Premera Blue Cross Vs. Regence Blue Shield

Premera Blue Cross Vs. Regence Blue Shield-2024

Premera Blue Cross is a not-for-profit health insurance provider headquartered in Mountlake Terrace, Washington, United States. The company is an independent licensed Blue Cross Blue Shield Association provider. It sells health insurance plans in Washington State under the Blue Cross license and in Alaska under both Blue Cross and Blue Shield licenses. Premera has been operating in Washington since 1945 and in Alaska since 1957.

Regence Blue Shield is a licensed healthcare provider of its parent company Regence Insurance Holding Corporation. Founded in 1933, Regence Blue Shield’s headquarters is in Seattle, Washington, United States. It sells health care insurance plans in some counties of Idaho and throughout Washington State.

Premera Blue Cross

Premera is committed to controlling rising medical expenses while they ensure your access to quality care. It is the largest health plan provider in the Pacific Northwest and serves over 2 million people. Premera Blue Cross offers various programs like vision, dental, stop-loss, disability, health, life, workforce wellness, etc. Their network has thousands of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.

In which areas is Premera Blue Cross accepted?

Premera Blue Cross is accepted in the following counties:

Individual plans – Franklin, Grays Harbor, King, Kitsap, Pacific, Skamania, and Wahkiakum
Medicare Advantage plans – Island, King, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Walla Walla, and Whatcom.

Available Plans

Premera Blue Cross offers various healthcare insurance plans for individuals, families, and employees. They provide comprehensive health services throughout Washington and Alaska. Here is a list of programs available at Premera:

Individual & Family Plans

Premera Blue Cross offers various health care plans for individuals and their family members. The following table will help you choose among the different methods:

Name of PlansAnnual DeductibleCoinsuranceOut-of-pocket Maximum
Preferred Gold EPO 1500$1,50030%$6,800
Preferred Silver EPO 4100$4,10030%$6,600
Preferred Bronze EPO 6350$6,35040%$8,200
Preferred Bronze HSA EPO 6100$6,10040%$6,900
Cascade Care Gold$50020%$5,250
Cascade Care Silver$2,00030%$7,800
Cascade Care Bronze$6,00040%$8,550

Business Plans

Employers can count on Premera Blue Cross for comprehensive health care plans for their employees. The programs are divided into two categories based on the size of the business –

Small Business

If you have a small business with employee numbers ranging from 1-50, you can select any of the following plans to offer to your employees:

Choice Plans
Name of PlansDeductibleOut-of-pocket MaximumPCP Office Visit
Choice
Choice Gold$750 – $1,500$6,500 – $8,100$25 copay
Choice 2500 Silver$2,500$8,150$35 copay
Choice HSA-qualified
Choice HSA 1500 Gold$1,500$3,900Pay 100% until the deductible is met, then a cost percentage (coinsurance).
Choice HSA 3000 Silver$3,000$5,550Pay 100% until the deductible is met, then a cost percentage (coinsurance).
Choice HSA 6200 Bronze$6,200$6,900Pay 100% until the deductible is met, then a cost percentage (coinsurance).
Medical + Dental
Choice Gold + Family Dental$750 – $1,000$7,100 – $8,100$25 copay
Choice Silver + Family Dental$2,500$8,150$35 copay
Choice HSA-Qualified Silver + Family Dental$3,000$5,500Pay 100% until the deductible is met, then cost percentage (coinsurance).
Balance Plans
Name of PlansDeductibleOut-of-pocket MaximumPCP Office Visit
Balance
Balance Platinum$250 – $500$4,000 – $5,000$10 copay
Balance Gold$500 – $2,500$6,500 – $8,550$25 copay
Balance Silver$2,000 – $3,000$7,000 – $8,150$35 copay
Balance Bronze$6,500$8,550$60 copay
Balance EPO Bronze$8,550$8,550Pay 100% until the deductible is met, then cost percentage (coinsurance).
Balance HSA-qualified
Balance HSA 1500 Gold$1,500$3,900Pay 100% until the deductible is met, then a cost percentage (coinsurance).
Balance HSA 3000 Silver$3,000$5,550Pay 100% until the deductible is met, then a cost percentage (coinsurance).
Balance HSA 6200 Bronze$6,000$6,900Pay 100% until the deductible is met, then a cost percentage (coinsurance).
Medical + Dental
Balance Gold + Family Dental$500 – $1,000$8,100 – $8,550$25 copay
Balance Silver + Family Dental$2,000 – $3,000$5,500 – $8,150$35 copay with a non-HSA plan

You can visit Small Business Plans (1-50 Employees) for more plans | Employer | Premera Blue Cross.

