BlueCross BlueShield
🥉 Bronze Plans
Wellmark Blue Cross Bronze
Health Insurance Plans in Iowa
Bronze plans are the budget tier of the individual and family lineup: the lowest monthly price in exchange for higher out-of-pocket costs when you need care. Two of the four options (006 and 104) are HSA eligible, adding a tax advantage on top of the low price. Bronze suits healthy people without regular medications who mainly want protection from catastrophic medical bills.
⭐ Recommended Plan
Blue Advantage Plus Bronze 104
Our usual starting recommendation. It is HSA eligible, carries a lower deductible and out-of-pocket maximum than the other Bronze options, and as a “Plus” plan it includes some out-of-network benefit despite the HMO chassis, useful if your preferred doctor sits outside the core network.
Compare All Four Bronze Options
All four use the Blue Advantage HMO network of in-network providers statewide. Emergency care is covered everywhere, and each plan includes free preventive visits and the essential health benefits required by the Affordable Care Act, with pharmacy coverage tiered between generic and brand drug pricing.
| Plan Name | Blue Advantage Bronze HMO 006 | Blue Advantage Bronze HMO 105 | Blue Advantage Plus Bronze 103 | ★ Blue Advantage Plus Bronze 104 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeductibleA specified amount of money that the insured must pay before an insurance company will pay a claim | $6,500 | $6,850 | $6,600 | $5,000 |
| CoinsuranceWhat % you pay after your deductible has been met and before your out of pocket max | None (0% after deductible) | 30% | 20% | 40% |
| Out-of-Pocket MaximumThe most you’ll have to pay during a policy period for health care services (includes deductible) | $6,500 | $7,150 | $7,150 | $6,550 |
| Primary Care Office Visit | 0% after deductible | First 2 visits $40, then 30% | First visit $0, then 20% | 40% |
| Specialist Office Visit | 0% after deductible | 30% | 20% | 40% |
| Mental Illness Treatment and Substance Abuse Rehab Office Visit | 0% after deductible | $0 | $0 | 40% |
| Emergency Room | 0% after deductible | 30% | $950 per occurrence copay, then 20% | 40% |
| Urgent Care | 0% after deductible | $40 | 100% after deductible | $20 |
| Inpatient Hospital Service | 0% after deductible | 30% | $750 per occurrence copay, then 20% | 40% |
| Outpatient Surgery | 0% after deductible | 50% | $400 per occurrence copay, then 40% | 50% |
| Outpatient X-Rays and Diagnostic Imaging | 0% after deductible | 50% | $80 per occurrence copay, then 40% | 50% |
| Outpatient Imaging (CT/PET Scans/MRIs) | 0% after deductible | 50% | $600 per occurrence copay, then 40% | 50% |
| HSA Eligible | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Outpatient Prescription Drugs — Preferred Pharmacy | 0% after deductible | 20%/20%/30%/40%/50% | $15/30%/40%/45%/50% | 30%/30%/40%/50%/50% |
| Outpatient Prescription Drugs — Non-Preferred Pharmacy | 0% after deductible | 25%/25%/40%/50%/50% | $20/35%/50%/50%/50% | 35%/35%/50%/50%/50% |
| Network | Blue Advantage HMO | |||
Who Should Pick a Bronze Plan?
- Pick Bronze if you visit the doctor rarely, want low premium health insurance in Iowa, and can absorb the deductible in a bad year, treating the health insurance plan as catastrophic protection, ideally funded through an HSA.
- Step up to Silver if you take prescriptions monthly or see a specialist regularly; the math on our Wellmark coverage guide shows the break-even.
- Check subsidies first: with a tax credit applied, a Silver plan sometimes has a lower total cost than Bronze. We run both quotes side by side.
Popular Hospital Network Guide
BCBSIA Dental Plans
Add dental and vision for the whole family: $50 deductible per individual ($150 family maximum), waived for preventive services, with a $1,000 orthodontia benefit for children under 19 and a 31-day enrollment window after your health plan starts. Brochure and application links below.
Some highlights of Dental Indemnity USA coverage:
- Coverage can be used to provide dental benefits to an individual, spouse, children or any combination of dependents.
- A $50 deductible, based on fee schedule allowances, applies for dental procedures or services received by a covered individual during each benefit year.
- Maximum deductible amount of $150 for family coverage.
- Deductibles do not apply to oral exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants and X-rays.
- $1,000 orthodontia benefit for children under 19 years old.
You must enroll in a BCBSIA health plan in order to enroll in the dental plan (you have up to 31 days from the effective date of your policy to enroll).
Apply Online Now
Shopping and enrolling takes minutes: Start Online Application, grab the paper application PDF, or call (855) 847-7020.