Editor's Rating
Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans are good for those seeking a positive customer experience and a wide provider network. Plans are available across Florida, but monthly rates can be high depending on where you live, and only one plan option is sold in about half the state.
Florida Blue Medicare rates vary by plan and location, making these plans cheaper than competitor plans in some areas and more expensive in others. In several counties, only one Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plan is available at a cost of $52 per month.
Members are generally happy with Florida Blue. Florida Blue earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and 4.5 of 5 stars for overall customer experience from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
Florida Blue Medicare insurance: Our thoughts
Florida Blue gets high marks for availability since everyone on Medicare living in Florida can obtain a Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plan. But options vary by county: For example, only one Florida Blue Medicare plan is offered in about half the counties in the state, while up to 10 plans are available in other areas. Plan prices vary as well, starting with $0 monthly premiums up to a high of $147.
Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans offer good coverage. Members of all Florida Blue HMO and some PPO plans receive dental, vision, hearing and prescription benefits. With all plans, members pay a low or $0 copay for a primary doctor visit and have access to a large network of health care providers.
Florida Blue members reported being happy with their plans, according to the latest Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) survey. Based on survey answers covering things like overall satisfaction, customer service and access to needed health care, Florida Blue's PPO plans received 4 of 5 CMS stars. Its HMOs were rated slightly higher at 4.5 stars.
Florida Blue's PPO plans generally cost more than its HMOs, and when Florida Blue members quit their PPOs, they gave cost as the primary reason. Those with HMOs canceled due mostly to problems with coverage of their doctors and hospitals.
Florida Blue has a large provider network and several $0 premium plans across the state. But residents in several counties are limited to just one Medicare Advantage plan that costs $52 per month for every member.
Florida Blue Medicare Advantage availability and costs
Florida Blue offers a good selection of Medicare Advantage plans, with different options depending on where you live. Up to 10 plans are sold in some areas, while in much of the state, only one Florida Blue option is available — the BlueMedicare Choice PPO. Pricing and availability vary by location, but the average cost of a Florida Blue Medicare plan across the state is $35 — above the state average of $16 per month.
Average rates for competitor plans in Florida range between $0 and $33 per month:
Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plan options
Florida Blue offers three Medicare Advantage plan types with different coverage levels and costs.
- HMO: HMOs save money by having one doctor coordinate your care with specialists and other health care providers. You must use in-network providers except in emergencies and get referrals for specialist visits.
- PPO: PPOs cost more than HMOs but don't require referrals and allow you to see out-of-network providers, although you'll pay more for those services.
- HMO-D-SNP: HMO-D-SNPs provide "dual eligible special needs" coverage to people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.
Florida Blue plans are sold throughout the state, but prices and availability vary depending on where you live. In many counties, the only Florida Blue Medicare option is the BlueMedicare Choice PPO plan.
Florida Blue HMO options
Florida Blue PPO options
- BlueMedicare Classic
- BlueMedicare Classic Plus
- BlueMedicare Complete
- BlueMedicare Premier
- BlueMedicare Saver
- Florida Health Care Plans (FHCP) Medicare Flagler Advantage
- FHCP Medicare Premier Advantage
- FHCP Medicare Premier Plus
- FHCP Medicare Rx
- FHCP Medicare Rx Plus
- FHCP Medicare Rx Savings
- FHCP Medicare Valor
Florida Blue HMO options
- BlueMedicare Classic
- BlueMedicare Classic Plus
- BlueMedicare Complete
- BlueMedicare Premier
- BlueMedicare Saver
- Florida Health Care Plans (FHCP) Medicare Flagler Advantage
- FHCP Medicare Premier Advantage
- FHCP Medicare Premier Plus
- FHCP Medicare Rx
- FHCP Medicare Rx Plus
- FHCP Medicare Rx Savings
- FHCP Medicare Valor
Florida Blue PPO options
- BlueMedicare Select
- BlueMedicare Value
- BlueMedicare Patriot
- BlueMedicare Choice
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 are also available and 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
As a Florida Blue member, you'll have access to several member extras like those listed here. Be sure to check plan documents to see which options are available to you.
- Meals at home: This benefit provides meals to members after hospitalization for certain conditions.
- SilverSneakers fitness program: The SilverSneakers program provides access to participating fitness centers and online exercise programs.
- Transportation: Routine, nonemergency trips to health care providers like your doctor or pharmacy are covered in full if they meet plan requirements.
- 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.
Customer reviews and complaints
Florida Blue Medicare customers have reported an overall positive experience with the company. High marks were received from multiple reporting sources, including the Better Business Bureau and CMS.
Rating entity | Score |
|---|---|
| Better Business Bureau | A+ |
| National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) | 0.004 |
| National Committee for Quality Assurance | 4.5 |
| Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | 4 and 4.5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Florida Blue Medicare or Medicaid?
Florida Blue is not technically Medicare or Medicaid. Rather, it's a private insurer that sells Medicare Advantage plans to new or existing Medicare beneficiaries. Florida Blue offers a Medicare Advantage plan called an HMO-D-SNP, or "dual eligible special needs plan," which covers people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.
Is Florida Blue a Medicare Advantage plan?
Florida Blue sells Medicare Advantage plans through the Florida Blue website. Florida Blue also has Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans for those not on Medicare, which are sold through the Health Insurance Marketplace at HealthCare.gov.
Does Florida Blue cover members outside of Florida?
When traveling outside Florida, you're covered under the BlueCard Program. It's best to use a BlueCard participating provider for any nonemergency care so that you receive the in-network benefit. That way, you won't need to worry about paying extra charges for out-of-network care. Emergency care is covered globally, whether the provider is in or out of network.
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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Callers to QWIS will be directed to a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Supplement insurance and/or Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organizations. Calls to QWIS will be routed to a licensed agent who can provide you with further information about the insurance plans offered by one or more third-party partners of QWIS. Each of the organizations they represent has a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal.
Availability of benefits and plans varies by carrier and location and may be limited to certain times of the year unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. QWIS does not offer every plan available in your area. Any information provided is limited to those plans offered in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
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