Insurance Carrier
Anthem Inc.
Anthem - operating under the Blue Cross Blue Shield name in many of its markets - is one of the few Medicare carriers where the name on the card is already familiar to the doctors, hospitals, and specialists in your community. That local recognition matters more than most people realize when you are trying to keep your existing care relationships intact under a new plan. The real question isn’t whether Anthem is big enough - it’s whether their network in your specific ZIP code covers the providers who already know your health history.
Anthem is now part of Elevance Health, one of the largest health insurance organizations in the United States, but what sets it apart in Medicare is not size - it’s the Blue Cross Blue Shield infrastructure that underpins its local plans in more than a dozen states. BCBS licensees have spent decades building provider relationships in specific communities, and Anthem has inherited and expanded that local market depth in every state where it operates. For someone evaluating Medicare Advantage options, that combination of national resources and deeply embedded local networks is not something every carrier can replicate.
What Anthem Inc. Is Known For
Anthem Medicare Advantage plans have achieved 4-Star or higher CMS quality ratings on multiple contracts across their service areas, with quality scores reflecting member experience, chronic care management, and preventive care performance
Anthem operates Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated Medicare Advantage plans across more than a dozen states, giving it one of the most locally embedded provider networks of any national Medicare Advantage carrier
Select Anthem Medicare Advantage plans may include SilverSneakers fitness membership, over-the-counter (OTC) product allowances, and dental, vision, and hearing benefits - specific amounts and covered services vary by plan and county
In 2022, Anthem rebranded its parent company to Elevance Health to reflect an expanded focus on whole-health and chronic condition management, while continuing to operate Medicare plans under the Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield brand names in local markets
Anthem’s Medicare Advantage member base is among the largest of any BCBS-affiliated carrier nationally, with the company reporting tens of millions of total health plan members across all lines of business and a significant Medicare-specific enrollment footprint
Member Perks & How to Use Them
Anthem builds a meaningful set of extra benefits into qualifying Medicare Advantage plans - but none of them work automatically. The members who actually recoup the value are the ones who activate the right accounts, use the right portals, and check their balances before each quarter closes. Here is exactly what is available on qualifying plans and the specific steps to put it to work.
SilverSneakers fitness membership: On qualifying Anthem plans, activate your SilverSneakers membership at silversneakers.com/anthem or call Member Services. Your membership includes access to thousands of participating gyms and fitness centers - as well as online classes - at no additional cost to you
OTC benefit through Healthy Benefits+: Your OTC allowance typically loads quarterly to a benefits card - use it at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid, and online. Activate at healthybenefitsplus.com or call Member Services. Unused balances generally do not roll over between quarters
Dental and vision: Use your included annual benefit for preventive dental care and vision exams before year-end. Find in-network providers at anthem.com/find-a-doctor or by calling the dental and vision number on the back of your member card
24/7 NurseLine: Many Anthem plans include around-the-clock access to a registered nurse who can answer health questions and help you decide whether a situation needs urgent care - call the nurse line number on your member ID card any time
Transportation benefit: On qualifying plans, arrange non-emergency rides to medical appointments in advance by calling the transportation number on your plan materials - typically requires 3 business days notice
Availability
Anthem Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans are available in more than a dozen states, primarily where Anthem holds Blue Cross Blue Shield licenses - including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others. Plan availability, plan types, and the specific benefits offered vary significantly by county and ZIP code within those states.
What to Verify Before Enrolling
Anthem’s BCBS-backed plans can look very different from one county to the next - the plan that works perfectly for your neighbor may not cover your specialists, your medications, or your preferred pharmacy. Before you sign anything, run through each of these checkpoints so you are making a decision based on your actual situation rather than the plan’s marketing summary.
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Confirm whether the specific plan in your county is structured as an HMO - which typically requires you to select a primary care physician and get referrals for specialist visits - or a PPO, which generally allows you to see in-network specialists without a referral; Anthem offers both and the access rules differ materially
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Run a formulary lookup for every prescription you currently take before enrolling - verify the tier placement, any quantity limits or step-therapy requirements, and whether your preferred retail or mail-order pharmacy is in the plan’s standard or preferred network
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Ask specifically about annual maximum benefit amounts and covered service categories for dental, vision, and hearing - dollar caps, covered procedures (for example, whether restorative dental is included or only preventive), and approved provider networks vary by plan and can change each January
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If you see specialists or receive care at facilities that are not part of a primary medical group, ask whether those providers require prior authorization and what the process is - HMO plans in particular may require referrals and pre-approvals that can affect access to specialists you currently use
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Verify the specific OTC allowance amount, the approved product catalog, and how the benefit is loaded and redeemed - some Anthem plans provide a quarterly or monthly card that can only be used at specific retail chains or through an online catalog, and unused balances may not roll over between periods
Contact Anthem Inc. Directly
If you have a question about a benefit amount, a provider’s network status, or a claim that doesn’t look right, Anthem’s Member Services team is the authoritative source - not a plan summary, not a search engine result. Use the contact information below to get a direct answer, and have your member ID card in hand before you call so you can move through the system quickly.
Member Services
1-855-822-7756Website
www.anthem.com/medicareContact information is provided for reference and may change. Always verify current contact details on Anthem Inc.’s official website or your plan materials.
Benefits Vary by Plan, County, and Eligibility
Plan availability varies by county and ZIP code. Benefits, premiums, copayments, provider networks, formularies, and rules vary by plan and may change. Always review official plan materials before enrolling.
Check Anthem Availability in Your Area
Anthem’s BCBS-affiliated plans can look dramatically different depending on where you live - the right combination of network depth, prescription coverage, and extra benefits may already exist in your ZIP code, or there may be a stronger option nearby worth knowing about. A licensed agent will pull every Anthem plan available in your area and walk you through the specifics so your decision is based on what is actually available to you, not a general overview.
Quick Medicare Review
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