Kaiser Consumer Reviews - Page 3

ATLANTA, GEORGIA -- We joined KP and had no problems the first year. The first thing they did on the second year was refused to fill medications that I have been taking for decades. Because the Honduran 25 year old knows better. They transferred my case to Risk management because I caused such a problem for them.

Joe ** who is an OBGYN became the doctor at risk management that decided my medical course of treatment. I'm a man so that's confusing. They refused to fill two medicines that I take daily and have to go out of network to get refilled. Read before you sign. OH FORGET SUING KP. YOU SIGN THAT AWAY WHEN YOU JOIN THE CLUB!! Fact!! Mediation only with their mediator.

SANTA ROSA , CA ., CALIFORNIA -- Please! If you have KAISER, HMO, for a few dollars more you can have an 'PPO'. If, you have serious issues, you need to venture on to a 'PPO'! It's literally a few dollars more. We "WERE" members through his work, and they were taking $40.00 month out of his check.

PPO..... $5.00 more a month! Prescription's 1/2 the cost!!! He went in and, was diagnosed to have hepatitis B, then they fraud gently said he has hepatitis A-C-D-E, and was charging his insurance $100's of thousands of dollars! They had us in there every 3-5 days, we were dropping $20's and $40's like playing the slot machines! Repeating the same test. I kid you not. You know us women.... IF, I DON'T GET AN STRAIGHT ANSWER, LIKE THE STRAIGHT QUESTION I ASKED, then you know, THEY'RE HIM HOLLEN YOU AROUND!!!

And, guess what O.M.G! Proof, it was just that! This the Santa Rosa, Ca. Located at #401 Bicentennial, the main one. Dr. **, his liver doctor, the gastroenterologist dept. O.M.G! Please beware. I had his primary doctor call me, he was like "Hi this is doctor **," I was like "hay! he's not here... he's at work!" He was like, "well you are the one I want to speak with... you're always together! You know... he's very, very, sick!!! He has less than 10 percent liver function, and he can die today or next year." (And, a little more said of the same.)

He's very sick from the hepatitis A-B-C-D-E. And I was already being doubtful. (Now keep in mind we know of the b, and he will out live all of us, not an issue.) Okay I get to the point I knew something was terribly wrong when a botched hernia operation went in with 1, and came out with 6. It was obvious for the need of a second opinion, they refused so we dropped them... and got a PPO and was cheaper (we see who we want, when we want for the same money! You see.... if it's a closed network, that allows them to lie, make up, and create bogus non- existing reports).

We had 4 test done Sutter, Memorial, Santa Rosa Community Clinic, and, UCSF, and O.M.G! It came back NEGATIVE!!! NEGATIVE!!! NEGATIVE!!! Never even came in contact (we all come in contact, 1/2 creates antibody to rid of those diseases, and the other 1/2, has issues). And the B.... he's so low, it's undetectable. That is 1 of 5, serious ongoing medicals procedures, being "ongoing" makes it to be one of the most expensive treatments to treat, because it's "ongoing" beside aids!!! And they charge the insurance up the "WAH- ZOO"!!!

They refused us second opinion, by law you can get a second opinion. They are one network... all one network. He now have "ANTHEM-BLU-CROSS" not the one, just anyone off the street can get. We know that can be pricey!! BUT through your work, of course it's going to be cheaper. You can get it but you to drop KAISER. They will have the option for you to have ANTHEM-BLU-CROSS, among others we liked ANTHEM. We so far LOVE ANTHEM. Kaiser is a poor man's insurance.

But Dr. **, the hernia dept. (he would refuse to see us even if we made an appointment, he would cancel, or do a no show!!!) concerning the 6 hernias that sticks out 10 inches I swear! There was a Dr. **, he popped up from absolutely nowhere and purposely jammed a 3 inch needle into the hernia and smiled like when you say "did it hurt"!! The nurse said "we need to file a complaint on him for his conduct!!" When we tried doing just that, we were told that he did not work there any longer!

