Complaint Review: Kaiser Permanente - Northern Va area Nationwide

We are regular family without any preexisting Health conditions, who invested in health insurance plan through employer to have peace of mind, thinking In this economy to hold on to given benefits through the employer. In 2011 Kiser Permanente offer High Deductible plan where we had to pay over $12000 a year to use it and they provided a card with $1200 for prescriptions and doctors visits. At the moment of signing the numbers seemed high but we thought we shouldn't go over $1200 on the card for routine visits and if something serious happens that we are protected plus employer
was supposed to help to pay part of insurance cost. It all looked good before we started using it.... Because of the constant worrying I started have panic attacks that wouldn't go away so  we decided to use insurance lets consult with a doctor. Since Kaiser couldn't tell me how much my doctors visit is going to be (they said put it on the card) I made some calls to private practice doctors and they estimated my visit at $50-$80 physician. So thinking that by having insurance I should pay less than that I went to Kaiser. First physician doctors visit that lasted 10 min and gave me referal was $180!!!!!  My mind started racing how is it possible that rates are so high with insurance so I called Kaiser and Lady with cold voice told me that its my fault that I signed up for certain plan and they can't do anything and this plan employer chose for us, we CAN'T CANCEL or CHANGE the plan. So with $1020 out of the amount we could use I made appointment to the specialist with expectations not to go over $200 because same specialist charged $100 an hour down the street. The bill was devastating for 1 hour consulting with doctor without any testing $390!!! At the same time my girls got ear infection and knowing what is wrong with them we had to go see doctor to get antibiotics, because they couldn't prescribe it over the phone another 150 each = $300 + prescription far antibiotics was $89? and I paid before for it $25  flat fee, when I transferred it to Walmart they told me it will be $80, but not remembering ever paying so much for it I asked if there is any other options of antibiotics to treat ear infection and pharmacist told me that options start at $5. So I had big trouble to change the prescription to different antibiotics and finally they said I can only use card with kaiser on prescriptions that charged over the head for it!!! So now I have insurance that I pay over $12000 a year and pay a full+ price for doctors visits and more than other places for prescription drags!!! HELP!!! So I called Kaiser again and with the same cold tone they said that plan was my choice and they can't do nothing about it until contract is expired and mentioned if I go over the card limit I will be in title of $1200 and then my insurance will cover everything like before. ?????? THEY NEED MORE MONEY??? WHAT THE F*** I already give them all that I could possibly spend, it forced us move, took our food money,savings, we stretching every paycheck to pay the bill and they want MORE????? They made me feel stupid and told me that I don't understand plan because it makes sense to them, but not to me, and when I asked to be transferred to supervisor got transferred to line with answering machine and nobody ever called back.

My panic attacks  got worse just by thinking about going to doctors it got so bad that I couldn't breathe and had sharp pain in my chest. My thought was HEART ATTACK at age of 28? CAlled  Kaiser again and they told me in order to check with cardiologist I will have to go through physician to get refferal again??? so just throw money away because they will charge through the nose and than What? Will I even have enough to see cardiologist? do EMG? or any testing? if not my visit will cost me 180+390+1200(if I go over)?= 1770? for routine appointment to check my heart? I don't even have $1770 to pay!!!! So I HAVE INSURANCE THAT I AFRAID TO USE!!!!! BECAUSE ON TOP OF MONTHLY/YEARLY PREMIUM  I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT TO PAY. They will take my last shirt and with cold voice will say that they can't do nothing about it? IS THAT HOW INSURANCE HAS TO WORK? If I would of pay doctors at private practice I would pay less just for visits, pay drag stores  less without insurance than with insurance. DOES THAT MAKES SENSE TO ANYONE? I does not to me. It's like have car insurance and pay $500 a month so you could fix your car for greater price than everyone else? Or if you got in accident you in title of your deductible and a cost of repair at authorized diler that only your insurance let you use? Does that makes sense. Oh, and if you go over the $1200 on the repairs you will have to pay another $1200 and we will change your plan to different rip off. WELCOME TO KAISER PERMANENTE.  THANKS FOR INSURANCE PLAN THAT GIVES ME HEART ATTACK and NIGHT MARES. DO NOT JOIN KAISER PERMANENTE! IF YOU HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS AND AFRAID THAT YOU CAN"T AFFORD THERE IS GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP BETTER THAN THIS. AND PRIVATE DOCTORS WHO CAN  OFFER DISCOUNT. Kaiser doctors don't care, they rash to help or listen to you because time limit on appointment, they prescribe expensive drug because they told to, and if they don't they can loose their job, but no worry kaiser will replace them, they replaced our doctor who cared and listened and wanted to help, but guess what? she couldn't fit in10 min window and they were behind on appointments.