Anthem Blue Cross of California Health Plans

Anthem Blue Cross California is the largest health insurance company in the state with over 5 million members in almost all California counties. They offer health plans that can be customized for individuals, children, and families that include consumer-directed plans, Health Savings Accounts, and Medicare Supplements. Anthem Blue Cross of California is the only ACA carrier that offers PPOs on the individual market; however, EPO and Ambetter plans offer the added option of using providers outside the state without referrals in many cases.

What changed for 2027

• Rates: Covered California announced a preliminary weighted average increase of 9.9% for 2027, against a national median of about 14%. By carrier: Inland Empire Health Plan 5.6%, Kaiser Permanente 6.7%, L.A. Care 8.1%, Western Health Advantage 9.6%, Sharp 12.3%, Blue Shield 12.5%, Anthem Blue Cross 13.0%, Health Net 13.2%, Balance by CCHP 14.6%, Molina 16.9%, Valley Health Plan 20.4%. Your own change depends on your region, plan and subsidy.
• State subsidy grows: California raised its state premium subsidy fund from $190 million to $300 million and extended it to household incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level ($31,920 for one person, $66,000 for a family of four). More than 500,000 enrollees are projected to receive it, and nearly 200,000 should be able to get a Silver plan for $0 a month.
• Federal credits are smaller: the enhanced federal premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, so the original Affordable Care Act contribution scale and the 400% of poverty cutoff apply. This is the main reason the state subsidy matters.
• Carrier changes: Molina Healthcare is not renewing in rating regions 15 and 18, and CalOptima Health is entering region 18 (Orange County).
• New benefit designs: Covered California published new standard designs for 2027. Silver 70 deductibles drop, but out-of-pocket maximums rise in most tiers. Both tables below are the 2027 designs.
• Dates: current members see their 2027 renewal options starting October 1. Open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027, and you enroll by December 31 for coverage that starts January 1.

2027 Covered California plans, side by side

Every carrier must offer the same cost sharing within a metal tier. Covered California sets standardized benefit designs, so a Silver 70 from Anthem has the identical deductible, copays and out-of-pocket maximum as a Silver 70 from Kaiser, Blue Shield or Health Net. That is unusual, and it matters: you are not shopping on benefits, you are shopping on premium, network and service area.

	Bronze 60	Silver 70	Gold 80	Platinum 90	Minimum Coverage
Medical deductible	$5,800	$4,700	$0	$0	None
Pharmacy deductible	$450	$50	$0	$0	None
Out-of-pocket maximum	$11,650	$11,650	$9,600	$5,500	$12,000
Primary care visit	$60	$50	$40	$20	First 3 visits, then full cost
Specialist visit	$100*	$100	$80	$45	Full cost
Urgent care	$60	$50	$40	$20	First 3 visits, then full cost
Emergency room	40% after deductible	$400	$350	$225	Full cost
Generic drugs	$20	$20	$19	$10	Full cost
Preventive care	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Individual figures shown; family amounts are double in each case. *Bronze waives the deductible for the first three non-preventive visits combined, which may include office, urgent care or outpatient mental health visits; after that you pay full cost until the medical deductible is met. Source: Covered California, 2027 Patient-Centered Benefit Designs.

Bronze 60 HDHP, the HSA option

There is a separate Bronze 60 HDHP design with a single integrated deductible that also serves as the out-of-pocket maximum. In the 2026 design it was $7,200 ($14,400 family). You pay full cost until you hit it, then the plan pays 100%. Preventive care is still $0. Covered California’s published 2027 table covers the standard designs only, so we confirm the exact 2027 HDHP figure against the carrier’s summary of benefits when we quote.

Since January 1, 2026: under the OBBBA change to IRC section 223(c)(2) (IRS Notice 2026-5), all Bronze and Minimum Coverage exchange plans count as HSA-qualified high deductible health plans, not just the HDHP design. Silver, Gold and Platinum do not qualify. Remember that California taxes HSAs differently from the federal government.

Enhanced Silver: the plans most people should be looking at

If your household income is under roughly 250% of the federal poverty level, you do not buy the standard Silver 70. You get an Enhanced Silver version of it with substantially better cost sharing, for the same premium. This is the single most valuable thing to understand about buying coverage through Covered California, and it is the most commonly missed.

You only get it on a Silver plan. Choosing Bronze because the premium looks lower can be a costly mistake at these income levels, because you give up the cost-sharing reduction entirely.

	Silver 94	Silver 87	Silver 73
Income (single, 2027)	Up to $23,940	$23,941-$31,920	$31,921-$39,900
Percent of poverty level	100%-150%	Over 150% to 200%	Over 200% to 250%
Medical deductible	$200	$1,100	$4,700
Out-of-pocket maximum	$3,000	$4,000	$9,600
Primary care visit	$5	$15	$50
Specialist visit	$8	$30	$100
Emergency room	$50	$200	$400
Generic drugs	$3	$10	$20

Compare Silver 94 against the standard Silver 70 in the table above: a $200 deductible instead of $4,700, and a $3,000 out-of-pocket maximum instead of $11,650. Same premium.

A note on the 2026 numbers. Some websites still show the 2026 designs, where the Silver 70 deductible was $5,200 and Silver 94 had a $0 deductible. The 2027 figures above are the current ones. Income bands are for a single person and shift with household size, so they are approximate.

Not sure which tier you qualify for? Call (855) 847-7020 and we will run your income and household size against the current tables.

Anthem Blue Cross Dental Plans

 Dental Plans Brochure  Application With the Anthem Blue Cross dental plan, you’ll get dental coverage on day one with no deductible deductible required for check-ups, cleanings and other preventive services. Most important, costs are typically reduced when you receive care from any of our participating network dentists. However, you also have the option to see any dentist not in the network, but your out-of-pocket costs may be higher. Some highlights of Dental Indemnity USA coverage:

• Coverage can be used to provide dental benefits to an individual, spouse, children or any combination of dependents.
• A $50 deductible, based on fee schedule allowances, applies for dental procedures or services received by a covered individual during each benefit year.
• Maximum deductible amount of $150 for family coverage.
• Deductibles do not apply to oral exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants and X-rays.
• $1,000 orthodontia benefit for children under 19 years old

For more information on coverage and benefits, view the Dental Outline of Coverage  You must enroll in a Anthem Blue Cross health plan in order to enroll in the dental plan (you have up to 31 days from the effective date of your policy to enroll). Shop for a plan now.

Contact Us

Phone: 855-847-7020 Email: help@ihealthagents.com