Anonymous
Post 10/06/2023 07:08     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Leaving Kaiser was such a great thing for our family. I wish people would just take a breath and realize that this doesn't have to be viewed as a catastrophe. Based upon what I've seen and heard from providers, those services that took forever to line up aren't nearly as challenging outside Kaiser. I personally experienced much faster care when we got out.

Also, I wish these things were kept in staff only pages. There is no reason to communicating this in front of parents.


Just left Kaiser because of a job change and everything is waaaay more complicated. Searching for doctors, searching to see whats covered, making appointments on several different apps to include the whole family, coordinating referrals for from doctor's offices and having to make a bunch of calls. So not everyone has your experience.

Genuine question, do many other plans require referrals? Kaiser is the only place that’s ever been an issue for me. I’ve asked for referrals from my doc via a mychart message but they haven’t been required on other plans (husband’s job switched yearly for a time)
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 15:09     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Leaving Kaiser was such a great thing for our family. I wish people would just take a breath and realize that this doesn't have to be viewed as a catastrophe. Based upon what I've seen and heard from providers, those services that took forever to line up aren't nearly as challenging outside Kaiser. I personally experienced much faster care when we got out.

Also, I wish these things were kept in staff only pages. There is no reason to communicating this in front of parents.


I'm a parent and I'm glad to know of this. When will people learn that staff's problems impact students? Parents like to complain about staff shortages, maybe delve deeper and support staff and we wouldn't have this problem.


Exactly. They need time and patience during this transition.


Thoughts and prayers.
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 12:46     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Leaving Kaiser was such a great thing for our family. I wish people would just take a breath and realize that this doesn't have to be viewed as a catastrophe. Based upon what I've seen and heard from providers, those services that took forever to line up aren't nearly as challenging outside Kaiser. I personally experienced much faster care when we got out.

Also, I wish these things were kept in staff only pages. There is no reason to communicating this in front of parents.


Just left Kaiser because of a job change and everything is waaaay more complicated. Searching for doctors, searching to see whats covered, making appointments on several different apps to include the whole family, coordinating referrals for from doctor's offices and having to make a bunch of calls. So not everyone has your experience.


It can be more complicated at the beginning. But once you've established your new doctors, it really isn't.
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 12:29     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
Anonymous wrote:Leaving Kaiser was such a great thing for our family. I wish people would just take a breath and realize that this doesn't have to be viewed as a catastrophe. Based upon what I've seen and heard from providers, those services that took forever to line up aren't nearly as challenging outside Kaiser. I personally experienced much faster care when we got out.

Also, I wish these things were kept in staff only pages. There is no reason to communicating this in front of parents.


I agree. It's one thing to rally behind staff for good benefits in general. It's another to have to get involved in specific details and to see their grievance discussions on specific issues.
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 12:19     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Leaving Kaiser was such a great thing for our family. I wish people would just take a breath and realize that this doesn't have to be viewed as a catastrophe. Based upon what I've seen and heard from providers, those services that took forever to line up aren't nearly as challenging outside Kaiser. I personally experienced much faster care when we got out.

Also, I wish these things were kept in staff only pages. There is no reason to communicating this in front of parents.


Just left Kaiser because of a job change and everything is waaaay more complicated. Searching for doctors, searching to see whats covered, making appointments on several different apps to include the whole family, coordinating referrals for from doctor's offices and having to make a bunch of calls. So not everyone has your experience.

It’s going to be easier for some people, harder for others. I do think it’s a problem when some people loudly proclaim it’s going to be an issue for everyone, getting people worked up with misinformation in the process
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 11:38     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Leaving Kaiser was such a great thing for our family. I wish people would just take a breath and realize that this doesn't have to be viewed as a catastrophe. Based upon what I've seen and heard from providers, those services that took forever to line up aren't nearly as challenging outside Kaiser. I personally experienced much faster care when we got out.

Also, I wish these things were kept in staff only pages. There is no reason to communicating this in front of parents.


I'm a parent and I'm glad to know of this. When will people learn that staff's problems impact students? Parents like to complain about staff shortages, maybe delve deeper and support staff and we wouldn't have this problem.


Exactly. They need time and patience during this transition.
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 11:31     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
Anonymous wrote:Leaving Kaiser was such a great thing for our family. I wish people would just take a breath and realize that this doesn't have to be viewed as a catastrophe. Based upon what I've seen and heard from providers, those services that took forever to line up aren't nearly as challenging outside Kaiser. I personally experienced much faster care when we got out.

Also, I wish these things were kept in staff only pages. There is no reason to communicating this in front of parents.


