How to Cancel Anthem Blue Cross Insurance in 2026

Updated February 2026 • 8 min read

Anthem Blue Cross (now part of Elevance Health) is one of the largest Blue Cross Blue Shield companies, operating in 14 states. If you have Anthem and want to cancel, the process depends on your plan type and state. This guide covers every scenario.

Anthem States and Contact Numbers

Anthem operates as a BCBS licensee in these states:

• California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin

• General member services: 1-800-331-1476
• California: 1-800-333-0912
• Medicare: 1-855-313-4397
• Sydney Health app: Manage plans online (limited cancellation options)

Canceling by Plan Type

Employer-Sponsored Anthem Plans

If your employer provides your Anthem coverage, contact your HR department. Anthem cannot cancel employer group plans directly. You can typically only change coverage during open enrollment (usually November-December) or after a qualifying life event. If you are leaving the company, ask HR about your coverage end date and COBRA options.

ACA Marketplace Plans

1. Log into healthcare.gov or your state exchange (Covered California, Access Health CT, etc.)
2. Navigate to your current plan
3. Select "End Coverage" or "Report a Life Change"
4. Choose your end date
5. Confirm cancellation

California note: If you are on Covered California, cancel through coveredca.com — not healthcare.gov.

Individual Plans (Direct Purchase)

1. Call 1-800-331-1476 (or 1-800-333-0912 in California)
2. Verify your identity with member ID and date of birth
3. Request cancellation and specify your desired end date
4. Get a confirmation number
5. Request written confirmation via email

Anthem Medicare Advantage

Anthem is a major Medicare Advantage provider. Disenrollment windows are the same as all Medicare plans: Annual Enrollment (Oct 15-Dec 7), MA Open Enrollment (Jan 1-Mar 31), or Special Enrollment for qualifying events. Call 1-855-313-4397 or 1-800-MEDICARE to disenroll.

The Elevance Health Rebrand

Anthem rebranded its parent company to Elevance Health in 2022, but the insurance products still operate under the Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield names. Your plan documents, member portal, and customer service lines are the same. The rebrand was corporate-level only and does not affect your cancellation process.

What Anthem Costs

Average Anthem premiums: $350-550/month for individual plans, varying significantly by state and tier. Common reasons people cancel:

• Rate increases (Anthem raised premiums 8-14% across markets for 2026)
• Network narrowing — doctor or hospital left the Anthem network
• Prior authorization denials
• Moving to a state where Anthem does not operate
• Found a cheaper plan on the marketplace
• New employer with different insurance

The Bottom Line

Canceling Anthem follows the same pattern as any health insurer — know your plan type, use the right channel (HR, marketplace, or direct call), and never go without coverage. The one Anthem-specific thing to remember: it operates differently in each of its 14 states, so use the number on YOUR card for the fastest service.