Name: Kaiser Permanente Review
Item: Kaiser Permanente
Rating: 4.00
Author: Les Masterson

Ratings

Health

Overall Rating

Claims Processing

Customer Service

Value for Price

Website and Apps

% Who Would Recommend to a Friend

% Who Plan to Renew

90%

AM Best Financial Strength Ratings

July 01, 2021

HOW WE WEIGH OUR SCORE

Price35%
Customer service25%
Claims20%
Website and app10%
Renew/Recommend10%

WHAT IS THIS RATING?

A.M. Best's Financial Strength Rating is an independent opinion of an insurer's financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations.

A.M. Best's rating is NOT used to calculate the overall score but it is important information to consider when choosing an insurance company.

Reasons for Buying

Customers of Kaiser Permanente originally decided to purchase from the company for these reasons:

30% It's a health plan my employer offers
17% Reputation
16% Offered best price
15% Recommended by friend or family member
8% I have/had other insurance with this company
5% Saw online ad
5% Saw TV commercial
3% My parent's health company
1% The company website and mobile apps are easy to use and helpful

Go to Kaiser Permanente site now to get a quote

Customer Complaint Ratio

( Kaiser Permanente’s customer complaint ratio for Group Health insurance is 2.16 )

2.16

0 1 3 10+

Lower number is better

0 to 1.00

1.01 to 3.00

3.01 and above

Best health insurance companies 2021: Kaiser Permanente

Together We Thrive.

Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care consortium that is based in Oakland, California. Kaiser is a bit different than many insurance companies in that it not only provides insurance but also owns the hospitals and clinics its customers typically access for care.

Kaiser Permanente is made up of three interdependent groups: the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. (KFHP) and its regional operating subsidiaries, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and the regional Permanente Medical Groups.

Kaiser is the largest managed care organization in the United States and currently has over 12 million members and operates 39 hospitals. In addition, Kaiser has over 700 medical offices and employs 217,000 personnel which includes over 80,000 physicians and nurses.

How Kaiser Permanente stacks up

Kaiser Permanente earned the number 1 spot in our annual Best Health Insurance Companies review. They earned 3.5 to 4 out of 5-star ratings in each category including claims, price, customer service and website & apps.

Eighty-seven percent of Kaiser Permanente customers said they would recommend the company to others and 90% said they planned to renew their plan with Kaiser.

Would you renew?

90% Yes

10% No

Ratings on Website & Apps

Completely satisfied / Outstanding website & apps that give me what I need and more 44%
Fairly satisfied / Fulfills my needs OK 28%
Average website and apps 18%
Very unsatisfied / digital offering is severely lacking 5%
Unsatisfied / website and/or apps are not fulfilling my needs 3%

How do you prefer to deal with insurer and policy?

Phone 36%
Interactive website 24%
In person 21%
Mobile App 13%
Email 6%

Kaiser Permanente coverages

Health Insurance for Individuals and Families
Medicare plans
Medicaid and Medi-Cal Plans
Health insurance plans offered via employers
Charitable Health Coverage

About Kaiser Permanente:

In 1945, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser partnered with founding physician Sidney R. Garfield, MD, to open a system of prepaid care to the public in Northern California. Unions viewed the plan as labor-friendly and affordable and formed a huge and welcome membership base in the formative years.

In 1950, Kaiser started the Kaiser Foundation School of Nursing to help fill a nursing shortage following World War II and in 1956, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. was established as an independent nonprofit California corporation.

Kaiser established the Kaiser Foundation Harbor Hospital in 1957 which was the first hospital in the country built for members of an employer-sponsored health care plan. It initially provided care to International Longshore and Warehouse Union employees and their families.

In 1976, as health care was changing, Kaiser Permanente’s demonstrated affordability was specifically acknowledged as they were recognized as the best health plan model for the groundbreaking Health Maintenance Organization Act, signed into law in December 1973. Kaiser had turned all of their health plans into qualified HMOs by 1976.

Electronic medical records came to Kaiser in 2003, Kaiser created secure, 24/7 access to up-to-date patient records with no geographic boundaries.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Kaiser dramatically increased its telehealth system. Virtual care visits rose from about 15% of all visits to about 80%, including more than 30,000 a day via video.

In which states Kaiser Permanente is available?

States in which Kaiser Permanente is available
California
Colorado
Georgia
Hawaii
Maryland
Oregon
Virginia
Washington
Washington D.C.

Contact Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Plaza, 19th floor

Oakland, CA 94612

Member services (800)464-4000

Our survey asked policyholders to share experiences or give feedback that they would like to share with others looking to potentially buy from their current insurance company. Here's what they had to say:

"I would tell them that they show check it out because it's very affordable and they have answers to all your questions."

-Age 18, California

"Doctors are the best, great price and fast customer service."

-Age 20, California

"Its amazing."

-Age 20, California

"Great rates and cheap insurance"

-Age 21, Colorado

"Good enough"

-Age 21, Oregon

"Customer service good. Price is good depending on what you need."

-Age 22, Washington

"Good company"

-Age 24, California

"Not a fan"

-Age 24, Georgia

"If you're eligible its the best you are going to get."

-Age 25, Washington

"It isn't for everyone. Please be careful when buying it."

