Kaiser Permanente Insurance Reviews

No Xrays or any attention to my shoulder or head were taken. It was like they dismissed my other injuries and did not want to pay for the extra film. My X-ray technician, after she was done, wheeled me to the X-ray waiting room and just left me there in the public. I was feeling faint, in pain and left there to fend for myself. I had to call for my husband (who was taking care of my 20-month-old) to bring me back to the PA's office. Once back in Joy's office, I waited another 30 minutes, when I finally hopped out and asked what was going on. I was told to get back in the room and someone will be with me shortly. Then a nurse's assistant came in about 15 minutes later with a brace and demanded that I straighten my knee. I told her that the pain was too intense and straightening my knee was an impossibility.

She left the room without saying anything. I waited another 15 minutes until I opened the door and asked what was going on. I ran into Joy who then yelled out in the doctor's office that if I couldn't straighten my leg, that I couldn't be helped. I hopped out of the doctor's office without being given crutches, no examination of my head, no examination of my shoulder. I repeatedly told the PA that my horse had fallen on me. She did not care and in mid-sentence, told she knew that! I tried contacting Kaiser to see a specialist for my knee. I was then blown off and told that the next appointment was in 10 days.

Here I sit with massive injuries to my knee, a concussion, and a bruised and maybe dislocated shoulder and no matter what I said to the nurse or the PA, they would not listen or treat my injuries. I need help and I don't know how to get Kaiser's attention. I pay Kaiser every month. They should give proper medical care to someone with injuries.

As I laid there having blood drawn, I could hear the other associates' loud personal conversations. I don't normally care about places being professional, but when you're having anything medically related done, you would like to feel some level of competency and professionalism. I did, however, receive an extremely sore arm for the next two days. My arm now has a nice quarter-sized bruise with two ugly marks where blood has come to the surface. I've had blood drawn and given blood several times. Yet I have NEVER had any type of mark like this. So in conclusion, I have to come back today and hope the talent working tonight can muster up the cognitive ability to test for WHAT'S ON THE PAPER RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM...and likely bruise my OTHER arm in the process.

They also have asked me to come in - due to this error - again in two days. My guess is that they will have to draw blood on my hand by then. So maybe this weekend I'll look like a convincing junkie, with nasty marks all over. Thanks Kaiser. Yet again, you have really stepped up to the plate to serve your community. I think it should also be mentioned that on my lunch break at work today I drove past a Kaiser facility with a man holding a sign saying "Kaiser won't cover my child's special needs."

Then came June 2006. My Colitis started to hurt. I knew it is infected again. I went to the nurse treatment. The lady start yelling at me that I have to call and make an appointment. There is nothing they can do right now. I said I am in pain and want help right now. She repeated I should have called. Which I know by now, when you call you have luck to get a call back the same day! At least a Doctor Mrs. Wendy M. W. came by. She did not listen to what I told her. She insisted I have STD. I can't remember how many times I told her that can't be. At the end she got really mad, because she is the doctor and knows everything better. I wrote several letters and had endless calls with KP Member service. I never heard back.

March 2007. Because of previous problems with Endomitrioses my OB-GYN refered to a Labrarscopy. We had this done at Interstate KP. 3 days later my husband brought me to Emergency KP at Sunnyside. I had the biggest problems breathing. I had many Labrarscopies done before and never any problems. From this time on, for over 1 year I could not smell or taste. It was like my Nasalstreets got turned off. I saw a ENT Specialist, but they couldn't find anything. Lots of problems with copay for this one. After 3 letters they finally accepted the reg. $20.00.

May 2008. We just moved. Middle of April I got a cold. That is what I thought. After 3 weeks it still was there. I called KP at Sunset. I got an appointment for 1 week later. Big problems, because I used to go to Beaverton. Now where we live in Hillsboro I want to go to the nearest one.

Dr. Brian R. visited with me for about 3 minutes. I told me that is typically Allergies. He prescribed me a few things and I should be up and running. Over the weekend it got worse. I called back on Monday and got in for Tuesdays. I saw Dr. Jeffrey S.. Also a 4 minute visit and he said I have a bronchitis. He prescribed Predneson. But even that did not do it. I was frustrated and thought it may be go away by itself. I even researched Indoor Air testing, in believe it has some to do with the new house.

August 2008. On August 4th I saw Dr S. again for another reason and told him I still have the cough and snut. He gave me Atrovent 4x 2 puffs a day. Maybe an X-Ray in about 4 weeks. On August 12th I called for an appointment the same day to get a Antibiotics. I was coughing all night long. I got a 1.50pm appointment with Dr. G. All of a sudden I had difficulties breathing. The right side around my chest hurt. I thought from last nights coughing I might have pulled a muscle or so. But it got so bad, that breathing was very difficult. I got the chills and drove around 12.30pm to KP Sunset. There I finally got Blood tested and an X-Ray from my chest. The result? Pneumonia.

