Highmark Medicare Supplement coverage is backed by a well-known Pennsylvania insurance company with strong financial ratings. However, being a good insurance company does not necessarily mean Highmark offers the best Medicare Supplement value for every applicant.
In the rates I regularly review for clients in southeastern Pennsylvania, Highmark is often not among the most competitively priced Medicare Supplement companies. Its coverage can still make sense in certain situations, but I would not recommend choosing Highmark solely because the name is familiar.
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Is Highmark Medicare Supplement a Good Company?
Yes, Highmark is a legitimate and financially strong Medicare Supplement company.
Highmark has operated in Pennsylvania for many years and is one of the best-known health insurance brands in the state. Its Medicare Supplement policies are commonly marketed under the Medigap Blue name.
AM Best has assigned Highmark an A financial-strength rating, which is considered Excellent. Financial strength is important because it reflects an insurance company’s ability to meet its ongoing policy obligations.
The concern I generally have with Highmark is not whether it is capable of paying Medicare Supplement claims. The concern is whether its current premium provides competitive value compared with other highly rated companies.
Highmark Can Be a Good Company Without Being the Best Value
People sometimes assume the most recognizable company must offer better Medicare Supplement coverage.
That is not how standardized Medicare Supplement plans work.
A standard Highmark Plan G must provide the same core medical benefits as a standard Plan G from another insurance company. A Highmark Plan N must provide the same standardized medical benefits as another company’s Plan N.
The insurance company can affect:
- Monthly premiums
- Household discounts
- Application or policy fees
- Rate increases
- Customer service
- Billing and administration
- Underwriting requirements
- Optional non-insurance benefits
However, the company cannot reduce the standardized medical benefits included in the selected plan letter.
That means paying more for Highmark does not ordinarily provide broader Plan G or Plan N medical coverage.
Are Highmark Medicare Supplement Rates Competitive?
Highmark rates depend on age, ZIP code, tobacco status, available discounts, plan selection and requested effective date.
There may be situations where Highmark is reasonably competitive. However, in Bucks County, Montgomery County and much of southeastern Pennsylvania, I often find other established Medicare Supplement companies offering lower premiums for the same standardized plan letter.
That is why I do not write a large amount of Highmark Medicare Supplement business.
This is not a criticism of Highmark’s ability to provide coverage. It is simply a recognition that Medicare Supplement buyers should compare the complete value rather than automatically selecting a familiar brand.
Rates can change, and a company that is uncompetitive today could become more attractive later. Every applicant should have current rates reviewed using the correct age, ZIP code and effective date.
Which Highmark Medicare Supplement Plans Are Available?
Highmark’s plan availability varies by Pennsylvania region and the date someone first became eligible for Medicare.
Current Highmark materials for southeastern Pennsylvania list options that include:
- Plan A
- Plan B
- Plan G
- High-Deductible Plan G
- Plan N
Plans F, High-Deductible F and C are limited to people who were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.
Most people becoming eligible for Medicare today compare Plan G, Plan N and sometimes High-Deductible Plan G.
The complete details of Highmark’s available policies are covered on the separate Highmark Medicare Supplement Plans in Pennsylvania page.
Highmark Medicare Supplement Plan G
Highmark Plan G provides the same standardized Plan G medical benefits required of other insurance companies.
After the annual Medicare Part B deductible has been satisfied, Plan G generally pays the remaining Medicare-approved Part B coinsurance and copayments. It also covers the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled-nursing facility coinsurance and qualifying Medicare Part B excess charges.
Highmark Plan G may be appropriate when:
- Its premium is competitive for the applicant
- The applicant strongly prefers the Highmark brand
- A discount improves the overall rate
- Highmark’s underwriting is favorable for the applicant
- The person values Highmark’s optional additional programs
However, paying a substantially higher premium for Highmark Plan G does not increase the standardized Plan G medical benefits.
Highmark Medicare Supplement Plan N
Highmark Plan N provides substantial Medicare Supplement coverage and frequently has a lower premium than Plan G.
With Plan N, the policyholder remains responsible for:
- The annual Medicare Part B deductible
- Up to a $20 copay for certain office visits
- Up to a $50 emergency-room copay when the visit does not result in an inpatient admission
- Medicare Part B excess charges when they legally apply
Pennsylvania prohibits Medicare Part B excess charges for Medicare-covered services received within the state. This can make Plan N particularly attractive for Pennsylvania residents who receive most of their medical care locally.
Highmark Plan N should still be compared against Plan N rates from other carriers. The standardized medical coverage does not become more comprehensive because the policy carries the Highmark name.
Does Highmark Medigap Blue Include SilverSneakers?
Eligible Highmark Medigap Blue members may have access to SilverSneakers through Highmark’s optional Whole Health Balance program.
Whole Health Balance can include dental, vision, hearing and fitness benefits. However, it generally requires an additional monthly premium.
SilverSneakers should therefore not automatically be treated as a free benefit included in the basic Highmark Medicare Supplement premium.
