From: "Gregg Strom/BRYX Int'l" 

"Bill Lucy"  wrote in message
news:MPG.138cf57e6ecd14259898cd{at}news.barkto.com...
> In article , greggstrom{at}earthlink.net says...
>
> > > I think that existing health insurance and government programs have
> > > gone a long way toward elevating prices payed by the uninsured who
> > > don't qualify for government programs.
> >
> > A very good point.  When I told Markus about the rates at Kaiser
(including
> > the co-pay), he said, "Is THAT all it is? Then why this big deal about
> > health care?" (I believe I've mentioned that here before....)
>
> Does he have a pre-existing condition which may prevent or impide
coverage?

No.

> Does his job permit him to enter into that particular program? Does he
travel?
> Does the contract disallow him from anything but emergency services
outside the
> normal coverage area? Is he limited to certain clinics? Are referrals easy
or
> difficult to get under the contract?

My understanding is that this is a standard contract: Kaiser
clinics/hospitals for normal coverage, ANY facility for out-of-area
emergencies, urgent care at Kaiser facilities when available, or any
facility if Kaiser not available.

I don't know if Kaiser has coverage for out-of-country, because I only had
minor problems when traveling, so simply paid cash to a local doctor (as
referred by American Express).

Referrals are getting expotentially easier. (The Kaiser doctors did a job
action forcing that: "Work to rule.")

gs

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