-Age 25, Washington

"Always amazing customer service, easy to make appointments. Flexible pay"

-Age 26, California

"It's just okay"

-Age 27, California

"Excellent customer service"

-Age 27, California

"That they should switch because this is a great company"

-Age 27, California

"Excellent service"

-Age 27, Colorado

"It is good pricing wise"

-Age 28, California

"I'll tell them they have the best doctors available and it's a good insurance they can rely on"

-Age 29, Colorado

"Good mental health professionals"

-Age 30, California

"Nice customer service and appointment people."

-Age 30, Georgia

"I am satisfied with my coverage and policy"

-Age 31, California

"I would always consider this insurance to them"

-Age 31, California

"Good coverage and prices"

-Age 33, California

"Very reliable and premium care, attentive with lots of healthcare options and doctors"

-Age 34, California

"Good deal and good payment plans."

-Age 35, California

"Kaiser is all in house, no waiting by mail for a referral to see a podiatrist, your primary dr makes the referral right there in the computer, and it's that fast!"

-Age 35, California

"They're straightforward and reliable"

-Age 35, California

"The price is affordable, there is flexibility in payments, it has very good coverage and the benefits are excellent"

-Age 35, Colorado

"I'm not too sure"

-Age 35, Georgia

"It's great.I like it a lot"

-Age 35, Washington

"Good insurance"

-Age 36, California

"I would say that I've never had a reason to have much interaction other than the customer service upon sign up"

-Age 37, Georgia

"It stresses me out working with them."

-Age 38, Colorado

"I am satisfied with my coverage but I haven't interacted with them too much"

-Age 39, California

"I thought they have been a pretty good company and woud recommend to others "

-Age 40, California

"Thiscompany offers me a tension-free insurance"

-Age 40, California

"Really good service"

-Age 40, Virginia

"All services can be found in the same area without having to track down doctors or locations"

-Age 41, California

"It has been okay at least it's not a headache to get our claims paid with Kaiser"

-Age 41, Oregon

"Very expensive to the point of absurdity, however the best pediatric doctors and nurses I have ever had. Fantastic neo natal department and programs. Again, waaaaay too expensive"

-Age 41, Oregon

"Like what all I can do online."

-Age 42, Oregon

"It is a great company"

-Age 44, Oregon

"I've been happy for 20 years with them."

-Age 46, Washington

"That his is a reputable company"

-Age 46, Washington

"It's very convenient to use and they have a variety of plans and coverage."

-Age 47, Georgia

"Their phone system is not the best, as it takes a long time to get things done with them. The prices and claims are pretty reasonable."

-Age 49, Hawaii

"We have never had issues with the care or services provided. Would I like to spend less - YES! But I can't complain about most of the care, doctors, employees and experiences."

-Age 52, California

"Only positive experiences over many years."

-Age 54, California

"KP is very accessible and covers most things under one roof"

-Age 54, Oregon

"Lots of options and good for the pharmacy since they ship the meds for free."

-Age 57, Washington

"Great coverage"

-Age 58, California

"Easy web site"

-Age 59, California

"They have great doctors"

-Age 60, Washington

"You can get everything you need at one facility."

-Age 61, Colorado

"Kaiser is an affordable and widely available health insurance option. They do have a challenging wait time for surgery's now. Doctors do their best to give you the time needed for your visit, but they can only do so much. I think the under promise a lot and do minimal increments of care though. We definitely need to be our own advocate to get the best care though."

-Age 63, California

"I feel safe subscribed to my Kaiser Insurance because it provides me with free surgery and appointments are $15 per copay or non mail order perscription."

-Age 64, Hawaii

"Innovative and excellent healthcare company"

-Age 65, Virginia

"It is very reasonable health insurance but it can do better by hiring more and better specialists / doctors"

-Age 66, California

"One stop shopping and easy to get meds"

-Age 66, California

"The best healthcare company out there"

-Age 66, California

"I would tell them that premiums are low and it is easy to see specialists."

-Age 67, California

"I have had this company for over five years and I have not had any real problems with this company and I really like my primary doctor"

-Age 67, Virginia

"Try it, you'll like it."

-Age 67, Washington

"I would tell them they are very reputable and care about you and your health."

-Age 68, California

"They are easy to work with"

-Age 68, California

"Flawless help and coverage"

-Age 68, Colorado

"Take a very long and in depth look at kaiser permanente"

-Age 69, California

"Been with my insurance company for over 30 yrs. They're the best!"

-Age 70, Colorado

"Kaiser has good hospitals and caring and compassionate staff."

-Age 72, California

"They have most of what you need in one location."

-Age 72, California

"I've been with them for 50 years and never had a problem."

-Age 74, California

"One of the very best health care companies I've had"

-Age 75, Virginia

"Broad coverage, great system"

-Age 76, California

"I feel my heatlh provider has done well through COVID 19 but the monthlty payment is not cheap."

-Age 77, Oregon

"40+ year relationship with excellent service"

-Age 78, California

"They have taken very good care of me for over 30 years."

-Age 85, California

Other Companies to Consider:

Kaiser Permanente Health Insurance Reviews And Ratings

Ratings

HOW WE WEIGH OUR SCORE

WHAT IS THIS RATING?

HOW WE WEIGH OUR SCORE

WHAT IS THIS RATING?

Reasons for Buying

Customer Complaint Ratio

Best health insurance companies 2021: Kaiser Permanente

How Kaiser Permanente stacks up

How likely to recommend?

Would you renew?

Ratings on Website & Apps

How do you prefer to deal with insurer and policy?

Kaiser Permanente coverages

About Kaiser Permanente:

In which states Kaiser Permanente is available?

Contact Kaiser Permanente

Other Companies to Consider: