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"On another note COBRA is not a good option for a healthy person. Way too expensive. The Blue Cross High Deductible is far better."
Simply not so. COBRA is not a plan. COBRA simply allows an ex-employee to continue their existing coverage at a reduced rate for 18 months. If your previous employer had the exact same policy that you have now, you'd probably be able to keep it as your COBRA coverage for less than $90 per month.
With a deductible that high you have what is more commonly called a "major medical" policy, i.e. something that covers major events and not routine health care. Be very careful with Blue Cross Blue Shield, because they have a longstanding reputation for problems when it comes time to pay claims.
Many years ago I knew someone who was a faculty member at a major university, and as such part of a large BC/BS covered group. He had kidney failure and his first "hospital bill" was just under $99,000 as submitted to BC/BS. They paid about $100 and rejected the rest of the bill on the first go-round. Eventually they paid it all, but like many insurers they seem to have a routine policy--acknowledged by some press interviews with people in the industry--of rejecting valid claims, or claiming they never were received, simply because they can do that and get away with it. They are sadly not alone in doing this, nor has the practice ended.
I spoke to a doctor yesterday who said BC/BS had literally just rejected his claim for a patient. According to BC/BS the patient has two accounts, two policy numbers, so they refuse to pay him anything at all. Now, it should be impossible for the patient to have two BC/BS policies, and even if they do, he's entitled to payment on the policy numbers he gave them. But their answer? They won't pay anything at all, even though they admit the patient is insured with them and the policy is in effect and properly paid.
At least Al Capone was honest about what kind of business he was in: Insurance!
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