HMO · Special Needs Plan · Contract H3170 · 2026

Sapphire Edge, Inc.

Sapphire Edge, Inc. is a HMO Medicare Advantage plan from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, available in 1 state. Here is its CMS quality rating, drug coverage, and benefits.

N/R
Overall CMS rating
$0
Premium/mo
2.5★
Below average
1
States available
RSS updates for this plan

Sapphire Edge, Inc. plan score

A single 0-100 verdict combining Sapphire Edge, Inc.'s nationwide standing on 3 of 4 CMS-filed measures: quality, affordability, cost protection, and supplemental-benefit richness, each from its own CMS source file. A missing filing drops out and redistributes its weight rather than deflating the score.

A

93/100

Percentile-weighted across 3 of 4 measures

CMS quality (star rating)
N/A not on file
Affordability (premium)
A 0 $/mo

100th percentile nationwide

Cost protection (deductible)
C 400 $/yr

73th percentile nationwide

Benefit richness (supplemental coverage)
A 5 benefits

100th percentile nationwide

Benchmarked live against every plan or plan-county row reporting each measure in the current CMS extract (CY2026 Star Ratings, Landscape file, and Plan Benefit Package). Not a CMS-endorsed score; PlainMedicare's own weighting (quality 40%, affordability 25%, cost protection 15%, benefit richness 20%).

What the CMS Data Shows About Sapphire Edge, Inc.

Sapphire Edge, Inc. operates under CMS contract H3170, issued by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (parent organization Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska). The contract is classified as a HMO product, which governs how enrollees access care: HMOs require in-network providers and referrals for most specialist care, trading network flexibility for lower cost-sharing. This contract is also flagged in CMS data as a Special Needs Plan (SNP), meaning enrollment is restricted to beneficiaries meeting specific eligibility criteria, chronic condition, dual Medicare-Medicaid status, or institutional residence. Service area spans 1 state (NE) and more than 40 counties, a geography set at the CMS service-area definition level.

The overall CMS Star Rating for this contract is not yet published by CMS, compared to 3.5 in the prior plan year (a 0-star movement). This rating synthesizes 18 individual quality measures spanning 6 CMS domains, including clinical outcomes, patient experience (CAHPS), member complaints and appeals, and plan operations. The Part D drug-benefit portion of this contract carries a separate CMS Star Rating of 2.5, which reflects pharmacy cost, adherence to chronic medications, and drug pricing accuracy. Ratings at 4+ stars trigger federal Quality Bonus Payments that insurers typically reinvest in supplemental benefits.

On costs, this contract lists a monthly plan premium of $0 (no premium beyond Part B) and an annual Part D drug deductible of $400.00, from the CMS CY2026 Landscape file; every enrollee also pays the standard Part B premium. Beyond standard Medicare Parts A and B, the contract documents 5 supplemental benefits in the CMS benefits file, coverage extras such as dental, vision, hearing aids, fitness programs, and OTC allowances that Original Medicare does not provide. Before enrolling, verify that your preferred providers participate in the plan's network for your specific county, review the current Summary of Benefits, and confirm that your prescriptions appear on the plan formulary. All figures shown come from CMS public-use files for the 2026 contract year; this page is informational only and is not personalized Medicare counseling advice.

Year-over-Year Star Rating

Current (2026)
N/R
Previous Year
3.5

Quality Measures by Domain

Managing Chronic Conditions

6 measures

Controlling High Blood Pressure

4

Diabetes Care – Blood Sugar Controlled

3

Follow-up after Emergency Department Visit for People with Multiple High-Risk Chronic Conditions

1

Kidney Health Evaluation for Patients with Diabetes

3

Plan All-Cause Readmissions

2

Reducing the Risk of Falling

3

Customer Service

1 measures

Call Center – Foreign Language Interpreter and TTY Availability

4

Drug Plan Customer Service

1 measures

Complaints about the Drug Plan

4

Drug Safety & Pricing

4 measures

Medication Adherence for Cholesterol (Statins)

2

Medication Adherence for Diabetes Medications

5

Medication Adherence for Hypertension (RAS antagonists)

2

MTM Program Completion Rate for CMR

3

Tests & Vaccines

5 measures

Annual Flu Vaccine

4

Colorectal Cancer Screening

2

Improving or Maintaining Mental Health

5

Monitoring Physical Activity

5

Special Needs Plan (SNP) Care Management

1

Member Complaints and Changes in the Drug Plan’s Performance

1 measures

Rating of Drug Plan

2

Supplemental Benefits

BenefitCoveredMax Benefit
Dental (Preventive)✓ Yes$1,200
Hearing Aids✓ Yes-
Hearing Exam✓ Yes-
Vision, Eye Exam✓ Yes-
Vision, Eyewear✓ Yes-

