I don't know about the Valley, per se, but my cousin in the greater East Bay area absolutely hates Kaiser after several major SNAFU's in her personal life. Amo

I don't know about the Valley, per se, but my cousin in the greater East Bay area absolutely hates Kaiser after several major SNAFU's in her personal life. Among the worst: A Kaiser physician misdiagnosed her friend's cancer for two years, and also refused to refer for a second opinion when symptoms persisted and worsened. That friend subsequently died. I mention this because, as I understand it, Kaiser is a big force in California -- that would include in the Valley. And at times they seem to receive significant positive press for what is touted as their program of... "cooperative" patient management combined with "effective" cost controls. Anecdotal, but from my cousin as well as other people in my own life, I've heard rather a different story. P.S. I guess I can mention that my cousin is a rather successful and well-connected health care practitioner, herself. So she's approached and dealt with this from something other than a clueless perspective. (I don't know about her friend, though.)