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Molina vs. Kaiser Permanente Insurance
Which health insurance company is the best option for you and your family? Compare Molina and Kaiser Permanente side by side.
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 Written & Edited by Fran Majidi Fran MajidiFran Majidi manages content on SmartFinancial's website. She's had nearly a decade's worth of experience writing about i... Read more |
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Molina vs. Kaiser Permanente: What You Need to Know
Molina Healthcare was founded in 1980 by C. David Molina, an emergency room physician in Long Beach, CA. After seeing that patients were being turned away because the hospital would not accept Medi-Cal, he established his first primary care clinic in Wilmington, California in 1980. His goal was to treat the lowest-income patients. For 20 years, his son and fellow physician, J. Mario Molina, ran the company while he served as president and CEO. His younger son, John, was the CFO of Molina Healthcare. The two sons took over the company after their father’s death in 1996.
After the war ended the shipyard workforce fell from 90,000 to 13,000. Only 12 of 75 medical group providers remained. On July 21, 1945, the Permanente Health Plan opened to the public to continue the health care delivery set up by Kaiser and Garfield. In 10 years, more than 300,000 people enrolled in Northern California with the support of two unions, the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union and the Retail Clerks Union.
In 1953, the name of the health plan and the hospitals were changed from Permanente to Kaiser Permanente. Even today, there are ties between the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals and the Permanente Medical Groups.
To learn more about each company, you can check out the Molina Overview and Kaiser Permanente Overview.
What is Molina and Kaiser Permanente Insurance Rating?
Which health insurance company is better? We've made it easy to compare companies side by side. See how Molina and Kaiser Permanente ranked among the industry ratings.
| Comparison | Molina | Kaiser Permanente |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1980 | 1945 |
| Medicare Star Rating | 3.5 stars (out of 5) | 5 stars (out of 5) |
| BBB Rating | F | A+ |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 0.36% for group health |
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Pros & Cons of Molina or Kaiser Permanente
Pros
Molina
- Affordable coverage for underserved communities, like Medicaid and Medicare recipients.
- Affordable marketplace plans for people who do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.
- Popular mobile app makes it easy to stay on top of your account.
Kaiser Permanente
- Affordable marketplace plans with different tiers of coverage.
- Low complaint ratio for group health plans.
Cons
Molina
- Molina Healthcare only offers Medicaid plans in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Kaiser Permanente
- Kaiser Permanente is only available in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
Molina and Kaiser Permanente Mobile Apps Options
The Molina app allows users to find doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies, view claims, and pay your bill.
The Kaiser Permanente app allows users to find doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies, view claims, and pay your bill. They also offer an app called Humana Pharmacy which helps you to manage your prescriptions.
| Molina Mobile App | ||
|---|---|---|
| iOS | 4.6 | 1.6K users |
| Android | 2.9 | 351 users |
| Kaiser Permanente Mobile App | ||
|---|---|---|
| iOS | 3.1 | 2K users |
| Android | 4.3 | 16,728 users |
Molina and Kaiser Permanente Enrollment Process
Molina
Molina offers plans through the health insurance marketplace. You can begin searching plans here or you can get several free health insurance quotes.
Each state has its own marketplace. If you’re not sure where to begin, visit https://www.healthcare.gov/.
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente offers plans through the health insurance marketplace. You can begin searching plans here or you can get several free health insurance quotes with SmartFinancial.
Each state has its own marketplace. If you’re not sure where to begin, visit https://www.healthcare.gov/. You can also schedule a personal appointment with a local Kaiser Permanente Medicare specialist: 1-866-973-4588.
How to File a Claim with Molina and Kaiser Permanente Insurance
Molina
To submit claims for reimbursement, contact member services at 1-888-898-7969. You can only inquire about 3 or fewer claims per call. You can also submit claim to: Molina Healthcare, P.O. Box 22668, Long Beach, CA 90801. You must make timely submissions of your claims or else you may forfeit your right to payment. For filing limits and instructions about electronic claims submissions with Molina Healthcare visit here.
Kaiser Permanente
To submit claims for reimbursement, contact member services at 1-888-901-4636. Otherwise, you should be covered except for copay. If you need reimbursement for Medicare Part D prescriptions, you must use the Member reimbursement drug claim form (PDF). For all other prescriptions (non-Medicare and Medicare without Part D) you must use this Prescription claim form (PDF).
Common Questions About Kaiser Permanente and Molina Insurance
Molina
Does Molina healthcare cover contacts?
Molina Healthcare covers one eye exam per year by a provider, ophthalmologist, or optometrist. They also cover one pair of eyeglasses or lenses every two years. Prior approval is required for contact lenses.
Which states accept Molina Healthcare?
Molina Healthcare offers Medicaid plans in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Is Molina Healthcare available in the Marketplace?
Yes, Molina Healthcare offers plans in the marketplace for states in which they offer Medicaid health plans. You can find these plans at healthcare.gov or you can compare healthcare quotes.
How does the Molina FitnessCoach® Home Fitness Program work?
If you cannot attend a fitness center or prefer to work out at home, you can enroll in the Molina FitnessCoach® Home Fitness Program for two exercise kits per calendar year. Kits may include a DVD, a booklet with general information and a “quick start” guide to help use the kit. Find out more by calling the member services agent at (855) 665-4623.These are your options:
Check out our full list of common questions about Molina.
Kaiser Permanente
What is Kaiser Insurance?
Kaiser Permanente is a nonprofit, group-practice health plan with headquarters in Oakland, California. It is an example of high-quality, integrated health care.
Does Kaiser Permanente have good reviews?
Kaiser Permanente has a better than average complaint ratio, especially for its group plans.
Who is eligible for Kaiser Permanente?
Individuals, families, and people whose employers offer Kaiser Permanente are eligible for coverage. Kaiser also offers Medicare Supplement plans and Medicare Advantage, which is the alternative to Original Medicare.
What pharmacies accept Kaiser Permanent’s health insurance?
If your health plan benefits include a prepaid prescription drug plan, you must use a Kaiser pharmacy to obtain drugs at plan prices. You can fill your initial prescription at many MedImpact pharmacies, which include Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Kroger, Safeway, and Costco, but you’ll need to order any refills through a Kaiser Permanente pharmacy or a mail-order refill service through Kaiser.
Check out our full list of common questions about Kaiser Permanente.
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Molina and Kaiser Permanente Insurance Contact Info
| Molina Contact Info | |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 Oceangate, Suite 100, Long Beach, CA 90802 |
| Phone | 1 (562) 435-3666 |
| Website | https://www.molinahealthcare.com/ |
| https://www.facebook.com/groups/Molinaheathcare/ | |
| Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/user/MolinaHealthcare |
| https://twitter.com/molinahealth | |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/molina-healthcare/ | |
| Kaiser Permanente Contact Info | |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Kaiser Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612 |
| Phone | 1 (510) 271-5910 |
| Website | https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/ |
| https://www.facebook.com/kpthrive/ | |
| Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqZdtT_o6xZbMkRbLZJ7Zvg |
| https://twitter.com/aboutKP | |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaiser-permanente/ | |
Fran Majidi manages content on SmartFinancial's website. She's had nearly a decade's worth of experience writing about insurance-related topics. Prior, she was an arts and entertainment editor in New York City. She has a B.A. from Barnard College and an M.F.A. in writing from The New School. She writes books under her given name, Afarin Majidi.
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