Wa-a-y Off-topic: Health Plan Questions for NorCal Members
11-15-2010, 02:18 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oakland, California
Posts: 246
I know this is a really weird thing to ask at a quilting blog, but I'm trying to get feedback from as many folks as possible about this....
Dear Northern California Quilting Board Members,
My husband and I are trying to decide our health insurance options for the coming year. We've had HealthNet for several with no issues. Love-love-love our doctors, good hospitals in the area (Oakland), no payment issues or disputes. The problem is that our premium is going up by $121/month next year, which is a lot for us.
We've got two other options: A new "HealthNet Lite" (what I'm calling it), that's identical to regular HN except that the premiums will only be $10 more than what we're paying now. Oh, and that NONE of the hospitals in our area are included -- that's right, NONE of them. The closest ones included in the plan are a good 45 minutes away from us.
Our other option is to move to Kaiser. The benefits are comparable to what we've got now and premiums would be nearly $200 less than what "HN Regular" would be. But it would mean leaving our doctors and forming relationships with new ones.
I've had the advantage at my job of hearing about all the changes and improvements that KP has made in the last 15-20 years and how other health plans are now catching up to it (instead of vice versa).
If you have coverage through Kaiser (in general, but in the East Bay in particular), can you tell me: Are you happy with it? Do you like your doctor? Can you change your primary care physician if you don't get on with him/her? What is the hospital care like? What don't you like about Kaiser?
Please feel free to PM me if you'd rather not leave a public message.
Many, many thanks!
Peg
Dear Northern California Quilting Board Members,
My husband and I are trying to decide our health insurance options for the coming year. We've had HealthNet for several with no issues. Love-love-love our doctors, good hospitals in the area (Oakland), no payment issues or disputes. The problem is that our premium is going up by $121/month next year, which is a lot for us.
We've got two other options: A new "HealthNet Lite" (what I'm calling it), that's identical to regular HN except that the premiums will only be $10 more than what we're paying now. Oh, and that NONE of the hospitals in our area are included -- that's right, NONE of them. The closest ones included in the plan are a good 45 minutes away from us.
Our other option is to move to Kaiser. The benefits are comparable to what we've got now and premiums would be nearly $200 less than what "HN Regular" would be. But it would mean leaving our doctors and forming relationships with new ones.
I've had the advantage at my job of hearing about all the changes and improvements that KP has made in the last 15-20 years and how other health plans are now catching up to it (instead of vice versa).
If you have coverage through Kaiser (in general, but in the East Bay in particular), can you tell me: Are you happy with it? Do you like your doctor? Can you change your primary care physician if you don't get on with him/her? What is the hospital care like? What don't you like about Kaiser?
Please feel free to PM me if you'd rather not leave a public message.
Many, many thanks!
Peg
11-15-2010, 02:36 PM
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Out searching for some sunshine :-)
Posts: 58,856
I had Kaiser insurance in the Portland, OR area for almost 20 years... I loved it!!
You can change primary physicians until you find one you like.
I really loved that they have a specialty clinic for almost anything that came up.
I was automatically referred to a specialist, much quicker/less hassle than with other insurance plans.
Many times only one co-pay was needed for multiple procedures if done in the same day/time frame. (doc visit, lab, xray, etc..)
The price was right on premiums and my co-pays too.
I would advise you to check your plan for what I have listed. Different areas/plans may vary :D:D:D
Check this and the second plan... if it is an emergency, you are usually allowed to go to the nearest hospital, even if it is not listed in your plan :wink: The insurance co has the option to move you once you are medically stable. Most plans list this in the fine print :D:D:D
You can change primary physicians until you find one you like.
I really loved that they have a specialty clinic for almost anything that came up.
I was automatically referred to a specialist, much quicker/less hassle than with other insurance plans.
Many times only one co-pay was needed for multiple procedures if done in the same day/time frame. (doc visit, lab, xray, etc..)
The price was right on premiums and my co-pays too.
