
Highmark Reviews
About Highmark
This profile has not been claimed by the company. See reviews below to learn more or submit your own review.
- Friendly customer service
- Comprehensive coverage options
- Affordable premiums
- High out-of-pocket costs
- Poor communication from reps
- Frequent claim denials
Highmark Reviews
Filter by Rating
- (7)
- (6)
- (6)
- (1)
- (52)
Popular Mentions
- 4,609,564 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
- We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
- We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
- Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
Recent
- Recent
- Oldest
- Most helpful
A link has directed you to this review. Its location on this page may change next time you visit.
- 4,609,564 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
- We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
- We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
- Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
Reviewed Sept. 30, 2024
Their website searches are inconsistent with customer service reps in finding in-network doctors, dentists, etc. Their website will offer contact information in your searches only to find out they aren't accepting new patients. The website will give you results, you see the doctor, then come to find out by a customer service rep they aren't in network???
Reviewed Aug. 5, 2024
If I could give -5 stars, I would. I would be better off not having ANY insurance than having this insurance, and I'm not being dramatic or kidding. The "customer service" is horrible, the use of Accredo Speciality Pharmacy is criminal, and the blatant money-saving measures that HighMark has put into place is disgusting. I wonder how many Highmark "customers" have died waiting for their meds to be covered, pre-authorized, denied, refused, lost, etc. I'm so happy that the CEO got a raise this year, because I'm sure he needed that new yacht more than I needed my life-sustaining medication refill which was denied. There is a special place in hell for this company.
Reviewed Aug. 2, 2024
Highmark is the WORST insurance that I have ever had. They don't cover anything at all. I pay $500 a month just to pay another 5k before they will consider covering a single claim. I've never heard of such thing. If you're looking for a good insurance I had United Healthcare for 5 years and they were excellent. They covered most everything and were wonderful to communicate with. For reference I had a baby in 2023 with United and paid $930. I have what my employer & highmark said was the same coverage as I did with United and now I'm paying $4,698 to have a baby in 2024. Highmark is legally robbing its customers. I'm sure this company alone is the reasons thousands of Americans die home alone because they can't afford medical care EVEN WITH INSURANCE.
Reviewed Aug. 1, 2024
Depending on your prescriptions they have to be mailed to you. Then when you need a refill every month have to call and talk to 4 or 5 different people. Then hopefully you get your meds if some crackhead doesn't get them first. Life saving meds thru the mail is retarded. Hope I don't die before I get them. Worse insurance company I have ever had the worst luck of having.
Reviewed July 10, 2024
Upcharging $50 for the power charger for hearing aids. Like getting the hearing aids without the charger Is an option. Kind of piggy being at the CEO keeps bumping up their pay raise is $10 million and that was of 2022.
Reviewed June 25, 2024
STAY WAY FROM HIGHMARK, PERIOD!!! AT ALL COSTS.
1- I chose top of the line coverage. For FEBRUARY Highmark changed my plan for the year to a more expensive lesser quality plan with double the OOP, a higher copay, and higher premium. And now is refusing to allow/pay for services under my plan as outlined in the summary of coverages and benefits PPO GOLD 0.
2- I injured my knee May 30, 24. After waiting well over a week to get in to a doctor's office. Dr said I needed an MRI then the see a Surgeon. Highmark refused to authorize an MRI stating the DR’s office did not state I was “injured, cannot walk or bend knee, or that I was in severe pain”. Of course Dr’s office said they did, so after 2 more weeks and a “dr to pier review” received authorization for MRI. My plan in-network copay for MRI $350. 1st phone call to HIGHMARK for a MRI facility was 2hrs. She said $600 MRI ded under the Gold 1500 plan. (Which I do not have after checking plan coverage outline).
