<p>Calmom, this multistate state insurer label is extremely misleading. Anthem in Ca is a multistate insurer; however, if you elect to go to an Anthem provider in another state, it would be considered out-of-network. I hope this doesn’t fool people into thinking you’re getting coverage that is not there.</p>
<p>Goldenpooch – please provide the copy of the policy provision or legal regulation that supports your opinion.</p>
<p>I can think of three settings where a person would opt for treatment from out-of-state providers, two of which leave plenty of time to get pre-approval from the home insurer.</p>
<p>So my friend finally has a healthcare plan, after many hours of looking. This is apparently the only one she found that was acceptable to her. It only covers medications at 50%, but it allows her to choose from a large network, and choose her own doctor and hospital. Premiums cost 15K (for just her and her daughter), with over 4500K out of pocket.</p>
<p>Expensive, but it sounds like it’s what she needs. And now she has insurance, which she was concerned about even being able to get at all, after her plan was cancelled.</p>
<p>Calmom, are you saying Anthem is retaining full use of the blue card program? Tell me one setting where a person could ELECT treatment out-of-state with Anthem after Jan 1. Don’t give me emergency treatment or if the treatment isn’t available in-network.</p>
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<p>4500K? Do you mean 4,500 or 4,500,000. If it is the later and she is OK with that, then I am not sure she really needs insurance.</p>
<p>I meant 4,500. Yeah, if you can afford 4.5 mil out of pocket, why pay for insurance!</p>
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No, I’m saying the same thing I’ve posted repeatedly. </p>
<p>I’m tired of going around in circles and repeating the same stuff over and over. You can read what I already wrote.</p>
<p>Calmom, so I am assuming you agree with my post # 5064.</p>
<p>Goldenpooch, you can safely assume that I am not reading your posts.</p>
<p>Okay, Calmom, that is your prerogative but it is troubling that Anthem is listed on the Covered California exchange as a multistate plan when they aren’t. Most people would think they could go to providers out-of-state, when in fact you can’t. It is extremely misleading and should be corrected.</p>
<p>Goldenpooch, I am participating on this thread in order to try to help people make sense of a confusing array of procedures, laws and regulations. You obviously are here to pick fights; I’m not interested in this. </p>
<p>I have posted, more than once, an explanation of the term “Multi-State” – and I and others have posted links to official sites with more detailed explanation.</p>
<p>This is a forum that is targeted toward parents of college students. Several parents have posted their concerns about buying insurance via the exchanges for their students who attend schools in other states. My comments both about multistate plans and the procedures for working with an in-state insurance company to ensure coverage of an out-of-state student are meant to provide guidance for them. </p>
<p>Here’s the link again with appropriate information:
[Multi-State</a> Plan Program and the Health Insurance Marketplace](<a href=“http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/multi-state-plan-program/]Multi-State”>Multi-State Plan Program and the Health Insurance Marketplace)</p>
<p>There is one Multi-State provider in California: Anthem Blue Cross. That is easily verifiable at the above link.</p>
<p>I am not trying to pick a fight but I fail to see how Anthem in California is a multi-state provider. If you have a son or daughter attending college in another state, Anthem will not cover that kid. I just don’t get how they can use the label “multi-state provider” when they are clearly not.</p>
<p>They might have a presence in many states but what good is it if they don’t allow you to use the providers?</p>
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<p>I am confused as to whether it’s little-known that with a PPO w/BCBS, 80% of healthcare providers are in-network irrespective of state lines, or whether it’s little known because BCBS is lying to me about that 
I haven’t TRIED it, but all my information points to this being the case.</p>
<p>But Goldenpooch, your INFORMATION IS INCORRECT, pure and simple.
BC Anthem does appear to cover an out of state college student in network if you have a PPO, and MAYBE even if you have an HMO if you get prior authorization, eg. proof of enrolment. This info is publicly available on their website. Here is the salient section:</p>
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<p>Uhm, I see a lot of “mays” in that wording above. And, whenever there are "mays’ in a contract you could find yourself in big trouble. Just saying’. That is not clarity.</p>
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<p>There are more HMO’s, ECO’s and POS’s (unfortunate acronym) on the exchanges. My understanding is that they are more restrictive than PPO’s.</p>
<p>Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in Iowa and S. Dakota has started TV advertising promoting direct purchase of health insurance. </p>
<p>[There’s</a> More Than One Place to Buy Health Insurance - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>I’m not sure this is exactly what the Obamacare folks had in mind when they asked for insurance company help.</p>
<p>Here is a snarky response from an internet dude interesteddad! </p>
<p>"A couple of days ago, I received two letters from my health insurance company.</p>
<p>One welcomed me to its autopay system – which was a touch odd, given that I had been in its autopay system for many years. </p>
<p>The second told me that I was about to have my health insurance cut off, as I hadn’t paid my monthly bill.</p>
<p>Please forgive me, then, if I’m not bathed in admiration for the way health insurance companies do business. There is one, however, that wants me (and you) to believe it’s the apogee of efficiency. "</p>
<p>[Obamacare</a> Web site mocked by, yes, insurance company | Technically Incorrect - CNET News](<a href=“http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57613203-71/obamacare-web-site-mocked-by-yes-insurance-company/]Obamacare”>http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57613203-71/obamacare-web-site-mocked-by-yes-insurance-company/)</p>
<p>I understand that the health insurance companies are being set up to be the bad guys in all of this. However, that raises questions about why taxpayers would be rewarding them with millions in subsidies. It’s just bizarre.</p>
<p>On another note. I just got back from a ritzy little vacation where I noticed a bunch of advertising for concierge care. Maybe, that was always going on but it seems to be stepping up as the ACA continues to be implemented.</p>
<p>“However, that raises questions about why taxpayers would be rewarding them with millions in subsidies. It’s just bizarre.”</p>
<p>Not sure what you mean by this. Do you mean subsidies for people or are there some industry subsidies?</p>
<p>Personally, I think they are doing a disservice to those who might be eligible for subsidies by not mentioning that those qualified won’t receive them if they go to the insurance company directly.</p>
<p>That is false advertising and that does make them “bad guys” in this instance.</p>
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<p>Wellmark opted out of the exchange and decided instead to compete with it. Wellmark insures 86% of the individual market in Iowa so this was their (Iowa’s) way of postponing the ACA for a year. They say they are going to be on the exchange in 2015.</p>