Those with medical benefits...
 

What are the advantages/disadvantages of a medical group like Kaiser Permanente for your medical coverage over a private doctor?

I see advantages of Kaiser being more up to date technology, greater research capabilities to keep up on medical breakthroughs, and ease of use with everything being available at one location (pharmacy, x-rays, internet appointments and perscription refills, etc.).

Disadvantages being Kaiser is not very personal, you don't always get to see your chosen doctor, hard to get appointments due to too many patients, less one-on-one time with doctor (doctor always seems rushed to get to the next patient), and a lot of beuracracy with paperwork and such.

Am I wrong in these thoughts and does anyone have greater insight into which is the better choice?

Re: Those with medical benefits...
 

What are the advantages/disadvantages of a medical group like Kaiser Permanente for your medical coverage over a private doctor?

Most private doctors do not want to participate with an HMO/PPO because their services get capitated, meaning they only get paid the contracted amount from the insurance company. They cannot balance bill what insurance does not pay.

Theroretically they can get a$$-raped from the insurance companies. Thats why most cosmetic surgeons do not participate with an HMO or PPO.

Re: Those with medical benefits...
 

[ QUOTE ]
What are the advantages/disadvantages of a medical group like Kaiser Permanente for your medical coverage over a private doctor?

Most private doctors do not want to participate with an HMO/PPO because their services get capitated, meaning they only get paid the contracted amount from the insurance company. They cannot balance bill what insurance does not pay.

Theroretically they can get a$$-raped from the insurance companies. Thats why most cosmetic surgeons do not participate with an HMO or PPO.

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What I'm asking though is, given the choice with coverage being identical, what are the advantages of a person using Kaiser for their medical needs rather than a private practice doctor and vice-versa?

Re: Those with medical benefits...
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What are the advantages/disadvantages of a medical group like Kaiser Permanente for your medical coverage over a private doctor?

Most private doctors do not want to participate with an HMO/PPO because their services get capitated, meaning they only get paid the contracted amount from the insurance company. They cannot balance bill what insurance does not pay.

Theroretically they can get a$$-raped from the insurance companies. Thats why most cosmetic surgeons do not participate with an HMO or PPO.

[/ QUOTE ]

What I'm asking though is, given the choice with coverage being identical, what are the advantages of a person using Kaiser for their medical needs rather than a private practice doctor and vice-versa?

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Personal preference. Eventually all medical offices will get run this way due to escalating health cares costs.

Someone like me could care less. I have visisted a doctor once in the last three years. I want to go in and out. I do not need a personal physician that knows my medical history.

Someone that has a reason to see a doctor often most likely wants a doctor that he or she will feel at ease with and knows well.

Consider it like taking your car to the dealer's service center for an oil change compared to taking it to a Jiffy Lube.

Re: Those with medical benefits...
 

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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What are the advantages/disadvantages of a medical group like Kaiser Permanente for your medical coverage over a private doctor?

Most private doctors do not want to participate with an HMO/PPO because their services get capitated, meaning they only get paid the contracted amount from the insurance company. They cannot balance bill what insurance does not pay.

Theroretically they can get a$$-raped from the insurance companies. Thats why most cosmetic surgeons do not participate with an HMO or PPO.

[/ QUOTE ]

What I'm asking though is, given the choice with coverage being identical, what are the advantages of a person using Kaiser for their medical needs rather than a private practice doctor and vice-versa?

[/ QUOTE ]

Personal preference. Eventually all medical offices will get run this way due to escalating health cares costs.

Someone like me could care less. I have visisted a doctor once in the last three years. I want to go in and out. I do not need a personal physician that knows my medical history.

Someone that has a reason to see a doctor often most likely wants a doctor that he or she will feel at ease with and knows well.

Consider it like taking your car to the dealer's service center for an oil change compared to taking it to a Jiffy Lube.

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I guess my main concern is who is going to offer the best services. I have a small child so we are at the doctor quite a bit. I wonder most about a privte-practice doctor keeping up to date with the most modern advances in medicine. I would assume that Kaiser is going to have more control over what procedures and diagnosis their doctors are making and will keep them up-to-date with the latest and best stuff. But then again, when has a large company every functioned that efficiently?

Re: Those with medical benefits...
 

For a child, I would suggest a pediatrician who will get to know your child.

I had a friend who kept his pediatrician until he turned 22, because the pediatrician knew him so well.

Re: Those with medical benefits...
 

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For a child, I would suggest a pediatrician who will get to know your child.

I had a friend who kept his pediatrician until he turned 22, because the pediatrician knew him so well.

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So you think there is no discernable difference to the treatments and procedures you would recieve from either?

Re: Those with medical benefits...
 

Kaiser will not keep the regular doctors or any other doctors up to date. The doctors do this on their own. When I had a private doctor he spent a number of hours a week keeping up with whats going on. Also, remember, in both private practice and and at an hmo/ppo/etc the doctor you see probably won't be the doctor who will do an operation/special test if needed. A specialist will perform these things. Good luck in getting them approved in a timely matter, if at all. Also, wasn't Kaiser in the news lately(ca.) about shady medical practices. If money/premiums are not a factor then private doctors is the way to go imho.

Re: Those with medical benefits...
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
For a child, I would suggest a pediatrician who will get to know your child.

I had a friend who kept his pediatrician until he turned 22, because the pediatrician knew him so well.

[/ QUOTE ]

So you think there is no discernable difference to the treatments and procedures you would recieve from either?

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I would suggest a private physician for a child. Not a large medical center.

Your child will most likely never see the same doctor.