Dr. **, primary doctor, he said "I'm sorry I can't get involved in this hernia drama", but urged us to keep asking the right questions!!! All these hernia issues, politics, we said "yeah we know it's a job..." I know we couldn't help but feel for him! Dr. ** - the gastroenterologist dept. Now! You make your decisions, and while you're doing that, don't count on the research on these doctors because they will come up as magnificent brain surgeons, and they cook for the needy... and pay for it all!!! It's ALL a bunch of crap!

As long as they Kaiser keeps their dues to the city/state paid, they can write whatever. REMEMBER IT'S A FREE SPEECH, and it's a network, within a network, so you're not going to find out squat. Here's the real messed up thing from the liver doctor **, she was like "yeah! His "doe doe" is a little high and his "gaga" is a little low" (and if that's all true then the only thing is in question to have done is a biopsy!). But no issue, then no biopsy. Yeah!!! We know now. Please good luck. I pray for you.

I couldn't believe it. I'm a 52 year old RN who has worked for Kaiser Medical Center as a per diem RN for 11 years. I am in perfect health. I windsurf, surf, roller blade, hike, bike... I never get sick. I have always worked as a per diem RN (for 30 yrs.) so that I can control my own schedule and travel etc. I have always had high deductible Blue Cross. I have never used it. I was always a little embarrassed when my pts. in the hospital would ask me something about my personal experiences with Kaiser health care and I would have to say I don't have Kaiser - I have Blue Cross major medical.

I would try to avoid telling them that I have almost never had a Dr. appt. in my life. My only preventive health care is occasional paps at Planned Parenthood (all negative). So I decided to finally fork up some more dough and pay for a Kaiser plan that would include regular check ups so I would finally start getting regular check ups. I filled out the application online with no doubt in my mind I would be accepted.

I wanted to be sure they couldn't ever use the excuse that I didn't reveal something on the application so I put everything I have ever been seen for down - a sprained knee, pre-cancer from too much sun on my face removed by the derm (show me an adult that doesn't have that and I'll show you a person that never gets sun - it is completely benign), and to the question "Do you have regular periods?" I answered "no" because I have been in menopause for a yr. (a perfectly normal situation for a 52 yr. old - DUH!)... but they offered no chance in the application to elaborate that I'm in menopause.

I couldn't believe it when I was denied health insurance because: Unspecified muskuloskelatal condition, unspecified gynecological condition - irregular periods, and unspecified skin condition. Keep in mind I provided the name, addresses and phone numbers of the dermatologist and the orthopod that treated my face and diagnosed my knee (no treatment needed - just resting it). Meanwhile I'm back on the medical surgical unit at Kaiser Hospital lifting and turning pts., running around the unit but they won't give me health insurance!!!! (I very seldom call in sick and when I do it is really a mental health day.)

I'm so furious! At least I will never again be embarrassed when pts. ask me about my Kaiser health care and I have to say I don't have Kaiser. I will also never be embarrassed if I ever have to go to an ER or Dr. with my essentially worthless Blue Cross insurance. I did my part to attempt to pay for better insurance. I will have no qualms if the need arises to get the health care I need and then just declare bankruptcy and refuse to pay it. The system is so screwed up it begs for that. Thanks for giving us a voice!

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA -- My Mother has Kaiser... always has. She pays for her benefits quarterly, and always on time. She underwent bi-lateral knee replacement at the old Santa Clara Facility. Her Orthopedic Surgeon was great. While in the hospital (Kaiser Santa Clara) she was subject to the usually poor "in hospital" care that we all have heard about. She was transferred on a holiday to the SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility) without her medications or CPM devices. On her second day at the SNF, a "Patient Care Nurse" (that's DISCHARGE NURSE") told her that her rehab was not progressing.

