New Member with questions on cost and insurance

[AndyF]

I'm a new member. According to the doctor the results of my spinal tap make it likely I have MS. There are still some more tests to be sure.

I have a question on insurance. As it happens, I am eligible for subsidized insurance from a company I retired from. The cheapest choice is Kaiser Permanente. Does anyone have Kaiser and what do they think of it? I never had Kaiser before but I've been told the quality of care there has improved dramatically in recent years.

Thanks!

[alotlikepretzel]

I don't have Kaiser....I'm on the opposite coast. But I've heard good things about them recently. That being said, I think it varies from plan to plan as well. It depends what kind of coverage your former company negotiated. Can they provide you with paperwork outlining plan benefits before you commit to one plan? Or is there an HR person that you can present your questions to? HR is a usually a good advocate when dealing with insurance companies. Good luck!

[MarkLavelle]

A friend of mine is a surgeon at Kaiser, and I have the strong impression that they've gotten serious about making their system work. None of my co-workers who are on it have expressed complaints.

I pay the extra for an 'open access' plan, mainly so I can take my bigger problems (cancer, stroke & MS, so far) to Stanford Hospital (25 minutes from home or work). I figure that's where the most up-to-date folks are. FYI, UCSF is supposed to have a major MS center, too.

Best of luck,
Mark