We're a family of four (two adults, two kids), considering switching from our network preferred provider plan to Kaiser Permanente. It would save us a bucketload of cash each month. We are relatively healthy, not sick often, except for the usual winter colds, etc.

Anyone have Kaiser and use the services (urgent care, pharmancy, vision program, Pimmit Hills facility) in the Fairfax area? I grew up in a military family and endured military healthcare in the 70s, so how bad can Kaiser be?

Its not bad compared to military healthcare, esp if you're never sick, esp if you can save money.

My family is always sick. Me, my wife and my baby all had surgery last year.
I pay out the ass for my PPO, but its worth it cuz between my sick wife and baby, they are always at the doc's office.

Kaiser's slogan scares me for some reason; Thrive.

What's all this hating on military healthcare?

TRICARE is about the most trouble free experience you can have with healthcare.

family of 4 Wrote:
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> We're a family of four (two adults, two kids),
> considering switching from our network preferred
> provider plan to Kaiser Permanente. It would save
> us a bucketload of cash each month. We are
> relatively healthy, not sick often, except for the
> usual winter colds, etc.
>
> Anyone have Kaiser and use the services (urgent
> care, pharmancy, vision program, Pimmit Hills
> facility) in the Fairfax area? I grew up in a
> military family and endured military healthcare in
> the 70s, so how bad can Kaiser be?

I don't use it, but an associate of mine does and he says it's the best coverage he has ever had.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

eesh - you misread my comment as hating military healthcare. You're wrong, I don't, it was great care for my family when we were growing up. As a family of seven, I don't think my parents could have managed without it otherwise. What I meant to say was that with all the crap you hear about how bad "managed" healthcare (such as Kaiser) is, the military system is "managed" care and we had good care growing up. So, if that was good, how bad could today's Kaiser be in comparison. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have the fantastic benefits I had as a military brat, I sobbed the day I had to turn over my military dependent ID card, and I thank my retired Dad to this day for all the fantastic travel, benefits and life experience we had as military brats. I miss it, wish I could have done the same for our kids.

original poster Wrote:
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> eesh - you misread my comment as hating military
> healthcare. You're wrong, I don't, it was great
> care for my family when we were growing up. As a
> family of seven, I don't think my parents could
> have managed without it otherwise. What I meant
> to say was that with all the crap you hear about
> how bad "managed" healthcare (such as Kaiser) is,
> the military system is "managed" care and we had
> good care growing up. So, if that was good, how
> bad could today's Kaiser be in comparison. Don't
> get me wrong, I'd love to have the fantastic
> benefits I had as a military brat, I sobbed the
> day I had to turn over my military dependent ID
> card, and I thank my retired Dad to this day for
> all the fantastic travel, benefits and life
> experience we had as military brats. I miss it,
> wish I could have done the same for our kids.


According to RV, Obamacare will be the same socialized medicine as Kaiser...forgetting, of course, that Kaiser is a product of the private, free market system.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

Well, while we're on health insurance, anybody use Delta Dental like I do? IT FUCKING SUCKS.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2010 01:50PM by eesh.

eesh Wrote:
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> Well, while we're on health insurance, anybody use
> Delta Dental like I do? IT FUCKING SUCKS.


Used to. They don't cover shit.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

I grew up with Kaiser in NOVA, and now have them with my job.

We have always had great care for the family and my kids.

Kaiser in Falls Church is fantastic. If you have problems with Fairfax it's close
enough to be an additional resource.

I've heard mixed reviews on Kaiser. Great for some. Some not being able to get in to see a doctor the same day or next day. There are much lower cost insurance providers in the area from other national carriers. The worst I've heard is Anthem and their policy renewals, even if just one employee has a major claim during the year.

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> eesh Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well, while we're on health insurance, anybody
> use
> > Delta Dental like I do? IT FUCKING SUCKS.
>
>
> Used to. They don't cover shit.



Delta Dental fucking sucks dick. I'm trying to get my wife to get a better dental plan through her company so I can drop Delta from my benefits. They don't cover anything.

