APS and new healthcare provider

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I sympathize with you, APS teachers on Kaiser. It is not easy to find new doctors right now, but they’re out there. Good news is that this is likely a one time switch- most practices around here participate in many of the big plans.

As hard as this is, you not winning any supporters with this. Stop trying to get the parents to do your bidding for you. It’s unprofessional. The Board has a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers to ensure that the benefits that are being provided to you are being obtained at a reasonable cost commensurate with market rates. Insurance plans cost a whole lot more than the small fraction you individually pay.

Additionally - All of us in corporate land have been through insurer changes, along with massive YoY increases in premiums or deductibles, and limits on service. You are being offered what appears to be a great plan at a competitive cost. Stop threatening to quit or call out for days on end unless you’d like to come experience employer coverage out here in the wild.

Or maybe, just maybe we CARE about the kids we teach and feel bad that we will have to take days off because we know it sucks, but it is also the only way we are given. It isn’t a threat, just the reality of what we are facing.

This has nothing to do with insurance plans changing. I know some people are asking for more days off to "look for more doctors" That's nonsense. Most of this can be done online at any time of day. Even if not, our contract hours allow for phone calls.

No, my kid needs to be brought to a doctor so her multiple therapies can be approved. I need to take medicine for a chronic condition. I suppose after being in Kaiser for 20 years, I could be out of it, but I doubt a doctor will just approve and write a prescription without ever seeing me. I can pick a doctor out online, in fact I already have on the BCBS website. That doesn’t mean I can get him to prescribe meds sight unseen. We have to SEE the doctor and that can’t be done outside of contract hours.

It’s harder but not impossible. That’s an advantage non-Kaiser plans, more locations. I’ve taken 7:30 appointments and 4:30 several times before. That being said I absolutely think you should take sick time for the appointments if it’s easier for you!

I’m really confused over why this is such a big deal. Prescriptions are usually good for a while until they expire. The change in insurance wouldn’t be until the new year. Why couldn’t you get your prescriptions renewed with your old doctor first? Yes it’s annoying to get a new doctor but most people have to do that regularly anyways. Changing insurance is no big deal.

did you listen to the public comments at the Board meeting? One retired teacher called TEN doctor's offices and no one would accept her or her husband (who needs heart surgery).

maybe educate yourself before you diminish this. It IS a big deal.

You can search on the VHC (system) website for doctors accepting new patients. And book an appointment online. This is not that complicated.

Which ones are available for heart surgery?

Cardiologists most likely

Which ones that are booked several months out will let you make an appointment for January now, before you have your new insurance card?

That’s what the phone is for. Do we need to tell you how to use that as well because you seem incapable of basic life skills?

Finding new doctors when you have a complicated health situation is not easy. I've been helping a family member with a new medical condition and it's been very time consuming.

Be thankful that your healthcare is easily handled by a quick search on one website.

Yet you have time to come here and complain 🙄

WTF is wrong with you? Stop being such a twot.

It's someone who enjoys bashing teachers. We saw enough of that during the pandemic but they are still out there. And we wonder why teachers are leaving.

[Anonymous]

Teacher haters gonna hate.

Funny how some dismiss the challenges of finding healthcare providers for complex health situations while others complain about not knowing how to sign up to speak at a SB meeting. Complicated bunch.

[Anonymous]

HR said retirees over 65 will be able to stay with Kaiser, as of today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HR said retirees over 65 will be able to stay with Kaiser, as of today

Oh so happy for them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HR said retirees over 65 will be able to stay with Kaiser, as of today

Different economics for those Medicare plans.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I sympathize with you, APS teachers on Kaiser. It is not easy to find new doctors right now, but they’re out there. Good news is that this is likely a one time switch- most practices around here participate in many of the big plans.

As hard as this is, you not winning any supporters with this. Stop trying to get the parents to do your bidding for you. It’s unprofessional. The Board has a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers to ensure that the benefits that are being provided to you are being obtained at a reasonable cost commensurate with market rates. Insurance plans cost a whole lot more than the small fraction you individually pay.

Additionally - All of us in corporate land have been through insurer changes, along with massive YoY increases in premiums or deductibles, and limits on service. You are being offered what appears to be a great plan at a competitive cost. Stop threatening to quit or call out for days on end unless you’d like to come experience employer coverage out here in the wild.

Or maybe, just maybe we CARE about the kids we teach and feel bad that we will have to take days off because we know it sucks, but it is also the only way we are given. It isn’t a threat, just the reality of what we are facing.

This has nothing to do with insurance plans changing. I know some people are asking for more days off to "look for more doctors" That's nonsense. Most of this can be done online at any time of day. Even if not, our contract hours allow for phone calls.

No, my kid needs to be brought to a doctor so her multiple therapies can be approved. I need to take medicine for a chronic condition. I suppose after being in Kaiser for 20 years, I could be out of it, but I doubt a doctor will just approve and write a prescription without ever seeing me. I can pick a doctor out online, in fact I already have on the BCBS website. That doesn’t mean I can get him to prescribe meds sight unseen. We have to SEE the doctor and that can’t be done outside of contract hours.

It’s harder but not impossible. That’s an advantage non-Kaiser plans, more locations. I’ve taken 7:30 appointments and 4:30 several times before. That being said I absolutely think you should take sick time for the appointments if it’s easier for you!

I’m really confused over why this is such a big deal. Prescriptions are usually good for a while until they expire. The change in insurance wouldn’t be until the new year. Why couldn’t you get your prescriptions renewed with your old doctor first? Yes it’s annoying to get a new doctor but most people have to do that regularly anyways. Changing insurance is no big deal.

did you listen to the public comments at the Board meeting? One retired teacher called TEN doctor's offices and no one would accept her or her husband (who needs heart surgery).

maybe educate yourself before you diminish this. It IS a big deal.

You can search on the VHC (system) website for doctors accepting new patients. And book an appointment online. This is not that complicated.

Which ones are available for heart surgery?

Cardiologists most likely

Which ones that are booked several months out will let you make an appointment for January now, before you have your new insurance card?

That’s what the phone is for. Do we need to tell you how to use that as well because you seem incapable of basic life skills?

Finding new doctors when you have a complicated health situation is not easy. I've been helping a family member with a new medical condition and it's been very time consuming.

Be thankful that your healthcare is easily handled by a quick search on one website.

If it’s urgent, there are continuity of care provisions in place. If it’s not urgent, then I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but it is what it is. For comparison, your Kaiser doctor could have decided to go on vacation or get sick that week and you would have been in the same position.

The point is that it can be more than "inconvenient" to find new providers. Stop trivializing other people's situations when you clearly don't understand them.

It is inconvenient, greatly so. But it is not catastrophic. Catastrophic is losing your job and your private coverage. Try keeping some perspective.