CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO)
Maryland Medicare Advantage Plan (2025 Plan)
by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage
Additional Coverage
HearingVisionDental
Overall Government Star Rating
3.5
out of 5 stars
Plan Name
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO)
Insurance Carrier
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage
Plan Type
Medicare Advantage Plan With Part D Prescription Drug Coverage
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) is a Medicare Advantage Plan With Part D Prescription Drug Coverage, which is available in Maryland and offered by the health insurance company CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage. This plan’s network type is PPO which determines in-network doctors who accept the health plan and whether a referral is needed.
Primary doctor visit
$0 copay
Specialist visit
$45 copay per visit
ER visit
$110 copay per visit (always covered)
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) has a monthly premium cost of $0 per month, with an annual deductible of $0 and a maximum out of pocket cost sharing of $13,300 In and Out-of-network
$8,300 In-network
$13,300 Out-of-network. The most common benefit costs which people evaluate when choosing a plan are costs for a primary doctor visit, specialist doctor visit, emergency room visit, and ambulance. These costs are listed in this summary section and a full list of benefit costs for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) are defined below.
Yes
Part D Prescription Drug Coverage
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) is a Medicare Advantage plan which does include Medicare Part D Prescription Drug coverage. Other common benefits included with Medicare Advantage plans are coverage for dental, vision, and hearing. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) includes coverage for hearing, vision, dental.
Medicare Advantage health plans can offer even more additional benefits. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) includes coverage for the following additional benefits:
Other benefits
Over the counter drug benefits
Home and bathroom safety devices
Each year the federal government evaluates the quality of Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug plans based on a 5-star scoring system. For 2025, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) received an overall government quality rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) performed worse than Maryland’s State average overall quality score of 3.8 stars.
This Plan’s 5-star Gov’t Quality Score
Maryland State Average Score
Overall Government 5 Star Quality Rating
3.5
3.8
Summary rating of health plan quality
Staying healthy: screenings, tests, & vaccines
Managing chronic (long term) conditions
Member experience with health plan
Member complaints & changes in the health plan's performance
Health plan customer service
Summary rating of drug plan quality
Drug plan customer service
Member complaints & changes in the drug plan's performance
Member experience with the drug plan
Drug safety & accuracy of drug pricing
The government calculates an “Overall star rating” based on ratings for sub components including “Health plan star rating” and “Drug plan star rating”, which includes further subcomponents of each.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) received 4 stars for its health plan quality score which is better than the Maryland State average health plan quality score of 3.7 stars.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) received 3.5 stars for its drug plan quality score which is worse than the Maryland State average drug plan quality score of 3.9 stars.
Health Portion of Premium
Health Plan Max Out-of-Pocket
$13,300 In and Out-of-network
$8,300 In-network
$13,300 Out-of-network
Nationwide Coverage included
Hearing Coverage included
Doctor Services
Primary doctor visit
In-network: $0 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance per visit
Specialist visit
In-network: $45 copay per visit
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance per visit
Tests, labs, & imaging
Diagnostic tests & procedures
In-network: $15 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Lab services
In-network: $0 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Diagnostic radiology services (like MRI)
In-network: $0-200 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Outpatient x-rays
In-network: $25 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Emergency care
$110 copay per visit (always covered)
Urgent care
$0-30 copay per visit (always covered)
Hospital Services
Inpatient hospital coverage
In-network: $350 per day for days 1 through 5
$0 per day for days 6 through 90
Out-of-network: 50% per stay
Outpatient hospital coverage
In-network: $0-295 copay per visit
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance per visit
Skilled nursing facility
Skilled nursing facility
In-network: $0 per day for days 1 through 20
$200 per day for days 21 through 100
Out-of-network: 50% per stay
50% per day for days 1 through 100
Preventive services
Preventive services
In-network: $0 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Ambulance
Ground ambulance
In-network: $300 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Therapy services
Occupational therapy visit
In-network: $15 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Physical therapy & speech & language therapy visit
In-network: $15 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Mental health services
Outpatient group therapy with a psychiatrist
In-network: $10 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Outpatient individual therapy with a psychiatrist
In-network: $10 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Outpatient group therapy visit
In-network: $10 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Outpatient individual therapy visit
In-network: $10 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Opioid treatment services
Opioid treatment services
Other services
Durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs & oxygen)
In-network: 20% coinsurance per item
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance per item
Prosthetics (like braces, artificial limbs)
In-network: 20% coinsurance per item
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance per item
Diabetes supplies
In-network: $0 copay per item
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance per item
Tier drug costs for: Standard retail pharmacy drug cost for 1-month
| Tiers | Initial coverage phase | Catastrophic coverage phase |
|---|
| Preferred Generic | $0.00 copay | $0 copay |
| Generic | $10.00 copay | $0 copay |
| Preferred Brand | $47.00 copay | $0 copay |
| Non-Preferred Drug | 40% coinsurance | $0 copay |
| Specialty Tier | 33% coinsurance | $0 copay |
Part B Drugs
Chemotherapy drugs
In-network: 0-20% coinsurance
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Other Part B drugs
In-network: 0-20% coinsurance
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Hearing
Hearing exam
In-network: $20 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Fitting/evaluation
In-network: $0 copay
Out-of-network: $0 copay
Hearing aids - All types
In-network: $475-1,950 copay
Out-of-network: $475-1,950 copay
Preventive Dental
Oral exam
In-network: $0 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Cleaning
In-network: $0 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Fluoride treatment
In-network: $0 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Dental x-rays
In-network: $0 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Comprehensive dental
Restorative services
In-network: $15-$400 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Endodontics
In-network: $100-$200 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Periodontics
In-network: $50-$300 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Prosthodontics, removable
In-network: $30-$700 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Prosthodontics, fixed
In-network: $40-$400 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Maxillofacial prosthetics
Implant services
In-network: $70-$500 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
In-network: $40-$100 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Adjunctive general services
In-network: $15-$30 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Vision
Routine eye exam
In-network: $0-60 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Contact lenses
In-network: $0 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
Eyeglasses (frames & lenses)
In-network: $10 copay
Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance
When Can I Sign Up for Medicare?
Enter your birthday month and year to learn when you can sign up for different Medicare plan options.
Health Plan Radar