2nd phone call to HIGHMARK 1hr 30 min WITH MY SELLING AGENCY on the line, Highmark verified I do have a $350 In-network ded for IMAGING (CT, PET, MRI’s) and emailed me a list of In-network radiology facilities to call. Finally made MRI appointment that was not 3 weeks away. HIGHMARK listed under the new authorization a $600 deductible. Appointment was then cancelled by facility. 3rd phone call to HIGHMARK was 2hr 57min and HIGHMARK rep refused to give me a facility for an MRI under my $350 ded in network plan. They played scam games by putting me on hold, then CHEL of HIGHMARK gave me Cardionet LLC for an MRI (which is a Biotel Heart Monitor facility not an IMAGING facility) then after confronting her with that, she gave me Quest Diagnostics (which again is a laboratory facility not an IMAGING facility). And Chell said she was a supervisor.
I then asked for her supervisor after her games and several hours, she sent me to a Supervisor Analyst of the Executive office and she said I would get a return call and I am still waiting for that call. Meanwhile I am in extreme pain, cannot walk or bend my knee since May 30th. How can a doctor and SPECIFICALLY AN INSURANCE COMPANY GET AWAY WITH LEAVING A PERSON IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN DELAYING TREATMENT for a month. This is INSURANCE FRAUD!! FYI they are still cashing my premiums monthly.
Reviewed June 10, 2024
I would have given it a 0, if there was an option. My daughter had been trying to get her claims paid for a whole year. They have been denied because they think there is another primary insurance. We have proved to them there is any other insurance, many many times and they still refuse to address it. Now the debt collector is after us. The amount of time we have spent on phone calls and the stress is crazy!
Reviewed May 9, 2024
If you ever need a prior authorization for an emergency medication that your doctor prescribes, prepare for it to be denied. Not sure why I pay an arm and a leg every month for insurance when someone sitting behind at a desk more than likely with no medical knowledge, can just deny a medication that my child’s doctor says she needs based on a few key words and certain requirements. Ridiculous.
Reviewed April 23, 2024
Have wasted more of my time than I would like to admit with trying to receive reimbursement for covered expenses from this company. I am starting to think they deny claims that are legit for bogus reasons to see if they can get out of, or delay, paying claims. When I have called to question the reason the claim was denied, I have had the customer service representative, after looking over the claim, tell me that they don’t know why the claim was denied. (This has happened to me more than once for two different claims.)
Since, I am a stubborn person, I keep calling and I have eventually received a reimbursement check MANY months later. (This has happened twice). Unfortunately, I am working on my third claim that hasn’t been reimbursed even 4 months later. A Highmark representative has told me that it usually takes 30-45 days for claim reimbursement. There should be a law that the insurance company must pays interest (maybe after 45 days) on the money they withhold from their client.
Reviewed April 16, 2024
Classic case of an insurance company who never sees you but tells you what your doctor prescribes is just not needed even though they are a specialist that you were referred to due to severe symptoms that the regular primary care could not solve. Rx denied so I had to pay out of pocket but at least the Rx solved the problem. Highmark is all about paying as little as possible and their consistent 1-star rating reflects this.
Reviewed April 6, 2024
I enrolled in a premium plan which costs a substantial amount annually (more than $33,000 a year - both my share and and my employer's) for a family coverage. Despite the high cost, the plan often complicates covering even small prescriptions, like a $40 medication. If you pay out-of-pocket and file for reimbursement, the process is exceedingly inefficient and cumbersome, seemingly designed to dissuade people from pursuing small reimbursements, considering the extensive time investment needed for multiple mailings and follow-ups. It appears that no action is taken on claims for months unless you repeatedly contact them to prompt a response.
Reviewed March 27, 2024
After having CIGNA for years my company switched to Highmark. One week after my routine yearly physical and bloodwork I received a bill for $800 because Highmark only covered half of the blood work tests done. This was very upsetting since it was just a yearly physical, I called member services but they said there’s nothing they can do. Highmark only covers a handful of the bloodwork tests. This makes me not want to have any physicals in the future. Sad.
Reviewed Dec. 13, 2023
They need to make their app easier to use. It is very poorly done. Every time I try to select a doctor it sends me to another site that doesn't load. It is very confusing and discouraging. I wish it ran like Kaiser's patient portal.
