Hi;
I can understand the frustration people have with Kaiser, my doctor has not gotten back to me yet (13 days now) and their web page says they are supposed to get back in 24 hours. People get medication that does not address what the real problem is.

The reason I am writing this 3cent response is because although Kaiser is over subscribed, the doctors overlook many life threatening problems and you sometimes feel like you are being rushed through, it is still ranked as the best health care coverage sytem, at least in Northern California where I live.

I live in Walnut Creek CA, where John Muir Medical Center is one the 50 best hospitals in the country per US News & World Reports, the best trauma center and a number of other distinctions, but not all doctors accept any one health care provider.

Blue Cross, Blue Shield for example are HMOs-PPOs which means you either get one of the doctors that accept the charges in their guidelines or you choose your own.

Choose your own and you may pay $5K per year and up for deductibles. You can pay yourself and be billed $2k per day for hospital stays.
I am not affiliated with Kaiser, it is November open enrollment and I would like to change to the better hospital. I have done lots of research and Googling (which brought me to my 3cents)

According satisfaction surveys in my area and across the country, people rank kaiser highest for the health care system. Not the hospital, not the doctors, not the emergency rooms, just the lack of hassle.

One other point that keeps me in Kaiser. It has no motivation to give you an operation that you do not need, keep you in a $2k bed when you don't need it or refer you to some other doctor who provides a kick back.

I hope this doesn't sound too much like a rant.

Cheers
Jack