Large Business

If you have a large business with 51 employees or more, you can select any of the following plans to offer to your employees:

Medical Plans
Name of PlansCost & CoverageOffice VisitProvider Network
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) PlansWide-ranging premium and cost-share combinations, with deductibles starting at $250Copay of $20-$35Choice of Heritage or Heritage Prime network with 30,000+ providers statewide
Health Savings Account (HSA)-Qualified PPO PlansLower premiums and higher-cost sharesThe employee pays 100% until the deductible is met, then produces a percentage of the cost (coinsurance)Choice of Heritage or Heritage Prime network with 30,000+ providers statewide
Essentials Medical 8550 PlanDesigned as a low-cost option that allows employers to maintain the ability to offer qualified healthcare coverage to their employeesThe employee pays 100% until the deductible is met, then pays a percentage of the cost (coinsurance)Heritage Prime network with 30,000+ providers statewide
Peak Care PCP PlansLower premiums and cost shares for employees, when compared to PPO plansCopay of $20 – $60Tahoma network with 3,800 exclusive providers statewide
Balance EPO Bronze$8,550$8,550Pay 100% until the deductible is met, then cost percentage (coinsurance).
Pharmacy Plan
Name of PlansCost & CoverageOffice VisitProvider Network
Essentials Pharmacy PlansKeeps costs as low as possible by focusing on high-value drugs that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)The employee pays a copay or percentage of the drug cost.Covers 30-day supply for a retail and 90-day store for mail order
Dental Plan
Name of PlansProvider NetworkOrthodontia CoverageWaiting Period
Preferred and Optima Dental PlansOur ten dental plans feature a broad network of over 281,000 providers nationwide.The Optima Plus Ortho plan features orthodontia coverage for all agesThe Voluntary Preference plan is the only one that requires a 12-month waiting period for major dental services

For more plans, you can visit Large Business Plans (51+ Employees) | Employer | Premera Blue Cross.

Medicare Plans

Premera Blue Cross offers a wide range of Medicare Advantage plans for older citizens above 65 and with certain disabilities. The following table will help you choose among the Medicare Advantage plans:

Name of PlansMonthly PremiumMedical CoveragePrescription Coverage
Annual DeductibleMaximum Out-of-PocketHealth CoveragePharmacy CoverageDental CoverageVision Coverage
Premera Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Peak + Rx (HMO)$0$0$6,700

 

 

IncludedIncludedRider available at $22.50 Premium per monthIncluded (Routine Vision Exam and Vision Hardware)
Premera Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (HMO)$0$0$6,300IncludedIncludedRider available at $22.50 Premium per monthIncluded (Routine Vision Exam only)
Premera Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Sound + Rx (HMO)$40$0$6,500IncludedIncludedIncludedIncluded (Routine Vision Exam and Vision Hardware)
Premera Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Alpine (HMO)$42$0$6,500IncludedNot CoveredNot CoveredIncluded (Routine Vision Exam and Vision Hardware)
Premera Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Classic (HMO)$55$0$5,000IncludedIncludedIncludedIncluded (Routine Vision Exam and Vision Hardware)
Premera Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Charter + Rx (HMO)$151$0$4,900IncludedIncludedIncludedIncluded (Routine Vision Exam and Vision Hardware)
Premera Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Classic Plus (HMO)$0$5,000IncludedIncludedIncludedIncluded (Routine Vision Exam and Vision Hardware)

Regence Blue Shield

Like Premera Blue Cross, Regence Blue Shield is also a part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serving health care insurance plans in Idaho and Washington. They sell these products through their subsidiary Healthcare Management Administrators, Inc. Regence has a good history of commitment and contribution of financial support towards local communities.

What type of network does Regence Blue Shield offer?

