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Our Verdict
Anthem Medicare Supplement plans offer cost-competitive choices for people who use or may later need consistent medical care. Anthem plans may also work for those who live in different states for months at a time or who live in areas with few choices of providers.
Key Features
- Anthem and its network of Blue Cross Blue Shield carriers offer popular Medicare Supplement plans, such as G, N and F.
- Many plans include exercise and weight loss programs and the option to buy a Part D prescription plan, along with dental and vision coverage.
- Anthem, re-named Elevance Health in June 2022, is one of the largest health insurance networks in the country. It claims to serve 47 million members.
- Offers four Medical Supplement plans
- Compare free quotes from each type of plan in your area
- Call to speak to a licensed insurance agent. TTY 711, Mon-Sun 8 am - 11 pm EST
- Receive support making confident, informed decisions about your coverage
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A Medicare Supplement—or Medigap—plan is intended to fill gaps in Original Medicare coverage. Anthem offers three of the most popular Medigap plans (F, G and N) and plan A, the one plan required to be offered by federal law. Anthem doesn’t provide Medicare Supplement plans in all markets or in all states.
Most Anthem Medicare Supplement plans also include access to SilverSneakers, which provides free memberships to a network of gyms. Anthem also offers ScriptSave/WellRx, a savings program for prescription drugs that discounts weight loss programs and various vitamins and supplements.
Anthem Medicare Supplement at a Glance
- Plan options: Anthem offers Medicare supplement plans A, F, G and N. Plan N is less expensive than other Medigap plan options and is gaining popularity; the more expensive plan G remains most popular and covers the most medical expenses of all Medigap plans. Plan F is also popular but only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before 2020.
- Provider network: Since most health care providers and hospitals across the country accept Medicare, most providers also accept supplement plans provided by Anthem.
- Average monthly premium: The cost of an Anthem Medicare Supplement plan depends on a person’s location, their individual health needs and the plan they select, among other factors. Though costs vary, Anthem customers can expect to pay between $102 and $226 for monthly plan premiums, according to the company. For example, monthly Plan G premiums for a person turning 65 in 2023 may cost about $231 while monthly Plan N premiums for the same person may cost $175.
How Does Anthem Medicare Supplement Work?
After turning 65 and enrolling in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical care), you have six months to add a Medicare Supplement plan offered by a private insurer like Anthem to your coverage. During this period, you cannot be denied coverage based on your age or health status. After this window closes, you can enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan during the annual open enrollment period that runs from October 15 to December 7, but waiting can cost you more. Some states permit medical underwriting—a process in which insurance companies investigate your medical history to decide whether you’re healthy enough to be insured by their plans—during open enrollment.
Medicare Supplement plans differ from Medicare Advantage plans, in which you substitute a private insurer’s coverage for that of Original Medicare. Original Medicare covers 80% of most expenses and requires you to pay deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Supplement plans, often called Medigap plans, are meant to fill those gaps in coverage. With Anthem Medicare Supplement plans (and those offered by any other provider), you’re covered for services provided by any health care provider or hospital that accepts Medicare patients. You won’t need to submit extra paperwork to get Anthem to pay your health care providers or suppliers.
Anthem and its licensees (operating under some version of a Blue Cross Blue Shield name in many states) offer four Medicare Supplement plans, all of which cover 100% of Medicare Part A and Part B coinsurance and various amounts of other expenses Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Medigap plans are defined by federal and state governments and must offer the same baseline benefits no matter which insurance carrier you use. Once enrolled, you’re guaranteed coverage for life as long as you keep paying your premiums and medical costs for which you are responsible. Medigap plans renew automatically every year unless you decide to switch plans.
One of the most affordable Medicare Supplement plans, Plan N covers the Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance and 80% of foreign travel medical expenses. Plans F and G are more expensive and add more coverage. Both include Part B excess charges. F adds coverage of the Part B deductible, but due to recent legislation, it’s only available to people who were eligible to enroll in Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Anthem Medicare Supplement plans include a prescription savings program (ScriptSave/WellRx), but if you take many medications, you may want to purchase an additional Part D prescription drug plan. One warning: If you don’t sign up for a Part D drug plan within 63 days of turning 65, Medicare (not Anthem) charges you a small monthly penalty based on how long you went without Part D coverage.