The nurse then later ignored the Durable Power for Health care and violated her privacy (Sections 160 and 164, SS A,E according to the OCR). In a conversation with the son (DPH), the nurse blurted out that the patient didn't even deserve to have Kaiser benefits, because she only had them because of a retirement package! The nurse then made 2 harassing phone calls to family C.P.C. 653M (a crime, misdemeanor) which the family recorded and played back to the Santa Clara County Sheriff. Upon filing a complaint with Kaiser's "Patient Relations" a series of letters discounted the ordeal and claimed it never happened.

In some letters, the issue was never even addressed, it was as if they were having a monologue. Kaiser NEVER even asked for any clarification, to listen to the tape... NOTHING!! It was reported to the OCR, Office of Civil Rights, and a year later.... nothing has happened. Recently, my mother went into Kaiser because her foot was red and swollen... They took an MRI, and prescribed 2 courses of antibiotics without taking a culture. 25 days later still painful and swollen, I insisted on a referral to Podiatry, they took a X-ray.... BROKEN FOOT!

The moral of the story: Don't bother complaining... Kaiser will brush it under the rug then discriminate against you.... in a very business-like manner giving the appearance that they are doing everything they can. This "Patient Relations" is a nothing but a drop bucket for complaints.... that go no-where. KAISER FOUNDATION is a business. While other hospitals are going under and struggling with budgets... they built a $700 MILLION PLUS new hospital in Santa Clara Ca. You figure it out.

I can't get my mother to leave Kaiser, though she knows it's not all she thought it was. She knows Kaiser isn't the best, she CAN afford better.... I guess she's used to Kaiser's abuse and sometimes does not seek treatment, because she says "Kaiser is trying to kill off old people". NOW THAT"S NUTS.... In my opinion Kaiser isn't trying to kill off old people.... Kaiser is running a hospital as a business.... as cheaply as possible and if people die... so what!

The day they opened the new hospital, they had all the Kaiser big wigs there for a walk through. These are some of the most repugnant individuals I have ever seen.... All patting themselves on the back about what a great hospital they have. I wonder how many people they have mis-treated to build that thing! It was the 2nd largest construction project in California!!! The stories people tell about Kaiser... I'd have to say they are ALL true. Kaiser is in it for the money.... nothing else! Even Kaiser employees say it's LOUSY care!!! Too Much!

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA -- Kaiser improperly released my father early from Oakland Kaiser to Vale Nursing Home in San Pablo, CA.

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND -- I am writing this as a follow up of a review of a complaint I have already posted. I think this one is very important because this truly reflects what Kaiser is about. In brief I broke a bone in my foot last month 4/1. Went to emergency room diagnosis broken 5th metatarsal. Recommendation, follow up with ortho surgeon. Primary approved. Ortho division vetoed. Spoke to several representatives and kept going back to ortho refusing to see me. Referred me to Podiatrist. Because of the nature of my break I felt I needed specialty.

In previous review I give info to outside ortho consult I sought. Returned to Kaiser to remove cast (hard cast). X-ray shows have not healed. Point one they were untrue when they told me Ortho's do not handle anything below the ankle. Second untruth they told me there is no other alternative method of treatment. Doctor was very arrogant and rude. I asked about options other than hard cast. The hard cast is the only option I am told. I know this to be untrue from consults outside of Kaiser. I said I did not want another hard cast that there are other options that I am aware of.

I am asking him questions and he is getting loud and dismissive of my questions and concerns. He finally tells me that I can either have the cast or you can fill out a refusal of service and go somewhere else. This is after my cast is off. He continues to be rude and I tell him I don't like how he is talking to me and that he does not know how I feel. He says he does but very nasty. I tell him "No, you do not know how 'I' feel. These are my feelings". At that point he just decides he is done. He just calls out for someone to bring me the refusal of service form, walks out in my face, and flings his arm back like "forget you". I am maaad!

A female tech comes into console me because I am shaking and starting to cry. I ask how long are they talking about keeping me in cast and if I can get referral to Ortho. She goes out to ask him and I hear them arguing and she is sticking up for me. I hear him go "I don't want anything else to do with her." So three weeks in cast and he refuses to give me a consul. I had some phone numbers to corporate people and start calling. I hear the tech tell him that I am calling to report him and that I should. Two women who are representative came directly to talk to me after one of my calls and asked me what occurred. Just damage control.

