote in an email. "To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services.

Is Anthem the same as blue card?

BlueCard PPO gives you access to Anthem PPO benefits all across the nation by uniting Anthem's network with those of other Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensed companies. In fact, more than 85 percent of all hospitals and physicians throughout the U.S. contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

What is the difference between Anthem and Blue Cross?

Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield are related, but they are not the same company. While they are both top health insurance providers in the USA, the big difference is that Blue Cross Blue Shield is the umbrella that is made up of several independent companies, and one of these smaller companies is Anthem.

What is the best healthcare insurance?

Investopedia's analysis ranks Kaiser Permanente as the best health insurance company for 2025 because of its blend of affordability and low customer complaints. UnitedHealthcare and Aetna also earned top marks. We evaluated nine insurers using dozens of criteria, such as customer satisfaction, plan types, and costs.

How much does an MRI cost with Blue Cross insurance?

Patients insured by United are charged $995, Humana's $988, and Blue Cross' $464. In other words, depending on their insurance company, some patients may wind up paying $500 more for an identical procedure at the same facility. As is typical of health care pricing, they often won't know the price beforehand.

Is $200 a month good for health insurance?

Health insurance that costs $200 per month is a good deal in California. Silver plans typically cost $513 per month for a 21-year-old or $656 per month for a 40-year-old. The best way to get cheap rates is to use health insurance subsidies, which lower the cost of an insurance plan based on your income.

Which health insurance company denies the most claims?

According to the analysis, AvMed and UnitedHealthcare tied for the highest denial rate, with both companies denying about a third of in-network claims for plans sold on the Marketplace in 2023, respectively.

Why is Blue Cross Blue Shield so good?

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) offers a variety of Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans in every state, as well as prescription drug plans through Medicare Part D. Their network of doctors is expansive, and many of their policies cover hearing aids and routine dental and vision care.

Is Anthem BCBS Medicare?

Anthem offers Medicare Advantage Plans in parts of a number of states, including: California.

Is blue shield the same as Blue Cross Blue Shield?

Is Blue Cross completely the same as Blue Cross Blue Shield? Technically yes, since Blue Cross and Blue Shield merged decades ago to form the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The difference between the two was that Blue Cross covered hospitalization while Blue Shield covered medical care - doctor's bills.

Can I use my Blue Cross in another state?

You and your enrolled dependents may access PPO benefits when you're traveling or temporarily living outside your home state with the BlueCard program.