I would advise you to check your plan for what I have listed. Different areas/plans may vary :D:D:D
Check this and the second plan... if it is an emergency, you are usually allowed to go to the nearest hospital, even if it is not listed in your plan :wink: The insurance co has the option to move you once you are medically stable. Most plans list this in the fine print :D:D:D
11-15-2010, 03:03 PM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,685
I had Kaiser for several years in San Jose. In fact, my youngest was born there.
Forget the horror stories of twenty years ago. It isn't like that anymore. I was very happy with Kaiser and the hospital stay was comfortable.
You can change doctors until you find one you like. I never had a problem doing this.
Referrals are usually faster and easier as everyone is in network. I also loved that I could be lots of OTC products at the pharmacy for less than the drugstores.
Forget the horror stories of twenty years ago. It isn't like that anymore. I was very happy with Kaiser and the hospital stay was comfortable.
You can change doctors until you find one you like. I never had a problem doing this.
Referrals are usually faster and easier as everyone is in network. I also loved that I could be lots of OTC products at the pharmacy for less than the drugstores.
11-15-2010, 03:29 PM
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
We have Kaiser and are both happy with it. They changed their accessibility a lot and sped up a lot of the processes. My primary is actually a nurse practicioner and she is very thorough. I had some strange things happen and found that they were on the ball for emergency checkups and scheduling the MRIs and such. Pat has regular screenings for his basal cell issue and it is scheduled through the office.
I have had back surgery, a hysterectomy, and a cyst removed from a finger. Each operation brought its share of humor to my mad world. Fortunately, my docs have a sense of humor (I like that). Even lab work is no longer a drag.
As long as you like and trust your doctor, Kaiser is a good place imho.
I have had back surgery, a hysterectomy, and a cyst removed from a finger. Each operation brought its share of humor to my mad world. Fortunately, my docs have a sense of humor (I like that). Even lab work is no longer a drag.
As long as you like and trust your doctor, Kaiser is a good place imho.
11-15-2010, 05:57 PM
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oakland, California
Posts: 246
Martina,
As a fourth-generation Californian and native Central Valley girl, I was ashamed to admit that I had never heard of Elverta. Turns out you're just down the road from Woodland, where my DS & DDIL, and their two "hooligans" (my much loved DGSs) live. So howdy, neighbor! :lol:
Do you still have Kaiser where you live now? Do they have a hospital near you? We're thinking of moving to Woodland once I retire (can you hear the clock counting down??) and it would be nice to stay with KP if we were to change to it now....
Thanks!
As a fourth-generation Californian and native Central Valley girl, I was ashamed to admit that I had never heard of Elverta. Turns out you're just down the road from Woodland, where my DS & DDIL, and their two "hooligans" (my much loved DGSs) live. So howdy, neighbor! :lol:
Do you still have Kaiser where you live now? Do they have a hospital near you? We're thinking of moving to Woodland once I retire (can you hear the clock counting down??) and it would be nice to stay with KP if we were to change to it now....
Thanks!
02-02-2011, 05:02 PM
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oakland, California
Posts: 246
Hi everyone,
Thought I'd give you all an update on our impressions of Kaiser so far.
We were very lucky and chose a wonderful young woman internist as our PCP. She's very kind, thorough, and LISTENS to us. We like her very much. The other doctors we've met so far -- allergy, ophthalmology, radiology, sleep specialists, etc -- have all been just as great. As I expected, having all our records in one place is really wonderful.
So far so good, but I think we're going to be very happy with KP.
Thanks again for your feedback and thoughts.
Peg
Thought I'd give you all an update on our impressions of Kaiser so far.
We were very lucky and chose a wonderful young woman internist as our PCP. She's very kind, thorough, and LISTENS to us. We like her very much. The other doctors we've met so far -- allergy, ophthalmology, radiology, sleep specialists, etc -- have all been just as great. As I expected, having all our records in one place is really wonderful.
So far so good, but I think we're going to be very happy with KP.
Thanks again for your feedback and thoughts.
Peg
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