Prescription drugs are categorized into tiers of coverage. While many plans offer $0 deductibles for some preferred generics, they tend to require copays on more expensive drugs. To decide whether to stick with discounts offered under an Anthem Medicare Supplement plan or purchase an additional Part D plan, calculate how much your current prescription drugs will cost you over the upcoming year.
Most Anthem Medicare Supplement plans include some extras, such as gym memberships, weight loss programs and holistic health programs addressing food security and preventative care. In California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia and Wisconsin, you can purchase additional dental and vision coverage. You can also add long-term care and hearing coverage in some states.
Medigap plans may be advantageous to you if you require a lot of medical care, live in an area with limited health care networks or stay for months at a time in different parts of the country. Since most health care providers and hospitals nationwide participate in Medicare, Anthem Medigap plans allow you to have a care network wherever you live or travel in the U.S..
Anthem is part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield network of insurance providers and offers Medicare Supplement plans in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.
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How Much Does Anthem Medicare Supplement Cost?
When you purchase a Medigap plan, you pay an additional premium on top of what you pay for Original Medicare. Medicare Part A is free if you worked and contributed payroll taxes to Medicare for at least 10 years. If not, Part A premiums can be as high as $499 a month. Part B premiums are based on age and income, and they tend to increase annually as plan rates increase and as you move into older, more expensive groups. The base monthly Medicare Part B premium in 2023 is $164.90 per month, but it can be hundreds of dollars higher for people with high incomes or who are much older. You may also pay penalties for enrolling after your original period of eligibility.
Anthem is price competitive in most markets it serves, though it’s not always the lowest cost carrier in each market. Anthem offers discounts for two people in a household who are both on an Anthem Medicare Supplement plan and for agreeing to automated electronic payments. In some markets, insurers add policy fees. Another noticeable difference between insurance carriers is their prescription drug costs. Anthem offers excellent drug discounts and Part D prescription drug plans, leveraging the buying power of its many customers. However, drug formularies change from year to year, so you need to check the prices of your medications annually to decide if Anthem’s formulary works for you.
What Experts Say
Anthem—just renamed Elevance Health in June 2022—is part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield network. It offers a limited number of plans, and there are many variables that determine whether one of its plans is best for you, not least of which is location.
“I like Plan N the best because it’s most cost effective,” says Rob Colangelo, a New York-based independent Medicare insurance broker. “It’s a little more than $200 per month in New York; you have a $20 copay to see the doctor, a $50 emergency room copay, and a $233 deductible for the year. Plan G is another $70 per month, which gets rid of the copays. If you see a doctor five times a month, it’s worth it,” he says.
Colangelo also notes that in many states, you can upgrade your plan later on, but he emphasizes that picking an insurance company may come down to what’s available in your state, the consumer protections your state provides and the drugs you need.
The Experience
Anthem is one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S. However, the company’s online customer review rating from the Better Business Bureau is rated just 1.06 out of 5 stars. The company had four complaints closed in the last three years and four complaints in the last 12 months. However the company has an A+ rating, though it’s not BBB accredited.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Anthem a good supplemental insurance?
Anthem offers competitive prices on the most popular Medigap plans in several states. According to independent insurance brokers, it has excellent online tools, prescription drug discount plans and access to discount gym memberships and wellness programs. The company is financially stable and thus should be able to pay out all claims.
What benefits come with Anthem Medicare Supplement plans?
Most Anthem Medicare Supplement plans include some extras, such as gym memberships, weight loss programs and holistic health programs addressing food security and preventative care.
Is Anthem a good plan for older adults?
Anthem is usually price competitive in the markets it serves. It offers many benefits to its customers, including online tools, gym memberships and wellness programs, healthy food programs and access to Part D prescription drug coverage. In some markets, Anthem provides additional vision and dental benefits. Customer service reviews vary widely.