I'm a parent and I'm glad to know of this. When will people learn that staff's problems impact students? Parents like to complain about staff shortages, maybe delve deeper and support staff and we wouldn't have this problem.
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 09:16     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
Anonymous wrote:Leaving Kaiser was such a great thing for our family. I wish people would just take a breath and realize that this doesn't have to be viewed as a catastrophe. Based upon what I've seen and heard from providers, those services that took forever to line up aren't nearly as challenging outside Kaiser. I personally experienced much faster care when we got out.

Also, I wish these things were kept in staff only pages. There is no reason to communicating this in front of parents.


Just left Kaiser because of a job change and everything is waaaay more complicated. Searching for doctors, searching to see whats covered, making appointments on several different apps to include the whole family, coordinating referrals for from doctor's offices and having to make a bunch of calls. So not everyone has your experience.
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 08:40     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
Leaving Kaiser was such a great thing for our family. I wish people would just take a breath and realize that this doesn't have to be viewed as a catastrophe. Based upon what I've seen and heard from providers, those services that took forever to line up aren't nearly as challenging outside Kaiser. I personally experienced much faster care when we got out.

Also, I wish these things were kept in staff only pages. There is no reason to communicating this in front of parents.
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 07:11     Subject: Re:APS and new healthcare provider
Anonymous wrote:Businesses /orgs should consider all of this before making Kaiser an option in the first place. This is a problem with the Kaiser model, not APS (APS should have been transparent about the change, and I get that that’s on them, but Kaiser’s structure is what’s causing the headache for everyone).

That’s a good point. I grew up in the west and had Kaiser and it worked so much better there because the network is much more extensive and it’s just generally administered better. I found it to be really poor in this region.
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 06:42     Subject: Re:APS and new healthcare provider
Businesses /orgs should consider all of this before making Kaiser an option in the first place. This is a problem with the Kaiser model, not APS (APS should have been transparent about the change, and I get that that’s on them, but Kaiser’s structure is what’s causing the headache for everyone).
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 06:19     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
There’s an HR job fair and I don’t think many of the repeat offenders are making the connection that their constant panicked emails may be leading people to quit, not to mention that people are furious at their PTO
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 05:58     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They are giving staff a paid day off to look for new doctors and allowing flexibility on the professional development day for a benefits open house.


That´s generous.

Yes, and yet some staff are more upset than ever judging by the response in the teacher’s group


Yes, now they are complaining about it.

First off, 50% off aren't using Kaiser. So what? Those 50% don't count ? could it possibly be that 50% of staff might be happy with a change? I guess they don't matter...
And the hysterics are next level. They think that apparently there are no doctors who can see any patients ever, at any time, in the Wash DC area for the next year. I can tell that not one of the people complaining have bothered to actually call a doctor's office to make an appointment. And they need to attend the info sessions because they don't understand that you don't need whatever this primary care "establish care" visit they are freaking out over. That sounds like something Kaiser would make you do. Meanwhile I just picked a specialist with good reviews, called their office and made an appointment.

And that letter that was sent by AEA? what a mess! For goodness sakes, use chat gpt next time and at least get something professional. The things that were in that letter make them sound like they have absolutely no clue about how any kind of contract or procurement happens and if they are representing teachers, yes, they should understand the basics.

I’m one of the people who is using Kaiser and happy to switch. Cigna isn’t great but I’ve had good experience with BCBS in the past.
Anonymous
Post 10/05/2023 04:00     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
I would hate to lose Kaiser - it is so much easier to use and works so differently than other types of healthcare. Would cause a big upheaval to our lives if we had to change (maybe ACPS can get some arlington teachers back from this since a bunch left to Arlington to try to get their steps back last year.)
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2023 23:39     Subject: APS and new healthcare provider
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They are giving staff a paid day off to look for new doctors and allowing flexibility on the professional development day for a benefits open house.


That´s generous.

Yes, and yet some staff are more upset than ever judging by the response in the teacher’s group


Yes, now they are complaining about it.

First off, 50% off aren't using Kaiser. So what? Those 50% don't count ? could it possibly be that 50% of staff might be happy with a change? I guess they don't matter...
And the hysterics are next level. They think that apparently there are no doctors who can see any patients ever, at any time, in the Wash DC area for the next year. I can tell that not one of the people complaining have bothered to actually call a doctor's office to make an appointment. And they need to attend the info sessions because they don't understand that you don't need whatever this primary care "establish care" visit they are freaking out over. That sounds like something Kaiser would make you do. Meanwhile I just picked a specialist with good reviews, called their office and made an appointment.

And that letter that was sent by AEA? what a mess! For goodness sakes, use chat gpt next time and at least get something professional. The things that were in that letter make them sound like they have absolutely no clue about how any kind of contract or procurement happens and if they are representing teachers, yes, they should understand the basics.