Looking for opinions on which provider is best?
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA or Tufts.
New job and a choice between the two and we are torn.
Thanks so much
I work for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts so if you have any questions, feel free to send them my way.
Hi Laura!
We have had the Tufts HMO family plan for many, many years through my husband's employer. The rates have risen drastically each year for the last few years. At the same time that their rates are rising, it seems that their services have been going down. This year alone, I have had to contact them numerous times regarding services that they either have denied or wanted to charge an outrageous copay for. Needless to say, I have been very disappointed in Tufts lately.
Make sure you compare the two very closely. Find out how much the rates have risen for the past 5 years or so, compare services offered, and copays that they charge. For the money you pay out to the insurance companies, especially with 3 small children, it pays for you to do your homework! Good luck!
:-) P.
BCBS. I have been in many doc's offices that say "we no longer accept tufts"
Hi Laura, I have worked in the field of speech and language pathology and the only advice I have is that if your children have any kind of need for these kinds of therapy services Tufts will pay for the evaluation ONLY. BCBS has been very good so far with paying for articulation, language or feeding disorders. Good luck!
Are they both HMOs? Is one an HMO and one a PPO?
In my experience, that difference is way more important than what provider you use.
Otherwise, I'd check both books for the doctors you regularly use, and see if one of your doctors isn't in the book. Also, check for the local hospitals, too.
If you live in a border town, check for providers in neighboring states to see how complete the coverage is, since you may end up using a doctor on the other side of the border.
I've had health plans from every company in Massachusetts, and I've never had any real problems with any of them. Personally, I like Tufts more than Blue Cross because it is a smaller company, but my husband's last doctor was not in the Tufts system so he had to get a new one.