Not one of the doctors before looked in my throat, even so I mentioned plenty of times my throat feels dry, scratchy and irritated. My voice is horse. Does the patient have to tell the doctors there every little step like with a little kid? They call themselves professionals? I want to see that. Most of them can't understand English. Why can they not listen to their patients? For one thing many appointments and every time the copay. To me and others it seems like the money is more important then the patients health.

How can they stay in this world? Other companies with misleading treatment would be long time ago kicked out from this society. Why not KP? Look online and you find nothing but complaints, mistreatment, death etc. about Kaiser. What else does it take? Where is the Board?

I am sicker then ever in my life. Emotional Stress, no trust against any doctor,

This will increase the chance for the patient to suffer sequela that could be lessened or delayed.

However, since my bloodwork results were reviewed, the doctor classified this visit as a 'Follow-Up' (which just so happens to require a co-pay.) Grievance was filed with Kaiser, and denied. Complaint filed with the Insurance Administration was also denied, due to a review of the doctor's notes, which conveniently excluded information other than a review of the bloodwork and current medical conditions. The fact that the doctor advised me, in clear black and white, to schedule a HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM was considered irrelevant by Kaiser.

Wednesday- conditions worsening, I had fever, chills, pounding headache, shaking. I'm told to continue with the antibiotic. Thursday- Hives along with all the other conditions. Eventually a different nurse practitioner finally told me to come in and see her after days in hell. They did a test to see if I had meningitis. And one doctor finally could see that gee- I was having an allergic reaction to the medication that my nurse practitioner had kept telling me to keep taking. I was in tears on the phone when the nurse would tell me this. This was one of the most horrible experiences of my life!

I ended up in the Kaiser hospital and a $600 bill. Along with 2 weeks missed from work and a recovery time of several months. I switched to Providence Health Plan as soon as I was able too. Also my supervisor at the time wanted me to call an hour before my shift (5am) to call in sick and I couldn't even crawl out of bed!

I pay close to ten thousand a year thru my employer for kaiser coverage and I can't believe I can only get a bag for a stool sample for that.

I continued to take medication that was prescribed to me after my operation without a Cardiologist monitoring my heart medications. My condition continued to deterrate I am still unable to hold a sustainable employment. I moved to California and suffered repeated Emergency Room visits with Chest Pains and difficultly breathing, Request of medical records from Dr. left the Doctors in California wondering why I was in the Emergency Room. I felt black balled Another incident in California, I did not mention Dr....in fear of another black balled incident.

And I was admitted to the hospital and an Ultrasound test, EKG, X-ray, and another test was done with me laying down and a lot of banging noises. Test results stated that I had Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension due to an enlarged left side of my heart and two valves are leaking, one valve leakes more than the other. The mechanical Mitral valve however works great. I finally understood my condition. This is why I start to cough liquid when I walk fast or walk far distance or doing any kind of hard physical activities.

The Cardiologist of St. Bernadine Medical Center in San Bernardino, California, that night monitoring my condition explained in detail what was going on with my condition. Until, the follow-up visit, with the same cardiology doctor. He stated that there is nothing wrong with me...and that the Mitral valve that was fixed is fixed and I have no other problems. I asked about his statement to me in the hospital of the leaking valves and the enlarged left side of my heart. He stated that there is nothing wrong with my heart. It is my lungs, that I have pulmonary hypertension. He refered me to a pulmonary specialist and this pulmonary doctor said that the reason for back flow of liquid into the lungs is because of the Aitral Fibulation and the leaking valves of the heart, cause the fluids to back-up into the lungs.

I believe that Dr. Paul and the cardiologist doctor spoke about my condition thus changing his comments of test results. I asked for test results and from what I could read and understand, increased size and leaking valves. I don't know any more, but I feel something is diffenently wrong.

I am in Hawaii again and requested another doctor besides Dr Paul. The doctor I got with Kaiser Medical Center a Cardiologist Dr. S., said I don't have Congestive Heart Failure and I don't have Pulmonary Hypertension with out looking through my medical records...He even attempted to stop my Coreg a major heart medication. I mentioned to him that I have Atrial Fibulation and that the Coreg helps to control my heart rate. Only then he goes to the computer and scrolls a while to read my history. He leaves the room without a proper medical exam. I am confused and litteraly very sick.

