I do not recommend UPMC. You are locked into their hell.

/Certain/ Highmark plans participate with UPMC. I believe that it is the Community Blue plans that do not participate with UPMC.

Highmark plans are accepted nationwide due to BCBS membership. But pay careful attention to "Enhanced" and "Standard" networks. Standard functions similarly to out-of-network (but is less punishing).

Highmark gets you AHN hospitals, UPMC gets you UPMC hospitals. The settlement means they might still share networks, depending on the plan.

The biggest advantage to some Highmark plans is their portability into other blue cross blue shield providers. It’s not all plans though and maybe full coverage in other regions isn’t a concern for you.

I have had individually purchased plans from both of them going back over a decade. Years ago there was a lot more difference- now their offerings are largely the same due to their direct competition.

Your biggest concern might be maintaining your current doctors and providers. In that case you need to look real close at any plan because both play games with provider networks.

I’d go one of the national plans (Aetna is an example). That way you can go to either UPMC or AHN.

We're on a UPMC plan through the state exchange, Pennie. The ACA was a godsend for us and provides good coverage for a reasonable price until we go on Medicare.

I started a job towards the beginning of the year where my employer doesn't provide a health plan (basically a startup; they're too new and small) but they do reimburse me (fully) for pretty much whatever ACA plan I want.

So, when I went to Pennie, I was more than willing to get a UPMC plan, as I can't remember the last time I even went to a non-UPMC doctor or hospital. But I ended up with a Highmark plan because UPMC didn't offer any without a high deductible. Since my employer was willing to pay the extra that would get me a non-deductible plan, then why shouldn't I get one? So, my only choice for no high deductible was to get one with Highmark.