switching insurance

[apn888]

My husband had 2 retina detachment surgeries and 1 cataract surgery (as a result of the retina surgery), all within 5 weeks.  He currently has silicone oil in his eye to hold the retina in place, and it's to be removed in 6 mos. He's being treated by an opthalmologist surgeon at our HMO insurance.  Come this November, we have the option of switching to Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO.  My question is should we stay in our HMO and being treated by the same doctor who knows his history well, or should we switch insurance and thus give ourselves more options of choosing the best doctors for this case?  Thank you for your help.  

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

You should make sure that your retina problem is not excluded as a pre-existing.  If not I would change.  There are many competent retinal doctors.

Dr. O.

[apn888]

I already checked and he doesn't.  He's a member of the HMO plan and this plan doesn't accept non-HMO members.  Do you think it's wise to change doctor in the middle of treatment for the sake of more/better choices insurance?

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

Ask your doctor if he accepts your new PPO plan.

Dr. O.