Kaiser in NorCal/Fremont ??? (San Jose: insurance, transfer, bills)

[Goin' Coastal]

Our current insurer is leaving California, so we need to find a new plan.
We are considering Kaiser NorCal, specifically in Fremont

Thanks for any feedback you can provide.

[mstnghu2]

I've gone to the Fremont Kaiser for quite awhile now and don't have any complaints.

[zombocom]

Well, we are about to switch over to Kaiser here in San Jose, my coworkers are pretty positive about it - Everything under one roof means that there is less bureaucratic junk to deal with, referrals are easier, records get transferred, making appointments is easier, and so forth. Also, the copays and other fees are less than our old ppo with bluecross.

[Heidi60]

We just got away from Kaiser when my husband retired. If you look under the retirement insurance/medicare threads you will find considerable concern regarding HMOs in general. They push you through their system as quickly as possible as the doctors pay is based on the number of prescriptions they order, as well as the number of people they see. At this time Kaiser is on a campaign to get experienced, educated workers to retire so they can hire cheap unqualified staff. You can see what your choice doctors will if you look at their web site. Kaiser has a well paying retirement package and previously gave their employees free health care, at patient expense. They don't want to tell you that you will not only pay for your health care but will have their employees on your financial back as well.

We found them to be far more expensive than a ppo and their choice of doctors was pretty poor resulting in one case the loss of a friend. For years they treated her for empysema but she complained about her increasing pain. Finally they took an MRI only to find terminal lung cancer...she died ten days later. Another friend of ours was diagnosed with shoulder gout (new disease) and treated for three months. When his pain was really bad he contacted the advise nurse who directed him to the emergency where he had heart surgery for his "shoulder gout". My personal experience with them wasn't as drastic but communication with the doctor and treatment of their union staff was only poor at best. It took me five years of complaining to get my health issue taken seriously. However, they are good about immunizations and lower level care.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I've had Kaiser off and on all my life. I've been much happier with Kaiser than Blue Cross/Blue Shield. BC/BS was notorious about okaying a procedure, then changing their mind after it was done. That doesn't happen with Kaiser. You may have to campaign harder with Kaiser to get a procedure done (like getting my daughter's tonsils removed), and get referred to a specialist on staff. But, once you're okay'd, there are no surprise bills later. That's what I've always liked about Kaiser.