my boyfriend has it and he likes it. However I've heard some really bad things about it. My guess is that its ok if you are not really sick and don't need major medical attention

Kaiser is a very large company, and like all companies in the health insurance field, you will hear good and bad things. Usually the larger the company, like Kaiser, you will hear more 'cons' because they insure a larger population which creates greater exposure. Kaiser is a good company, but I will tell you that it is your responsibility to understand what is and is not covered by the plan. After you have read over the details and you feel comfortable with it, you will find Kaiser a well run organization.

As a usually healthy person, I use my Kaiser Insurance mainly for Optometry, flu shots, and regular check ups. The major "pro" is having so many Kaiser facilities throughout the County of Los Angeles. Not all are hospitals but medical centers so be aware of the distinctions and be prepared to select two locations if necessary. If you do not choose a doctor, Kaiser will select a General Practioner for you. All Kaisers have walk-in appointments but, of course, it's best to call and make an appointment. They do have an outstanding Optometry Department, however, it depends on the facility. An example: I get much better service and care at the East Los Angeles Optometry than I do at San Dimas Optometry. The employees at East L.A. just seem to be happier and, therefore, will give patients better service. As for the con's....you will always talk to an message center and do not expect to talk to a person. While waiting to be seen at an appointment, I watched as employees let their phone ring then replayed messages and jotted what they played back. Although you may have an assigned doctor, you may not always have the same doctor. If you have specific concerns that require constant visits to doctors, i.e, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc., I would highly recommend going with another insurance company. It's always best to see a specialist rather than a General Practioner. In all, it's best to have medical insurance and Kaiser provide 100% care depending on what package your employer selects in health care benefits. Most insurance companies will provide only 80% or less of the cost and with a higher premium. In conclusion, I would highly recommend that you do your research by contacting someone at Kaiser Membership to weigh your pros and cons. Good luck! Eunice Liedahl

I had both of my babies at Kaiser. I loved it while I had it. When my daughter moved to go to school I got it for her. She had beautiful skin and I think the change in climate and the stress made her break out so bad that she went to a dermatologist at Kaiser. The first one gave her a perscription that made her skin so inflamed it didn't look like her skin anymore. So she waited the month called back, found out that they had taken that drug off the market! NO ONE followed up or called her to tell her that! She asked for an oral drug, got a different Dr. there still at Kaiser and now has beautiful skin once again. I think that if you are proactive and speak up when you feel something is not right...you are going to find quacks everywhere you go. At least with Kaiser, you have a better doctor right around the corner. I still want to give the first doctor a piece of my mind!

I have Kaiser, as do my parents. I've been on Kaiser since I was very little. I've always had good experiences with them. For routine medical care, checkups, prescriptions, etc - they work well. Very easy to call, or go online, and make an appointment. They have a website, where you can email your doctor, and in my experience - they've always responded. I can also say that they've given great emergency care. My mom broke her ankle (quite badly, it was turned to the side and purple!) and they took her in immediately, gave her something that knocked her out briefly while they temporarily set her foot (to regain blood flow) then did x-rays,etc and got her into surgery that night to repair her seriously broken ankle and foot. They put plates and screws in there, and she was off of her foot for months - but now it's all fixed and she hasn't had any issues since then. My mother is also a breast cancer survivor. She went through all her treatments (chemo, radiation, and a mastectomy) with Kaiser, and recieved excellent care all the way through. I know there are people out there who have had less than excellent care with Kaiser - but I think that can happen anywhere. My family has had good care with Kaiser, and I don't plan on cancelling my Kaiser plan any time soon.