Blue Shield of California Reviews 62

When I was young. Blue Cross/Blue Shield was the gold standard of insurance. Their name was always invoked every time someone was getting a new job, going to the hospital, or seeing a doctor for any reason. In fact, I didn’t know of any other insurance companies. But years went by and as an adult, I had several different plans and providers always knowing that someday, I would be offered this coveted insurance again. Then, a changing of regime developed the Affordable Care Act (ACA). After 30 plus years, I heard the name, Blue Shield (BS) again sans Blue Cross. But this time they’re part of the ACA. I was excited, doing my part for a system changing the face of healthcare from one based on profit, to a more collectivistic system and having BS back in my life. It could only get better with more participants, right? Wrong! The strength in numbers didn’t make a better system because the system was unprepared. Having joined during the enrollment period, I was stuck with ACA/BS for a year till I could get back to my company’s plan, United Health Care (UHC). What happened to BS? How did the best of the best turn to the worst of the worst? Well, I can best describe it by a pro/con comparison between UHC and BS. Note: UHC is just one example of many better insurance companies. With UHC, all info is easily accessible and explained for the best coverage options. With ACA/BS, info gathering was like a colonoscopy prep. There were no designated people. The phone system directed me to the Web Site. The Web Site was either down or, when working, often directed me back to phone system. However, I had one successful chat session but this was after the enrollment period where I couldn’t change anything till next year’s enrollment. The Web Site never worked again for me to get any further assistance. I’m glad my health held up for a year till I got back to UHC, Western Growers, and other insurance companies offered to me. It’s too bad how any company can lose its way and to such extremes. “It happens to the best of us” and it happened with BS.