Someone considering the optional package should compare:
- The regular Medigap Blue premium
- The additional Whole Health Balance premium
- The benefits included in the package
- How frequently those benefits are likely to be used
- The cost of purchasing similar services separately
An extra benefit only adds value when the policyholder uses it enough to justify the additional cost.
Does Highmark Medicare Supplement Use a Provider Network?
A standard Highmark Medicare Supplement policy works with Original Medicare.
You can generally use any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Original Medicare. You are not restricted to a Highmark Medicare Advantage network, and the provider does not need a separate contract with Highmark for the standardized supplement to pay.
This flexibility is a benefit of standard Medicare Supplement coverage in general. It is not unique to Highmark.
A provider can still decide whether to accept new Medicare patients. Medicare Supplement coverage cannot require a doctor to accept someone as a patient.
When Might Highmark Be Worth Considering?
Highmark may be a reasonable choice when:
- Its premium is close to the leading alternatives
- The applicant qualifies for a meaningful discount
- The applicant strongly prefers an established Pennsylvania Blue company
- The optional dental, vision, hearing and fitness package provides genuine value
- Highmark’s underwriting works better for the applicant
- Other carriers are unavailable due to eligibility or underwriting
The decision should be based on the actual comparison—not a blanket rule that Highmark is always too expensive.
When Would I Usually Recommend Another Company?
I would usually recommend another financially sound company when it offers the same standardized plan at a meaningfully lower premium and there is no significant disadvantage.
For example, if two companies offer the same standard Plan G benefits, but one charges substantially less, the higher-priced company must provide a compelling reason to justify the difference.
A familiar name by itself is usually not enough.
Medicare Supplement premiums commonly increase over time. Beginning with an unnecessarily high premium can make long-term affordability more difficult.
What Should You Compare Besides the Monthly Premium?
The lowest rate should not be the only consideration.
Compare:
- Current monthly premium
- Household discounts
- Application and policy fees
- Company financial strength
- Historical rate increases
- Pricing method
- Customer service
- Billing reliability
- Underwriting requirements
- Optional benefits
- Total first-year cost
The goal is not simply to locate the lowest number on a rate sheet. The goal is to find a financially sound company offering reasonable current and long-term value.
My View of Highmark Medicare Supplement
Highmark is a good insurance company from a financial-strength and name-recognition standpoint.
However, I do not consider Highmark an automatic first choice for Medicare Supplement coverage in southeastern Pennsylvania. Its rates are frequently higher than other competitive companies I review.
I would describe Highmark this way:
A solid company that may not always offer a solid price.
Highmark should remain part of the comparison when appropriate, but it should not receive preferential treatment simply because it is well known.
How an Independent Medicare Broker Can Help
An independent Medicare broker can compare Highmark with other Medicare Supplement companies rather than representing only one carrier.
That comparison can include:
- Highmark Plan G and Plan N premiums
- Rates from competing companies
- Household discounts
- Application and policy fees
- Financial ratings
- Underwriting requirements
- Optional benefits
- Long-term value
There is generally no additional fee to work with an independent Medicare broker. Insurance companies compensate the broker when a client enrolls, and the client’s Medicare Supplement premium is not increased because a broker assisted with the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Highmark financially strong?
Yes. Highmark currently has an A financial-strength rating from AM Best, which is considered Excellent.
Is Highmark Medicare Supplement expensive?
Highmark’s rates vary by age, ZIP code, plan and applicant information. In southeastern Pennsylvania, its premiums are often higher than other established Medicare Supplement companies offering the same standardized coverage.
Does Highmark Plan G provide better coverage than another Plan G?
No. Standard Plan G benefits are standardized. Highmark Plan G provides the same core medical benefits as another insurance company’s standard Plan G.
Can I use any doctor with Highmark Medigap Blue?
You can generally use any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Original Medicare. A standard Medicare Supplement policy does not ordinarily use a provider network.
Does Highmark Medicare Supplement include SilverSneakers?
Eligible members may access SilverSneakers through the optional Whole Health Balance package. The package generally has an additional monthly premium.
Should I choose Highmark because my doctors accept Highmark?
Not necessarily. With a standard Medicare Supplement policy, the important question is generally whether the provider accepts Original Medicare—not whether the provider participates in a Highmark Medicare Advantage network.
Is Highmark Plan N a good choice in Pennsylvania?
It can be, but its premium should be compared with Plan N rates from other companies. Pennsylvania’s prohibition against Medicare Part B excess charges can make Plan N attractive, regardless of which company issues the policy.
Related Medicare Topics
Highmark Medicare Supplement Plans in Pennsylvania
Best Medicare Supplement Plans in Pennsylvania
Which Medicare Supplement Plans Include SilverSneakers?
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Whether you’re enrolling for the first time, reviewing your current coverage, considering a plan change, or simply looking for a second opinion, I’m happy to help you understand your options and answer your questions.
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If you’d like to discuss your Medicare options, call or text The DeAngelis Agency at 215-967-8828.
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