Just switched from Kaiser to Anthem/Blue Cross – WTF! Cannot find a doctor, everything is harder, how to fix?

Hi All,

I recently switched from Kaiser to Anthem/Blue Cross PPO Silver as I felt the care I was getting from Kaiser was not proactive enough (had to harangue my doctors for tests that are required at my age, etc.).

One thing I appreciated about Kaiser was their excellent website, ease of selecting a doctor, and overall efficiency.

Our company's group health insurance agent warned me that, though Anthem would be "better" insurance, that there was some legwork involved at first to find your doctors.

Wow! This is the understatement of the year. I have been calling around to try and find my PCP for months (that is, when I have the time to stop working and start dialing) and have had piss poor results.

The soonest I can get in to see my new PCP is September!

Calling around I would get one grumpy staff member after another.

My agent told me to ensure I ask the doctor's office that they were in-network and part of the "prudent buyer" network to ensure I don't get any extra charges. Asking the people at the doctors' offices these questions seem to annoy them.

Actually, it seemed that everyone I called was annoyed from the moment they answered the call. That is, IF they answered the call.

I also remembered the fun fact that doctor's offices are closed for lunch and do not answer the phone. What other business gets away with being closed for lunch?

I am using Anthem's crappy slow site to try and find doctors near me (map view of doctors takes 5 minutes to load!) When I call the offices half of the time the office says the doctor does not work there but is at another hospital or office. WTF Anthem!

So it is now March. My new insurance started January 1. I have several health concerns. I need to see a cardiologist. I have no PCP (that I've met). The one I've selected I tried to email and it seems I cannot email him (really miss Kaiser now and being able to email my doctor).

Icing on the cake is that I am a small business owner and am paying thousands a month for me and my employees for health insurance. But because of these challenges I am unable to use it. I feel as if I don't even have insurance.

Are there any "concierge services" that can help me here? I am willing to PAY EXTRA for some service to help me just to avoid all this BS. Never imagined it would be this hard. This entire process has been so ridiculously hard I am thinking about going back to Kaiser.

Thanks for any help or advice.

submitted by /u/OtherwiseContent234
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