r/KaiserPermanente

TLDR: I'd like to start TRT with an outside clinic but I don't know what to expect when I tell my Kaiser Permanent PCP about it.

I'm a 42yo male experiencing basically all the symptoms of low T despite Total Testostosterone in the 390-410 ng/dL range for the last year (down from 460-480 ng/dL 2 years ago). Symptoms have been present for almost 6 years.

I've talked to my PCP (Kaiser Permanent So Cal, female) and she seems sympathetic to my symptoms and has ordered the total T tests for me no problem, but she won't order a Free T test because my total T levels are not below normal. I understand the KP system and generally like them, but I know I will not get TRT from them. Last time I saw my Dr she asked me point blank if my goal was to get on TRT and I told her I was undecided at that time, which I was. After a lot of thinking about it, I am planning to get out-of-pocket free T and SHBG tests from an online place or a clinic (there's a ton of them in Los Angeles) and, depending on my results, starting TRT at a lowish dose.

My issue now is how do I navigate this with my PCP? Ideally I would just tell her that I understand KP won't prescribe so I am just going to go outside so that I could still monitor things through KP, but if I need to keep using outside labs, that's fine, too. I like my Dr and she has honestly been more sympathetic than the men, who always blame it on poor sleep or diet or say it's just a mental thing (I'm on antidepressants but they didn't help for the cognitive symptoms or lack of energy etc). My worry is that this will somehow fuck-up my care in an unexpected way. Can someone share any experiences with keeping PCPs in the loop even when you go around them to get TRT? I am not trying to get super high levels, I would just like to feel "normal" again (energy, focus, sex drive, training). I feel like 42yo is too young to lose sex drive and start losing muscle mass and strength despite regular strength training (I've been lifting for 20y).

Additionally, any other suggestions or things I may have failed to consider? Ideally I would go with the self-administered injections (I have a young daughter so I don't want the gels in the house) but the implants also seem reallllly convenient once I have my dosing figured out. There's plenty of clinics in the city, so I don't think that's a problem but I don't know if I should aim for one of the clinics that do all the follow-up testing or just get the tests on my own. I don't mind paying a little more for good care but I also don't want to waste money if the clinic is just running tests as an up-charge. There's so many options here that I haven't finished researching which clinics are good.

FWIW, I don't think my symptoms are lifestyle related. (see below)

Things I do right:

• I am not overweight (have almost no visible fat except some around mid-section
• I drink zero alcohol
• I lift heavy twice a week on a volume-maximizing program
• I am pretty active even on days I don't train
• my diet is pretty good
• No cannabis or other drugs

Areas I could improve:

• I should probably get more sun to boost vitamin D (I do take a supplement daily)
• I do smoke cigarettes, but only like 2-3 per night and not every night. like 10-15 per week tops. Everyone should get one vice, as a treat.
• I could probably sub some animal fats for olive oil (I just really like butter)
• my LDL is kinda high (188 mg/dL) even though my HDL is good (60 mg/dL)

I am open to any input here. I wish I could just have this discussion with my PCP instead of having to do the work myself, but there's no point in getting mad about an insurance system that is never going to change anyways.

Are there any high masking adults out there who have been assessed for ASD and felt that the assessment captured their lived experiences? If not, how did you navigate the experience and advocate for a more comprehensive one? If so, tell me about your positive experience.
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I am established with a KP psychiatrist for med management and KP gave me no issues with my request to be assessed for age ultimately diagnosed with ADHD. When I posed the question of ASD with my psychiatrist I was told that their resources are limited for adults and it’s a time intensive endeavor to undergo ASD testing and it’s reserved for people who have greater needs than myself. This message included a great deal of links (just counted- there are 41) I could use to basically help myself coupled with the offer of a brief screening to help me determine if I may have ASD.

I was affronted by the message and contacted the outside referrals line where I was instructed on how to schedule an appointment with a nearby facility that performs adult ASD testing and urged to file a grievance if my request is denied. I was able to schedule an appointment and was assigned a LMFT for a screener. The screening appointment was not what I was expecting.

