Im thinking about switching my insurance to Kaiser because on paper it is cheaper and looks like a good plan?

Question

I am wondering if anyone has any input, what are the cons to this insurance or is it really as good as it looks?

Answer 1

I had it and have no complaints

Answer 2

If you don't mind Doctors who get a base salary and don't care. Then if you actually have something wrong and need to see say an orthopedist you first have to see a primary care physician for a referral, and then you have to go through a full physical. That will take a week or more before the tests all come back for a second visit to the primary before you get a referral. If you happen to have an emergency you first have to call in to get a triage nurse to determine if it is truly an emergency before they give you permission to come to the emergency room. My experiance is you get what you pay for. My husbands company found a plan with United Health Care that gives us an extra option for a health care savings account that roles over each year. Not the kind that is a spend it or lose it at the end of the year. It reimberses for the deductable and even over the counter stuff like sinus medicine and even vitamines. Oh I forgot to mention that great savings illution, our coverage cost increased every year even though we had no sinificant illnesses after a couple of years it was higher than we were paying before.

Answer 3

HMOs are never a good idea. You get what you pay for. I used to work in physical rehab, and trying to get patients the care that they need, and deserve, was next to impossible with Kaiser. You will probably see your assigned doctor very seldom, and will get foisted off on whatever doctor is available at the time. Nobody will ever get to know you well enough to do a decent job taking care of you. It might be ok if you are in excellent health, but God forbid you get sick or have an accident. Go with a PPO, if you can!

Answer 4

I don't know anything about Kaiser, but I do know a lot of companies 'look great' on paper, but when you need them they're not there or the benefits aren't what you expected.
Check it out REALLY good before you make the switch.
Thanks,
Your current insurance provider - JUST JOKING lol

Answer 5

I have not heard good comments about Kaiser....all of the teachers I know have kaiser through their work....and they all feel they could have better insurance....they say kaiser is good for things like check ups and physicals but not good for much else....and it is hard to get second opinions or referrals to specialist or "effective" physical therapy...because your second opinion and everything else is going to come from another Kaiser doctor.

Answer 6

PLEASE DO NOT GO TO KAISER!!! The actual plan is not that great. You pay at least $10 for everything maybe more. I had my son there and was NOT happy with my experience. Instead I have a discount plan, not insurance and I can go where ever it i accepted. I also use it to work from home. good luck!

Answer 7

I've had Keiser before. It is cheaper for sure! But it doesn't seem like anyone there really cared. It was a big busy place with too many patients and not enough time. They do get the job done but not with any higher rating than average.

Answer 8

i can only comment on what i've seen from the caretaker side....i work in an er and have only seen kaiser reject a lot of things. if you are healthy and don't require much in the line of health care, i'd say go for it......an hmo is an hmo.....they hold onto their money for dear life....they dictate where and when you get care. as with anything...if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Answer 9

check out: www.kp.org

I have kaiser and i have a good experience with them.

good luck!