Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California is one of the carriers we represent in California. Enter your ZIP below to see what they offer in your county, or call us and we will compare them against every other carrier we represent.
Blue Shield of California is not Anthem Blue Cross
This trips people up constantly, so it is worth stating plainly. Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross are two separate, unrelated companies. Both are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and both operate in California, but they have different networks, different plans, different rates and different service. There is no such company as “Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California.” If someone quotes you that name, they are guessing.
What Blue Shield of California offers
- ACA individual and family plans – Trio HMO and PPO through Covered California or direct. See our 2026 Blue Shield ACA plan guide.
- Employer group plans – Access+, Local Access+ and Trio HMO, Full and Tandem PPO, HSA designs and Virtual Blue for groups of 1 to 100 and up. See our 2026 Blue Shield group guide.
- Medicare Advantage – HMO and PPO plans, availability and benefits varying by county. See our Blue Shield Medicare Advantage page.
- Medicare Part D – standalone prescription drug plans for people staying on Original Medicare.
- Medicare Supplement – Medigap policies that pay the gaps Original Medicare leaves. See our Blue Shield Medicare Supplement guide.
Which of these makes sense depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, your county and how much predictability you want in your out-of-pocket costs. That is the conversation we would rather have with you than sell you the first thing you click on.
One California detail worth knowing
California has two health insurance regulators, and which one covers your Blue Shield plan depends on what you bought. The Department of Managed Health Care licenses health care service plans, which includes HMOs and most products sold under a Blue Shield trademark, including Medigap plans sold under that trademark. DMHC also runs the Independent Medical Review process if care you need is denied. Their help center is 1-888-466-2219. The California Department of Insurance regulates most other Medicare Supplement policies sold by insurance companies; its consumer hotline is 1-800-927-4357. Medicare Advantage and Part D are regulated federally by CMS, so those appeals follow the federal process. More on this.
Not sure Blue Shield is the right fit? That is a fair question and we will answer it honestly. Call (855) 847-7020 or schedule an appointment and we will put Blue Shield side by side with the other carriers we represent for your county.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (in California, HICAP at 1-800-434-0222) to get information on all of your options.
California Health Agents is a licensed independent insurance agency, NPN 14924332. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States government, the federal Medicare program, Covered California, the California Department of Insurance, or the Department of Managed Health Care. Enrollment in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan depends on contract renewal. Plan availability, benefits and premiums vary by county. Quotes are estimates and are not a contract, guarantee of coverage, or offer of insurance.