This may be an overly specific/ overly optimistic question to ask a bunch of people from all over the place. I just got a new job. It's the first job I've ever had where I get health insurance coverage. I have no idea how to choose. I previously was on my parent's plans. It was HMO coverage, and when I wanted mental health care I was told I could only see people employed by the HMO, at their designated offices, and the only designated office within reach was a 40 minute drive from my house. Even though I preferred the fetal position to going anywhere, I got myself up and out and went. But the care was horrible, and the person wasn't even a psychologist or therapist, but a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who was practically my age (I am young, and apparently ageist). She was dismissive, and made painful assumptions. Also, there were classes available, which I took, which were reiterations of facts I had already encountered on the internet. I gave it a good try. This wasn't the type of care I was interested in. What happened to the ... empathetic talk therapy I've heard so much about?
I understand others may be more knowledgeable about this stuff than I am, having gone through the process of trial and error themselves. Any recommendations? Is this even a sensible question to ask, or should people I ask actually be in my region?
I guess the question works in general, too.
What's better, in your opinion? An HMO, choiceless but easy? Or PPO, freedom but more work and more possible out of pocket costs?
The specifics I have to choose between are Kaiser HMO (which I previously disliked), and different Anthem Blue Cross/ Blue Shield PPO plans, and something called Lumenos.
Hopefully this discussion could be helpful to people besides myself. If not, forget it and I'll be googling (which I am doing anyway).
Thanks ahead of time.
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