California Palm Springs Primary Care & Insurance Recommendation

[BKKKevin]

I will most likely be returning to the US in the fall from Thailand. I have decided that I will live in Palm Springs... I am eligible and will apply for ACA insurance and am Gay... I am hoping someone here also lives in Palm Springs or California and can advise me on a couple issues?...

Who would be a good primary care physician or clinic for me to go to for regular care as my primary care physician?... I notice there is a Ryan White clinic (Desert AIDS Project) that offers ongoing care clinic which I would think would be a very good environment for me... but I’m not sure from their website if they will take regular patients or just serve the under insured community?

Second is to what ACA carrier and plan One would recommend?... BCBS, HealthNet Kaiser?...  What plan would you recommend?... My thought is to do a low cost plan with a high prescription deductible (~$6,000) and let my Complera Gilead copay card fulfill the deductible within 2-3 months... After that the cost would drop to zero...

Would appreciate anyones thoughts and experiences...

[Expat1]

Hey, I can help with this as my Sister lives in the area.   When I first tested, I flew back to  California to get a second opinion on treatments.

The best hospital gruoup in the area is Eisenhower.

They have a out patient office on the border between Cathedral City and Palm Springs.  Several doctors that have done HIV care in San Francisco and HIV research.   

https://www.eisenhowerhealth.org/patients-visitors/locations-directions/?abcpdqxyz=15743886&action=loc&locRef=20

I saw Alex R Del Rosario, MD; there.    I  can recommend him. 

If  you chose Eisenhower you need to look at their insurance page to see which Cover California Plan is currently ok with them.  Looks like Blue Sheild and Health Net PPOs are their preferred programs.   

Alternatively Kaiser has some clinics and they often have cheaper copays on meds.  Buy you will not be able to use any Eisenhower programs with them.

https://www.eisenhowerhealth.org/EmcOrg/assets/downloads/0012968.1.0-cahealthinsuranceexchange.pdf

The ADAP services are across the street from Desert Aids Project.  They can help with paying for insurance premiums, or getting medicines helping you with cover california.  ETC. 

WIth all the drama from Thai immigration, I have been considering moving back also.  I qualify for Medicare in Jan.   

For Medicare, the best program is Kaiser because Bictarvy is a preffered brand name.  And the copays are much less than the other programs.  (Of course, ADAP assistance could balance the costs out.)   

How old are you BKK?

[BKKKevin]

Thanks Expat1... That clinic sound like exactly what I want... Gay positive environment. Looking a the CA Insurance Marketplace I think HealthNet would be the best... I can get a 0 premium plan with the subsidy - It has a $6,250 deductible but Gliead will give me a $6,000 Complera copay card to cover the lions share of the deductible... I should only be out a few doctors visits & test costs... Luckily I don’t really have any health needs/issues - I’ve been on Complera undetectable/CD4 +1,000 for 5+ years since diagnosed... Just bi-annual visits to get prescription refilled