3/19    I have to choose a health plan soon, and I have many choices:
        PPO - Blue Shield
        Point of Service - Aetna
        HMO - Health Net, Kaiser, Pacificare
        And then there's something called a Consumer-Driven Medical plan,
        which gives me $1000 every year (w/ rollover) to spend more or less
        as I see fit.  After I use that, there's an $800 deductible and I get
        regular PPO coverage.  PPO is ~ $180/yr more expensive than the rest.
        Any horror stories / good experiences to share?  This is LA area, and
        I'm young and have no dependents.
        Thanks.
        \- just a kaiser data point: i have no qualms about dealing with
           kaiser in santa clara. however oakland kaiser seems to have a
           high lamer factor ... bottom of the class types possibly, poor
           english speakers etc. so you might check what kind of rep your
           local kaiser has.
        \_ Take the grand, find a crooked doctor that will give you the
           cash...
        \_ I chose Kaiser and here's what I think:
           Pros: You get everything done in the same build.
                 You can walk in without making an appt with your doctor.  (In
                 this case you may get an appt in a few hours or less for a
                 different doctor or nurse practitioner.)
           Cons: It's both the medical provide and the insurance company.  So
           Cons: It's both the medical provider and the insurance company.  So
                 it's very possible that they give you less treatment than you
                 deserve in order to save money.
           To me, the convenience is more important.
        \_  I had Blue Shield PPO, and it worked fine for me.  Point of
            clarification:  Do you need PPO?  Blue Shield HMO has worked
            well for me since I switched (two years ago).
            \_ I'm a little wary of HMOs personally; I'd at least like to
                have the option of switching my primary care physician as
                I see fit (so a POS plan would do).  All of the non-HMO
                plans are administered by my company so I have an
                additional level of appeal if needed.  My primary concern
                is the Con listed above; it seems like a conflict of
                interest.  Then again, I also refuse to open any sort of
                cash account with my credit card company because I don't
                want them debiting that account to pay my bills "for me".
        \_ My opinion: take the PPO if you can afford it.  Take the POS next.
           If you're on HMO and God-forbid *something bad happens* to you then
           you're fucked.  Try to make an appointment with a non-HMO doctor
           as an HMO patient and you'll find they're all busy or not taking new
           patients, etc.  I currently have POS but would've gone PPO if the
           option was available.  HMO is only for poor people or those who
           think they won't get sick or those with such huge medical
           expenses they'd use up all their PPO benefits too fast.
           \_ I respectfully disagree:  If you have the right PCP, an HMO
              is more than sufficient.  Bear in mind, with Blue Shield HMO,
              you can change your PCP at will; this is a very nice feature.
              \_ If you can find a doc still accepting new patients!
              PPO is good if you have an unusual condition and a specialist
              who is not normally covered by your HMO network; remember,
              though, you're going to pay for the privilege.  I have a heart
              condition, but I also have a really good PCP and a Cardiologist
              in the same network, so HMO works like a charm for me.
           \_ I agree.  I run an outpatient surgery center -- and have had
              firsthand experience with health insurances as a provider (as
              well as a member).  Not all PPOs are better than POS, but
              Blue Shield is generally a very good PPO, which pays providers
              fairly well (and motivates doctors, because they do work for
              money).  POS not too great -- although it is loads better than
              HMO.  HMO contracted doctors have to meet a quota of patients
              and get paid very little per case, which affects their quality
              of care.  Kaiser is the worst, although there are exceptions
              here and there.  Kaiser has the conflict of interest of being
              a medical group, a hospital, and an insurance company rolled
              in one.  I know doctors who have worked at kaiser who cannot
              order tests they feel necessary because kaiser tries to keep
              costs down, as an insurance company. In general,
              PPO >> POS >>> HMO >>>>>> Kaiser   --chris