About Kaiser Permanente
Fast Facts about Kaiser Permanente
Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente is the nation’s largest not-for-profit health plan, serving more than 8.6 million members, with headquarters in Oakland, Calif. It comprises:
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.
- Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries
- The Permanente Medical Groups.
At Kaiser Permanente, physicians are responsible for medical decisions. The Permanente Medical Groups, which provide care for Kaiser Permanente members, continuously develop and refine medical practices to help ensure that care is delivered in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
Kaiser Permanente’s creation resulted from the challenge of providing Americans medical care during the Great Depression and World War II, when most people could not afford to go to a doctor. Among the innovations it has brought to U.S. health care are:
- prepaid health plans, which spread the cost to make it more affordable
- physician group practice to maximize their abilities to care for patients
- a focus on preventing illness as much as on caring for the sick
- an organized delivery system, putting as many services as possible under one roof
Health Plan Membership, by Region:*
Colorado: 479,980 Georgia: 269,802 Hawaii: 222,594 Mid-Atlantic States (VA, MD, DC): 485,401 Northern California: 3,285,068 Northwest (Oregon/Washington): 472,555 Ohio: 137,669 Southern California: 3,281,915
Medical facilities and physicians:
Medical Centers: 35Medical Offices: 431 Physicians:
14,600Employees:
167,300
Operating Revenue:
2008: $40.3 billion
2007: $37.8 billion
2006: $34.4 billion
2005: $31.1 billion
Local markets:
Northern California:
East Bay
Golden Gate
South Bay
Valley
Fresno
North East Bay
Stanislaus CountySouthern California:
Coachella Valley
Kern County
Orange County
the Valleys
western Ventura County
Inland Empire
metropolitan Los Angeles/West Los Angeles
San Diego County
Tri-CentralColorado:
Denver
Colorado Springs
BoulderGeorgia:
AtlantaHawaii:
Oahu
Kauai
Hawaii
MauiMid-Atlantic States:
Washington, D.C.
Northern Virginia
Suburban Maryland
BaltimoreOhio:
Cleveland
AkronOregon/Washington:
Portland
Salem
Vancouver, Wash.
Longview/Kelso, Wash.