County Availability

NE
Adams, NE Antelope, NE Arthur, NE Blaine, NE Boone, NE Buffalo, NE Burt, NE Butler, NE Cass, NE Cedar, NE Chase, NE Clay, NE Colfax, NE Cuming, NE Custer, NE Dawson, NE Deuel, NE Dodge, NE Douglas, NE Dundy, NE Fillmore, NE Franklin, NE Frontier, NE Furnas, NE Gage, NE Garden, NE Garfield, NE Gosper, NE Grant, NE Greeley, NE Hall, NE Hamilton, NE Harlan, NE Hayes, NE Hitchcock, NE Holt, NE Hooker, NE Howard, NE Jefferson, NE Johnson, NE

Showing 40 of 50 counties. Search by state for full coverage.

Medicare Advantage Guides

Understanding Star Ratings How to Choose a Plan Dental, Vision & Hearing Benefits MA vs Original Medicare

Official Medicare resources

Medicare Plan Finder
Enroll and confirm this plan's current details on the official Medicare.gov Plan Compare tool.
CMS Star Ratings
The official source dataset behind this plan's star rating, published yearly by CMS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the star rating for Sapphire Edge, Inc.?

Sapphire Edge, Inc. (Contract H3170) by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska has an overall CMS star rating of Not yet rated out of 5. The previous year's rating was 3.5 stars. Star ratings are based on quality measures including preventive care, chronic disease management, and member satisfaction.

How much does Sapphire Edge, Inc. cost per month?

Sapphire Edge, Inc. has a monthly plan premium (Part C + D combined) of $0, no premium beyond your Part B premium, with an annual Part D drug deductible of $400. Every enrollee also pays the standard Part B premium (about $202.90/month in 2026). Premiums are from the CMS CY2026 Landscape file and can vary by county; confirm current costs on Medicare.gov.

What type of plan is Sapphire Edge, Inc.?

Sapphire Edge, Inc. is a HMO Medicare Advantage plan offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. This is also a Special Needs Plan (SNP) designed for beneficiaries with specific diseases, characteristics, or care needs. HMO plans generally require you to use in-network providers and get referrals for specialists.

Where is Sapphire Edge, Inc. available?

Sapphire Edge, Inc. is available in 1 state (NE) across more than 40 counties. Coverage area can vary, check with the insurer or Medicare.gov for exact availability in your ZIP code.

What supplemental benefits does Sapphire Edge, Inc. offer?

Sapphire Edge, Inc. covers 5 supplemental benefits beyond standard Medicare, including dental preventive, hearing aids, hearing exam, vision eye exam, vision eyewear. Many Medicare Advantage plans include dental, vision, and hearing coverage not available under Original Medicare.

How is Sapphire Edge, Inc. rated on quality measures?

CMS evaluates Sapphire Edge, Inc. across 18 individual quality measures spanning 6 domains, including DD1: Drug Plan Customer Service, DD2: Member Complaints and Changes in the Drug Plan’s Performance, DD4: Drug Safety and Accuracy of Drug Pricing and more. These measures cover clinical outcomes, patient experience, and plan operations.

Data Source

Data from CMS Medicare Advantage 2026 Star Ratings and Plan Finder datasets. Contract ID: H3170. Last updated: 2026 plan year.

Important: PlainMedicare provides CMS data for informational purposes only. This is not medical or insurance advice. Consult a licensed Medicare counselor or insurance agent for personalized guidance. Always verify current plan details with the insurer or Medicare.gov before enrolling.

Nationwide Medicare Advantage plans with similar county footprint or CMS star rating

Data-derived peers across the CMS Landscape file: nearest county inventory and nearest overall CMS star rating at the contract level. Not parent-org containment or same-state overlap.

Similar county footprint

Related

Browse all plans → | Rankings →
Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainMedicare

Before you enroll in Sapphire Edge, Inc.

Star rating and network fit matter more than the premium alone.

  • This contract's premium is $0 (Part C + D) - compare it against other plans before enrolling. Browse all plans
  • Check that your doctors and drugs are in-network before you enroll, and confirm the plan on Medicare.gov. Medicare Plan Compare
  • This plan documents 5 supplemental benefits beyond Original Medicare - see how it stacks up against Original Medicare's coverage. MA vs Original Medicare

Figures are from CMS CY2026 public files for this contract; benefits and premiums can vary by the specific plan you enroll in and your county.

PlainMedicare is rendered directly from CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D public files, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a correction. Data current as of 2026-09-01.

CMS lists 131,985 Medicare Advantage and Part D plan records in the current public files. PlainMedicare refreshes this registry with each annual release.