Always confirm costs with your healthcare facility and/or insurance coverage
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is one of the most widely recognized health insurance providers in the United States, offering coverage for individuals, families, federal employees, and those on Medicare. The monthly cost of BCBS health insurance varies greatly depending on factors like plan type, coverage level, and geographic location. Let’s dive into the details to give you a better understanding of potential costs and options.
Monthly Costs for Individual and Family Plans
For those purchasing individual or family health insurance plans, premiums vary based on the state you live in, the coverage tier you choose, and other personal factors such as age and health history.
Sample Premiums by Coverage Tier
- Bronze Plans: Typically range from $400 to $700 per month. These plans have lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs.
- Silver Plans: Range from $600 to $900 per month, offering a balance between premiums and coverage.
- Gold Plans: Range from $800 to $1,200 per month, with higher premiums but lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.
Example: In Vermont, 2024 monthly premiums for BCBS individual plans range approximately from $400 to $1,200, depending on the coverage tier and plan specifics.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program (FEP)
BCBS offers specific plans tailored to federal employees through its Federal Employee Program (FEP). These plans have set premiums, and coverage options include Blue Focus, Basic Option, and Standard Option.
Monthly Premiums for 2025 FEP Plans
Plan Option |
Self Only (USD) |
Self Plus One (USD) |
Self and Family (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
FEP Blue Focus |
$128.21 |
$275.63 |
$303.17 |
Basic Option |
$245.18 |
$593.97 |
$657.82 |
Standard Option |
$378.76 |
$832.31 |
$920.07 |
Federal employees benefit from comprehensive coverage and competitive pricing compared to private insurance plans.
Medicare Advantage Plans
For individuals eligible for Medicare, BCBS offers a variety of Medicare Advantage plans, which include additional benefits like dental, vision, and hearing coverage.
Average Monthly Premiums
- HMO Plans: $0 – $50 (some plans have no premium, depending on the region).
- PPO Plans: $50 – $150 (higher premiums but more flexibility in provider choice).
Note: Costs for Medicare Advantage plans vary significantly by state and coverage inclusions.
Factors Influencing Monthly Costs
Several factors impact the monthly cost of a BCBS health insurance plan:
- Plan Tier: Bronze plans have the lowest premiums, while Gold and Platinum plans cost more but offer better coverage.
- Location: Premiums vary by state and even within regions due to healthcare costs and provider networks.
- Age: Older individuals often pay higher premiums.
- Additional Benefits: Plans with dental, vision, or wellness perks may increase monthly costs.
Is Blue Cross Blue Shield Worth It?
BCBS is known for its broad network, comprehensive coverage, and customer support. While the costs can vary, many find the value of having access to reliable health insurance outweighs the expense. Whether you’re an individual, a family, or a federal employee, BCBS offers plans that cater to a range of needs and budgets.
What’s your experience with Blue Cross Blue Shield? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below! Whether you’re considering a new plan or renewing your coverage, we’d love to hear from you. 💙
Through time, many of us, would trust programs are in place to support your needs.
Then we, because of trust, ceased monitoring those entrusted to over see the program(s).
Little by little those in charge decided to take more and more – beyond what is necessary. They also became ‘creative’ putting into place ‘guidelines’ / ‘rules’ to assure no one can challenge the values and prices.
If someone has an high degree of health service needs – the health plan serves its purpose.
All the rest … our needs are minimal.
We forget the significant ‘pool’ of members results in an huge sum of money to cover claims for service. And that money is invested therefore it grows for the handlers – not you/us.
When one does the simple math the yearly out of pocket expenses along with the monthly premiums in just TEN years can exceed $80,000 … it should be understood right off something is very wrong with how the costs are figured. In other words the health challenges you experienced, not just in ten years, but in several decades … you would have paid an fraction of that sum for health expenses and could have lived an much better life.
One would think – individually/an individual – after several decades … it would be accepted the individual has already paid into the program ‘pool’ an huge sum of money [already] therefore the premiums should be adjusted – of course lower.
You may respond – but your health costs will be higher since your health challenges will be more severe in your old age. This was factored with an ‘rule’ whereas it makes no sense to perform, in example, an hip replacement to someone over an certain age. Some procedures may not be allowed. This addressed by Mr. Obama.
Curious … do you believe everyone desires to have an bypass or other procedures ? Many will accept whatever God has decided for them.
Point: health care is artificially priced to assure = health premiums will always be adjusted upwards.
Point: health premiums have reached an reasonable ceiling an long time ago.
Question: it seems health plans have coincided plan increases with cost of living decisions – taking an huge bite of an cola adjustment leaving just a few dollars of it to pay other increases. Am I misinformed ? Is an cola supposed to be to pay for health plan premium increases and we CAN afford the high prices of life ?
Am I seeing it wrong ??? I do not know how to express in kind terms – with the cost of everything 400 percent higher since 2008 – that of an COLA – 81% was taken by the health plan leaving just over $10.00 for all the increases I have to pay in an month. Or maybe that is the point ! I am supposed to breath an sigh of relief the cola covered the health premium increase. I just wish – the COLA also covered electric; food; gasoline; clothing; trash service increases. There is so much money going to health providers and services – it leaves you to wonder HOW, how is it possible someone thought there must be, needs to be ‘co-pays’.
In case you do not know: Biden once declared Americans do not need money, they are doing OK – they have money. Allow me: Americans are carrying huge debt – but you know this.
Fact: Americans are too proud, and loyal to our country, to ADMIT we are doing/worrying terribly about the economy and especially about our own financial plight. An great majority of Americans will never live, want to live, in an jerry Springer episode. Americans may have money, as Biden declared, BUT we know all it takes is for one thing to happen and that money is gone. How many people can easily pay $8,000 – $15,000 for an new roof ? Now I CAN make an huge list of ‘downfalls’ [expenditures] which every person, whether they live in an home or an apartment, KNOW we can not spend because we do not want to end up in an financial hole. That painful and outright ignorant statement made by an President of this United States is so incredible one would want to ask – does OUR President hate us ?
Maybe the simple problem we have is: rich people make poor leaders.
What did I pay for this ? too much.
Quite a response, but we appreciate your insight here