I'm not entirely sure about the rules about switching providers when you have pre-existing conditions (although, in my case, even though I had cardiac issues, the choice of the provider was to reject my application, or to take me on as an insured client). Switching from Kaiser to another provider may have been an issue - I don't know.
Kaiser seems to be kind of hit and miss. I have a friend who's had Kaiser for decades. He was very happy with his care, and impressed by the ophthalmologist who did his cataract surgeries -- otoh, the hospital appeared to have neglected his wife, appearing to neglect the fact that she wasn't getting any fluids for perhaps a week and, in effect, dehydrating her.
Again, I know that there are some very good doctors at Kaiser. It may just be a matter of finding them. I'm glad to read that they found surgeons who specialize in mitral repair, and suspect that you probably couldn't have done much better out of network. (And, too, if these doctors specialized in these procedures, it's safe to assume that the pre, peri, and post surgery teams are also pretty darned good).
Kaiser seems to be kind of hit and miss. I have a friend who's had Kaiser for decades. He was very happy with his care, and impressed by the ophthalmologist who did his cataract surgeries -- otoh, the hospital appeared to have neglected his wife, appearing to neglect the fact that she wasn't getting any fluids for perhaps a week and, in effect, dehydrating her.
Again, I know that there are some very good doctors at Kaiser. It may just be a matter of finding them. I'm glad to read that they found surgeons who specialize in mitral repair, and suspect that you probably couldn't have done much better out of network. (And, too, if these doctors specialized in these procedures, it's safe to assume that the pre, peri, and post surgery teams are also pretty darned good).