The first portion of the session was open-ended and focused on collecting data regarding my social history-education, employment, family, confirmation of any present mental health conditions, substance use, current or prior friendships, etc. Once that data was collected we moved on to a series of question to which I must answer yes or no with yes meaning I experience exactly what was asked and that experience impairs my ability to function. That was followed by a series of statements in which I must answer yes or no without functional impairment being relevant (this section appeared to be a list of symptoms that would signify that another psychiatric condition was present). That was the end of the screener.

The LMFT stated that I didn’t have ASD but instead my symptoms were all ADHD related and that I just needed to get to know myself better. The LMFT asked if I understood and I stated yes. I asked clarifying questions because while yes, finally having a name for so many symptoms and experiences that have been labeled by prior therapists as one thing or another, one that felt so aligned with my life experiences would have been a relief and very validating, ultimately I would keep working on the difficulties I experience and be okay. What took me aback was the LMFT’s responses.

In response to my questions I was told that my inability to understand others’ emotions but ability to recognize that something I must’ve said or done didn’t sit well with the other person as I’d notice a shift in their behavior is because I have ADHD and wasn’t paying attention and that that someone with ASD wouldn’t know if they said or did something wrong to cause a tonal shift. Additionally, I was told that if I did have ASD I would not have moved so often; the routine disruption would have been too great. This left me greatly confused because at no point did we discuss how my ADHD-c presents itself or why I may have moved so much or what that experience was like for me.

The entire experience was emotionally overwhelming and frustrating. In the end I decided to correct the LMFT’s assumptions and was requested a second appointment as they would like to review my chart to see if they missed something. Still, no mention of asking me about my actual experiences.

I’m tired of fighting so hard with Kaiser healthcare system for comprehensive care and really want to cancel the appointment the LMFT requested as I have no interest in repeating any aspect of that experience with someone who felt comfortable vocalizing assured but unsupported statements.

Has anyone navigated this labyrinth of a system to receive a culturally competent and thorough ASD assessment? If so or if not, tell me about your experience.

Edit: There's been an update! 24 hours after submitting the online grievance form, my husband has his surgery date!

OP:

My husband was scheduled for Achilles tendon surgery within a pretty reasonable timeframe after he was diagnosed in early-Feb. He had a consult with the podiatrist and then within a week or two, he was contacted by the perioperative medicine team to schedule his surgery. A surgery date was set for 4/23 and all was well... until they abruptly cancelled the surgery on 4/20 without an explanation. The only thing they told him was that the surgeon decided he wanted to do the surgery in the hospital not in the outpatient clinic, so they were cancelling the surgery and they'd reach out to him to reschedule again.

It's been 30 days and we haven't heard anything back from the surgery scheduler. We've called and left messages with no call-back. Meanwhile, he was laid off from his job due to his injury and there's no way for him to return to work until he gets this surgery. We are literally stuck in limbo and it's insanely frustrating. Not to mention his pain and mobility issues are starting to cause a knock-on effect with his health.

I just discovered the grievance process posted here and we are considering going that route as this drags on. Is there anything else we can do in the meantime other than keep calling the same number for the scheduler who will never answer her phone or return a message?

I just got call on my phone from a Kaiser Permanente phone number. The guys was speaking in Chinese. I told him I don't speak Chinese. Is this a scam? Did they spoof the Kaiser number? if it is, callers beware.

https://preview.redd.it/ft2xz7qkqd2h1.png?width=734&format=png&auto=webp&s=a76e178c5935226c5dd1317ed0323954b1405d4c

Scheduled a one hour appointment with my PCP over a month in advance, show up, pre-pay at check in and wait in waiting room until around 35 minutes after my appointment time. Finally am taken in, and doc comes in 40-45ish minutes after my scheduled appointment time. Told to be quick and prioritize top concerns. I try to get through what I wanted to talk about as quickly as possible, but my plan for discussing my symptoms has gone straight to the shitter which leaves me flustered. Doc apologizes and says they have to see next patient and are out in at most 20 minutes. I paid for an hour long appointment copay before going in. Has anyone been able to get a refund for appointments that are way under time for what you paid for? I honestly would have preferred if they had rescheduled me with the way that went - felt like I was used as a time-catch-up :/

I’m considering an at-home sleep study to test for apnea. I had one many years ago, and I remember the equipment being bulky (strapped around my chest), uncomfortable enough to disturb my sleep, and not very clean.

