I had emergnecy surgery last year (a MRSA infection that was racing out of control) with BCBS basic. Evertyhing worked out fine. The only thing I noticed about the insurance/payment aspect of it was that I had to pay something at the time of checking into the hospital, which seemed odd, and then the bills dragged on for months....not necessarily high amounts, just frequent and prolonged.

Anonymous wrote:I am currently having problems with BCBS Federal Standard (see http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/346905.page). I imagine it would be worse with BCBS Federal Basic.

I was a PP on your thread. Well, in theory, the basic plan is still supposed to cover emergency care/surgery. So if it was coded as emergency, I imagine that they would pay their usual rate but the provider would still balance bill (essentially making the same situation you are in). But I have no idea how true they are to covering emergency care, even if out of network.

I'm trying to get more information by starting this thread.

I really would like to hear from people who had emergency surgeries (like appendectomy or something like that). I am worried that the people who give BCBS Basic such good reviews are people who have only used it for things they arranged beforehand.

OP here. I haven't had a problem. I'm considering switching from my current plan to BCBS Basic, but I saw 22:26s post about balance billing. And it got me worried.

From what the booklet says, BCBS Basic is supposed to cover emergency stuff, even if it is out of network. But I'm wondering if anyone has any experience to support that.

OP what type of surgery was this ? Not asking for specifics here just a broad description.

I am currently having problems with BCBS Federal Standard (see http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/346905.page). I imagine it would be worse with BCBS Federal Basic.

Did you have any problem getting them to cover the charges, even if the surgeon or someone else was out of network?

TIA