BCBS of Illinois supliment plan
Hi Terry,
I have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Plan N as my original medicare supplement plan. I called them to ask what the price for 2026 will be. Open enrollment closes Dec. 7th, 2025 and they will notify me in March of 2026 what the new premium will be beginning April 1st, 2026. They told me I must wait until then.
I currently pay $283.00 per month and of course part B is taken out of my social security check.
I don’t really want to switch to an advantage plan but not knowing how much the increase will be during open enrollment does make it impossible to know if I can afford to keep the BCBS plan I have.
Why won’t they tell me the price? I can’t cancel after open enrollment ends as I would have no insurance. The monthly cost has increased $45.00 each of the last 2 years. I am 77 years old.
If the increase turns out to be $100.00 I would have switched to an advantage plan during open enrollment (which I really don’t want). It’s all about the cost!
I haven’t been hospitalized for 50 years but want good insurance as I am getting older and will eventually need it. I have tried to switch to 2 other original medicare supplement plans and was not accepted. So it’s BCBS or advantage.
Terry Says
OK, ever hear the old saying “penny wise and pound foolish”? It applies here. All supplement plans increase prices every year. The increase will likely offset your SS COLA.
If you cannot be accepted into another G supplement at this point, then you already have some form of compromised health.
I urge you to stick with the supplement no matter what the price increase, and cut back somewhere else. Or babysit a neighbor’s kids, or earn some extra money driving a neighbor to the grocery store to make up the difference.
When you are older and inevitably ill, you’ll want access to the docs and hospital of your choice.
