What are the most important factors I should consider when choosing a health insurance provider?
First, given that Kaiser, in some areas, is a large provider of health benefits, it is necessary to distinguish Kaiser from all other health insurance companies. Kaiser is a one stop shop type of arrangement. Meaning, when you choose Kaiser, which inevitably will be very cost efficient, you do not necessarily choose your doctor. You go to Kaiser and are given physicians, a pharmacy, a dentist and vision experts. Kaiser takes care of everything "in-house." All other insurance companies, buy physician networks. Meaning that physicians belong to Independent Physician Associations, ("IPA's") and the insurance company will negotiate with that IPA and agree upon what they will pay for particular services both in HMO and PPO networks. Therefore, when you choose a health insurance plan, you need to make sure that your providers are in the network attached to the insurance plan that you just bought. Your particular physician may not be "in-network" for the HMO from your carrier, but may be in-network for the PPO plan from your carrier. Therefore, the difference between Kaiser and all other insurance companies comes down to freedom of choice. Whether you want to the freedom to choose those experts and physicians that you want to see for yourself or your family members, or whether you are happy with the convenience of the one stop shop that Kaiser affords their members.