From Kaiser to Blue Shield: what's a newbie to know?

curagea — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:44:11 -0800

Going from Kaiser to Blue Shield - what's the transition like? What (not) to expect? I recently got a job whose employer only has Blue Shield medical plans. Since birth, I've been covered by a Kaiser family plan, but since I'm no longer a dependent child, that is set to expire at the end of this month. So really, other than getting my own insurance, which is kinda dumb when the employer plans are pretty generous, I don't have much choice.

In transitioning to Blue Shield, how different is it from Kaiser? I've done a bit of research, even found this question, but I'm still a bit in the dark about Blue Shield. How easy is it to see a specialist like a psychologist or ob/gyn? What frustrations and perks will I get with BS that Kaiser doesn't have? Can I expect the same quality care I have now?

For reference, I never had any problems with Kaiser, except when my dad's employer changed plans to a deductible version, and even that wasn't too much of a big deal for me. Kaiser even has free classes for things like social anxiety and depression, which I really needed at some point. I never got anything serious like a broken bone or illness worth worrying about. Finally, the fact that Kaiser has that all-under-one-roof convenience meant I could see a doctor then pick up my meds right afterwards - a big plus since I don't have a car and could save a trip.

Anyone went through a similar transition? What are your experiences? Should I go for HMO or PPO (if location makes any difference, I live in San Jose suburbs, work in San Francisco, and hope to move to Oakland by the beginning of next year).

Kaiser, Blue Shield, or Cigna HMO in Northern Californai?

names are hard — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:53:26 -0800

In Northern California, which is the best: Blue Shield, Cigna, or Kaiser (All HMO). I just started a new job (San Francisco) and get to choose from these three. I had a blue cross/blue shield PPO on the east coast, but I know they often vary by state. It seems like this question hasn't been answered for a bit, so what has people's experiences be.

Also, they will all cost the same, so that is not an issue.

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From Kaiser to Blue Shield: what's a newbie to know?

Kaiser, Blue Shield, or Cigna HMO in Northern Californai?