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Kaiser Permanente Consumer Reviews - Page 2

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Have to pay $1100 for ultrasound having KP Gold
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA -- I have Kaiser Gold and my co-pay for ultrasound should be $55 which I payed before the procedure. Later on I received a bill of $1100, the original cost was $2600, from which insurance payed $1500. The ultrasound was not even made by a doctor, but by a trained person who only knew how to make bunch of pictures without being able to interpret them. I don't understand why in USA we have such enormous prices for such services. In Costa Rica this exact procedure is done by a real doctor who knows what he is doing without very long waiting time (I waited almost an hour) for $25-$35. These $1100 would nicely cover all my expanses for a ticket of a whole month stay at airbnb private house by a beach in a tropical forest including delicious organic fruits and veggies (self cooked at my private vila). If I knew at the time of my office visit or before that my bill would be so high, I would definitely will cancel the procedure. The problem is that they are not transparent about their costs and notify about charges only after the procedure. I feel fooled.

On top of that I complained to my doctor about my bloating and gases problem that lasts for 2-3 years already and I would like to get a referral to GI doctor. This didn't convince her to do that, she said that some people have more serious problems like cancer and my problem was due to stress! She then gave me a questioner with questions like if my husband beats me, do I feel depressed and so on! This was ridiculous experience! Even in Russia people get much better treatment. How would I able to detect serious problem if I cannot get a right attention to my ongoing problem?

I really want to stay away from KP now. I don't really want to spend a fortune on other insurances as well... I want to go to Costa Rica instead or just go back to Russia where I am originally from. I really dislike medical services here! All my Russian friends in Russia don't have to be reach for having an entire picture of their health. They do go to private clinics, pay good money to doctors, but $2600 for ultrasound is ridiculous! Even $1100 is also ridiculous having KP Gold insurance!

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Kaiser Doctors, ER And Policies Killed My Brother
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA -- My brother died of neglect and incompetence due to Kaiser physicians. I had a doctor review his medical record and he found multiple areas of medical malpractice. My 69 year old brother paid his KP premiums for 40 years. In 2016, he had sciatica due to spinal stenosis. As his pain increased and his mobility decreased, the chart indicates that physical medicine requested he receive an epidural through Pain Management. This was requested 4 times in 9 months with NO referral for this procedure.

My brother presented in the ER 4 times in 2 months in 2017 due to 10/10 leg pain. Each time he was discharged at the same level of pain in which he presented. The ER docs told him to call his PCP and his PCP told to go back to the ER over a 2 month period. No medications addressed his pain. They also ignored multiple areas in his chart that he was at high risk for clot development partially due to increased platelets and a previous stroke. He lived alone in an upstairs apt. He started to use a walker, could no longer drive or prepare food.

Finally he received an appt with pain management for the epidural almost a year after it was requested. By this time he was completely non-ambulatory. After the epidural procedure, they placed him in a nursing home. Pain control did not help, the epidural did not help. Six days after the epidural, he died of a double pulmonary embolism in the middle of the night.

The autopsy showed that his legs full of blood clots. No one should die of sciatica. His sciatica was ignored to the point where the pain was so horrible, he could no longer move and this caused him to develop blood clots, undiagnosed until autopsy and this neglect killed him. Apparently, there were politics between Physical Medicine and Pain Management so the departments didn't talk with one another and his PCP paid NO attention to his care. Kaiser, Cadillac physicians killed my brother.

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COBRA Coverage Paid but No Coverage
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA -- I mailed in my COBRA payment for the month of March 2018, the beginning of March, because I wasn't sent the paperwork until the beginning of March. I called Kaiser before mailing the paperwork & payment to find out how long it would take to process once received. I was told it would take a couple of days. So I called less than a week later, because the mailing address is local and I was told by the representative that I needed to contact my work and they don't handle COBRA. I told her I already had contacted them and they were told by Kaiser that Kaiser would only handle the COBRA and no one else.

