I'm glad you found a way around this mess hollyk24, congrats! And yes, having lived in the DC area my whole life, my brother who works for the fed and his family are well taken care of by their BC/BS ppo. Me, on the other hand, who works in the private sector lost my coverage because the company went chapter 7. All alternatives where too expensive, twice my mortgage amount per month. The new company I work for has no benefits. The system we have in this country is pathetic and looks and feels criminal. Who needs this kind of stress when they fall ill.