Reviewed Aug. 12, 2023
Have had work covered health insurance for 50 years and most of that time have had no issues (MVP). I'm retired and my former employer canceled our previous insurance and offered this mess stating it was comparable to our MVP. Well I had to contribute to my premium for my last 10 months before going on medicare. To say the least it was my worst experience with insurance in my working career. My first appointment involved bloodwork with a scheduled office visit. Well I get a bill on my portal saying I owed $585 out of pocket wth? Never in my life has this happened.
Called customer service and I kid you not was on hold for 2 freaking hrs. and when I did get to talk they said this couldn't be handled by that rep. Had to call the broker who actually sold the insurance to the municipality I had worked for. She did get it resolved but I ran into the same problems with 2 following Dr. visits. Worst experience I have ever had in my career with insurance, actually I would rate it 0 instead of 1 star. I knew there was trouble with it when you are put on hold for 2 hrs. That's telling me numerous customers were having trouble actually made me nauseous and then to get denied action after 2 hrs. Of listening to repetitive on hold music that will test anybody's fortitude! Avoid this insurance or you'll probably end up on blood pressure meds.

Reviewed July 2, 2023
Absolutely horrible since they took over. Since when are you only seen for a minor checkup for your annual visit and you are not allowed to discuss any health concerns with your doctor without being penalized with a fee for talking? I was unaware of this change last year and had to pay $72 for a three-minute conversation on a minor health issue. If you have health concerns you have to make an office visit appointment and discuss those concerns with a physician’s assistant, not the doctor you just had your exam with. I am furious I am not being told vital health information verbally, but put down on your print out you are given checking out. I was not told VERBALLY about two serious health issues. MY DOCTOR NEVER TOLD ME BECAUSE HE ISN’T ALLOWED TO SAY ANYTHING. THIS IS TOTAL PATIENT NEGLECT.
Consider your annual check-up like your car’s inspection. If anything is wrong, you are charged extra just like an oil change for your car. Also, they changed the coverage for seniors. Regular coverage 10 chiropractic, 10 physical therapy, and 10 massage appointments with co-pay. Now SENIORS have to pay out of pocket for massage treatments (I am not talking spa-like massages) till you meet the $200 total, then you are reimbursed. Really, isn’t this discrimination? I am going to explore other options before I have to decide to continue this health coverage by September. Do yourself a favor and check other options than HighMark, I do not give them any "high marks" at all.
Updated: I am amending my review of Highmark BCBS of WNY. They are not horrible; it is what it is with the state of healthcare. I wrote a letter to an official at Highmark corporate headquarters and they responded by calling me and going over my concerns. They indicated the change to the annual visit was through CMS. The woman was very kind and professional and gave advice on my concerns regarding my primary physician.
Recently, I spoke to customer service representatives twice and I say they are excellent. The first call was about a dispute with a bill, which turned out to be a duplicate charge by a medical office. The second call was to go over the billing summary for the annual visit. I was confused by all the codes and billing when it was nothing more than just a basic annual visit. The representative was excellent and I left a message for her boss to know how I appreciated her assistance andthat she deserved a bonus. She was just as baffled as I was over these charges, which reinforces for me to find a new primary care physician.
In closing, I can say the customer service is excellent. You should contact your insurance company regarding the difference between annual and office visits. Also, contact them about changes to different testing to see if it is still covered or at a higher cost. I now give better "high marks" for High Mark and appreciated their calling me to explain the changes.
Reviewed June 28, 2023
Highmark's messaging portal for claims is very unhelpful and they routinely go far past their own and State mandated turnaround times. The call center is equally unhelpful - staff are not trained and generally cannot problem solve to actually reach a solution. The messages and information a patient submits is not arranged so you constantly have to re-submit documents. Highmark has repeatedly started claim processes over again, and come to the same conclusion they need more information but won't specify what information they need, and the customer service representatives can't articulate what is needed. Can seem like a bit of a scam at times.
