opinions on insurance plans please?

I would appreciate any opinions on health insurance. Blue Cross /Blue shield as compared to an HMO plan for example. The positive and negative of each. Thanks!!!

Public Comments

1. I've heard that BCBS is just about the best you can get for the money. An HMO plan is where you have to go to a specific doctor that has contracted with your carrier. The only time an HMO plan MIGHT cover you out of state is if you have a catastrophic loss. With PPO plans you can go in or out of network... of course out of network gives you less benefits. If you have any more q's please email me... also visit my companies website www.eatonassociates.com
2. While BC/BS is a household name, I don't if anybody could say one insurance company is the best. Even within BC/BS their are different policy options, not just one. Really, you are comparing a PPO, POINT OF SERVICE, and HMO. A PPO has a preferred provider network. You are guaranteed discounts, and usually better coverage if you stay in the network, but still have insurance coverage if you don't. An HMO is more like a closed network. You can usually only seek service outside the HMO with permission from the company in an unusual situatio. However HMO plans usually cover more for the money because they are more closely managing your care. A point of service plan doesn't have a network at all. You usually pay the most for this type of plan, but you have total freedom. So PPO plans (and BC/BC has PPO PLANS and other types of plans, but so do Assurant, United Health Care....and so on.....), give you the most choice. I would suggest thinking about what you can afford to pay for monthly premiums, how much you can afford to pay in a deductible in case of an emergency, and what coverage is really important to you. Then you can find the best plan for you.
3. Um, BC/BS HAS an HMO plan, along with a PPO plan, they aren't necessarily two different things!
4. My Blue Cross Blue Shield offers PPO plans as well as HMO's. Hmo's are good for women who want maternity coverage right away, and for people who want pretty complete coverage with no deductibles. However, if you have a $500 copay for the hospital and you have several hospitalizations in a year, you will pay that copay each time. In the midwest HMO's are an expensive way to go, PPO's give you flexibility to go where you want, get in network benefits all over the country and hospitalization over seas. But in California HMO's are popular and cheap. So it depends on what you are looking for and where you live.