Blue Medicare Essential (HMO) Medicare Advantage Plan H3449-027-2 • 2027 • Alexander County, NC
- Monthly Premium
- $0.00Plus Part B premium.
- Medical Deductible
- $140
- Maximum Out-of-Pocket
- $9850.00In-network
- Part B Giveback
- −$51.00 reduction
- Prescription Coverage
- Enhanced, $700.00 deductible
- Additional Benefits
- Dental, Vision, Hearing
- Service Area
- Alexander County, NC
- Local Enrollment
- 0 beneficiaries in Alexander County
Blue Medicare Essential (HMO) Introduction
This Medicare Advantage HMO plan, Blue Medicare Essential, is offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and uses a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) provider network. It comes with prescription drug coverage. For the 2027 plan year, the monthly premium is $0.00, the medical deductible is $140, and the in-network maximum out-of-pocket is $9850.00. The plan is identified by CMS Plan ID H3449-027-2. The 2027 Part D prescription drug deductible is $700.00.
Enrollment in this plan requires residence in Alexander County, North Carolina. CMS enrollment data reports 0 plan members in Alexander County. New members can call the plan directly at (866)760-0823 (TTY 711) for assistance.
Compare Similar Plans in Alexander County
Compare this plan with the two most-enrolled HMO plans available in Alexander County, North Carolina. Enrollment is based on CMS local enrollment data.
| Plan Detail | Blue Medicare Essential | HealthSpring Preferred | HealthSpring Preferred Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMS Plan ID | H3449-027-2 |
H9725-009-1 |
H9725-015-1 |
| Local Enrollment | 0 | 291 | 165 |
| Monthly Premium | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Medical Deductible | $140 | $0.00 | $150 |
| Maximum Out-of-Pocket | $9,850.00 | $3,900.00 | $6,750.00 |
| Part B Giveback | −$51.00 reduction | −$5.00 reduction | −$179.00 reduction |
| Primary Care | $10 copay | $0 copay | $0 copay |
| Specialist | $50 copay | $20 copay | $45 copay |
| Part D Deductible | $700.00 | $400.00 | $600.00 |
| CMS Star Rating | Not yet rated | Not yet rated | Not yet rated |
| Dental | Not covered | $0 copay | $0 copay |
| Vision | Not covered | $0 copay | $0 copay |
| Hearing | $0 copay | $0 copay | $0 copay |
Plan Benefits
Cost-sharing for Blue Medicare Essential includes out-of-pocket expenses for covered healthcare services. The following tables provide a summary of typical in-network out-of-pocket costs for plan H3449-027-2.
You can also compare 2027 costs and coverage with last year, side-by-side: Plan H3449-027-2 Cost Compare.
Office Visits
- Primary care
- In-network: $10 copay
- Specialist
- In-network: $50 copay
Preventive and Wellness Services
- Annual wellness exam
- In-network: $0 copay
- Telehealth benefit
- In-network: $0-$50 copay
- Routine chiropractic
- Not covered
- Fitness benefits
- Coming soon
- Health education
- Not covered
- Counseling services
- Not covered
- Over-the-counter drug benefits
- In-network: $0 copay
- Health transportation (non-emergency)
- Coming soon
Diagnostic, Lab, and Imaging Services
- Diagnostic radiology services
- In-network: $0-$300 copay, 20% coinsurance
- Lab services
- In-network: $0-$25 copay
- Outpatient x-rays
- In-network: $0-$30 copay
- Diagnostic tests and procedures
- In-network: $0-$75 copay
Emergency and Urgent Care Services
- Emergency room care
- $115 copay
- Worldwide emergency care
- Coming soon
- Urgent care
- $40 copay
- Inpatient hospital care
- Tier 1
$407 per day for days 1-6
$0 per day for days 7-90
$0 per stay - Skilled Nursing Facility
- Tier 1
$0 per day for days 1-20
$221 per day for days 21-100 - Ground ambulance
- In-network: $275 copay
Mental Health Services
- Outpatient individual therapy
- In-network: $50 copay
- Outpatient group therapy
- In-network: $50 copay
- Inpatient psychiatric hospital care
- Tier 1
$407 per day for days 1-6
$0 per day for days 7-90
$0 per stay
Rehabilitation Services
- Physical therapy and speech and language therapy
- In-network: $35 copay
- Occupational therapy
- In-network: $35 copay
Medical Equipment and Supplies
- Diabetes supplies
- In-network: 0%-20% coinsurance
- Durable medical equipment
- In-network: 20% coinsurance
- Prosthetics
- In-network: 20% coinsurance
Medicare Part B Drugs
- Chemotherapy
- In-network: 0%-20% coinsurance
- Other Part B drugs (Medicare-covered)
- In-network: 0%-20% coinsurance
Dental Services
- Oral exam
- Not covered
- Dental x-rays
- Not covered
- Cleaning
- Not covered
- Periodontics
- Not covered
- Endodontics
- Not covered
- Restorative services
- Not covered
- Implant services
- Not covered
- Orthodontics
- Not covered
- Oral/Maxillofacial surgery
- Not covered
Vision Services
- Routine eye exam
- Not covered
- Contact lenses
- Not covered
- Eyeglass frames only
- Not covered
- Eyeglass lenses only
- Not covered
- Eyeglasses (frames & lenses)
- Not covered
- Upgrades
- Not covered
Hearing Services
- Hearing exam
- In-network: $0 copay
- Fitting/evaluation
- In-network: $0 copay
- Prescription hearing aids
- In-network: $499-$999 copay
- OTC hearing aids
- Not covered
Additional and Special Needs Services
- Adult day health services
- Not covered
- Home-based palliative care
- Not covered
- Personal emergency response system
- Coming soon
- Weight management programs
- Not covered
- Wigs for chemotherapy-related hair loss
- Coming soon
- Alternative therapies
- Not covered
- Massage therapy
- Not covered
- Home/bathroom safety devices
- Not covered
Certain preventive services are covered 100% by Blue Medicare Essential as a Part B benefit.
