Some love their HMO, some don't

July 16, 1999
Web posted at: 1:40 p.m. EDT (1740 GMT)

Jackie Porcel, left, and her doctor, Anne Saveren, are satisfied with their HMO, Kaiser Permanente Poll Managed health care plans need: No change 7% Minor changes 20% Major changes 67% Negative attitudes about HMOs are shaped by personal experience 37% (sampling error +/- 3% points) source: CNN / USA Today / Gallup Poll (Related details) VIDEO CNN's Anne McDermott talks with people happy with HMO care Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

In this story: Poll finds no consensus on HMO action RELATED STORIES, SITES

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- HMO horror stories? Not from Jackie Porcel. She's very happy with her managed health care provider.

A recent doctor appointment cost her just $5, but what Porcel really likes is the care she gets for her allergies and asthma. Since coming to Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, the 22-year-old woman says she's much improved.

No complaints, either from Porcel's physician. Dr. Anne Saveren, who left private practice to join Kaiser Permanente, said she has no worries about the quality of HMO care.

"If a doctor says this is what the patient needs, then it gets done," Saveren told CNN.

Poll finds no consensus on HMO action

Despite such praise, many Americans think otherwise about HMOs. Thus, the move in Congress to create a so-called "patient's bill of rights" -- and a battle between Democrats and Republicans over how far those managed care reforms should go.

But, according to a recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll, there's no majority view on how to regulate HMOs.

• 40 percent are "very concerned" Republicans won't go far enough.

• 37 percent are "somewhat concerned."

• 19 percent are "not concerned."

• 38 percent are "very concerned" Democrats will go too far.

• 38 percent are somewhat worried.

• 20 percent are "not concerned."

So, while there is a national consensus that change is needed, there's no such agreement on how to do it.

Correspondent Anne McDermott contributed to this report, written by Jim Morris