So I called and confirmed with my work that was still the case. Again I called Kaiser and talked to the same rep, who still insisted COBRA was handled by my work and not them. I told her what I was told and finally after telling her the same thing numerous times, she finally decided to ask around. She finally admitted she was wrong and she had found out it take 30-45 days to process COBRA. To which point I might have not signed up, because my new job's insurance would be almost in effect by then.

A few days later I noticed my check cleared and I still had no coverage. I talked to a different representative who apologized and it was normal to take 30-45 days. I then filed a complaint and asked for a refund of my March premium. I received a denial letter a few days ago stating that I was denied because no termination letter was sent. Not only that termination would not be effective until the month following the letter. Also, they are granting me a retro termination letter to be effective April.

Meantime they admitted I had no coverage in March. So too bad I lost $558.96 for March COBRA premium, for having no coverage. That is just plain crooked. No way I could have terminated March coverage in February, when I didn't receive the paperwork until March. Also, how can they hold my money for a month they admitted they didn't cover.

Kaiser is a crooked insurance company who flat out refuses to refund people their money they are owed behind twisted rules. They know they are wrong but they refuse to refund. But if you are in an accident, they will do whatever it takes to go after their money from the person in the wrong. I loved my doctors, but this is plain wrong and believe me if I can help not coming back. I will make sure I don't.

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Poor treatment, bad service
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

PANORAMA CITY, CALIFORNIA -- Here we go again with Kaiser in Panorama City. I have this Varicocele vein problem in my private area. It is extremely painful to have. Its a large vein that has gone bad and it leaks blood into that area and it becomes toxic. I am no doctor but the way it feels now in that area it feels like it is infected in there.

I was checked by their Urology dept back in December and in January and was treated poorly and rudely by the 2 doctors there. They refused to do anything for me and would not authorize a surgery for this. They just told me to take advil or Tylenol and take sitz baths. That was ridiculous to tell me that and it did not help at all. Now months later I am in worse pain than ever and can hardly sleep at all.

So I am in contact withe Member Services to get a referral to UCLA medical Center so they can do the surgery for this and I just keep getting the run around meanwhile this thing is getting worse and Member Services says I will have to wait like 14 more days and they want a second opinion. They are just jerking me around and taking risks with my health and I am sick and tired of it. Procrastination on this matter could be putting my life at risk. UCLA has a department that specializes in vein problems and surgeries for this.

So I just sent them a message back voicing my displeasure of this whole matter and said to them do the right thing and help me or I will seek legal counsel and they can talk to them instead of me ! We have rights as patients to go to our Healthcare Organization to get treated with care and with respect not to be treated poorly or with abusive attitudes by doctors or nurses. They don't treat me with respect but out of respect for them I did not post the 2 doctors names here. If anyone wants their names message me here and I will give them to you.

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Kaiser Ignored Me and Told Me to See Psychiatrists
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

FREMONT, CALIFORNIA -- I started having medical issues starting at least two years ago. I told both of my Fremont Kaiser doctors that my thyroid was off and I could not sleep. They told me it wasn't, and put me on ** and **. And sent me to psychiatrists. I have many other health issues including four shoulder surgeries. Late May, I had many new symptoms, and no doctors, including ER doctors would treat me. I was vomiting, bedridden, my liver hurting, pooping pure blood. I had to go out of network for help. My diagnosis are autoimmune disorder, hypothyroidism, Hepatitis A, ulcerative colitis, multiple left kidney stones.

My own doctor dropped my as a patient, Dr. Sarah **, and then cancelled my medication when it was already ready at pharmacy. When I called member services about the fact she faked a phone appointment with me. Kaiser erased those records. But I printed them already. Kaiser did a fake investigation and said they did nothing wrong. But when I left a message on their phone telling them I know about their arbitration process, they finally after three months called me back. I'm filling out a form with the medical board in a few days, I just got sick again as I have no immunity. I will take this to the President if I have to! Kaiser kills people!

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Knee Replacement
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA -- Two years ago I was sent out by Kaiser to a local contract doctor to have a total knee replacement. At this time I am still having issues with this knee and need to have this procedure done again but Kaiser wants to send me to another contract facility of their choice.

