
In 2019, Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii's largest health maintenance organization, reported losing money and falling behind competitors. Serving as both a medical provider and health insurer for over 250,000 members, Kaiser acknowledged challenges in affordability, access, and convenience for its members. Despite these financial setbacks, Kaiser Permanente has consistently maintained high ratings for its Medicare health plans and its hospitals have received numerous accolades, including the 2023 Women's Choice Award for cancer care, obstetrics, and stroke care. With a history spanning nearly eight decades, Kaiser Permanente remains committed to providing affordable, high-quality healthcare services to its members and the communities it serves in Hawaii.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente's ranking in Hawaii | Second-largest medical insurer in Hawaii |
| Kaiser Permanente's number of members | More than 250,000 |
| Kaiser Permanente's financial status | Losing money, with losses of $88 million in 2019 and projected higher losses in 2020 |
| Kaiser Permanente's challenges | Lack of sustainable growth plan, falling behind competitors in terms of affordability, access, and convenience |
| Kaiser Permanente's recognition | Ranked as the top-rated insurance company nationwide by insure.com, Medicare health plan highly rated for 14 consecutive years |
| Kaiser Permanente's awards | Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center received the Women's Choice Award for cancer care, obstetrics, and stroke care, recognised as one of America's best maternity hospitals |
| Kaiser Permanente's history | Nearly eight decades of providing healthcare services in Hawaii |
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What You'll Learn

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii's financial losses
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has been providing affordable health care services to its members and communities for almost eight decades. It is Hawaii's largest health maintenance organisation, serving as both a medical provider and health insurer for more than 250,000 members.
However, in 2019, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii faced financial losses. The president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals of Hawaii, Ron Vance, informed employees through a memo that the health plan was losing money and lacked a strategy for sustainable growth. The memo revealed a year-to-date loss of $88 million in the third quarter ending in September 2019, with projections indicating a significantly higher loss in 2020. This placed them behind competitors like the Hawaii Medical Service Association, which boasts 729,000 members.
Despite these financial challenges, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii maintains a strong reputation in the healthcare industry. Its Medicare health plan has received consecutive high ratings from 2010 to 2023, achieving the highest rating of 5 out of 5 stars for six consecutive years from 2018 to 2023. Additionally, the Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center has garnered multiple accolades, including being named a 2022-2023 Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report and receiving the 2023 Women's Choice Award for excellence in Cancer Care, Obstetrics, and Stroke Care.
In the face of financial losses, Kaiser Hawaii has taken steps to reduce costs and mitigate losses. In 2011, they reported a slowdown in the rise of healthcare costs and a reduction in their losses in their quarterly reports. While specific details on the strategies employed are not readily available, these efforts seem to have had a positive impact on their financial situation.
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Kaiser's market share and competitors
Kaiser Permanente is a leading healthcare organization in the United States, with a unique position in the market as it provides both health insurance products and healthcare services, including hospitals and medical offices. As of 2013, Kaiser held a 40% market share in California, the largest market in the country. This market share has allowed Kaiser to accrue $23.3 billion in premiums from 5.5 million commercial customers.
Kaiser Permanente has a strong presence in several states across the country, including California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. In Hawaii, Kaiser Permanente is the second-largest medical insurer, serving over 250,000 members. However, it has faced financial challenges, with the president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals of Hawaii acknowledging significant losses and a lack of sustainable growth plans. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii competes with the Hawaii Medical Service Association, which has a higher membership count.
Kaiser Permanente's competitors in the healthcare market include Anthem, Inc., Humana Inc., and UnitedHealth Group. These competitors offer health insurance products and, in some cases, also provide healthcare services, creating direct competition for Kaiser. For example, UnitedHealth Group, through its Optum division, operates in the healthcare services space. Additionally, Cigna, through its Express Scripts division, competes in the pharmacy benefits management market, providing prescription drug benefits.
Kaiser Permanente has been recognized for its quality of care and has received numerous awards and accolades. The Kaiser Permanente Medicare health plan in Hawaii has been highly rated for several consecutive years, achieving a 5 out of 5-star rating consistently. The organization has also been ranked as the top-rated insurance company nationwide by insure.com, and its Moanalua Medical Center has been recognized for excellence in cancer care, obstetrics, and stroke care.
Kaiser Permanente's market share and competitive position are influenced by its integrated model of providing both insurance and healthcare services. This unique approach has contributed to its strong presence in the industry and recognition as a leading healthcare organization in the United States.
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Kaiser's recognition and awards
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has received numerous awards and recognitions over the years, solidifying its status as a top destination for health professionals in the islands. Here are some of the notable recognitions:
Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center
The Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center has been recognized for its excellence in various areas. It received the 2023 Women's Choice Award as one of America's best hospitals for Cancer Care, Obstetrics, and Stroke Care. This award placed the medical center among the top health care providers in the country, based on robust criteria including clinical performance, patient satisfaction, and accreditations. Additionally, the medical center was named to Newsweek's list of America's Best Maternity Hospitals in 2022, further emphasizing its quality care for mothers and newborns.
Medicare High Ratings
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has consistently achieved high ratings from Medicare, the nation's leading health insurance program. For 14 consecutive years (2010-2023), it has been highly rated, and for the sixth year in a row (2018-2023), it earned the highest possible rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
Best Regional Hospital
Kaiser Permanente hospitals are consistently recognized among the nation's best. Specifically, the Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center was named a 2022-2023 Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report, showcasing its exceptional medical services and patient care.