Please, my question is, could it be my medical plan on Med-Quest / Welfare Medical that such crappy services and treatment to a very sick mother of 10 children and age 42 when diagnosed of Mitral Valve replacement...Now I am 44 with a birthday on Mothers Day, I will be 45 years old. I am blessed to live long enough to know I have a grandson, my first grandchild. I have yet to hold and hear him cry. I respect the medical profession, I hate to point out other peoples problems but, When I am sick...I go to the doctor with trust and my undivided attention to do what ever they say to help me get better. Even to live just a little bit longer.

I continue to suffer from chest pains, coughing up liquids, difficulty breathing at times, I have not been able to go back to work with efforts of SSI/SSDI denials, I would be more than happy to return to work. Only to be taken to the hospital with a minor stroke and or chest pains. I have just gotten notice of the State of Hawaii Medical Examiner officially approved my case as Disabled. I finally have a Circut Judge Court date for Social Security on May 21, 2008. My condition continues to be unmonitored by a qualified Cardiologist.

Now I also have something wrong with my hands/wrists. They are very painful and swollen for over a month. Arthritis in my back, swollen painful hands and wrists, low grade fever, fatigue. I am not a doctor but it would seem to me that she (the doctor) would be trying to find out what is wrong. I am being treated like there is nouthing wrong with me and my life is falling apart.

Kaiser is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. The only reason I am there at all is because I can't afford to pay cash for a doctor since I am broke from missing work, due to them not treating me in the first place.

I am in alot of pain, have no diagnosis, and am going to have to file bankruptcy due to missing work.

I was told I could make an appointment to get a second opinion and did that, but was told they could not see me because I was the other DR's patient after I waited 1 hour for my appointment. That is just the start. I have more cases but it will take to long to list them. Not ONE visit or experience with Kaiser has been a pleasant or typical visit.

I have filed two complaints with member services and have not received a proper outcome. I feel that unless I do something drastic and go outside their world and file a complaint, nothing is going to get done! I will be filing this complaint anywhere and everywhere I can. Then maybe someone will listen and make the changes necessary to properly care for patients. I believe I have a case against Kaiser,

I was told that if I faxed proof to Kaiser that we were covered with United healthcare as of 3/1/2008 we would be refunded our premium for the moth of March. Today I called to check on the status of our refund only to be told that our policy will not be cancelled until 3/31/2008. In other words, we are not getting our money back. I think this is robbery.

For many years now we've been paying a small fortune for our Kaiser health care. We probably have enough money invested in it by this time, that we should own the west wing of the Salem Lancaster facility [$829.00 a mo., $750.00 deductible]. I've had Systemic Lupus most of my life, and have not bothered them with any health care issues in more years than I can possibly remember. Last week I began having severe symptoms to the point that I couldn't get up and walk. I waited until I could before calling to make an appointment, which I attempted to do yesterday, March 4th. Long story short; I was told by the appointment desk that the nurse would be calling me back. Over 24 hrs. later, I'm still waiting for that call. In the meantime, I've grown so angry that I refuse to call back. Had I been an elderly person suffering from chest pains, I'd probably have been dead by this time. I was *never* asked what my symptoms were.

In my opinion, there is no room for mistakes like this in the health care business. If it were possible, I'd use the portion of Kaiser that I should own by now, to terminate whoever was responsible for not returning calls yesterday. My daughter-in-law is on the Oregon Health Care plan and she receives far better health care than Kaiser demonstrated to me. You might consider removing your Values webpage, because it certainly does not apply.

The monthly insurance premium for Kaiser insurance is killing us - it comes out to $8748.00/ year. HELP!

As a result of their refusal to effectively treat, prescribe or cover the only medication that works for me, I am now faced with severe post-nasal drip leading to intense constant nausea, excruciatingly painful sore throats that impede swallowing and sometimes breathing, low-grade fevers and headaches. As a result of the symptoms, I am not sleeping very well at all. Combining the lack of restful sleep with the low grade fevers--I am barely able to stay focused on my work at the office. Because of the congestion and sore throats and nausea, I'm barely able to make it through a 20-minute call with a client without putting them on hold to attend to my medical issues, let alone the nearly 15 hour-long instruction calls I provide each week.

As a result, my work product and productivity are suffering. At home, the symptoms are adversely impacting my ability to enjoy marital relationship with my husband - a fact that is starting to seriously upset him off. The resurgence of the symptoms (directly the result of Kaiser's refusal to prescribe, provide or cover the only effective treatment shown to work for me),Kaiser Permanente is in direct violation of the basic Hippocratic oath as I am being harmed by their intentional injustice.

