My wife has the insurance for our family through her job as a high
school teacher. Each year at the start of school they have something
called open enrollment. This is the period we are allowed to choose
which plan we want to use for the upcoming year.
We've always had the Blue Cross PPO since it let us choose our doctors
even though it was more expensive. This year the carrier has raised
prices so much that we may need to look seriously at the HMO plan or
even Kaiser as an alternative.
Does any one have stories to share about their experiences as a PWP
working with a HMO? Do you have a primary care doctor and a
neurologist or does the primary care doctor supervise your treatment?
Secondly, are there any questions we should ask the various plans
representatives to help us make the right decision? Here are some of
the questions we thought of...
Is DBS considered experimental surgery and is it covered?
What is their position on cutting edge treatments and drugs?
Will they cover me since I have a preexisting condition?
Is their an unwritten policy not to refer patients to specialists
until absolutely necessary?
What about in home care? Is any of that covered?
I'd appreciate any help you can spare to create a list of questions to
help me (and others in the same quandary,) sort out this insurance
maze.
Scott
PWP since 1999
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