Hi MG_Kat 33,

I agree, the situation with the HMO sounds less than ideal. However, if this is the HMO that your new employer offers and you'll be using, it seems worth a try. You never know. The local neurologists in their system could actually be good. My local neurologist has been wonderful, and a great help to me, and she's not on the MGFA registry. Sometimes local doctors can be great.

It's also true that you can be referred out of system for special care, even if you belong to an HMO. It would take a lot of work and effort, but this is true of most HMOs, and probably is true for yours as well. If you want to go to Mayo in Arizona, it may be possible to do that and have it covered, but you may need to see the local neurologists and get their support for the referral.

Another plus in being part of an HMO or PPO is that yes, sometimes you can have a care specialist or navigator assigned to your case if you have a lot to manage medically. I was a part of an HMO in the past, and I had a care specialist assigned to me. She was extremely helpful! I am so glad I said "yes" when that was offered to me. She helped me find better doctors, and she checked in with me about once a month to find out how I was doing. She was really helpful in many ways; she was a nurse who could also answer medical questions, and she was fantastic. If your system offers that service, consider taking advantage of it. It may prove to be very useful.

Take care,
Erin