Aetna vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance

Two of the largest health insurance providers in the U.S. are Aetna and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. When weighing Blue Cross Blue Shield vs. Aetna, both carriers deliver high-quality health insurance plans. However, Aetna can be the better choice for customers who qualify for Medicare, while Blue Cross Blue Shield can be preferred by those who need a family plan or an individual health insurance plan. Further, in the Blue Cross vs. Aetna argument, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has a larger provider network, which can benefit many customers.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is a part of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. Blue Cross and Blue Shield are two health insurance companies within the Anthem family of brands, but both BCBS and Anthem sell health insurance in different states in the U.S. Our guide to Aetna vs. Blue Cross health insurance will help break down the two insurance companies so you can decide which one is better for your individual needs. 

Aetna vs. Blue Cross: Health Insurance Overview

	Aetna	Blue Cross Blue Shield
Year Founded	1910	1853
Overall Carrier Star Rating	4 Stars	4.5 Stars
Availability	Nationwide	Nationwide
Coverage Limit	Varies by location/plan	Varies by location/plan
Deductible	Varies by location/plan	Varies by location/plan
Maximum Annual Benefit	Varies by location/plan	Varies by location/plan
Waiting Period	Varies by location/plan	Varies by location/plan
Providers In-Network	1.2 Million	1.7 Million
Covers Telehealth	Yes	Yes
Policy Management	Mobile app, online, phone	Mobile app, online, phone
Plan Types	HMO, PPO, CDHP, EPO, FSA, HMO-POS, Indemnity, HSA, Medicaid, Medicare, POS	HMO, PPO, CDHP, EPO, FSA, HMO-POS, Indemnity, HSA, Medicaid, Medicare, POS

Aetna vs. Blue Cross: Policy Types

The coverage offerings by Aetna and BCBS vary by state, but both carriers offer many of the same types of policies, including FSA, HMO, POS, PPO, and HSA indemnity plans. Both Aetna and Blue Cross offer individual and family plans. 

Each carrier also has a waiting period before coverage kicks in. Aetna also sells international insurance, group health insurance, and student health insurance through universities. 

BCBS, on the other hand, sells a large catalog of private individual policies as well as family plans with varying prices, medal levels, deductibles, and coverage options and limits. There are four access points for customers to get individual health insurance through, including these major carriers, Medicare, Medicaid, and off-market.

Both Aetna and BCBS sell health, vision, and dental insurance. BCBS's dental insurance plans come with a waiting period, while Aetna's do not. However, BCBS provides more options for dental insurance customers. Blue Cross also might have more affordable policy options for many individuals.

A dental insurance policy from Blue Cross can come with deductibles starting at just $25, while Aetna's minimum deductible amount available in most states is $50. Blue Cross's annual maximum benefit on the $25 deductible plans is up to $2,000, while the maximum benefit amount on Aetna's $50 deductible plans is between $1,000 and $1,250. Most states offer four dental plans through Blue Cross while only two are offered in most areas through Aetna.

Aetna vs. Blue Cross: Insurance Plan Costs

The cost of health insurance is influenced by several variables, including the policyholder's age and health history, the deductible amount chosen, the plan's coverage and benefits, and the state where the coverage is sold. The older you are when you buy health insurance, the more expensive your policy may be. Likewise, the poorer the current state of your health and your health history overall, the more expensive you can expect a policy to be. 

Higher deductibles can mean lower premium costs for health insurance, but you'd have to pay a higher amount out of pocket for every doctor visit, prescription medication, etc., depending on your policy's terms. Aetna has free Medicare Part A coverage available with a $0 deductible for some customers. BCBS's rates vary more significantly since the carrier offers its coverage through 34 different local independent companies, and rates and plan options differ by location.

However, for a 50-year-old female customer in Rhode Island, a sample policy from BCBS costs an average of $447.63 per month with a $3,250 deductible and a maximum out-of-pocket cost of $6,825. If that same customer lives in Michigan, the average monthly premium jumps to $653.29 with a $3,000 deductible and a maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,500. 

Aetna vs. Blue Cross: Coverage Limits

Coverage limits vary by health insurance provider and the plan you select. Aetna and Blue Cross have different coverage limits for their most popular health insurance plans. The amount of coverage you need will likely heavily influence which health insurance plan you buy, as well as the carrier you choose.

Also, Blue Cross has varying out-of-pocket maxes depending on whether a bronze, silver, or gold plan is chosen. Further, the state the plan is offered in also impacts the coverage limits available under Blue Cross's plans. While Aetna has various individual limits for certain medical services and treatments, here's a look at a few of their most popular plans' maximum benefit amounts.

• Aetna Level 1 PPO plan: Maximum benefit of $15,000 for in-network care
• Aetna Level 2 PPO plan: Maximum benefit of $25,000 for in-network care 
• Aetna Medicare Plus HMO: $3,400 out-of-pocket maximum
• Aetna Medicare Elite PPO: $7,550 out-of-pocket maximum
• Aetna Medicare Explorer PPO: $6,700 out-of-pocket maximum

The maximum benefit amounts through Blue Cross depend on the plans offered in each individual's state. However, the carrier offers varying deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums in most states. You'll have to check which plans are sold by Blue Cross in your area to determine the maximum amount of coverage available.

