We're native Oregonians and want to keep our current Kaiser insurance (Portland: calculation, live in)

[NBened]

We're native Oregonians (and currently live in California) that ideally want to move back to our roots in Oregon after many years to retire. Currently we have Kaiser medical insurance that we would like to keep when we relocate. This will probably involve limiting where we can move to, but we'd like to hear from anyone that may have faced the same problem with Kaiser being only in certain areas. We're also amenable to moving to Washington near the Oregon border, too. We've narrowed the search down to Corvallis, Philomath, and Silverton areas as we don't want to be in a crowded city-like area like Portland.

[texasdiver]

Kaiser has clinics in Portland, Salem, and Eugene and apparently has agreements with the Salem Hospital for urgent care issues.

If you live in Silverton you'll likely to be going to Salem on a frequent basis as it is the nearest city and what you must pass though to basically get anywhere. Corvallis not so much.

So I would suggest that Silverton is the better location if your priority is easy access to Kaiser.

There are Kaiser clinics all over Portland and Vancouver (with plans for additional expansion in Vancouver and Camas) so the greater Vancouver/Camas area would also be a good choice.

[Hemlock140]

Kaiser is in the Puget Sound/Seattle Area now too, after they bought Group Health. They offer both HMOs and PPOs. Some relatives just moved here for the Bay Area after retiring and have lifetime Kaiser, so just last week got set up with their doctors here.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by NBened

We're native Oregonians (and currently live in California) that ideally want to move back to our roots in Oregon after many years to retire. Currently we have Kaiser medical insurance that we would like to keep when we relocate. This will probably involve limiting where we can move to, but we'd like to hear from anyone that may have faced the same problem with Kaiser being only in certain areas. We're also amenable to moving to Washington near the Oregon border, too. We've narrowed the search down to Corvallis, Philomath, and Silverton areas as we don't want to be in a crowded city-like area like Portland.

There is a Kaiser on Lancaster which is probably a 20-minute drive from Silverton.

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by NBened

We're native Oregonians (and currently live in California) that ideally want to move back to our roots in Oregon after many years to retire. Currently we have Kaiser medical insurance that we would like to keep when we relocate. This will probably involve limiting where we can move to, but we'd like to hear from anyone that may have faced the same problem with Kaiser being only in certain areas. We're also amenable to moving to Washington near the Oregon border, too. We've narrowed the search down to Corvallis, Philomath, and Silverton areas as we don't want to be in a crowded city-like area like Portland.

I've found it odd that Corvallis/Philomath is considered part of the Kaiser capture area. They must include areas that are up to an hour's drive in their calculations.

Right now, from central Corvallis to the closest Kaiser facility (Skyline Medical Office in Salem), it is a 42-minute drive according to Google. One way, 30 to 36 miles depending on the route you take. And I'm looking this up on a Sunday--it will take longer during the week. For me, that would be too much of a hassle of a drive to go for routine medical care. From Philomath add on another 10-12 minutes.

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by jjpop

I've found it odd that Corvallis/Philomath is considered part of the Kaiser capture area. They must include areas that are up to an hour's drive in their calculations.

Right now, from central Corvallis to the closest Kaiser facility (Skyline Medical Office in Salem), it is a 42-minute drive according to Google. One way, 30 to 36 miles depending on the route you take. And I'm looking this up on a Sunday--it will take longer during the week. For me, that would be too much of a hassle of a drive to go for routine medical care. From Philomath add on another 10-12 minutes.

I don't think Kaiser claims to provide service to Corvallis/Philomath. The OP is simply considering that as one possible relocation destination and is asking the forum about Kaiser services in the area. The answer is that there are none and you would have to drive to Salem for the nearest Kaiser medical office.

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

I don't think Kaiser claims to provide service to Corvallis/Philomath. The OP is simply considering that as one possible relocation destination and is asking the forum about Kaiser services in the area. The answer is that there are none and you would have to drive to Salem for the nearest Kaiser medical office.

Kaiser does claim to provide service to Corvallis. This is from their website:

Service Area
To enroll in this Plan, you must live or work in our service area. This is where our providers practice. Our service area is:
• These Oregon counties: Clackamas, Columbia, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, Yamhill
• And these Oregon ZIP codes:
-Benton County: 97330, 97331, 97333, 97339, 97370
-Hood River County: 97014, 97031, 97041, 97044
-Linn County: 97321, 97322, 97335, 97355, 97358, 97360, 97374, 97389
• These Washington counties: Clark, Cowlitz
• And these Washington ZIP codes:
-Lewis County: 98591, 98593, 98596
-Wahkiakum County: 98612, 98647
-Skamania County: 98605, 98610, 98639, 98648, 98651, 98671

I guess there must be enough Benton County subscribers that make that long drive for their care, but not enough to actually open a facility in Corvallis or Albany.

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by jjpop

Kaiser does claim to provide service to Corvallis. This is from their website:

Service Area
To enroll in this Plan, you must live or work in our service area. This is where our providers practice. Our service area is:
• These Oregon counties: Clackamas, Columbia, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, Yamhill
• And these Oregon ZIP codes:
-Benton County: 97330, 97331, 97333, 97339, 97370
-Hood River County: 97014, 97031, 97041, 97044
-Linn County: 97321, 97322, 97335, 97355, 97358, 97360, 97374, 97389
• These Washington counties: Clark, Cowlitz
• And these Washington ZIP codes:
-Lewis County: 98591, 98593, 98596
-Wahkiakum County: 98612, 98647
-Skamania County: 98605, 98610, 98639, 98648, 98651, 98671

I guess there must be enough Benton County subscribers that make that long drive for their care, but not enough to actually open a facility in Corvallis or Albany.

They may have future plans to expand there. Who knows. I do know that Kaiser has had difficulty recruiting physicians to Salem and Eugene and especially Longview (not surprising) so they may still be trying to get fully staffed up and operating at 100% in their existing facilities before building more.

[NW4me]

From Corvallis, couldn't you access the Eugene facility?

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by NW4me

From Corvallis, couldn't you access the Eugene facility?

That’s further than the Salem facility.