California E&S Insurance

Blue Shield Insurance is hoodwinking Bay Area businesses and residents by pretending to have an entire network of clinicians that they don't actually have. Been dealing with a rough patch and trying to find a therapist in the Bay Area. I turned to my health insurance, as one should, to find a provider in my network. After phonecall after phonecall after phonecall it became clear to me rather quickly that Blue Shield CA's provider network is a fiction. And not just a little fiction, but a total fiction. Addresses are old, therapists are no longer practicing, or accepting new patients. Or are even part of the network. In one case I was told all of the providers listed with a particular group were not in the Blue Shield network. (About six people). I thought I was having bad luck until I read about [ghost networks](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/02/19/mental-health-ghost-network/). It appears Blue Shield CA doesn't offer a network of practitioners, but nonetheless claim that they do by neglecting or padding their list. I'm considering contacting the CA Attorney General's office about this. Anyway fair warning for anybody looking for a head shrinker. If you get insurance through your work, go to HR and see if you can switch to a different provider if you need therapy and have Blue Shield CA. \-- Edit: It's become very clear to me this is a huge problem for many people and the state has levied some penalties in the past. The correct agency is the DMHC and [they have a complaint form](https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/FileaComplaint.aspx). Unless there is an immediate threat to your health, you need to first however [file a grievance with your provider](https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/File-a-Complaint/Contact-Your-Health-Plan.aspx). I am taking this step right now. (If there's an immediate threat, contact DMHC) If you have not been able to get access to a provider because BlueShield is playing games with their provider list, go here: [https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/](https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/)

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  "title": "Blue Shield Insurance is hoodwinking Bay Area businesses and residents by pretending to have an entire network of clinicians that they don't actually have.",
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