These days, what kind of equipment do they use? Is it the streamlined kind that just goes on your wrist and finger (I think they use this in N. Calif.)? Do they give you new equipment or is it used?

I’m in Orange County.

I’m not even sure of where to start because it’s A LOT but I guess I’ll just give some background and context of what’s going on with my family. I’m 17 weeks pregnant and currently my husband and I are moving out of my parent’s house within the next 2 weeks. About a year and a half ago we moved in with my parents to help out for a while since my dad (83m) was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer and my mom can no longer drive.

To say it briefly it has been tough, trying to work full time (same with husband) and supporting my parents through this. My dad has not made it any easier and neither has my mom, they are very difficult to live with and my mom has been very “poor me, woah is me” crying to family members and friends about what my dad is going through and also now saying how she is getting sick (she’s not sick, doctors keep telling her she’s fine and just has GERD). So, I’ve been the main one taking on the decision making and picking up the slack with my dad’s things. However, I am now 17 weeks pregnant with my husband’s and I’s first child. The whole family is very excited and so are my parents. But this has taken a toll on me.

Then this past month we’ve noticed a decline in my dad’s health, his behaviors/mood (very irritable and lashing out), cognitive reasoning, ability to talk (doesn’t make sense and we have a hard time trying to understand what he’s saying), and forgetting a lot of short term memory things. I’ve been on them with taking him to his doctor to see what’s going on, and if it’s something to do with his cancer treatment, medication, etc. Since my husband and I are moving out in 2 weeks because living here has become too much and I need to focus on my health, stress, and the baby.

Well, they went yesterday and his PCP at Kaiser diagnosed him with early onset dementia. They called my older sister who lives all the way down in LA with her husband and kid (we live in the Bay Area) and let her know what happened. Then my sister called me and my husband and I spoke with my parents when I got home. I’m not sure what steps to take and my mom is worried, scared, crying off and on (understandably so) but I need her to step up and become the adult. She is still very aware, cognitively present, but has this very Filipino mindset of “my daughter needs to be the one to help me with this burden” but right now I just physically and mentally can’t and need to focus on my pregnancy and when the baby comes.

I guess what I’m asking is for some advice on what needs to happen next? How should I get my mom on bored and step up? How much do I need to be involved in while navigating motherhood for the first time, or do I even get super involved? Also, the doctor hasn’t really given next steps or what needs to happen next? We’re located in the Bay Area and I’m not sure what Kaiser resources there are for gerontology, home care, assistance with driving, etc.

EDIT/CORRECTION: Since people keep focusing on the “early onset” part, apparently they misunderstood but I’m just quoting what my parents and sister told me on what the doctor said. But that’s not my main focus, I’m asking for next steps, advice, or other people’s stories/experiences.

My wife and I are covered through Kaiser under CalPERS for California state workers, and we are having an unbelievably difficult time coordinating a medication abortion.

We’re currently on vacation in Northern California, and the closest Kaiser facility is Santa Rosa. We recently found out my wife is pregnant and decided to move forward with a medication abortion. We already confirmed the pregnancy ourselves by paying out of pocket for blood work and an ultrasound.

Since then, we’ve been getting bounced around by Kaiser with no actual resolution. They will not mail the medication to us, keep referring us back to the travel line, and nobody seems able to coordinate care or give us a clear path forward. We’ve spent hours on the phone and are getting nowhere.

This is obviously time sensitive, and the delays are becoming extremely stressful.

Has anyone dealt with this before through Kaiser/CalPERS while traveling? Any advice on:
- getting this escalated quickly
- reaching an actual care coordinator or supervisor
- getting authorization for out of network care
- speaking with someone familiar with reproductive care access through Kaiser

would be greatly appreciated.

