UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) are similar in plan availability, health plan selections and ways to manage your policy. UHC has a slightly smaller network than BCBS but both networks are still considerable, featuring millions of providers nationwide. UHC had the highest market share of the U.S. health insurance market in 2021 and sold the most MA plans in 2022, suggesting that UHC was the more popular choice with consumers.

Keep reading to learn the strengths and weaknesses of each company to determine which is the better option for you.

UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Quick Glance

	UnitedHealthcare	Blue Cross Blue Shield
Plan Structures	HMO, PPO, CDHP, EPO, FSA, HMO-POS, Indemnity, HSA, Medicaid, Medicare	HMO, PPO, CDHP, EPO, FSA, HMO-POS, Indemnity, HSA, Medicaid, Medicare, POS
Availability	50 states for individual/family plans; 46 states for MA plans	50 states for individual/family plans; 47 states for MA plans
Coverage Limit	Varies	Varies
Deductible	Varies	Varies
Maximum Annual Benefit	Varies	Varies
Waiting Period	Varies	Varies
Providers In-Network	1.3+ million	1.7 million
Covers Telehealth	Yes	Yes
Policy Management	Mobile app, online account, phone	Mobile app, online account, phone

UnitedHealthcare Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Largest market share in 2021	Medicare Advantage plans not available in all 50 states
Network of 1.3 million healthcare providers
More favorable consumer reviews

>> Click to read our full UnitedHealthcare review.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Available in 50 states and partnered with more than 90% of doctors and hospitals nationwide	Medicare Advantage plans not available in all 50 states
Larger network than UnitedHealthcare
Study shows BCBS ranked higher in overall customer satisfaction than UnitedHealthcare

>> Read our full Blue Cross Blue Shield review.

UnitedHealthcare Vs Blue Cross Blue Shield: Plan Structures

UHC and BCBS are similar in available plan options, offering individual and family plans, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and group health insurance plans for employees. Consumers can also add dental and vision benefits to their plans.

Plan	UnitedHealthcare	Blue Cross Blue Shield
Individual & Family	✓	✓
Medicare Advantage	✓	✓
Dental	✓	✓
Vision	✓	✓
Employer Group	✓	✓

UnitedHealthcare Vs Blue Cross Blue Shield: Plan Availability

When it comes to individual and family health insurance plans, UHC and BCBS are tied, with availability in all 50 states. However, availability will vary by the type of health insurance plan.

MA plans through BCBS are available in 47 states, while plans through UHC are available in only 46 states. With this one-state difference, BCBS wins in this category. 

However, UHC emerges victorious when it comes to MA plan popularity. UHC is the most popular Medicare Advantage provider, accounting for 28% (7.9 million) of all policies sold in 2022. BCBS sold only 14% (4.1 million) of policies.

UnitedHealthcare Vs Blue Cross Blue Shield: In-Network Providers

Both UHC and BCBS boast an extensive health insurance provider network, but BCBS has a slightly larger network. In partnership with 1.7 million doctors and hospitals nationwide, BCBS claims to have the largest health insurance network. UHC’s network includes 1.3 million medical care professionals and 6,500 hospitals, which is still impressive.

UnitedHealthcare Vs Blue Cross Blue Shield: Cost

With so many variables going into the cost of health insurance, pricing can vary greatly based on age, health history and other factors. Below are common factors that insurance companies consider when calculating your premium:

• Age
• Health habits (e.g., smoking, drinking)
• State
• Deductible
• Plan category (see below)
• Location

The plan category (or tier) that you choose will affect your monthly premium and out-of-pocket costs. Both BCBS and UHC sell health insurance plans in categories bronze, silver and gold. The plan category determines your costs but not the quality of care.

• Bronze: Plan with a low monthly premium, but higher out-of-pocket costs (e.g., deductible, copay, coinsurance).
• Silver: Plan with average monthly payments. Out-of-pocket costs are lower than a bronze plan but higher than a gold plan.
• Gold: Plan with higher monthly payments, but lower out-of-pocket costs.

Since UHC and BCBS both sell individual and family health insurance plans in all 50 states, you’ll want to compare quotes from both companies. Each company has their own methodology for calculating rates and you may find that company offers a cheaper price for the same coverage.

When shopping for Medicare Advantage plans, keep in mind that the premiums for Medicare Parts A and Part B are bundled into your MA plan premium. Part A is typically zero dollars if you’ve paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. Part B costs $170.10 per month in 2022 and will decrease to $164.90 in 2023.

UnitedHealthcare Vs Blue Cross Blue Shield: Coverage Limits

Each health plan is customized to the member’s budget and healthcare needs, so coverage limits will vary. Talk to your health insurance company and review your health history to determine which plan works best for you.

If you’re purchasing an MA plan through UHC or BCBS, be sure to confirm your out-of-pocket limit. MA plans must enforce a maximum on how much you pay in copays, coinsurance and deductibles each year. If you visit the doctor frequently, consider a plan with a lower annual limit since those copays can quickly add up.

Get Personalized Health Insurance Quotes Here

UnitedHealthcare Vs Blue Cross Blue Shield: Policy Management

UHC and BCBS members have the option to manage their policy by calling a representative, logging in through the online member portal or downloading the mobile app. Whether you use online services or access the mobile app, you can adjust or view various aspects of your policy, such as:

• Checking claims status
• Researching estimates for treatments
• Finding an in-network provider
• Accessing your electronic insurance card

Based on consumer reviews, Android users and iPhone users had a more favorable experience using UHC’s mobile app than BCBS.

