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Like other plans, the Advantage PPO allows a member to choose the doctors he wants to use, and the cost is contingent upon whether the physician is in network or out of network. This plan also offers a choice of a $25 or $30 copay. Contrary to what one might believe, the plan with the $25 copay actually has better benefits connected to it. For example, there are no annual physical exams covered under the program with $30 copay, but for a $25 copay you are permitted a $25 copay and 30% negotiated fees for any other covered services that are a part of the examination. For a $25 deductible plan, there is only a $250 annual out of pocket instead of $500 under the $30 deductible.

Choosing the Advantage PPO from Blue Cross of Ca is a personal choice, and one must weight all of the advantages that each deductible program offers in order to decide which one is right for you. Of course, the out of network expenses are much higher, in excess of $3,000, so if you stay in network, you will find yourself not spending as much money, and more than likely not feeling the effects of some of the copays that are a part of this program. One thing to keep in mind is that this PPO does not offer maternity care, so if you plan to have children, you might want to look at one of the other plans that Blue Cross of California has available that includes this benefit.

The Advantage PPO is a basic plan that is designed for those who exercise preventive care and don’t have a tendency to spend time in the hospital since hospital visits on this plan range from 40-50% of negotiated fee, which is not a very great amount if one spends any amount of time confined to the hospital. With hospital rooms exceeding the cost of a Five-star hotel, it can put quite a crimp in your finances if you are not prepared for a lengthy hospital stay.

If you work for a company who has a medical reimbursement plan, you will notice a difference since it will put you into a lower tax bracket. The key is in knowing how much to set aside to cover expenses. For those who do have the advantage of a plan like that, the deductible and the fact that payments are often less than half of the total of the negotiated cost may not be much of a disadvantage. Looking at it from that point of view, and the fact that some employers now include payments they make on your health insurance as part of your annual income, it is possibly better to purchase a basic plan such as this one and use a before-tax medical reimbursement account to pay for any expenses that the plan does not cover. By staying with the in-network providers, you will not spend as much in deductibles or out of pocket expenses.

Learn more at: www.baahealth.com