Has anyone actually gotten their medication shipped and delivered on time as the site mentioned? I’ve been seeing a lot of complaints about it and I’m starting to have the same issue. it was suppose to arrive yesterday but never did and I’m allowed to be on this medication daily without skipping a day. is there something I can do about it it?

Hi everyone.
I was diagnosed with dysautonomia while visiting my home country, but I’m trying to get properly evaluated again in the US through Kaiser because my symptoms are still continuing.
I deal with dizziness, nausea, rapid heart rate, weakness, fatigue, and feeling worse when standing for too long or changing positions. Sometimes I feel close to fainting, especially with heat or after showers. My symptoms come and go, which makes me scared that my tests will come back “normal” even though I genuinely feel awful sometimes.
I finally got referred to neurology, but I’m nervous about not being taken seriously or my symptoms not showing during testing.
Has anyone here gone through the diagnostic process with SocalKaiser or had normal tests before eventually getting answers? Any advice would really help.

I wanted to give my impression of Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles orthopedics. I found it extremely disorganized and they were very unhelpful. In July 2025, I found out that I had a late stage avascular necrosis. They refused to schedule an operation, which I understood. However six months later, they still continued to want me to do physical therapy, despite x-ray showing collapse.
I went to Cedar Sinai, and they advised physical therapy would not help at this point and schedule the surgery.

Unfortunately, I’ve talked to two other people now who had similar experiences at Kaiser Permanente. One of them were told by a nurse that the surgeons were purposely delaying surgeries because they were understaffed.

It’s a real shame, and I hope that this is not indicative of the rest of Kaiser Permanente care in Los Angeles. That being said I have moved to Cedar Sinai will not look back.
I do think that Kaiser can be a good center and I don’t want to scare people, but I wanted to make people aware that this was happening.

Quick question! Has anyone had an anatomy scan done at Kaiser?

We’ve had some bad news in the past at an anatomy scan that resulted in a TFRM. Therefore, there’s a lot of anxiety around the topic. We had ours on a Sunday, and the sonographer seemed to spend a little extra time in silence getting an image of the heart. She commented that baby was wiggling a lot and asked if we’ve felt a lot of movement. The silence and extra time scared us a bit since that is what we experience last time when we received bad news.

At the end of the appointment, she did congratulate us and said results would be posted in 7-10 business days. We have a pre-scheduled phone call with a doctor in 2 weeks.

If something were wrong, would we get an immediate notice from a doctor? Even on a Sunday? Or do you think we would have been called the very next business day?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

Hey everyone, open enrollment is currently open at my work and I’m debating switching from Anthem to Kaiser.

I’ve had Anthem for a while, but I’m considering Kaiser because Anthem for me is overwhelming. I don’t feel like I use to my highest potential in terms of checking for my health. I am currently 25M (26M next week), generally healthy and I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic last year but I have been exercising on a regular basis and reevaluating my diet. The clinic that accepts Anthem doesn’t have appointments for months. I like the concept of having everything as a one stop shop and had a good experience of going there for my job physical last year and was out in 30 minutes. My colleagues had a good experience with Kaiser and we have a NonStop card to pay for co-pays.

A few things I’m curious about:

- Ease of getting appointments

- Quality of primary care and specialists: Is there any LGBTQ+ PCPs and/or culturally conscious PCPs?

- Mental health services: I heard it is not that great and I am exploring to get tested for ADHD or explore therapy. I am in LA for context but I am not sure if they gotten better since then.

- Prescription costs/process: I am currently on PrEP through AHF but I am not sure if the switch to Kaiser will make things smoother or complicated.

