BI physician (Hilo: military, move to, retired)

[terracore]

We have Blue Cross and most GPs in the provider listing are not accepting new patients. It would seem that a new physician would find themselves with a full client list relatively quickly.

[CyberCity]

Originally Posted by HiloDiver

I haven't needed medical care since my arrival, but people generally tend to say that Kaiser is a better plan for patients than HMSA is.

HiloDiver, respectfully, NOT!

Kaiser can be perceived as better due to there often times being less "out of pocket" expenses, BUT that does not equate to it being a better plan in terms of selection choices for physicians, convenience of service locations, convenience of hospital services, etc.

Our family can choose from a couple of good plans. I'll include Kaiser as being one of the good options, but I'd not say it is "better" than the other choices. Matter of fact, we do not use Kaiser. I think the "out of pocket" $$ is not a trade off that we are willing to go with when compared to convenience and doctor selection (especially if it is for a specialist or surgery, which are centered on Oahu not the Big Island).

Just my point of view.

[terracore]

Originally Posted by CyberCity

HiloDiver, respectfully, NOT!

Kaiser can be perceived as better due to there often times being less "out of pocket" expenses, BUT that does not equate to it being a better plan in terms of selection choices for physicians, convenience of service locations, convenience of hospital services, etc.

Our family can choose from a couple of good plans. I'll include Kaiser as being one of the good options, but I'd not say it is "better" than the other choices. Matter of fact, we do not use Kaiser. I think the "out of pocket" $$ is not a trade off that we are willing to go with when compared to convenience and doctor selection (especially if it is for a specialist or surgery, which are centered on Oahu not the Big Island).

Just my point of view.

When I transferred here I was the haole asking everybody in the office who was the best insurance and everybody told me to avoid Kaiser and stick to either Blue Cross [or the other company]. Sorry- I forget who the other recommended company was.

[HiloDiver]

I'm totally not going to argue with either of you, I was just repeating what local friends told me. For future readers of this thread, your posts will be valuable.

[CyberCity]

Originally Posted by terracore

When I transferred here I was the haole asking everybody in the office who was the best insurance and everybody told me to avoid Kaiser and stick to either Blue Cross [or the other company]. Sorry- I forget who the other recommended company was.

Blue Cross is handled by HMSA in Hawaii, it is the biggie (95% of doctors participate). Note, though, that not all of the plans offered by HMSA are the same. For employees, some are better than others, depending on what the employer has contracted.

[Rogerluli]

Originally Posted by terracore

We have Blue Cross and most GPs in the provider listing are not accepting new patients. It would seem that a new physician would find themselves with a full client list relatively quickly.

This is a bit worrisome as we are planning on moving to Puna before the end of the year. As I am 65 I would expect to be able to have a family practice physician at least in Hilo.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Rogerluli

This is a bit worrisome as we are planning on moving to Puna before the end of the year. As I am 65 I would expect to be able to have a family practice physician at least in Hilo.

I have to say, it's better to find out now...

This situation is not new, and it's not a secret. There have been previous threads on this. It's one of the toughest things to calculate about retiring here. You can get basic medical treatment, but you may not be able to find a personal physician, or dentist, and if you need a specialist you could be forced to go to Oahu, or even to the mainland. I have several friends who go back to the mainland at least once a year for physical checkups with their longtime healthcare providers.

[HiloDiver]

Last week when I looked, there was only one physician in Hilo who accepts Kaiser who was accepting new patients....and that one was a pediatrician.

[Rogerluli]

When I do a search on the HMSA site for board certified, family practice physicians, accepting new patients, with Medicare and the HMSA supplement I get 18 listed for Hilo...

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Originally Posted by HiloDiver

Last week when I looked, there was only one physician in Hilo who accepts Kaiser who was accepting new patients....and that one was a pediatrician.

At the Kaiser clinic in Kona we have had no problems with getting appointments to see a general practitioner. Getting in to see a specialist is a different matter. I made an appointment in January to see a specialist and the earliest I could get in is mid-April.