Blue Cross of California | California Blue Cross | Blue Cross in California | Blue Cross of California

The cost of health care is on the minds of every family and as health care costs continue to rise, finding the best plan that offers the best benefits compared to the costs of the plan can help save each family money.

Blue Cross of California offers numerous plans to help ease the financial burden of ever-spiraling health care costs with one of the better plans being the PPO Share 1000. This plan offers an annual deduction of $1,000 per member. However, once the deductible is reached by at least two enrolled plan members, the deductible for the entire family is satisfied, regardless of the number of enrolled members.

Annual out-of pockets expense is also a cost to be considered when choosing a health benefit plan, and with the PPO Share 1000, it is limited to $5,000 per person. Again, when two enrolled members of the plan reach the out-of-pocket maximum charges, the out-of-pocket charges for the entire family is considered satisfied. For a family of four, this could be a savings of up to $10,000.

Many health care providers, doctor and hospitals for instance, will negotiate the cost of services saving enrolled members even more money, especially when in-plan providers are used. Blue Cross of California is able to offer reduced costs through negotiation.

The cost of a doctor’s office visit has a copay of just 30 percent of the negotiated fee. For example, the doctor charges $100 for the visit, the copay is $30. However, if the in-network negotiated cost is $50, the 30 percent copay is just $15. The same charges apply to physician prescribed services such as blood work, anesthesia or X-rays. The cost is a copay of 30 percent of the negotiated fee.

Hospital services, whether inpatient of outpatient, is also 30 percent of the negotiated fee. While there is no additional charge for preferred participating center, Ambulatory Surgical Centers or medical emergencies, a $500 admission charged will be assessed for inpatient stays or outpatient surgeries. Maternity care is also charged at 30 percent of the negotiated fee.

Emergency room visits are charged at 30 percent of the negotiated fee and there is also a $100 copay. If the patient is admitted from the emergency room by the physician, the deductible is waived.

The ever-rising cost of prescription drugs can be reduced through the use of a generic equivalent. For Blue Cross formulary drugs, there is a flat $10 copay for generic drugs. Name-brand drugs carry an annual $250 per person deductible, which will be satisfied once two enrolled members meeting the deductible. In addition, there will be a $30 charge of the fee for name brand drugs, even if the prescribing physician writes the prescription as fill as written or no substitutes. Additionally, the enrolled member will be charged the different in the price of the generic equivalent and the name brand drug if a name brand equivalent is available. The cost of self-administered injectable drugs is 30%, with the exception of insulin. The PPO Share Plan 1000 offers one of the lowest deductibles of many plans, as well as a reduced out-of-pocket expense.

Learn more at: www.baahealth.com