Aetna vs. Blue Cross: Plan Availability

Both Aetna and Blue Cross sell health insurance in all 50 states and Washington, DC. However, the cost and coverage options of each plan vary by location. Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are not available in all states, but Aetna sells MA plans in 46 states and DC. BCBS sells MA plans in 47 states.

Also, BCBS does not sell Medicare Part D, or standalone prescription drug coverage, in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oregon, or Washington. However, if you live in any other area of the U.S., you can get Medicare Part D through BCBS. Aetna, however, offers Medicare Part D in all 50 states and DC.

Aetna vs. Blue Cross: Policy Management Tools

Customers can manage their policies in typical ways through Blue Cross or Aetna. Both carriers offer a member online portal. Customers can update their plans, check claim statuses, and view their policies through the member portal.

Both BCBS and Aetna have customer service contact phone numbers and standard business hours. Customers don't have access to 24/7 support through either carrier. Neither carrier offers online chat support, either. However, each insurance company provides a free mobile app, which is the most accessible way of managing a policy.

BCBS's mobile app varies by state, meaning some customers get various features and perks that others don't. However, every state's app allows customers to access their claims, ID cards, policy information, deductibles, and HSA balances, as well as find an in-network urgent care facility or physician when needed. Certain states have access to additional benefits, such as a 24-hour nurse hotline, drug pricing information, and bill pay.

Aetna vs. Blue Cross: Policyholder Experience

Mixed customer feedback can easily be found for both Aetna and BCBS. Frequent customer complaints cite denied claims, billing issues, and slow claim payouts. But in terms of customer support agents, Aetna has more negative feedback.

A recent J.D. Power U.S. Medicare Advantage Study called out Aetna as ranking below average for overall customer satisfaction. Blue Cross of Michigan also ranked below average and was the only local BCBS carrier rated by the study. 

Overall Customer Service Experience Rating
Aetna	2.5 Stars
Blue Cross Blue Shield	3 Stars

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Aetna vs. Blue Cross: Enrollment Process

Blue Cross and Aetna each offer customers the option to enroll in coverage online. If you want a family plan or an individual plan, both Blue Cross and Aetna require customers to sign up during the open enrollment period. 

There's a short waiting period before coverage begins after you enroll. However, not all customers have to sign up for coverage during open enrollment periods. Various qualifying events can allow customers to sign up for coverage outside of the standard enrollment period, including:

• Marriage and divorce
• Becoming a U.S. citizen
• Losing previous health insurance (e.g., if a spouse or parent lost their job)
• Having or adopting a child
• Falling below the federal poverty level due to decreased income
• Moving to another home

Aetna Pros and Cons

Pros:	Cons:
Offers affordable prescription drug plans	Below-average ratings for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power
Offers an accessible online experience for customers	Below-average ratings for Medicare Advantage plans by J.D. Power
Offers some free Medicare plans with a $0 deductible	Only offers private individual or family policies through its collaboration with CVS Health

Blue Cross Pros and Cons

Pros:	Cons:
Offers one of the nation's largest healthcare networks of 1.7 million providers	Mobile app offers a different experience depending on customer location
Offers coverage nationwide	Some policies are notably more expensive than those offered by competitors
Offers a variety of dental plans
Offers Medicare Part C and Advantage plans

Which Type of Health Insurance Plan Should I Get?

A few of the most common types of health insurance chosen by many customers are HMO plans, PPO plans, and EPO plans. Both Blue Cross and Aetna offer options for all of these types of plans. Depending on an individual's coverage needs, one type of plan may make more sense than another.

• HMO Plan: Offers in-network coverage only, which means customers have a much more limited range of providers from which they can receive care.
• PPO Plan: Allows customers to choose the provider of their choice, regardless of being in or out-of-network.
• EPO Plan: Only allows customers to receive care from in-network providers, except in cases of emergency.

If you need a wider range of providers and facilities to choose from, a PPO plan might be the best choice for you. However, if you're confident about having a smaller network to choose from, an HMO plan might be enough. 

For those customers who want the comfort of being able to see an out-of-network provider in cases of emergency and not having their coverage denied, an EPO plan might be the right choice. You'll need to weigh your specific desires for coverage before making your decision.

Need Help Deciding Between Aetna vs. Blue Cross? Work with a Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agent

If you're still asking, "Aetna vs. Blue Cross, which is better?" you might want to work with a Trusted Choice independent insurance agent to make the final decision. Independent insurance agents are trained experts who can help you shop and compare health insurance policies from multiple carriers so you can compare quotes and coverage options. 

These agents can help you choose between Aetna vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield. They can also help you make an informed decision about the type of health insurance policy that's right for you, file health insurance claims, and update your coverage as necessary.