Company	Google Play Store	Apple App Store
UnitedHealthcare	4.5/5.0	4.7/5.0
Blue Cross Blue Shield	3.17/5.0	3.12/5.0

Note: With BCBS, you will need to download the mobile app specific to your state. We took the average of BCBS apps in 10 states to provide the overall average rating above.

UnitedHealthcare Vs Blue Cross Blue Shield: Medical Loss Ratio

The 2022 Affordable Care Act established the medical loss ratio (MLR) to ensure that health insurance companies are using customer premiums to improve the quality of care. If a company does not spend at least 80% of premium dollars on improvements, they are required to refund the difference in the form of a refund to their customers. Both UHC and BCBS will be issuing rebates in 2022.

Members who purchased individual plans from UHC in Arizona, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Tennessee and West Virginia should be expecting rebates, if they have not already. UHC also issued rebates for group plans in the below 26 states plus the District of Columbia:

Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Delaware Florida Hawaii Idaho Illinois	Indiana Iowa Kentucky Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Mississippi Nebraska New Jersey	New York Ohio Oklahoma Tennessee Texas Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

In 2022, BCBS will also issue MLR in several states, including Texas, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Minnesota.

UnitedHealthcare Vs Blue Cross Blue Shield: Enrollment Process

Consumers can purchase an individual or family plan through the ACA health insurance marketplace during open enrollment. The next enrollment period runs from November 1, 2022 to January 15, 2023.

If you’re signing up for a Medicare Advantage plan, you will want to keep track of two enrollment periods. From October 15 to December 7, you can complete the following:

• Switch from Original Medicare to an MA plan
• Switch from one MA plan to another MA plan
• Join a Medicare drug plan or switch to another Medicare drug plan
• Drop Medicare drug coverage completely

The next Medicare enrollment period runs from January 1 to March 31. During this period, you can either switch from one MA plan to another MA plan or drop your MA plan and return to Original Medicare. During this period, you cannot switch from Original Medicare to an MA plan, join a Medicare drug plan or switch drug plans if you have Original Medicare.

Outside of enrollment periods, you may still be able to purchase an MA plan if you experience a qualifying event, such as these:

• Change in marital status
• Having or adopting a child
• Moving to a new address
• Losing health coverage
• Change in employment status
• Death of someone who shares your health plan
• Household income falls below the federal poverty level
• Becoming a U.S. citizen

UnitedHealthcare Vs Blue Cross Blue Shield: Policyholder Experience

BCBS ranked higher than UHC for overall customer satisfaction in all 22 geographic regions analyzed in a 2022 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study by J.D. Power. This study ranked the top health insurance companies based on billing and payment, cost, coverage options, benefits, customer service and provider choice.

There were some instances in which UHC ranked below one BCBS company but ranked higher than another. For example, in the East South Central region, UHC ranked below BCBS of Alabama but ranked higher than BCBS of New York.

Consumer reviews also showed that UHC had a higher average rating than BCBS on Consumer Affairs, a consumer news and advocacy organization, and the Better Business Bureau.

Company	UnitedHealthcare	Blue Shield Blue Cross
Consumer Affairs	4.0/5.0	3.3/5
BBB	1.13/5	1/5

Note: BCBS ratings listed above are the average ratings of four different BCBS companies.

How To File Claims With UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield

If you’re using a provider within your plan’s network, they will file a claim on your behalf with no action needed from you. However, there are some instances in which you may need to file a claim for reimbursement — if you’re charged upfront, for example. In this case, you would need to contact your health insurance company for the next steps. You can call the number on your health insurance card for more assistance. In some cases, you will be provided a claim reimbursement form and may need to mail it to the listed address.

If you see a provider out of network, then your insurance company will not cover your costs. You will need to pay for those services out of pocket.

UnitedHealthcare History

UnitedHealth Group was founded in 1977 by Richard Burke and went public in 1984. It was Dr. Paul Ellwood, who coined the term “health maintenance organization,” and who helped Burke establish UnitedHealth. In 1979, the company created the first network senior health plan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield History

Blue Cross Blue Shield was formed in 1929 as a partnership between Baylor University Hospital and its patients who were struggling financially. The administrators of the hospital wanted to make healthcare more affordable for some patients, many of whom were Dallas public school educators on restricted budgets. The initial payment plan set up by Baylor University Hospital consisted of a 50-cent prepay each month for up to 21 days of hospitalization per year. The success of the program led to enrollment by employees in other professions across Dallas.

Get Personalized Health Insurance Quotes Here

Key Takeaways UHC and Blue Cross Blue Shield have large provider networks, but BCBS is slightly bigger. UHC commanded the highest share of the U.S. health insurance market in 2021. Company reviews by consumers were more favorable for UHC, but a 2022 study shows BCBS ranked higher than UHC for overall customer satisfaction in several regions.

Looking for a Medicare Advantage, family or individual health insurance plan in your area? Just enter your zip code below or call 855.214.2291 and we’ll match you with a health insurance plan with essential health benefits that match your coverage needs and budget.

SOURCES

• Statista. “Market Share of Leading Health Insurance Companies in the U.S. in 2021.” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• UnitedHealthcare. “Find Health Insurance Plans for Individuals and Families.” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield. “BCBS coverage Travels With You.” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• UnitedHealthcare. “About Us.” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield. “The Blue Cross Blue Shield System.” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• UnitedHealthcare. “About UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement,” Page 2. Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. “2022 Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans Offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies.” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• Kaiser Family Foundation. “Medicare Advantage in 2022: Enrollment Update and Key Trends.” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• Medicare. “Costs.” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “Medical Loss Ratio.” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• Healthcare.gov. “When Can You Get Health Insurance?” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• Medicare. “Joining a Health or Drug Plan.” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.
• JD Power. “2022 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study.” Accessed Oct. 12, 2022.