CareFirst POS vs PPO in DC/VA??

hello! i really need advice before tonight @ midnight EST — i need to enroll in an employer-sponsored plan thru dc healthlink, and this is my first time doing so thru a job (i was an americorps member in the past and they did insurance differently). i have a chronic illness that necessitates frequent provider/specialist visits as well as imaging, and i'd also like to start seeing a therapist regularly again.

i'm stuck between a POS and PPO plan provided by CareFirst — i've reviewed the summary of benefits & coverage side-by-side and the only difference i'm seeing is that for the POS plan, in-network test benefits only apply to labcorps (which is the only lab provider i've ever had anyways).

POS Plan: BlueChoice Advantage Platinum 0 — $302.72 monthly premium
* deductible: $0 (in-network)/ $1,500 (out-of-network)
* out-of-pocket-max, incl prescriptions: $1,900 (IN)/ $3,800 (ON)
* no referrals to see specialists

PPO Plan: BluePreferred PPO Platinum 0 — $378.62 monthly premium
* deductible: $0 (in-network)/ $1,500 (out-of-network)
* out-of-pocket-max, incl prescriptions: $1,900 (IN)/ $3,800 (ON)
* no referrals to see specialists

i'm not too familiar with POS plans, but it seems like a decent deal compared to the PPO. i just worry about potentially losing out on a larger network of providers with the PPO, since i'm either moving to DC or further south in VA in a few months. should i pay the extra $78/month for the flexibility of the PPO? or take the savings with the POS plan and cross my fingers that whatever providers i want are in-network for CareFirst? TIA!!

submitted by /u/slailah08
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