Reviewed Jan. 19, 2023
I pay for my insurance out of pocket. I was with BCBS WNY for three years and everything was great. Last year Highmark took over. Premiums increased, deductibles were increased, coverages eliminated and customer service is virtually nonexistent. Their accounting department has lost my payment twice (this is an EFT from my checking acct). I had to call to straighten it out. Was on hold for over 3 hours the first time and 1 1/2 hours the second time. Do not get insurance from this company. You will end up being disappointed and frustrated!
Reviewed Nov. 3, 2022
No no, like ACTUALLY the worst insurance possible. Let me give you a general run down:
- $15 PER appointment (Doctor)
- $25 PER appointment (Therapist)
- $75 per script of basic medications
- $150+ for LIFE SAVING medications, MINIMUM
- $250 to literally SET FOOT in a hospital waiting room (Family Practice or otherwise)
- $500+ for this random thing that never happened
Highmark takes full advantage of you if you're living just above the poverty line. Like absolute FULL advantage. The amount of random charges I have for things that never happened is disgusting, let alone the fact that they will tell you something is covered, but it actually isn't. My appointments with my therapist are supposed to be $15 even, but they charge me anywhere from $25 - $70 per session. I went to the hospital a few months ago for some serious issues with my stomach, needed some testing done. Per my member pamphlet AND Highmark CS themselves, my testing was to be covered. Well, it wasn't, and I got smacked with a $500 charge.
I literally have to cancel every single appointment I make and have cut myself off from 4 different medications because they want me to pay anywhere from $75 - $200 for EACH 30 day script. They take full advantage of you, and then send you a bunch of spam about how ''great'' they are. Never again will I deal with Highmark.
Reviewed Oct. 3, 2022
This is the best insurance plan my company offers. Until this plan year I had not had any issues that were not easily resolved. My problems started in July of 2021 when my chiropractor closed his office and joined a group practice. Highmark started sending flexible spending account checks to a chiropractor in my home town that I had never been to. I was given details about how to get the new office to send in the W-9. Highmark sent checks directly to me for my copay amounts in that plan year until the W-9 issue could be resolved. The office sent the W-9 in May of 2022.
Fast forward to July of 2022, new plan year. The W-9 was never updated with the Health Savings Account department or the Flexible Spending Account department. I was informed in May that checks could not legally go directly to me for HSA money. Checks were still being sent to the chiropractor that I had never seen and I can no longer get this checks at all from Highmark. Direct to patient checks is no longer an option with the new plan year. I have now discovered that none of the HSA checks or FSA checks have been sent to multiple doctor's offices. I am paying into this insurance that is suppose to cover the first $3650 toward any deductibles or medical expenses the only expenses that I have not had to pay out of pocket are those that I am able to put on the debit card, eye doctor and pharmacy expenses.
Reviewed Oct. 3, 2022
Highmark denied payment for a 1-day inpatient hospital stay via correspondence. I followed the instructions in the letter to file an appeal via phone by calling the Member Services number. I spoke to no less than (5) Member Service Reps (MSRs). They just kept transferring me over and over. One rep I couldn't understand, as he had his microphone turned down. Offshore MSRs give customers fake names, as well. The final rep transferred me to a number in Erie, from which I was disconnected, as it does not accept calls. Two hours, and I was never able to start an appeal. Highmark customer no more.
Reviewed July 29, 2022
My husband has had the same insurance for over 20 plus years never could get him to go to the doctor. Finally he has to see a urologist a few months ago and urologist said you need to get a primary care physician so after 25 years finally gets a doctor goes to see him and Highmark Blue Cross denied claim because of wrong codes being used. I don't understand medical coding but how is it we are supposed to fix everyone not doing their jobs correct. So now after not using my insurance for 20 plus years my husband's first doctor appointment has been denied and we have to pay 200 dollars for it.
Reviewed May 27, 2022
I have been waiting on approval for an MRI for over a week (last Friday). Now going into the holiday weekend (it's Friday before Memorial Day now) I still have nothing. The best anyone can tell me is it is pending a medical director's review. I am walking around on a possible fully torn ACL!!! This is absolutely unacceptable! I have called every single day since Tuesday, sometimes even twice a day! So now I won't get the approval until the earliest Tuesday of next week and then I still have to get on the schedule to have the MRI! WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THIS! For what I pay for this insurance, I shouldn't need to wait on someone else's opinion. My MEDICAL DOCTOR'S OPINION IS THE ONLY ONE THAT SHOULD MATTER!
