Switched to BCBS from Kaiser— ugh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you use the BCBS website? Weird.

It’s great for BCBS for sure. It gives them leverage with physicians, allowing thenv cut reimbursement more.

Problem is that patients don’t use it.

[Anonymous]

You pick up the phone and call the doctor. You know what is great, if you need a specialist, you also pick up the phone and call. If you do not like that specialist, you get to find another. You are no longer stuck in a closed network with mediocre doctors who have limited referrals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You pick up the phone and call the doctor. You know what is great, if you need a specialist, you also pick up the phone and call. If you do not like that specialist, you get to find another. You are no longer stuck in a closed network with mediocre doctors who have limited referrals.

Personally I think many Kaiser primary care doctors are really good. The problem is the limited referrals. It's fine if you are perfectly healthy. Convenient even. But if you have some non life threatening health issue that impacts your quality of life or your kid's, good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not in DMV, but yes, I call. I do not use BCBS to book appointments whatsoever. I find doctors on the web and use the BCBS website to confirm they are in network (although the BCBS reps say the website is useless and you should also call their hotline to confirm because what they see is different than what's on the website... that's a whole other rant).


This is exactly what I do.
Then I call and book the doctors. My doctors are all affiliated with the local hospital in my region so all use the same portal, but that has nothing to do with BCBS. They used the same portal when I had different insurance.

If I were you, the first thing I would do is check whether the doctors you already see take BCBS.