- Urgent care experiences

- How restrictive the “all-in-one system” feels

- If you came from Anthem, did it make things easier or complicated?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Hello, I’m currently in the process of finding an appt slot with mental health services in hopes of getting an ADHD diagnosis. After looking into ADHD and my own symptoms and previously being prescribed medication for anxiety, I’m hoping to get a vyvanse prescription. Is anyone in WA familiar with this process? I know they don’t typically consider vyvanse as the first choice but I truly believe this would be a better fit over adderall. Any opinions and suggestions for navigating this appt would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Edit: I forgot to add one of my bigger symptoms of adhd is bored eating/ binge eating when bored. That is another reason I was leaning more towards vyvanse. Happy to hear about people’s adderall experiences too!!

Edit : they denied authorization and then never notified me. - Doctor claimed they did everything they could on their end, and KP told them it was authorized. They did not give me any option to appeal, the lady on the phone just said I had to be prescribed something else.

Hi, I have a 20mg Vyvanse prescription I have been trying to pick up for over 2 weeks now. When I called the last couple times, the pharmacy techs tell me that the prescription requires authorization before they can dispense it, and to direct my provider to call a number to sort it out.

I forwarded this info to my doctor at Lifestance, and they got back to me a day later claiming Kaiser said no authorization was needed and the prescription is fillable.

I called back today, same issue. No authorization.

Who can I contact to get to the bottom of what’s going on? I have no idea if Lifestance is just screwing with me and not doing their due diligence (highly likely) or if this is a KP issue (also likely)

but whenever I call KP I get transferred a million times and never get to the bottom of it, so if anyone knows which department could look into and actually handle that maybe let me know :(

Do our full records become available online for your new doctors to access?
Is it automatically uploaded to some online system?
If so, do we have to authorize it for each provider?
Thanks in advance for any information!

I moved from socal to NorCal and I used to be able to have access to the drop down menu to change region of care. With the new layout I cannot find this option anywhere. Does anyone know how to change region on the new website?

first of all, my (now expired) insurance is with kaiser permenente, which im fully aware that its basically just a scam hospital that sells your info and gives you random meds so they get money. i was born with bad lungs and they wanted me to have an inhaler as a kid but my mom didnt let me.

a year ago i had a lung infection. i was prescribed Benzonatate for it and it went away after a month. this year i had another lung infection in january, they prescribed the same pill and an inhaler. it didnt go away after a month so i got antibiotics (and another inhaler i never picked up bc they didnt order it until like 2 weeks after they said they would).

it went away but since then my breathing has been bad. lately its been so bad that ive been having to use my inhaler again and it hurts my chest to inhale. during my lung infection, i called the doctor 3 times. first time they did a phone appointment, and said it might just be a lung infection. second time i asked to see an in person physician, they said no and did another phone appointment. third time i asked again, they said no but asked more questions (family heart attack and stroke history and whatnot) then just said if it gets worse go to the er.

i went to urgent care instead bc the er is expensive, the doctor asked the same questions from the first phone call, listened to my lungs (exactly what happened during my first lung infection) then said she was gonna do an x-ray but decided against it and like pretended to order another inhaler (which i didnt go get because she didnt order it and it was 8pm since kaiser staff is on strike and there was only one doctor there) and once again said go to er if it gets worse. which i said i cant cuz im broke and no longer have insurance and she didnt gaf so i gave up.

i literally cant breathe and inhalers dont do anything besides give me like 30 minute long anxiety attacks and idk what to say to them to make them actually figure out whats wrong w me. ive been going to kaiser my whole life and am constantly having medical issues (random bad joints i havent been able to run on for years now, persistent stomach aches getting diagnosed as anxiety, constant migraines when im around like anything ever, trouble breathing, mental health crisis's that they didnt listen to but prescribed antidepressants to even tho i was 12 and they only talked to me for 30 mins. literally anything and they just blow it off. they only want to look for something when you go like 100 times for the same thing but no one has enough money for that or has the time.)

its annoying and id like to just tell them my problems and have them listen and check why im having all these problems constantly. so im looking for something to tell them thatll get them to listen to me. i cant afford to go back 10 more times to convince them that im not ok.

does kaiser urgent care test for STI’s, STD’s, BV, and yeast infections? i would like to go get tested for all these things but im not sure if thats something they offer and i dont want to look dumb because sometimes the receptionists in urgent are condescending.