I was so shaken up by this I was crying, very nervous, and getting a headache. I will be following up with whatever Kaiser representative that I can. There is more to this but would be long. If anyone wants details feel free to contact me or if anyone has any advice as to what if any actions I can take I would appreciate.

RPSEVILKE, CALIFORNIA -- It was determined in mid August 2017 that I needed a new right knee BUT they won't be able to do the surgery till January 2018 MAYBE! They said they would let me know In early Jan. I am stunned at this point that they can't give me an actual date. Anyone else had this problem?

PORTLAND, OREGON -- I have been trying to talk to someone in billing, but I give up after waiting 50 min on hold. I have tried 4 times this month.

WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA -- I broke my ankle, went to urgent care ($40 copay). They referred me to orthopedics ($40 copay). They told me I needed to go to the "casting dept", but they only put casts on from 8 am to 10 am and it's on a first come first serve basis so get there by 7 am the next day. That's 2 days with a broken ankle, with no brace and no cast. 7 am the next day I arrive and sit with many other people with broken bones waiting for their casts. I saw an "attendant" ($40 copay) who was very rude. For my follow up visits if I wanted to see an orthopedist it would take 2 months to get an appointment, so I could only see an assistant also for a $40 copay.

Now that I am assigned to an assistant, I can not see an orthopedist, only the assistant. After 6 weeks, the "assistant" told me I should be healed and to "just walk on it". That was 7 months ago and many complications and lack of answers. I have run the gambit of seeing Podiatrists, Physical Therapists (which you cannot get a standing appointment for each week). Today I called to ask the Orthopedists assistant can renew my temporary handicapped placard, because Physical Therapist can't do it, and orthopedics said they won't renew it because I should "be healed by now".

My records indicate that I am in physical therapy, and still walking with a cane. The person on the phone said maybe he would renew it if I came to see him again ($40 copay). It could be so easy, but Kaiser doesn't make anything easy. Most times when I've gone to Kaiser for anything it's been an assistant, not a doctor or there is about a 2 month wait. Why is the copay the same to see an assistant as it is a doctor? If I could get off Kaiser I would in a heartbeat.

PARMA, OHIO -- My husband broke his hip and was finally taken to a hospital after a month of suffering due to Kaiser's lack of caring. For a long time he seemed to be deteriorating in his ability to walk, and no matter how many doctors and therapists I took him to no one seemed to know what was wrong. They would all shake their heads and say they never saw anything like it. All he could do was to lay on the sofa in the family room and painfully do some walking.

On December 21st, 2004, my husband went to take a shower upstairs (I wasn't home) and his leg gave out (he lost his other leg in an accident in 1984). He didn't fall but slowly slid down. He couldn't move even to get to a phone. I was gone a few hours and when I returned I had to call 911.

At Kaiser emergency the doctor said it was his sciatic nerve (the doctor wouldn't give him an X-ray) and gave him pain medications and released him even with my objections. I had to call my daughter and son-in-law to help get him in the house. Even with their help, we had to pull and drag him over the ground.

He stayed like that, immovable until I begged Kaiser to get him in for a bone scan and MRI. You can not believe how hard it was to get an appointment or these tests. At first they wanted him to wait much longer. It was only when I was calling every day that they relented and gave us a time for both tests to be done. That is when they saw the fracture. Of course the rest is history.

The surgeon verified that his hip was broken since the Dec 21st incident. He is now at home and recovering. However when I requested Kaiser refund the 50.00 co-pay fee we had to pay for the Dec. 21st emergency visit, they told me that the ER doctor said I should take him to pain management. Therefore, we are not expected to receive a refund.

This was almost a month of pain and suffering my husband had to endure with a broken hip and we were not even given an apology but to add insult to injury, we were billed for it. I heard you might do a documentary on Healthcare. I certainly hope you do. We need to expose the total lack of caring and insensitivity in the field.