David Lawrence Community Service Award
Kaiser Permanente also recognizes its own employees who embody the organization's values. The David Lawrence Community Service Award is presented to employees who dedicate their time and skills to volunteering and improving their communities. Winners of this award receive a $10,000 charitable contribution from Kaiser Permanente, which they can donate to a nonprofit organization of their choice.
Kaiser Permanente National Nursing Excellence Awards
Kaiser Permanente also celebrates its exceptional nurses through the National Nursing Excellence Awards. These awards highlight the dedication, innovation, and commitment to patient care demonstrated by nurses within the Kaiser Permanente network.
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii's extensive list of awards and recognitions underscores its commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable healthcare services to its members and the broader community.
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Kaiser's Lahaina Clinic fire and rebuilding
On August 8, 2023, the Kaiser Permanente Lahaina Clinic was destroyed by a wildfire that swept through the historic town of Lahaina. The clinic, which had been serving the community since 1969, was reduced to rubble, with only the sign left standing. The wildfire claimed 101 lives and caused widespread devastation.
In the aftermath of the fire, Kaiser Permanente quickly mobilized two mobile health vehicles from Oʻahu and California to continue providing critical medical care to the community. The mobile clinics were set up at the Royal Lahaina Resort, where dedicated healthcare professionals tended to patients in the midst of their own grief and loss. Despite the challenges, the Kaiser Permanente team provided medical services to over 5,000 patients in various temporary settings, including local shelters, hotel ballrooms, tents, and mobile health vehicles.
Recognizing the need for a more permanent solution, Kaiser Permanente began constructing a modular clinic on the grounds of the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort, just one mile from the mobile health vehicle site. The new 5,200-square-foot facility represented hope and resilience in the face of tragedy. The modular clinic was designed to serve as a temporary home for Kaiser Permanente in West Maui, providing much-needed clinical space while the organization worked to secure a permanent site.
On April 30, 2024, Kaiser Permanente celebrated the grand opening of the new Lahaina Clinic with a Hoʻōla event, symbolizing rejuvenation, healing, and new life. The ceremony was attended by Hawaii leaders, Kaiser Permanente staff, and Maui community partners, including Mayor Richard Bissen and Gov. Josh Green. The event began with a moment of silence for the lives lost in the fire and included heartfelt speeches and tributes.
The new Kaiser Permanente Lahaina Clinic offers a range of medical services, including primary care, same-day care, OB-GYN, pediatric care, optometry, lab, and optical services. The rebuilding of the clinic demonstrates Kaiser Permanente's commitment to the community and its unwavering dedication to providing high-quality healthcare to the people of Maui, even in the face of adversity.
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Kaiser's Medicare health plan ratings
Kaiser Permanente is Hawaii's largest health maintenance organisation, serving as both a medical provider and health insurer for over 250,000 members. It has been recognised for its high-quality, affordable healthcare services, earning various awards and accolades.
The Kaiser Permanente Medicare health plan in Hawaii has consistently achieved high ratings over the years. For 14 consecutive years (2010-2023), it earned the highest rating possible of 5 out of 5 stars for six years in a row (2018-2023). In October 2023, Kaiser Permanente's Medicare plans received 4.5 out of 5 stars in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' 2024 annual ratings, exceeding the average rating.
Kaiser Permanente's Medicare Advantage health plans have also been highly rated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in their 2025 Star ratings. The organisation's commitment to advancing health equity is further demonstrated by its support for the NCQA's new measures in this area.
In addition to its Medicare plans, Kaiser Permanente's hospitals and medical facilities have received numerous recognitions. The Moanalua Medical Center, for instance, has been recognised as one of America's best hospitals for cancer care, obstetrics, and stroke care, as well as being listed among America's Best Maternity Hospitals in 2022.
Kaiser Permanente's Medicare health plans in other states have also received high ratings. For example, the plans in California, Georgia, and the Mid-Atlantic States (Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.) have been rated 4.5 out of 5 stars, while the plans in Colorado, Northwest, and Washington State received 4 out of 5 stars.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2019, Kaiser Permanente was losing money and members, falling behind competitors in affordability, access, and convenience. However, as of 2023, Kaiser Permanente has over 235,000 members in Hawaii and continues to be recognized as one of the leading health care providers in the state and nationwide.
Kaiser Permanente is currently recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans, with a mission to provide affordable and high-quality health care services to its members and communities in Hawaii.
The loss of members was attributed to difficulties in connecting members with their chosen doctors, as well as a lack of convenience in offering patient portals, video visits, and access to urgent care compared to competitors.
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii is committed to care innovations, clinical research, health education, community health, and providing patient-centered total health. They invest in industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, and state-of-the-art care delivery.
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being ranked as the top-rated insurance company nationwide by insure.com. Their Medicare health plan has been highly rated for 14 consecutive years (2010-2023) and earned a 5 out of 5-star rating for six consecutive years (2018-2023). The Moanalua Medical Center has also received awards for excellence in cancer care, obstetrics, stroke care, and maternity care.




















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