Regence Blue Shield offers the following networks –

  • Home Maintenance Organization (HMO)
  • Personal Preferred Organization (PPO)
  • Preferred Dentist Program (PDP)

Available Plans

Regence Blue Shield offers health care plans for individuals, families, and employees. Their plans contain various benefits at cheaper rates. Here we will discuss the types of plans that Regence has to offer to its members:

Individual & Family

Regence Blue Shield offers the following health insurance plans for individuals and their families:

Name of PlansPremium (Monthly Cost)Annual DeductibleIn-network Provider Coinsurance
Bronze Care on Demand 8000 EPO$282.67$8,00020%
Bronze Essential 7500 EPO$297.54$7,50010%
Bronze HDHP 5700 EPO$306.85$5,70050%
Bronze Care on Demand 8000 EPO / Dental, Vision$318.19$8,00020%
Bronze Essential 7500 EPO / Dental, Vision$333.06$7,50010%
Bronze HDHP 5700 EPO / Dental, Vision$342.37$5,70050%
Silver HDHP 3000 EPO$384.95$3,00020%
Silver 3000 EPO$386.19$3,00030%
Silver HDHP 3000 EPO / Dental, Vision$420.47$3,00020%

Medicare

Regence Blue Shield offers Medicare Advantage plans to elderly citizens 65 years and above with certain disabilities or low income. Here is a list of Medicare Advantage plans:

Name of PlansMonthly PremiumAnnual DeductibleMax Out-of-PocketIn-network CopayIncluded BenefitsOptional Benefits
Regence BlueAdvantage HMO Plus (HMO)$48.00$0.00$5,900 In-NetworkPrimary Care Provider: $0

Emergency Care: $90

Specialist Services: $45

– $0 Tier 1 Preferred Generic Drugs
– Vision
– Dental
– Hearing
– Alternative Care
– Telehealth
– Fitness Membership
– And many more
Comprehensive Dental
Regence BlueAdvantage HMO (HMO)$0.00$0.00$6,200 In-NetworkPrimary Care Provider: $0

Emergency Care: $90

Specialist Services: $45

– $0 Tier 1 Preferred Generic Drugs
– Vision
– Dental
– Hearing
– Alternative Care
– Telehealth
– Fitness Membership
– Over the Counter (OTC)
– And many more
Comprehensive Dental
Regence Valiance (HMO)$0.00$0.00$5,900 In-NetworkPrimary Care Provider: $0

Emergency Care: $90

Specialist Services: $40

– Vision
– Dental
– Hearing
– Alternative Care
– Telehealth
– Fitness Membership
– Over the Counter (OTC)
– And many more
Comprehensive Dental

 

 

 

Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Primary (PPO)$38.00$0.00$6,700 In-Network

$10,000 Combined In and Out-of-Network

Primary Care Provider: $20

Emergency Care: $90

Specialist Services: $50

– $0 Tier 1 Preferred Generic Drugs
– Vision
– Dental
– Hearing
– Alternative Care
– Telehealth
– Fitness Membership
– And many more
Comprehensive Dental
Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Classic (PPO)$78.00$0.00$6,200 In-Network

$10,000 Combined In and Out-of-Network

Primary Care Provider: $10

Emergency Care: $90

Specialist Services: $40

– $0 Tier 1 Preferred Generic Drugs
– Vision
– Dental
– Hearing
– Alternative Care
– Telehealth
– Fitness Membership
– And many more
Comprehensive Dental
Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Enhanced (PPO)$157.00$0.00$5,400 In-Network

$10,000 Combined In and Out-of-Network

Primary Care Provider: $5

Emergency Care: $90

Specialist Services: $35

– $0 Tier 1 Preferred Generic Drugs
– Vision
– Dental
– Hearing
– Alternative Care
– Telehealth
– Fitness Membership
– And many more
Regence Valiance (PPO)$0.00$0.00$6,200 In-Network

$10,000 Combined In and Out-of-Network

Primary Care Provider: $5

Emergency Care: $90

Specialist Services: $40

– $0 Tier 1 Preferred Generic Drugs
– Vision
– Dental
– Hearing
– Alternative Care
– Telehealth
– Fitness Membership
– And many more
Comprehensive Dental

 For more plans, you can visit their official website.

Employers

Regence Blue Shield also offers employers insurance plans to ensure their employees a healthy life. The employee plans are categorized into three classes based on the business size, in other words, employee numbers. These are

  • Small (1-50 people)
  • Medium (51-99 people)
  • Large (100+ people)

Besides these, there is one more plan called the ASO plan –

  • 50-100 employees
  • 101+ employees

Premera Blue Cross and Regence Blue Shield offer a wide range of insurance plans at attractive prices. They include almost similar benefits but have their perks. If you want more details about the techniques, you can visit Premera Blue Cross and Regence: The most trusted name in health insurance.

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