CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) in Carroll County, Maryland — 2026 plan details
Last updated Jul 18, 2026
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward
Published by Senior Direct Answers · Licensed under Citation License 1.0
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) (H7379-001) is a $0-premium Medicare Advantage PPO from CareFirst, Inc. available in Carroll County, Maryland in 2026, with a 3.5-star overall rating, a $8,300 in-network out-of-pocket maximum, and a $0 annual Part D drug deductible.
Plan facts (CMS CY2026 Landscape file)
| Organization | CareFirst, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Plan name | CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) |
| Contract ID | H7379 |
| Plan ID | 001 |
| Segment ID | 0 |
| Contract year | 2026 |
| Contract category | MA-PD |
| Plan type | PPO |
| SNP | No |
| Monthly consolidated premium | $0.00 |
| Part C premium | $0.00 |
| Part D basic premium | $14.50 |
| Part D total premium | $0.00 |
| Annual Part D deductible | $0.00 |
| Maximum out-of-pocket (in-network) | $8300.00 |
| Overall star rating | 3.5 |
How this plan is structured
- $0 consolidated premium. A $0 or near-$0 consolidated premium does not remove the Part B premium — the standard 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 per month and still applies. See the 2026 Medicare Part B premium.
- PPO plan type. Plan-type rules determine in-network use and referrals. See how Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans differ.
- $8,300 in-network out-of-pocket maximum. The MOOP is the annual cap on what a member pays in-network for covered Part A and Part B services. See how the Medicare Advantage MOOP works.
- Service area = Carroll County. Medicare Advantage plans are sold by service area; moving out of the plan's service area triggers a Special Enrollment Period to switch plans. See how moving changes your Medicare options.
How it compares in Carroll County
The CMS CY2026 Landscape file lists 37 Medicare Advantage plans in Carroll County, Maryland, of which 0 carry a 5.0-star overall rating and 16 have a $0 consolidated monthly premium. Consolidated premiums range from $0.00 to $155.00 per month, and in-network out-of-pocket maximums range from $3750.00 to $9250.00.
For the full county plan directory, see all Medicare plans in Carroll County, Maryland.
How to verify your doctors take this plan
Network participation changes throughout the year; we hold no provider-network data, so verify directly with these three sources before you decide:
- Open the plan's official Medicare.gov page and use its provider-directory link: Medicare.gov Plan Finder — H7379-001.
- Call the plan (CareFirst, Inc.) using the member-services number listed on that plan page and ask whether each doctor, hospital, and pharmacy is in-network for 2026.
- Get free, unbiased help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — see free unbiased Medicare help from SHIP.
What H7379-001 means
CMS assigns every Medicare Advantage and Part D offering a plan identifier made of three parts. In H7379-001, the leading H marks the contract type (H = Medicare Advantage / Part C contract), the four digits 7379 are the contract number issued to the organization, and the three-digit 001 is the plan benefit package under that contract. The segment ID 0 identifies the service-area segment within the plan (0 = the default single segment).
Frequently asked questions
Is CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) an HMO or PPO?
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) is a PPO Medicare Advantage plan.
Does CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) include prescription drug coverage?
Yes — CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) is a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD) and a $0.00 annual Part D drug deductible for 2026.
What is the maximum out-of-pocket cost for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO)?
The 2026 in-network maximum out-of-pocket limit for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) is $8300.00, per the CMS CY2026 Landscape file.
What counties offer CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) (H7379-001)?
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) (H7379-001) is offered in 22 Maryland counties: Allegany County, Anne Arundel County, Calvert County, Caroline County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Charles County, Dorchester County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Harford County, Howard County, Kent County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Queen Anne's County, Somerset County, St. Mary's County, Talbot County, Washington County, Wicomico County, and Worcester County.
Sources
- CMS, Plan Year 2026 Medicare Advantage & Part D Landscape source file (March 2026) — retrieved 2026-07-18. Overall star rating year: 2026.
- Medicare.gov Plan Finder — compare plans and enroll.