Patients give their HMO insurance plans good, even excellent scores, for overall care. But when it comes to access, grades plummet, according to a statewide report card. Of 10 HMOs graded in a report released Wednesday by the California Office of the Patient Advocate, seven received grades of “poor” from patients for the ability to get care easily. Blue Shield of California, Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Western Health Advantage were the only plans graded “fair” for access.
