| There can be few in the United States who do | | | | So just what is the answer to this problem? |
| not know the name of America's oldest health | | | | |
| insurance provider. But, despite its age and | | | | Well, in the long run of course the only |
| the fact that it provides cover for some | | | | thing that will really make a difference is |
| one-third of all Americans, just how good is | | | | to move to a system of single payer health |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance? | | | | care. In those countries where everybody pays |
| | | | into a central health system through their |
| Many people who use Blue Cross Blue Shield | | | | taxes everyone, regardless of whether they |
| appear to have mixed feelings about it. On | | | | have money or not, has their health needs met |
| the one hand, Blue Cross Blue Shield health | | | | and gone are the days when we saw families |
| insurance provides a relatively cheap | | | | suffering simply because of an inability to |
| alternative to a large number of other health | | | | meet their doctor's bill. |
| care plans but, on the other hand, it also | | | | |
| seems that this is very much a case of 'you | | | | Until the day comes when we have a single |
| get what you pay for'. | | | | payer healthcare system a significant number |
| | | | of Americans will live as they do now in fear |
| Certainly the cost for Blue Cross Blue Shield | | | | of getting sick, knowing that, if this were |
| health insurance is comparatively low, but | | | | to happen, it could put a strain on their |
| the price that you pay for this is often seen | | | | resources which might well land them in such |
| in the fact that it takes for ever to get the | | | | debt that they will simply never recover. |
| care you need. It can often take several | | | | |
| weeks simply to get an appointment and, once | | | | Enough of the daydreaming though because the |
| you do get to see a doctor, it can then take | | | | fact of the matter is that universal |
| several more weeks, if not months, to get the | | | | healthcare is a long way off if it comes at |
| referral to a specialist if this proves to be | | | | all and, for the time being, we are stuck |
| necessary. | | | | with what we have which for many means Blue |
| | | | Cross Blue Shield. |
| The real problem of course is that this does | | | | |
| not simply apply to Blue Cross Blue Shield | | | | Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance may |
| and there are a significant number of other | | | | not be the best in the world but perhaps, |
| providers out there who are just as bad. | | | | alongside the other providers available, they |
| | | | are not a bad alternative for the price. At |
| Whether you are looking at HMOs, PPOs, or any | | | | the end of the day Blue Cross Blue Shield has |
| other sort of healthcare provider, many have | | | | been around longer than any other insurer and |
| their problems and, invariably, the root of | | | | provides health insurance for a greater |
| the problem is simply the age old question of | | | | proportion of the population than anyone |
| money. Just like any other type of business, | | | | else, so they must be doing something right. |
| health insurance companies seek to maximize | | | | |
| their profits while providing the minimum | | | | This is of course only one personal view and |
| level of care which their customers will | | | | your own experience may be quite different. |
| accept. In the case of Blue Cross Blue Shield | | | | |
| health insurance you at least have an | | | | Visit to learn more about Blue Cross Blue |
| advantage over those people who have to pay | | | | Shield health insurance and finding |
| more, but this is small comfort. | | | | affordable health insurance cover. |
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