Is There an Equivalent to Kaiser Permanente in North Texas? (Austin: insurance, pharmacies)

[TrueDat]

Someone was asking me if there was an equivalent to Kaiser, a relatively low cost health provider in California, here and I don't know of one but I figured someone here would know.

[ChristieP]

None that I'm aware of. Kaiser was here back in the late 80s and was shut down for poor quality of care!

[TX75007]

Care Now aka Doc in a Box.

[Debsi]

Originally Posted by TX75007

Care Now aka Doc in a Box.

Doesn't that cost more than a regular doctor? I have insurance (high deductible type) and paid much more to go to Primacare than to go to my doctor.

[ChristieP]

Yes, Care Now is more expensive. For simple stuff, the Minute Clinics at some CVS Pharmacies are great.

[futureRCP]

Originally Posted by TrueDat

Someone was asking me if there was an equivalent to Kaiser, a relatively low cost health provider in California, here and I don't know of one but I figured someone here would know.

In terms of a truly integrated healthcare delivery system? No, not in in North Texas, nor anywhere else in Texas for that matter.

Scott & White comes close as they have a health plan, medical group, and hospitals, but it isn't a "closed" model like Kaiser in California.

[GreyDay]

No one in Texas - no HMO, no PPO are as large or dominant as KP was esp in California. Thus, none can pull off the economy of scale pricing as well. But KP also capitated many costs as well.

Care Now's operate on an on demand model and the equivalent visit there for say 'the flu' will cost much more than if you have a normal family practitioner. That said, if you're young and healthy, it may be cost effective to forgo insurance and use the doc in a box when you need to. This of course assumes you never get really sick nor need surgery, non-generic prescriptions.

[Pete53FR]

All Insurance in Texas is pretty high when you compare to other states. The reason is Texas no longer regulates insurance companies or most electric utilities either leaving Texas consumers at the mercy of some of the greediest people on the planet.

[CallMeX]

So I am planning to move to Texas and work in an eye clinic as an Ophthalmic Medical Technician and I was wondering does Austin Texas or near by cities have any eye clinics that are union? I know Kaiser Permanente is Union. I would greatly appreciate if someone knows some clinics that are union?

[WorldKlas]

Very few unions in TX