Dr.'s in Anchorage... (Seward: lease, work, health)

[undercovermom]

Could someone please let me know what the Dr. situation is like in Anchorage? I am moving from Canada and we have a major Dr. shortage. My husband will have health coverage through work, so will that dictate what Dr. I can use? I'm not familiar with the HMO system in the States, so any comments are appreciated. Also, are there many female Dr.'s in Anchorage - that would be a real bonus for me!

Thanks again.

[BudinAk]

Originally Posted by undercovermom

Could someone please let me know what the Dr. situation is like in Anchorage? I am moving from Canada and we have a major Dr. shortage. My husband will have health coverage through work, so will that dictate what Dr. I can use? I'm not familiar with the HMO system in the States, so any comments are appreciated. Also, are there many female Dr.'s in Anchorage - that would be a real bonus for me!

Thanks again.

There are plenty of doctors, both male and female, in Anchorage. Also, it seems most of the specialists are in Anchorage. We live in Seward, a small town about 100m south of Anchorage, and all we have here are a few general practitioners. Whenever we need to see a specialist, we find one in Anchorage. I think you'll be fine there.

Bud

[insearchof]

Originally Posted by undercovermom

Could someone please let me know what the Dr. situation is like in Anchorage? I am moving from Canada and we have a major Dr. shortage. My husband will have health coverage through work, so will that dictate what Dr. I can use? I'm not familiar with the HMO system in the States, so any comments are appreciated. Also, are there many female Dr.'s in Anchorage - that would be a real bonus for me!

Thanks again.

Luckily, AK does not have an HMO system.
feel free to PM me and I'd be happy to make some suggestions also I realize that this being a public forum you may prefer to ask some one privately

[rotorhead]

Truth be told, you reach the end of the road on medical care pretty quickly even in Anchorage. Anything major or out of the ordinary pretty much guarantees a trip to Seattle or points south.

That said, Alaska market is really too small for the HMOs, so you usually get some variation on a PPO where there aren't many choices. Other than for GPs and primary care docs, pretty much all the specialists are on all the PPO lists and the determining factor is often who can fit you into the schedule first. There are exceptions of course. The PPO lists in most places change so fast they never actually print them, they're all online.