Blue Shield of CaliforniaReviews of blueshieldca.com

I can't express enough how much I hate Blue Shield of California and hope they burn to the ground. Last year, 10/29/2025, I had to make a post-birth newborn appointment. My hospital would not let me leave the lot without booking an appointment to see a pediatrician for an evaluation post-birth. This was set 5 days after my birth. OBVIOUSLY it would take time to add my son to my policy, because you know, Blue Shield is slow with every damn thing. This appointment took place on 11/3/2025. My son's pediatrician's office sent the bill to Blue Shield. My son then had a 1 week appointment follow up on 11/10/2025. They sent the bill to Blue Shield as well. Thought all was well, haven't heard from anyone regarding any issues. Here we are, months later, my sons pediatrician's office now tells us they have been sending the bill to Blue Shield but keep getting denials sent back. Why you ask? No one has a god damn clue. We've provided all the necessary documents to "pRoVE" my sons birth happened, he was added to my policy per my HR rep at my job who was helping me during my very difficult post-partum healing. But no, according to Blue Shield my son was never added. I new something was going to go wrong because not only was this during the government shut down last year, but they initially denied adding my son to my policy at first because the discharge papers my hospital provided did not have my son's name at the top. BUT HAD EVERY OTHER DAMN THING ELSE ON THERE FOR ME AND HIM!!!!! My HR rep forced them to approve it because my son's pediatricians office was not going to see him for his next visit because there was so much back and forth about him being on the policy. I just tried to call them today, was on the phone for 38 damn minutes just to wait for a "claims rep" named Phillip to get on the phone and say they are having technical difficulties and he can't help me, to call back later because he can't even take messages currently. The system is complete bullshit, Blue Shield does NOTHING to make new parents live's even the slightest bit easier. I should not have to JUMP THROUGH 450 HOOPS TO GET MY SON ADDED TO MY INSURANCE POLICY THAT I PAY SO MUCH FOR EVERY SINGLE MONTH. I hate Blue Shield and the employees that keep that shithole still operating. They do nothing to help ANYONE, and i can't wait until the burn to the ground.

horrible service, requires using a stupid app that is worthless, they make everything impossible to find out ahead of time how much they will charge you, so if you use them, expect a lot of surprisingly high bills

I have been on the phone for four hours this morning. It was several hours yesterday and last week and the week before. If I use their website to establish my first PCP, it will say they’re accepting new patients until I use the number listed and find out they are not accepting new patients. I also call time and time again with someone assigning me a PCP that cannot actually see me. Calls keep dropping while I’m put on hold for 40 min at times until the call drops and no one calls back. It is insanity. I would never recommend blue shield of california.

Employer pays a fortune for insurance Had to have an ultrasound, had to pay $100+ up front before the procedure and still got a $300+ bill in the male . Insurance covered $261 This company is a fraud!!!

I call on 1/21/2026 to pay for February 1/2026 payment for $2472.00. Now i received a letter saying I owe for February. I called on hold for 55 minutes and got disconnected again, I call again on hold for 20 minutes and got disconnected again. I call the third time ask for supervisor not available. Can you imagine how frustrated I am. They took my money for February and now they’re saying I owe them again for February. I even have a letter from them saying my health insurance start date February 1/2026. I have to go back to work and go home to my sick dog and now this. Blue Shield of California doesn’t care of their customers. This is so crazy! I try my very best to do the right thing by calling them to fixed this. They should not be in business by treating customers this way. How can they get away with this! Simple not nice and not honest. I would not recommend them to any of my family and friends.

I had an appointment with a dentist booked via Blue Shield of California. After I arrived at the dentist office, they informed me that the provider I had an appointment with no longer works at that office. It turns out, the Blue Shield of California website let me book a dentist appointment with a dentist that doesn't work there anymore. Wasted an hour of time to sort it out.

I am so incredibly disappointed in Blue Shield of CA. They advertise that providers are in network on their own website, then turn around and deny claims. Even my annual wellness exam mandated to be covered by my ACA plan via Blue Shield was denied from their in-network provider. I hope no one reading this review ever signs up for any Blue Shield insurance. What a scam! I'm even paying more for the PPO plan, only to find out it covers FEWER doctors than their HMO within my doctor's local healthcare group. I spent over 8 hours on hold with Blue Shield trying to sort this out because their phone system is so antiquated purposely to ensure poor customer access to file grievances. Criminal...

Blue Shield of California is hands-down the most predatory, soul-crushing, slow-walking denial machine I've ever had the misfortune of paying thousands of dollars to every year.They approved my specialist, then denied the exact same visit after it happened because the doctor's office "didn't submit the correct form"… that they never told anyone existed. When I called to ask what form, three different reps gave me three different form numbers. None of them existed on their website.Their "expedited appeal" process took 47 days—longer than their own advertised 30-day maximum—and ended with a one-sentence denial that basically read: "We decided we don't feel like paying. Regards, the void."I had to pay $3,800 out of pocket for scans that every other Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan in the country covers without question. Their excuse? "Not medically necessary." The neurologist literally wrote "medically necessary to prevent permanent paralysis" on the referral. Apparently Blue Shield of California employs better neurologists than actual neurologists.Every single time you call you're greeted by the exact same lie: "Your call is very important to us." No it isn't. You've been on hold 43 minutes because they intentionally understaff the complaints department while spending premium dollars on stock buybacks and executive bonuses.Their app is a 2012-looking disaster that logs you out every 8 minutes and shows zero claims history past 60 days. When I asked why, the rep said "that's just how it works." Great product design, guys. Really nailing the "we hate our members" aesthetic.I’ve now watched them retroactively cancel coverage on two different medications I’ve been on for 7+ years—both times citing vague “formulary updates” that somehow only apply after I already filled the prescription. Coincidence, I’m sure.Blue Shield of California isn’t insurance. It’s a subscription service for anxiety, surprise bills, and the recurring fantasy of watching their corporate headquarters burn down.If you have any other option—ANY other option—run. And if you’re unfortunately stuck with them like I am: start saving screenshots of every denial, record every call, and get ready to lawyer up. Because they sure as hell aren’t going to approve anything unless you make their life miserable first.Avoid at all costs. 0/10. Would not recommend to my worst enemy.(They’ll probably deny this review exists too.)