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Prenatal/L&D with Kaiser or Anthem?
Posted this on the Local Bump Board as well, but thought I'd fish for info here too! TIA!
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Hi Ladies,
We're moving up to Portland at the end of the month (hubby's being transferred), and we have to choose our new health insurance. The big issue is we're TTC baby #1 and I'm trying to figure out from afar whether to go with Kaiser or Anthem PPO.
We're
minimal intervention people (natural as possible while still safe for Mum
and baby), and I want to work with a midwife, BUT we don't have buckets
of money to throw around, so need to work within the parameters of our
insurance. OH, and being able to labor in a tub for a while would be
stellar ;}
Other problem is we don't know where we'll be living yet, but probably to the W/SW (maybe Lake Oswego/Multnomah, though maybe Happy Valley...). If anyone with Anthem PPO is willing to tell me how the costs for the 9 months and then L&D added up, I'd be really grateful!
Thanks for any info/advice!
Re: Prenatal/L&D with Kaiser or Anthem?
I disagree with this but to each his own....Kaiser has good quality and service scores....also the integrated model can reduce lots of typical problems that happen in a PPO system.
Sorry I can not help with chosing Anthem...I have never heard of them.
To expound on my previous post, I've known at least 3 people who had Kaiser when they had minor problems. The minor problems (all different, one an ingrown toenail, one gastrointestinal, one diabetes related) could have been fixed with some preventative measures. Kaiser refused to do anything until the minor problems turned major.
I spoke with a friend today who delivered two pregnancies with Kaiser. She said overall it was fine but that she saw a different doctor every appointment and she didn't like that. She said they had the same problem with pediatricians - someone different every time - but that they have not had that problem since switching to a family practitioner.
I looked up Anthem and see that they are part of Blue Cross/Blue Shield but the website does not show that they are offered in Oregon...?
TTC #1 since May 2010. BFP #1 - 5/31/10; m/c on 7/22/10
Started seeing RE in August 2011
5 IUIs: BFN; IVF #1 - Success! BFP - 7/25/12
Obviously people have different experiences.
I was not excited about getting Kaiser through DH's work a few years ago, but it was the only option, so we went with it. I found a fabulous OB and saw only her and one other OB throughout my entire pregnancy. It was not hard at ALL to make an appointment with her, and I never had to meet with different OBs or midwives at all.
They really listened to me about not wanting to be induced, letting me go way past my due date, etc.
I had a great birth experience at Sunnyside, all of the nurses and doctors were great. Since then, I have met with 3 different pediatricians. We have our primary pediatrician that we see 90% of the time, and for random sick visits, they are great with getting us in in an hour.
I pay $20 copay for visits, and our out of pocket cost for an emergency c-section and 5 days in the hospital, was $0. DH had to go to the emergency room a few months ago and it cost us $75.
We used to be able to choose Kaiser but I never did. Too many of my colleagues had issues with them. One died from a preventable infection when he was battling lymphoma. One student of ours was dealing with chronic back pain and they never took her seriously or helped her adequately and in the end she took her own life because she couldn't bear the pain any more. And one of my close colleagues has them now and while she is fairly healthy I always hear stories of how they try to avoid having to treat her for minor things.
We used to have BCBS (but not Anthem) and I was happy with them. It cost a little bit more but I felt more secure with the quality of service and the ability to choose my own doctors.
My amateur photo blog
I'm the OP, and just to clarify; we're in CA right now and the PPO option is BCBS/Anthem, and I believe that when we get up to Portland our PPO option will be whatever BCBS affiliate is available there. DH's company has a CR*P human resources dept (one person for a 400 employee plant???), so I'm not positive, but working with the info I can get! ;} Thanks for all the input ladies!
Good luck with whatever you decide. I have Kaiser currently. I have issues that I would like checked out, but because I am "to young" for them, it is like pulling teeth to get them to give me the tests that I want done. I have liked having one GP and one OB, but my initial appt for each took over a month. Oh, and I was told after my first appt with my doctor that she was not taking new patients, and I would have to find a different doctor, but membership services made me keep her, so I felt as if I had a dr that didn't want me.
If you ever have to see a specialist about anything, be prepared to wait....and wait...and wait! I still don't have any answers for issues that I have been trying to resolve for over a year.
A co-worker needed surgery and it took over a month to get in to see an orthopedic surgon, then another month or two once all of the consultations were done to get into surgery. She was blown away at how long she waited.
I also went to their vision center, and I hated the doctor that saw me!!!!!!! Immediatly, he started talking down to me, not believeing that I have issues with my eyes, or that adults should ever get the kind of surgery I had two years ago, and need again...forget the problem, they just would never do that on an adult. All I wanted was a refural to the doctor who did the surgery in the first place, but he refused. Also my name is Jessica, and only close friends and family EVER call me Jess...well this doctor without asking me, took it upon himself to call me Jess...I was so mad at this man, and will never go back to him again!
I do like their coverage of alternative treatments...and this may be what you need to look more into. They have a push and focus on health (also took 2 months to get an appt with the nutritionist), and atleast with my work, they offer alternative care at $25 a pop. I can get massages once a month, and chiropracter and acupuncutre treatments. The only one I have taken advantage of is the massage.
I have had Blue Cross before, and LOVED them. You have more choice where you go, and who you are treated by. You are not stuck in one infrustructure and one system. You can see who suits you and go from there. I don't know what your coverage would be on having a child, but I don't have anything bad to say about that.
I am grateful that I have a job that provides insurance (atleast for the next three weeks until I quit), however, I do wish I had more say in the matter!