8/22    Data points for you guys. Appointment times and experience for
        ophtamologist (for eye disease):
        Kaiser Spring 2006:
          Appointment: You must go to a primary doctor first, or talk to
            a phone nurse who'll diagnose you. Wait time for a phone nurse
            for me took 65 minutes (just waiting on the phone).
          Wait period: 5 days before the nurse allows you to make an
            appointment and actually seeing the doc
          Waiting room: 45 minutes wait
          Kaiser pharmacy time: 45 minute wait
          Notes: You must go to a Kaiser hospital, and you must go to a
                 primary doc for referal. If it's an emergency visit, like
                 eye infection, you must talk to a Kaiser nurse for 15
                 minutes. Wait time to talk to a nurse has been
                 consistently 40-60 min. You must use the Kaiser pharmacy
        BlueShield Summer 2006:
          Appointment: You make the appointment directly, takes 5 min
          Wait period: 1 days before appointment and seeing the doc
          Waiting room: 45 minutes wait
          Pharmacy time: You pick your own. I picked Walgreens. Fast.
          Notes: You have a lot of flexibility. You can pick any BlueShield
                 network, which is pretty wide in California.
        BlueShield cost a little bit more, but it's totally worth it. I don't
        understand why people pick Kaiser, it totally sucks. I guess if you
        never plan to get sick, it's not a bad choice.
        \_ I have friends who use Kaiser and get great service, docs, etc.
           I have friends who get the horror story experience.  It really
           really varies.  A lot.
           \- it is my belief that some kaisers are conistently and
              significantly better/worse than others. in my experience
              oakland kaiser gets a lot more second and third stringers
              than say santa clara.
        \_ Aren't your Blue Shield data points dependent on the particular
        \_ Well aren't your Blue Shield data points dependent on the particular
           clinic you chose?
           \_ Exactly. With BlueShield PPO you have a choice, and you pick
              the right choice. With Kaiser, you have no choice. You either
              go to the primary Kaiser that is within 25 miles of your home,
              or 100 miles away from your home. Moral of the story: It's
              great when you have a choice.
        \_ Blue Cross and Blue Shield suck just as much incredible donkey
           ass as Kaiser, just a different donkey with different hair.
           The health insurance system is totally Fucked (tm).
              --subscriber to Premier Blue Cross PPO, the "best PPO they
                offer"
           \_ I have blue shield and is happy with my doctor.  would you
              like to elaborate?