Reviewed April 6, 2022
Unfortunately, since Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY has become Highmark BCBS of WNY, the service across the board has become downright awful. They've cut a ton of medications from their dispensary, shifted a number of them to tiers 2 and 3 (higher copays), removed the cap on total out-of-pocket expenses, fail to cover basic bloodwork panels claiming they are out of network (I got them done locally at Quest Diagnostics), cut all out of network coverage (even partial coverage) and make it near impossible to reach their customer support. When I did reach their customer support (on my 3rd half-hour phone call) they told me nothing could or would be done about my issue. Run from this health insurance company as quickly as you can.
Reviewed Jan. 27, 2022
The company has changed ID cards and accounts; nothing works. Change was effective 1/1/2021; it is now 1/27, Cannot use wellness card or get scripts that were previously covered. We are being told to pay out of pocket and submit forms and that they are having issues because of the changeover. Have contacted customer service numerous times. Holds are from 45 minutes to an hour or more. When you finally connect to a person, they transfer you to somebody else and the wait time starts all over again. Sent emails, no response. We were not told the company was changing during open enrollment during November and December and that there would be coverage changes with the name change. We would have left the company. We want the service we are paying for.
Reviewed Jan. 22, 2022
We Highmark BCBS in PA & I've only had to call customer service twice, with an average of one call per year. This is due to their well laid out, easy to use webpage & app. Most info I am able to easily find online. Some company web pages are messy and answers hard to find. Highmark has done an outstanding job making the interface easy for anyone. It is well laid out, non confusing and pleasing to look at. I didn't feel overwhelmed with the immense amount of information I was able to find online to fully answer all of my questions.
As a health insurance company, they do their job. I am not left to do their jobs for them. When I have questions and call them, I am not left ending the call with more calls to make. They are great at doing the legwork that's needs done to answer all my questions. Claims are processed quickly and the wide range of in network facilities and doctors makes it very easy to always have many options when choosing your care. The rates we pay for a married couple is so affordable and after we meet our small deductible, everything is covered 100%, including prescriptions.
Reviewed Dec. 30, 2021
Highmark has been awful to work with. There is no communication between representatives. When you call you always reach someone different. I put a call into my care navigator on Dec. 22 and still have no resolution. I am in need of IV home infusion services for a kidney disability and so far they have denied care. No one returns phone calls. We have spoken to at least six different people and all have inaccurate information. Some of their medical coverage may be good but their representatives either do not document or read records. There is no communication. It is extremely frustrating. It has been many days since the original call and no resolution. Continuing to deny care can be life-threatening.
Reviewed Oct. 25, 2021
We paid LESS for our medical bills WITHOUT ANY INSURANCE from the hospitals and doctors' offices running our bills through their assistance programs for people without insurance than we pay now that they send our bills out to Highmark now! Switching insurances asap! No help at all!
Reviewed Aug. 26, 2021
I love it. They're very professional and personable. Everyone is very friendly. They're very easy to get appointments. It's nice because in the same building there is a lab downstairs. They have a place where they can do X-rays and also physical therapy.
Reviewed July 7, 2021
This insurance is terrible, reps are not knowledgeable, they are off shore reps, even the supervisor kept me on the phone for close to an hour giving me the runaround. It took FOUR HOURS to get simple eligibility and benefits.
Reviewed Nov. 21, 2020
Obviously starting with the horrible price I pay monthly which is absurdly high for a family of 3, my deductible is 7500 which is outrageous, all my co-pays and my blood pressure meds pricing are too much. Only thing holding us back from having a second child is the ridiculous out of pocket cost we would have to pay, so thanks a lot for the horrible healthcare I pay for while people who do not work have it made.
Highmark Company Information
- Company Name:
- Highmark
- Website:
- www.highmark.com