[howlinhound]

When I lived in California I often heard people refer to it as “Killer Kaiser”. Michael Savage would sometimes devote a segment of his radio show to reports of Kaiser mess ups.

[Vigilanteman]

Their basic business model is that they maximize profits by NOT treating people. Of course, they have to treat people to stay in business but when I worked in California, the union that I belonged to gave me a choice of three plans-- Kaiser, Ross-Loos and an indemnity plan where you paid a percentage for any doctor of your choice.

They explained the Kaiser business model. Ross-Loos operated on the same model but generated fewer complaints so, being young, healthy, naive and thrifty, I picked Ross-Loos.

Long story short, the first time that I had to use it, I drove three towns over to their nearest facility, waited my turn and got scolded for seeking treatment (a severe burn) for something I ought to be able to handle myself.

They changed the dressing and handed me an instruction sheet. At the next opportunity, I dropped them and changed to the indemnity plan. Yeah, it cost me a little more if I sought treatment, but I would be seeing somebody who welcomed the business rather than resented the intrusion.