They have to do this because they have unskilled physicians here, so they want to send me 2 ½ hours south at my expense and I will have to get a relative to take time off from work. I will need to pay for all their expenses while they are waiting for me to be released from the hospital. I wanted Kaiser to send me to a town that I already have relatives and was far less driving distance, but they would not. Because I walk with a bad limp and have to use a cane and a walker, I now have problems with my hips.

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Member's Service
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA -- The doctors at Kaiser are great, but service overall is terrible. Getting on the phone with member's service is a nightmare and then try getting an appointment with your doctor, if you don't mind waiting 6 to 8 weeks, then you're good to go. I have to say it use to take 2 to 3 weeks. I tried getting an appointment with a specialty doctor, not a problem 7 weeks out. I called a non-Kaiser doctor and got in the next day. I only had to wait 30 minutes to see the doctor. This doctor was very informative. Kaiser what happen to the great service you use to have?

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Breast Cancer Care
StarStarStarStarStarBy -
Rating: 5/51

DENVER, COLORADO -- I could not be happier. I had a suspicious lump. Was seen on Monday by my NP. On Friday I had a mammogram with US. They didn't like what they saw ash called a physician immediately who did a biopsy. The following Monday I had my diagnosis. 15" later I received a phone call to schedule MRI. 15" after that I had an appt with the surgeon. MRI the Monday 2 weeks later followed by surgeon appt that Friday.

Surgery the following Thursday, lumpectomy with sentinel nodes. Pathology back on the next Monday. Again, within an hour I got an appt to schedule a visit with an oncologist on Wednesday, 2 days later. Oncotype testing sent day before oncology appt. Already set up for consultation with radiation oncology in one week. Will start treatment by end of month.

In short, diagnosed on 3/6, surgery on 4/2 and start treatment after healing beginning of May. That is record time. All along the way everyone, and I mean everyone, has been kind, informative and helpful. Phone calls promptly returned, questions answered. I really could not have asked for more!

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Money Making Machine?
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

DENVER, COLORADO -- My wife and I have been a members since age 64, now 72. Every year we spend hours on the phone trying to get all the forms needed to renew. Mail and E-mails warnings (of overdue payments) flow all year, 2 invoices each month and 3 weeks later the 2 automatic mail payment acknowledgements along with corresponding Emails. If you go for anything you get 5 pages in the mail of useless information. Why aren't the forms online, why do they keep giving me California 800 phone numbers? When you call they say you're not known to them and then they realize you're from Colorado and give you a Colorado number.

I had to renew a prescription using their website and it was not listed correctly. Opted to send an inquiry to the pharmacist using the link provided. Had to remove and send it. KP does not believe in punctuation. You wonder what the intent is when they ask you what meds you're taking and your heath background. Are they cutting out the doctor. And no I'm not breastfeeding, don't they know I'm a 72-year-old man? All our prescriptions are 30% cheaper using local pharmacies except for one. Perhaps this is how they fund their web incompetence.

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Kaiser Permanente Sucks
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

ATLANTA, GEORGIA -- I went in for an annual physical and was told there is no charge for it as well as no charge for flu shot... Okay, fine. I'm in the patient room with my 20 something daughter; we let the doctor know that I have been having some serious hip and shoulder pain (isn't that why you have physicals, to let the doctor know if anything new pops up?) So this woman tells us that she is a nursing mother and her lactating is overdue so the appointment can't take too long; she only has 20 minutes scheduled for the visit.... Oh really, how nice.

So anyway, she orders the MRI for my hip and shoulder and then I get a bill from Kaiser stating because she ordered the test, the physical now becomes an outpatient office visit. I called KP's financial dept and I am disputing it... What doctor tells a patient that they only have so much time for them...This is not health care.

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Kaiser Permanente Rating:
Star Empty star Empty star Empty star Empty star
1.1 out of 5, based on 40 ratings and
77 reviews & complaints.
Contact Information:
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Plaza 19th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
510-271-5910 (ph)
www.healthy.kaiserpermanente.org
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