I've had both Kaiser HMO and Blue Cross PPO for quite a few years (not at the same time) and these are the pros and cons as I see them:

Kaiser HMO:
Pros:
*probably cheapest for similar coverage
*huge organization so you can get appointments on short notice
*dispense antibiotics like candy

Cons:
*Long wait in lobby (i.e. doctor sees you long after scheduled appointment)
*Lobby is usually packed with potentially contagious sick people
*Rarely if ever able to see your assigned doctor
*Can take months before they let you see a specialist
*Can take months or years before they let you try expensive medicines
*May send you to different locations for each appointment
*Often see a "nurse practioner" instead of a doctor
*Rarely see the same doctor twice so they never know your medical history

Blue Cross PPO:
Pros:
*Can have whatever drugs and treatments your doctor recommends providing you can afford it
*huge selection of doctors to choose from
*easy to find a doctor that won't keep you waiting in lobby forever
*easy to find a doctor that you can actually see and build history with
*easy to get referred to a specialist

Cons:
*More expensive insurance, especially if you want low deductibles
*Patient often pays more for services, treatments and medicine

If you are on a tight budget and mostly want insurance so that you get get antibiotics for the occasional bacterial infection or treatment for an unexpected accident, Kaiser seems OK.

If you have any chronic long term conditions and don't want to have to fight tooth and nail to see a specialist or use the latest and most expensive cutting edge drugs, treatments and diagnostic equipment, Blue Cross seems better. Example: If you like an expensive allergy medicine that isn't yet available in generic, you can usually get it without a fuss from Blue Cross, but might not ever get it from Kaiser (at least not without several months or more of fighting and trying things that don't work as well).

The above is entirely based on my experiences using each insurance as a regular patient (I'm not an expert). A lot of plans are available from these companies, so others might have different experiences. Blue Cross has many PPO plans and some HMO plans, and I've only tried a few of their PPO plans. Based on my experience and conversations with others, Blue Cross PPO seems to give you much more control over your medical care if you can afford it.

In your situation, I liked a Blue Cross PPO with a super high deductible as it kept my premiums down. When I used Blue Cross I went to the doctor rarely, so paying $50-$80 for a visit in place of a $15 copay didn't bother me. This is one way to give you more control over your care, avoid the HMO hassle yet still be covered against major emergencies.

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