Seeking Opinions of HMO Kaiser Insurance

Hi A., we were with kaiser for a few years up until january when honestly it got too expensive as my husband is self employed so we had to drop it. we are without at the moment but looking. But I was always very happy with them. We went to the Glenlake offices. I had no complaints about my care with my midwife or ob all the way through my pregnancy, very thorough the whole time right up until we had to have a c section 3 days b4 christmas!
they couldnt of been nicer. once our daughter was born, again super nice. you get to choose your pediatrician and she is so nice and very no nonsnece which is why we chose her. if our daughter was ever sick we could get an appointment pronto. There is no well visit charge until they are 2 unlike other companies. Im very upset about losing them and am hoping to go back as soon as we can find a cheaper plan. Hope that helps. L.

ps, i got to chose my doctors and ped and ob all the way through. if you end up going to glenlake i will tell you the nicest ped there!

Hey A.,
I have used Kaiser HMO for about 3 years now and have been happy with them. I am now about to enter my third trimester and feel the care I've gotten has been good. The only thing I don't like is that I have no idea who will be delivering me, but that can happen in a lot of doctor's practices.

Good luck,
S.

I had Kaiser for ten years and four of my five children. (We are now on a Health Savings Account and got a more competetive plan elsewhere). I loved Kaiser, especially for maternity. My favorite part was not having to handle health care bills and insurance filings. I just paid the co-pay and they took care of the rest. You get to choose your own primary care physician, and with maternity, you can schedule your appointments with whichever doctor or midwife you prefer. I originally lived by the Crescent Center but then when I moved closer to the Gwinnett Kaiser offices I still kept going to OB/GYN appointments at Crescent Center (They don't care). I did this so I could deliver at Northside, which was very important to me for many reasons. Although you can't choose who delivers the baby (unless you are induced), it is that way with most OBs. Almost all OBs belong to a group and take turns being on call with other doctors. My last pregnancy was very complicated, but the OBs, perinatologists, midwives, and nurses were excellent. Yes, Kaiser is an HMO, but for healthy, normally uncomplicated people like our family, it has been wonderful. I had a bad experience with a PPO prior to Kaiser.

Kasier has been great for my family and me.
I love the midwives and OGBYN (women) at the Alpharetta office. I had all three kids with Kaiser Ins.... and I have no complaints... for me ( but I really don't see the reg. doctors all that often... and when I do...I prefer the nurses and they are very nice).
As far as the kids I do have my favorites for their doctors... and of course some doctors that I only see if my favorites are not in the office. I have started going to the forsyth office because you can get appointment easier... and I really like one of the doctors there!
Let me know if you need names!
Best of luck... and congrats!

Hi A.,

After that glowing recommendation from the last mom I almost hesitate to write this. I don't have Kaiser but a friend of mine does. I have been with her when she cried about how awful they are to work with. She did not use it for maternity, so I can't give any insight in that way, but for her Rheumatoid Arthritis. She has told me because they make her go to certain doctors that she can't look to find one that will really help. They have put her on medication to help the RA and it has lead from one med to another. She is now on 13 meds and scared to come off even the ones that don't help because 2 of her doctors have told her if she doesn't take the meds then they won't treat her. This is my only experience with them but I know my friend use to be able to stand up for herself and now is trapped with this insurance with her preexisting condition. She is younger than me, around 45 and looks 75.

I couldn't even begin to tell you if there was something better out there. I wish you luck with your search and hope it works out for you!

Regards,

M.

A.,

Hi there, I am an RN (but not a mom yet ;) ) and have Kaiser Insurance. I used to make fun of my husband and his "communist care" when I had BC/BS through a different provider. I now have Kaiser and we have had a few experiences with them so here goes:
Both of us are generally healthy, low use people. I go to GYN once a year for Pap, etc. I do not take any medications including Birth control. I like Kaiser because I can get an appointment quickly and do not have to wait once I get there. My office is close to the Kaiser center in Sandy Springs and I can leave the office, have my annual exam (with the nurse practitioner, I have not tried the OB/GYN) and be back at work in an hour. That being said I do not feel rushed while there. I have questioned their use of slide Paps as standard of care is now liquid based pap technology. They do try to keep costs low so you do not usually get "leading edge" technology. You do receive a personal call from the NP the next day advising you of your lab test results which is nice.

I have had 2 "acute care" experiences, one for myself and once for my husband. I had back pain with unknown cause. I called and did not care who I saw since I was in terrible pain. I saw a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) at the SAndy Springs office. I was not impressed with his history taking/attention to detail in my case but he did all the things he is supposed to do, took x-rays, gave me a shot of muscle relaxer and pain medication. Again recieved a call next day advising me of x-ray results (negative, pain was due to old mattress). Also recieved referral to physical therapy (expensive waste of time).

My husband had food poisoning (salmonella) and was worked in one morning. He called when the office opened up and was seen immediately. I did not go in with him but he brought back all the correct supplies for stool samples. He remianed ill and we took him to the after hours clinic in Vinings (wonderful option). He was seen, had blood drawn, x-ray of tummy, back up to review all. He got a call daily from Sandy springs clinic until he was better.

I now have Kaiser for the same reason you do- they have maternity coverage that is affordable. They are the only company that does. I am spoiled now I do not like to wait for doctors and have not received any less attentive care than I have elsewhere. Insurance these days can be pretty bad and I have heard horror stories from just about every company out there. It all just depends on your situation.

I hope my experience helps you decide!!

Good luck,
J.

I've been on Kaiser for the majority of 20+ years and have always been very pleased with it. Honestly, I've never had a bad experience. I go to Crescent Centre and love the staff at that facility.

Contrary to what some members believe, you do have the option to change doctors if you are not pleased with the doctor assigned. I'm rather picky about my OB/Gyn, so I insist on seeing certain ones. I have a primary care doc and several "back-ups" in case she is not available. I've also established relationships with several of the nurse practictioners. I've had much worse luck trying to find a doctor I liked during the brief periods that I didn't have KP. It was also a headache driving from location to location to have different test performed. KP is able to do the vast majority of all test at one location.

KP is a great value for the money and it is so nice not to have medical expense suprises.