Health Insurance

[JerryCarr]

Like any health insurance plan, Kaiser has its shortcomings, and several people have described some of them here. The biggest thing that sets Kaiser above HMSA (Blue Cross) in my estimation is the fact that once you are a member, you are guaranteed a primary care physician. HMSA will sell you a policy when none of their doctors in a given area are accepting new patients. So you have insurance with no primary care provider. What do you do? Go to the ER every time you need something?

I have been satisfied with my care at Kaiser, and I have been happy with both my primary care physician and another doctor I saw there. I do not, however, have any really big on-going medical issues, so I have no experience with how Kaiser deals with major illnesses, hospitalization, or serious chronic conditions.

Cheers,
Jerry