When I asked to speak with a manager I was put in touch with Laura Inzunza. She was very rude and cut me off several times as I was trying to explain the situation; however, again I was told that I would receive an immediate refund for the Kaiser services but not for the bank fees. I waited 10 days without receiving a refund, then contacted member services once more only to be told by a rep (Rudy Osti) that I would now have to wait up to a month or more before they would be able to refund my money. At this point my bank account has been in the red for over 2 weeks, and my overdrawn funds keep adding up, totaling $255 at this point. I have not received any services even though Kaiser has kept my money, and now I have a substantial problem with bank fees as well. I had been a loyal customer with Kaiser, with uninterrupted coverage for over 10 years prior to this incident.

The $254 I was mischarged resulted in overdrawn bank fees totaling $255. That makes a total out of pocket expense of $509. Obviously the amount of stress regarding something like this is very high. I have excellent credit so I do my best to maintain it. A situation like this puts my credit in jeopardy as well as an immense stress on the rest of my life. Because of my negative funds, I may now have to move out of our existing apartment and find other housing.

One day, my dad's coughing just got so bad, he went in and the doctor told him that he was just a hypochondriac. I'm dealing with real sick and dying people, you're just overweight and need to lose weight. However, my mom insisted that an x-ray be taken. Hesitantly and annoyed, the doctor consented at last just to have my parents leave. When the doctor came back in the room after looking at the x-ray, his tone and mannerisms had changed. Then he broke the news that my dad had congestive heart failure.

My dad has probably had this for years, and not one person caught it. The coughing, the poor circulation... no one linked it as an obvious heart problem. Congestive heart failure is not reversible, what is done is done, and there is not a day that doesn't go by where don't I curse them from taking away from me what could be precious years with my dad. The result of the doctor was to mumble the results, and my mom angrily began to make calls to change my dad's doctor. To her surprise, the representative told her We've already changed his doctor, something that my dad had tried to do before, but now was done automatically. If that isn't citing fault, I don't know what is. If only someone had helped us, listened, took more interest sooner. If only someone had cared.

This has been going on for about 10 months. Kaiser has requested evidence that the doctor's office has called even though twice I have spoken to reps. who have recognized that there was evidence that a Kaiser staff member had given incorrect information because of confusion due to the method used by Kaiser to determine if a procedure needs to be pre-certified or not.

After a day I got cellulitis; nobody told me what it was until a nurse slipped and told me. My legs and stomach became so huge and a large amount of pain caused me to cry for three days, and theyonly gave me 1 to 2 Vicodin for pain. After 3 days they gave me antibiotics interveniously, tried several ones; then 2 together got rid of most of it. After 1 week I was sent home with different antibiotics and vicodin; these other antibiotics did not work, and I got it again and had to go to the ER, costing more money. They put me 6 different antibiotics, and this after I kept telling them the whole time, what worked in the hospital. Spent over $300 in doctor fees and antibiotics that did not work. Have blood in stomach from c-section that still hurts, and they won't prescribe any more pain med, saying I will get addicted.

They have cut me off all together. Now I'm getting severe headaches, and the headache clinic has not even contacted me. I have been falling down having chest pains and not being able to see properly. I cry just coming out of the appt. because they tell me to leave, and they say my pain should be done with. The doctor tried to prescribe something else, but I have no more money to pay for something that might not work. I take vicodin for migranes already and never got addicted; it's in my records. I would go to a different place but my husband's work only is limited to certain plans, and the only other one didn't pan out.

It is ridiculous because they take our money at the time of the service, yet for them to keep their system updated, it takes forever! In the meantime, patients are continued to be charged unnecessarily (even though they have already met their deductible), because of Kaiser's SLOWNESS!! I mean, what about those patients who do not have any extra money and use their credit cards to pay for services and accrue interests unecessarily (because they were charged unnecessarily!

Ten (10) months later, the insurance company discovers the mistake and informs me that not only are they dropping my coverage, but will be billing me for the costs incurred by the plan.

Imagine an emergency room doctor being paid only $44 for an emergency visit!

The doctor acted as if she was afraid to touch me. She stood back, looked at my foot, and prescribed some Motrin for my throat. She stated that it was nothing and that I will be able to speak within the next day or two.

Well, that wasn't the case. I still had laryngitis and she insisted that I go back to work in customer service knowing that I could not speak.

I put in a complaint with Kaiser administrative office and they said they will document the concern. I immediately switched to another doctor but Kaiser basically told me there was nothing they could do.

So they gave the ok for me to go back to work limping and not being able to talk.

After the terrible service they have given my family, my wife cancelled our coverage with Kaiser. They starting billing us for nonpayment and said they would go back and date our cancellation to before the appointment. They are now trying to charge us $638 for non-member services and have sent the charge to a collection agency that harasses us day and night and is ruining our credit.