Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) will now offer health care coverage options for Medicare-eligible individuals in 38 new counties, as well as add multiple lower-cost plans in 2023.

This expansion allows BCBSTX to offer Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans to nearly 4 million eligible residents in 148 counties — now covering 58% of Texas’ 254 counties. The 2023 expansion follows 2022’s record buildout.

New counties include: Anderson, Aransas, Bowie, Calhoun, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, DeWitt, Franklin, Grayson, Gregg, Harrison, Hudspeth, Hunt, Jackson, Kaufman, Kleberg, Lamar, Maverick, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Potter, Randall, Red River, Rusk, Shelby, Smith, Starr, Titus, Tom Green, Upshur, Uvalde, Victoria, Wood, Young and Zapata.

“We’re excited to announce Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is expanding access and building on our commitment to quality, cost-effective and equitable health care in the communities we serve, particularly in rural and underserved areas,” said James "Jim" Springfield, BCBSTX president. “Year over year, the growth of Medicare Advantage brings more choices and coverage so we can meet diverse health needs across Texas.”

The expansion is not just geographic. For 2023, BCBSTX is offering new products and services to best serve the specific needs and lifestyles of the growing Medicare population in Texas.

Many BCBSTX Medicare Advantage (MA) plans provide additional benefits beyond traditional Medicare, including dental, vision and prescription drug coverage at a variety of price points, including options with $0 monthly premiums.

New options for 2023 include an Open Access PPO plan, as well as a Medicare Advantage-only PPO plan with a Part B premium reduction benefit designed with U.S. military veterans in mind. For cost-conscious consumers, BCBSTX will offer two HMO plans with a Part B premium reduction benefit, as well as a PPO plan with Part B premium reduction benefit. In addition, there will now be an HMO plan with a $5,000 dental allowance, a PPO plan with $5,000 dental allowance and a PPO plan with $1,000 pre-loaded Flexible Spend card to use toward covered dental, vision and hearing benefits.

A Dual Eligible Special Needs HMO plan will include a Flexible Spend card. The Flexible Spend card will add additional allowance, in the form of a prefunded Mastercard, that members can use to help supplement out-of-pocket costs on their nonmedical-covered dental, vision and hearing benefits.

To support the MAPD county expansion, BCBSTX is adding more than 31,000 providers to its network to help members access specialized care when and where they want and need it.

The Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Election Period starts Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7. BCBSTX is hosting multiple in-person and virtual opportunities in the Houston and Dallas regions with enrollment specialists available in English and Spanish to answer questions and simplify the enrollment process. Texans who don’t live in those areas can get more information about online seminars by visiting bcbstx.com/medicare.