California Releases Ratings On CA Health Insurers, HMOs
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A state advocate says that most health maintenance organizations in California compare well with plans nationwide, but too often new policyholders are confused about costs and getting their claims paid.
California Office of the Patient Advocate Director Sandra Perez says her office's annual report card shows that not all health plans are the same and the report card incentivizes the health care industry to improve care.
No HMO received an excellent rating from its members, but Kaiser Permanente's branches in Northern and Southern California were the only plans to receive excellent ratings from the patient advocate for meeting national standards of care.
The report rates the state's nine largest HMOs, six largest preferred provider organizations, or PPOs, and other medical providers.
