If the basic elements are the same from both (HMO or PPO or other, deductibles, annual out of pocket maximums, services covered, etc), then the main differences are the size of the network (do the insured's current and other desired doctors and other providers accept this insurance) and the the quality or lack thereof of each insurance company's customer service.

Information on customer experiences can be hard to get - those that express an opinion often are only at the extremes with either great experiences or terrible ones. Here's a survey I found, purporting to have been done independently and by survey, that has some data.

Ratings of Health Insurance

I looked up my own carrier and I scratch my head over the findings. My employer recently changed its PPO administrator from one big company to another one. Judging by the ratings, we went from a pretty good one to a mediocre one. Yet my experience has been the opposite, the new company is MUCH better than the old one. I always take consumer ratings with skepticism, you can make your own decisions about this site.

There's no easy answer to your question. Empire can be great in one State and lousy in another. I learned that the hard way many years ago. They were terrific when I lived and used them in NYC. Not so when I moved to CT. If I were your daughter...I would call the hospital patient services of the hospitals in her general area...and ask those people which insurance carrier they have the least hassles with when it comes to coverage and payments for services rendered. They probably won't make an out'n out recommendation...but they'll often steer a new applicant in the right direction and they'll "discuss" if they have the time. Beyond that...your daughter needs to carefully read what services each carrier offers...and make comparisons between the two. It's been my first hand experience that the best advice regarding these decisions comes from those involved on a first hand level with the carrier. The medicos!

Maybe so, anne, but the people and departments that deal with service providers (docs, hospitals, etc) aren't the same people and departments who deal with the insured individuals.

The billing admin people at hospitals and doctor groups can tell you of their experiences in submitting claims and getting paid - not really useful information for a potential customer to know.

Thanks for the input, Snidely and Anne. I will pass this on to her.