CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) Medicare Advantage Plan H7379-001 • 2026 • Saint Marys County, MD

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential Overview

Plan Details for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential

This Medicare Advantage MAPD PPO plan includes Medicare Part A and Part B services along with integrated prescription drug coverage. The monthly premium is $0.00, and the plan allows access to Medicare-approved providers, with lower costs when using in-network providers. The annual Part D deductible is $0.00.

Primary care visits have a $0 copay | Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance, and specialist visits come with a $45 copay | Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance. Urgent care services carry a $0-$25 copay, and ground ambulance transportation is $300 copay | Out-of-network: 50% coinsurance. These costs apply toward the annual maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit of $8300.00. Once this limit is reached, in-network services are fully covered for the remainder of the year.

This plan is listed by CMS under Plan ID H7379-001. Cost-sharing details are provided below.

Cost Sharing Expenses

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential has cost-sharing, meaning there are out-of-pocket costs when receiving covered healthcare services. The table below details the most common in-network out-of-pocket expenses for plan H7379-001.

Certain preventive services are covered 100% by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential as a Part B benefit.

Prescription Drug Coverage

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential includes a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP). Plan type and coverage level are defined by CMS and may vary between basic and enhanced benefit designs.

This plan includes an enhanced benefit Medicare Part D plan (PDP), providing coverage beyond the standard CMS-defined minimum.

Prescription Drug Plan Premium

The Part D prescription drug plan premium is included in the overall Medicare Special Needs Plan cost. Additional adjustments may apply through the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program, also known as Extra Help, administered by Social Security. LIS benefits are separate from Medicare Special Needs Plan coverage.

For more details, visit the Social Security Extra Help program .

Prescription Drug Plan Deductible

This plan has a $0.00 annual Part D deductible. You'll pay this deductible at the pharmacy before CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage starts contributing towards your prescription costs.

Prescription Drug Plan Out-of-Pocket Costs

Beyond premiums and deductibles, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential may have additional costs at pharmacies. The table below outlines out-of-pocket expenses by drug tier.

CMS 5-Star Ratings

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rates Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Part D prescription drug plans each year using a 5-star system. These ratings measure plan performance in areas such as preventive care, management of chronic conditions, and member experience.