Plan year 2027 · Medicare AdvantageCMS files of Sept. 22 and Oct. 1, 2026

Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Freedom Blue, 2027

H5959Contract018Plan

PPO · 35 counties in Minnesota

Run by Bcbsm, Inc. (contract H5959), sold as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, owned by Aware Integrated, Inc.

Renews in fewer counties

2026 star rating, contract H5959: 4.5 of 5

Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Freedom Blue (H5959-018) costs $0 a month in 2027, the same as in 2026, with an in-network out-of-pocket limit of $6,900 ($5,500 in 2026). It leaves 31 counties it served in 2026, where 5,658 of its members lived; they choose another plan for 2027 (the counties are listed below).

What changes from 2026 to 2027?

The changed lines are marked and come first. In-network amounts; members keep paying the Part B premium unless the plan reduces it.
What you pay or get	2026	2027	Change
In-network out-of-pocket limit	$5,500	$6,900	up $1,400
Part B premium reduction, monthly	$135	$145	up $10
Hospital stay, in network	$200 a day for days 1–7, then $0 a day for days 8–90	$250 a day for days 1–6, then $0 a day for days 7–90	up $250for a 5-day stay
Skilled nursing facility, in network	$0 a day for days 1–20, then $218 a day for days 21–100	$0 a day for days 1–20, then $221 a day for days 21–100	up $30for a 30-day stay
Ground ambulance, in network	$250 copay	$300 copay	up $50
Counties served	66	35	down 31
9 lines do not change
Monthly premium	$0	$0	no change
Primary care visit	$0 copay	$0 copay	no change
Specialist visit	$40 copay	$40 copay	no change
Emergency room	$130 copay	$130 copay	no change
Medical deductible, in network	none	none	no change
Comprehensive dental, yearly limit	not offered	not offered	no change
Eyewear, yearly limit	$250 a year	$250 a year	no change
Hearing aids, yearly limit for both ears	not offered	not offered	no change
Over-the-counter items, yearly	$300 a year	$300 a year	no change

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision); CMS plan benefit package files, 2027 and 2026; CMS plan crosswalk from 2026 to 2027 (Oct. 1, 2026). Plan details can change during the year; confirm on Medicare Plan Finder.

How does it compare with plans sold where it is?

In the counties it serves, 40 plans open to everyone are sold for 2027, this one included. Against the others, 19 plans have a lower out-of-pocket limit, 1 the same, 19 a higher one. On the premium, 13 the same, 25 a higher one.

Out-of-pocket limits of the 40 plans open to everyone

$0 to under $2,0000 plans

$2,000 to under $4,0001 plan

$4,000 to under $6,00014 plans

$6,000 to under $8,000 (this plan)21 plans

$8,000 to $10,0004 plans

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision).

Where is it sold, and what does it cost there?

It stops serving 31 counties it served in 2026 (listed in the next section).

The premium and the out-of-pocket limit are the same in all 35 counties: $0 a month and $6,900.

Minnesota

Anoka Becker Benton Big Stone Carver Cass Chisago Clay Clearwater Dakota Douglas Faribault Grant Hennepin Houston Hubbard Isanti Kandiyohi Kittson Marshall Morrison Nicollet Otter Tail Ramsey Renville Roseau Scott Sherburne Stearns Swift Todd Washington Wilkin Winona Wright

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision).

What if you live in a county it leaves?

Its 2026 members in the 31 counties listed below cannot stay in it for 2027; each county page lists the 2027 plans sold there.

Your coverage: This plan ends for you on December 31, 2026, because it is no longer sold where you live.
October 15 to December 7, 2026: Open enrollment: join another Medicare Advantage plan, or Original Medicare with a drug plan. Coverage starts January 1, 2027.
December 8, 2026 to the end of February 2027: A special enrollment period because the plan is leaving: you can still join a plan, but coverage starts the first day of the month after you join, so choose by December 31 to have no gap.
If you do nothing: You are enrolled in Original Medicare when the plan ends, without a drug plan unless you join one (with Extra Help or full Medicaid, Medicare enrolls you in one).
If you choose Original Medicare: You have a guaranteed right to buy Medigap Plan A, B, C, D, F, G, K or L sold in your state by any insurance company; if you were new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, Plans D and G take the place of C and F. Apply from 60 days before to 63 days after the plan ends; the policy starts once your Medicare Advantage coverage ends. Other Medigap plans are not covered by this right.

The 31 counties it leaves, most members first
County	Members, Sept. 2026
Crow Wing, MN	933
Olmsted, MN	567
Freeborn, MN	406
Beltrami, MN	366
Blue Earth, MN	322
Polk, MN	257
Mower, MN	242
Wadena, MN	202
Wabasha, MN	201
Martin, MN	191
Steele, MN	184
Pennington, MN	139
Brown, MN	138
Waseca, MN	123
Redwood, MN	121
Fillmore, MN	120
Lyon, MN	119
Dodge, MN	116
Pope, MN	100
Lac qui Parle, MN	86

Show the other 11 counties

County	Members, Sept. 2026
Murray, MN	85
Cottonwood, MN	83
Watonwan, MN	80
Lake of the Woods, MN	73
Jackson, MN	72
Chippewa, MN	71
Nobles, MN	68
Mahnomen, MN	62
Red Lake, MN	61
Norman, MN	41
Lincoln, MN	29

Source: CMS plan crosswalk from 2026 to 2027 (Oct. 1, 2026); CMS monthly enrollment by plan and by county, September 2026 (CMS hides counts under 11); Medicare.gov, “Special enrollment periods” and “When can I buy Medigap?” (read Oct. 7, 2026).

Who runs this plan?

Plan ID: H5959-018
Legal name of the contract: Bcbsm, Inc.
Sold as: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Parent company: Aware Integrated, Inc.
Plan type: PPO
2026 star rating of the contract: 4.5 of 5 overall; health plan 4.5 of 5, drug plan 4.5 of 5
Members, September 2026: 21,275
Plan website, as filed with CMS: www.bluecrossmn.com/medicare

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision); CMS 2026 Star Ratings (October 2025); CMS monthly enrollment by plan and by county, September 2026 (CMS hides counts under 11). CMS publishes the 2027 Star Ratings in October 2026.

What else should you check?

Other 2027 plans in Hennepin, MNWhere most of its members live; premiums and limits side by side
Every Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota plan for 2027Its contracts, counties and plans that end
The other 5 plans of contract H5959Same company, same contract
Is your prescription covered?Coverage share and tier for 2,259 drugs

Data, not advice. These are the plan's filed amounts, not a quote for you; confirm on Medicare Plan Finder or call the plan before you enroll.