To: bovik@CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: HMO Recommendations
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 89 12:25:28 EST
Message-ID: <5531.630091528@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU>
From: Michael.Browne@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU

I didn't get many replies to my request for information about HMOs.  Here
is what I did receive.
	--Mike
P.S. - In case you're interested, I decided to stay with BC/BS for a while.

------- Forwarded Messages
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1989 00:48-EST 
From: Kai-Fu.Lee@SPEECH2.CS.CMU.EDU
To: Michael.Browne@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: Re: HMO Recommendations??

You should probably stay with BC/BS.  You should definitely stay away
from HealthAmerica/Maxicare -- I'm currently insured by then, and it
takes about 2 months to see a doctor, except for emergencies.

I'm switching to BC/BS next semester.

Kai-Fu

------- Message 2
Date:  1 Dec 1989 08:43-EST 
From: Hank.Walker@taurus.ece.cmu.edu
To: Michael.Browne@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu
Subject: Re: HMO Recommendations??

I go to HealthAmerica on Bellfield.  A friend is a doctor there, and I
go to him, so I'm not unbiased.  The only bad thing I can say about it
is that you sometimes have to wait a month or two to get an appointment
for a checkup.

------- Message 3
Date: Fri,  1 Dec 89 09:52:21 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert.Sansom@CS.CMU.EDU
To: Michael.Browne@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: Re: HMO Recommendations??

I've been using Keystone.   I don't have any negative comments.

- - Robert


------- Message 4
Date:    Friday, 01 Dec 89 10:55:16 EST
From:    ASTER::GEVINS <GEVINS@ASTER>
Subject: HMO's
To:     michael.browne%k.gp.cs.cmu.edu@cmpsy

I've been a member of Keystone (owned by Blue Cross/Blue Shield),
and I don't like the way they run things.  Almost every time I
go to a doctor or phys therapist (which I have taken advantage of),
they don't pay the bill, or just pay part of it, and I have to go
through some red tape to clear it up.  I haven't been too happy
with the doctors I've seen, but they're all private practice
doctors, and I suppose it's the luck of the draw.  You might like
that aspect of it--you go to their office, and it doesn't seem like
they treat you any differently from the rest of their patients.
I prefer an HMO with all their doctors at one location, even though
the choice of doctors is lessened--then you don't have to worry 
about them paying the bills.

Good luck.
- -Jody

------- Message 5
Date: Fri, 01 Dec 89 15:43:22 EST
From: Tony.Simon@NATASHA.MACH.CS.CMU.EDU
To: Michael.Browne@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: HMO's

I have been using Keystone for the last year. I had to have surgery and
I got a very good surgeon and no hassles with the bills being paid. They
cover all doctor visits and most of your drug charges. I have been very
happy with them and feel it is like the Health Service (used to be) in
Britain,
- --Tony

------- Message 6
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 89 10:00:37 EST
From: Dundee.Navinchandra@ISL1.RI.CMU.EDU
To: michael.browne@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: HMO

Why leave the Bluecross/Blueshield. I am with Keystone. I got sick on
a Friday once and had to wait (with 103 temp) till monday morning to
get an approval from my primary care doctor. WIth an HMO you
cannot walk into any hospital when you don't have an emergency. You
have to break a leg or get a heart attack to get treatment at
at a  hopital without permission from your primary care physician.

I was planning to move to B&B. Is it too expensive (we have to pay 20%).

One could join the other two HMO's who have health care centers. The only
problem is that you cannot get sick out of town. It HAS to be an
emergency for you to get treatment out of town. 

navin

------- End of Forwarded Messages