Back to Kaiser - my wife used to have it about 10 years ago. A lot of procedures didn't cost us a dime. The birth of our daughter cost us $200 out of pocket and she was in the NICU for a week. There were a lot of negatives (long waits, questionable abilities of some doctors), but my wife tends to get catch some weird shit and when she needed some hardcore meds or some minor surgery, it didn't cost us too much. Of course, if you got sick and had to go to their weekend hours place in Falls Church - it was an all day affair.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

I have. They were Ok. My doctor was pretty.

Seriously, I used the one in Fairfax in the Old Navy shopping ccenter and they were efficient, quick and attentive.

I had Kaiser for fourteen years and loved them. I switched jobs in October and lost the coverage. I now have Blue Cross and would do anything to have Kaiser back the FairOaks office is great. Take it you will be very happy.........

My family has Kaiser and we really like the cost, and the locations.
We typical use the Falls Church center, and they are fantastic. I thought I broke my foot one night and they got me in a out, in about an hour and a half. This included X-Rays and a boot fitting. Then the next day the podiatrist and the radiologist called to say it as a fracture and to set up a apt. later that day.

I have used Kaiser for quite some time now. No complaints from me.

Wow, thanks for all the great feedback!!

My husband and I have had Kaiser insurance for about a dozen years. It's true that sometimes you have a long wait to see a doctor (especially for routine appts), but urgent care issues have been taken care of promptly (same or next day). It's nice to have so many services offered in a single facility (Falls Church). And, if you don't like your primary doctor, you can request a change. During the time we've used Kaiser, both of us have changed doctors once or twice. In recent years, they've instituted electronic record-keeping where the doctors can log into a computer right in the examination room to take notes. They then print a report for you which clearly summarizes the details of your medical history and the day's appointment. Overall, we're pleased with their service.

I grew up with my dad in the army, and when I graduated college I got BC/BS. I eventually switched jobs, and all hey offered was Kaiser, and it was exactly like going back to the military triage system, which I thought was good. The medical care is pretty good. I've noticed that there are quite a few foreign doctors in their system, but that doesn't bother me. I've yet to encounter a "bad" doctor in their system. If you're healthy and trust the primary care physician to send you to a specialist based on when he/she thinks you need to see one, rather than when you think you need to see one, it's great.

i was actually there today and they do a good job. i would definitely recommend.

Told me I had cancer when I didn't. Tried to get a second opinion before they operated on me and I couldn't. Had surgery-no cancer. You call that good care?

Hey you are still alive arent you?

I had them off and on for a few years. I was never impressed with their mental health (behavioral health) services.

You are stuck using their doctors for any type of service. It is next to impossible to use any doctor that is not a Kaiser doctor.

If you want a good PPO plan go with CareFirst or United.

Dental insurance for the most part is a waste of money. You are better off just putting what you would have paid in premiums in a savings account and paying as you go.

Tricare Standard (military) is fairly painless and broad coverage. You can go anywhere with it. Overseas, different states, etc. You just show your ID card and they file and it just works. You always have some limitations, but they are reasonable. Haven't seen a military clinic in years. You can use any Emergency facility, no problem.

Thank you Congress and the American taxpayers. We earned it, but thank you.

I have heard good things about Kaiser, actually. The people I talk with seem to like it. Sometimes they have to send you out for special doctors. Their pharmacies can be open very late, which can help.

I got great service by K.P. Learn the system and the system will take care of you. KP is great for me and my family.

If your mouth is really healthy and you do have a lot of old large silver fillings you don't need insurance.

Sign up for a pre-tax HSA card and use it for dental visits.

You aren't kidding when you say Delta stinks. That's the only dental that the county offers employees. It's fine for the cleanings, regular fillings but when you get into bridges, crowns and implants forget it. Just had to file an appeal and the jerks still wouldn't pay. They want all people to get dentures and will use any excuse to get out of paying. They suck.

You aren't kidding when you say Delta stinks. That's the only dental that the county offers employees. It's fine for the cleanings, regular fillings but when you get into bridges, crowns and implants forget it. Just had to file an appeal and the jerks still wouldn't pay. They want all people to get dentures and will use any excuse to get out of paying. They suck.