Blue Cross Blue Shield to drop Medicare Advantage plans by year’s end

BERLIN, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont Medicare Advantage recipients won’t be able to access plans through Vermont Blue Advantage starting next year.

It comes after Blue Cross Blue Shield says it lost millions of dollars in the last few years, in part due to an uptick in claims. The insurance company lost more than $62 million last year alone.

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies and cover all the same services under original Medicare, but often include prescription drug coverage and extra benefits.

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The company says those who don’t enroll in a new plan by the end of the year will return to the origin