Blue Shield of California Health Plans
Blue Shield of California provides Californians with a number of comprehensive health insurance offerings, such as the Blue Shield Essential Plan. The Essential Plan is available in three tiers – the Essential 4500 plan has the highest deductible of the three, but this means that premiums are kept especially low, at only $77. This plan covers medical, dental and vision needs, and provide free dental exams, cleanings, as well as x-rays.
How do Blue Shield of California Plans Work?
Blue Shield of California has a large network of health service providers throughout the state, and these providers work in partnership with Blue Shield to offer members savings on health services. There are two primary types of Blue Shield plans available – Health Maintenance Organization or HMO plans, which require members to elect a primary physician, and Preferred Provider Organization or PPO plans which provide members with more flexibility in choosing which doctor they use. These plans entail marginally higher insurance premiums than HMO plans.