[tomi_idelle]

Hey All,

I have a question and I am not quite sure where to post it so I thought I would start here. My hubby got a new job and we are relocating to the bay area. We are having to switch insurance and are now going to be covered under Kaiser. I am very nervous about their attitude toward my 61/2 month old unvaxed ds. Has anyone had any experiences with Kaiser regarding this situation? The only other thing I am considering is just paying to take him to another doc when he is sick and keeping Kaiser only for major injuries. I think this situation is causing me the most anxiety out of our whole move. Any input anyone has would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Tomi

 

[mbro]

Not sure about Kaiser. But, where in the Bay area? I used to live in Marin and absolutely loved my son's pediatrician, Lindy Woodard, at Pediatric Alternatives. Her website is http://www.pediatricalternatives.com/

Hope this helps and good luck with the move.

 

[EVC]

I know on the East Bay Meet UP site there was a woman who spoke very highly of her Kaiser ped (she does delayed/selective vax). Where in the Bay Area will you be?

 

[Eben'sMama]

I'm in Sacramento, have Kaiser and love my pediatrician. He's very progressive about vaxing and told us that he feels most are unnecessary; however, he said he would like us to get the HIB and Pertussis (single, not the DTAP). We said, thanks, but no thanks and he was respectful. He doesn't completely agree with our decision, but he doesn't pressure us to vax and seems to appreciate that we think things through. Also, he is very anti-circ, so that's great. If you can't find a good ped in your area, it might be worth using him. Depending on where you are in the Bay Area, Sac is only about an hour or so away. It seems that Kaiser doesn't have a set policy system-wide for things like vaxing, VBAC and vaginal breech delivery. I've explored all these things with my doctors and they explained to me that each doctor makes his/her own decisions about how to handle these issues/procedures in his/her own practice. HTH!

 

[tomi_idelle]

I am going to be in the Pleasanton/Livermore area, but definitly would drive to another area for Dr. appt's if I knew there was a great Ped. out there. Thanks so much for all of your replies so far, this is making me feel a little bit better about the move.

Thanks

Tomi

 

[Harry's Mom]

We have Kaiser in Petaluma. We hated our first Kaiser pediatrician and switched. The new one is fine! It really depends on the individual. However, I'd try to find a kaiser dr. as close to home as possible. You don't want to drive far for urgent problems - like when your little one is miserable or really sick. I'm very glad we have one dr. close by who knows ds's medical history. Ds is more relaxed with a consistent dr. and it helps to have all his medical records in one place.

Once you move, ask around and I'm sure you can get a rec. for a kaiser person you'll like. Switching dr's is also really easy. Don't let the whole thing be too stressful. Moving is hard enough.

Betzi

 

[knittinclothmama]

I can't tell you who to go too because I also have Kaiser and live in the Bay Area and I am in search for a new ped too. I am anxiously going to watch this thread and see what comes up. I can tell you who "not" to go to though!

We've had our ped for over 7 years and as long as we were doing what he said he was great. When I had ds at home he never said a word and was very supportive of us not circ'ing BUT a few months ago when I brought my newborn dd in at 6 days old he reprimanded me for having a homebirth. "How irresponsible" he said among other things, including a few scare tactics!!!

: Did he see that she was sitting right there in front of him perfectly healthy??? Hmmm.... I was livid that he treated me that way and after my wonderful water/homebirth too!!! We had started researching vax's and at dd's 2 month appt realized he will not be supportive of us not vax'ing. We will not be vax'ing any of the children anymore (my two oldest are fully vax'ed

) So, back to the drawing board! I HAVE to have a ped that is supportive or at least respectful even if he/she doesn't agree KWIM?

 

[fw221]

I think the difference is going to be in the Ped, not so much in the insurance. If you're getting Kaiser, don't get a disease that needs to be managed, like asthma.

 

[dinah]

I've got Kaiser in Redwood City and we have not vax'ed our son. I wouldn't say our ped agrees with us but she's never pressured us either. Just offers at each visit and we politely decline and that's it. I think it really depends on the ped and you should just visit a few until you find one that fits for you.

 

[knittinclothmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fw221 I think the difference is going to be in the Ped, not so much in the insurance. If you're getting Kaiser, don't get a disease that needs to be managed, like asthma.

I know... my oldest dd has type 1 diabetes. We get okay care but not great by any means.

:
When my two oldest dd's were babies they had hip displasia and we did get to go to a great specialist in Oakland. That was nice!

 

[munkeesmama]

I think it really depends on your pediatrician. My pediatrican through Kaiser down in orange county is fine with my decidion to no longer vaccinate my children. She said she knows I am educated on the risk/benefits and feels it's a parents decision and would note it accordingly. Good thing about kaiser is there are tons of doctors and they have NO problem whatsoever changing your ped or primary care physician if you ask.

 

[munkeesmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fw221 I think the difference is going to be in the Ped, not so much in the insurance. If you're getting Kaiser, don't get a disease that needs to be managed, like asthma.

Weird, I've had no problems with the doctors down in orange county managing my duaghters asthma. Sounds like you might need to change docs.