I will be starting a new job in June and am trying to decide on an insurance carrier. I would obviously like one that covers infertility and PCOS. My choices are Healthnet, Kaiser, Blue Cross, and Pacificare. Does anyone have any recommendations? Any help or info would be great. Thanks!
AVOID KAISER!!!! They will make you pay for almost everything. Had them while living in the bay area. If you can land yourself with a PPO instead of an HMO do it by all means. Sure there is the up front cost of like $20 bucks to see the doctor but it leaves options open for doctors and specialists. Blue Cross generally is very ok when it comes down to testing and specialists- let me get all the tests I needed for PCOS and took good care of my dad when he was fighting cancer. Thats about all I can tell you.
I live in Southern California, and I have Kaiser. I am being treated for my PCOS by a great Endocrinologist. I was referred to her by my Ob/Gyn. I see her every three months. I am not TTC. I only pay $10 co-payment for each visit and RX's. I am very happy with Kaiser.
I am with Keiser at the moment, and have gone through a miscarriage with them, and now PCOS. They are treating my miscarraige, my last pregnancy, the PCOS, as well as the infertility clinic. I've not had ANY problems with them...Perhaps Deborah just had a bad experience with them? Personally, I'd say go with Keiser, but ultimatly, that's up to you. I hope you find a carrier, though, that suits your needs in the best possible way. (I am in Southern California, as well...) So far, I, personally, have only had to pay for two things with Keiser, as well...Not much when you consider I've been in and out of there almost twenty times in the last two months alone.
Don't go with Kaiser. I live in the east bay, and I couldn't do enough to get a different insurance. Some love it though. I have had Health net and Blue Cross, both were good. I found out that the best bet is to call and find out what insurance carries offer by means of infertility. Most will cover diagnostic testing by no medication, IVF etc. Hope this info helps!!
Ok, this is what I'm going to do. We are switching from Pacificare to Blue Cross next month and I'm glad. Pacificare is the worst. My doctor had requested I see an endocrinologist and they denied me because "infertility" was included as a reason (even though I told them I was not trying to conceive). She put in a second request excluding "infertility" and they approved me. I had my first appt. with an endocrinologist last week and she put me on metformin and spiralactone. Anyways, if you are in Los Angeles here's what I recommend and what I will do next month:
Whichever you choose make sure you can see Dr. Azziz and Cedars Sinai. I was reading about him and he is one of the leading PCOS experts in the country and he gives lectures about it. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn't allow me to go to Cedars Sinai but when we switch I'm going to make sure it's included in my group.
MMR - You are a God send! I currently have Kaiser and have been wondering about switching to a new provider so that I can use the PCOS center at Cedars Sinai. Do you happen to know if Dr. Azziz is in the Blue Cross network, that's my only choice besides Kaiser. Also - is he an RE or an O/G? (I prefer women O/G)
CA insurance question 
(I am in Southern California, as well...) So far, I, personally, have only had to pay for two things with Keiser, as well...Not much when you consider I've been in and out of there almost twenty times in the last two months alone. 