Prescription Drug Coverage
Blue Medicare 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 Advantage 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.
| Part D Premium Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic Part D Premium: | $0.00 |
| Supplemental Part D Premium: | $$0.00 |
| Total Part D Premium: | $0.00 |
| Low-Income Premium Subsidy: | $13.25 |
| Low-Income Premium Subsidy Paid by CMS: | $0.00 |
| Low-Income Subsidy Premium: | $0.00 |
For more details, visit the Social Security Extra Help program .
Prescription Drug Plan Deductible
This plan has a $700.00 annual Part D deductible. You'll pay this deductible at the pharmacy before Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina starts contributing towards your prescription costs.
Prescription Drug Plan Out-of-Pocket Costs
Beyond premiums and deductibles, Blue Medicare Essential may have additional costs at pharmacies. The table below outlines out-of-pocket expenses by drug tier.
| Drug Tier | Retail | Mail Order |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred Generic | $0.00 copay | Coming soon |
| Generic | $4.00 copay | Coming soon |
| Preferred Brand | 21% coinsurance | Coming soon |
| Non-Preferred Drug | 26% coinsurance | Coming soon |
| Specialty Tier | 25% coinsurance | Coming soon |
| Select Care Drugs | $0.00 copay | Coming soon |
| *Deductible does not apply. | ||
CMS 5-Star Performance Ratings (Contract ID: H3449)
CMS evaluates Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Part D plans annually using a 5-star rating system. Ratings reflect performance in preventive care, chronic condition management, and member experience.
| CMS Measure | Star Rating |
|---|---|
| 2027 Overall Rating | |
| Staying Healthy: Screenings, Tests, Vaccines | |
| Managing Chronic (Long Term) Conditions | |
| Member Experience with Health Plan | |
| Complaints and Changes in Plans Performance | |
| Health Plan Customer Service | |
| Drug Plan Customer Service | |
| Complaints and Changes in the Drug Plan | |
| Member Experience with the Drug Plan | |
| Drug Safety and Accuracy of Drug Pricing |
Contact Information for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
- Website
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Plan Page
- Providers
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Providers Page
- Formulary
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Formulary Page
- Pharmacy
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Pharmacy Page
- New Member Health Plan Help
- (866)760-0823
- New Member Health Plan TTY
- 711
- New Member Part D Help
- (866)760-0823
- New Member Part D TTY Users
- 711
Enrollment status and eligibility information are available through the Social Security Administration. Additional information about Medicare Advantage is available at Medicare.gov.
Medicare Plan Data Sources and Methodology
| Data Source | Publisher | Last Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape Source Files | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | October 5, 2026 |
| Medicare Part C & D Performance | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | October 5, 2026 |
| Plan Benefits Package | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | October 5, 2026 |
| Monthly Enrollment by Contract/Plan/State/County | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | October 5, 2026 |
Data sources and methodology documentation.
| Publisher | Reference | Last Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (official source) | https://www.bluecrossnc.com/me | October 4, 2026 |
| CMS.gov | Medicare Advantage Plan Fact Sheet | 25 May, 2025 |
| AARP.org | The Big Choice: Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage | 25 May, 2025 |
| Medicare.gov | Your coverage options | 25 May, 2025 |
MedicarePlans.com is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.
Data provenance documentation is maintained in alignment with the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Provenance standard.
Page content independently curated and maintained by David W. Bynon, Editorial Steward, using a standardized, data-driven methodology for accurate, non-commercial Medicare plan interpretation and resolution.