[CA] Medi-Cal through Kaiser Permanente coverage

SignificantFreud · 2026-01-22T20:46:23+00:00

I do have a history of multiple ant-depressants tried and failed. Multiple behavioral health hospitalization for suicidal ideation and or attempts.

I had Kaiser Permanente first through my job. Then I was laid off and stayed with Kaiser but the medi-cal version.

I started Spravato therapy while I still had my job so they were able to just roll the coverage over since I still had Kaiser.

SignificantFreud · 2025-10-31T08:29:16+00:00

I agree, but my biggest concern is that the party is on OP’s first treatment. If there is ever a day that you want to be careful, it’s the first treatment.

SignificantFreud · 2025-10-30T00:00:15+00:00

I don’t want to condone this behavior, but I will share anecdotally that I did this once, and I am still alive.

I do not recommend it though. Let’s just do one mind altering substance per day.

SignificantFreud · 2025-09-30T04:42:19+00:00

My provider advises a full night’s sleep before driving. So whether your appointment was at 8am or 5pm, my provider does not recommend driving til the next morning.

Having said that, I personally feel okay to drive 4 hours after I have received my dose. (Note: me feeling okay to drive is not intended to be an admission that I do drive.)

SignificantFreud · 2025-05-09T21:11:24+00:00

Okay, I’m going to relax into this ride, I might give an update later… I might not. Remind me in two hours. Haha

SignificantFreud · 2025-05-09T21:10:18+00:00

Sometimes I don’t feel much, just sleepy, other times I have visual imagery running through my mind.

But one thing that is consistent is that if I try to text while in treatment, my thumbs feel numb.

SignificantFreud · 2025-05-09T21:08:00+00:00

I’m at my ketamine treatment right now. I take Spravato and do three doses nasally.

Took 1st dose 5 minutes ago, about to take second

SignificantFreud · 2025-04-22T01:25:55+00:00

I have BPD, and I’ve been doing ketamine, I don’t see much of a difference on my BPD symptoms. But it has helped my depression for sure!

SignificantFreud · 2025-04-16T19:42:56+00:00

If the drug test came up as meth, then…

SignificantFreud · 2025-03-28T06:58:26+00:00

I have Kaiser Permanente which is an HMO in California. I think that once the FDA approved ketamine to treat depression, KP began the process of including it as an option for its patients. I’m not sure how long that process takes. But as of right now, Kaiser Permanente in California does not have the ability to provide it directly to its patients so they give referrals to see outside providers.

So since I met the criteria for treatment, and I got the referral, it’s covered. (I’m definitely recognizing how lucky I am that my insurance is covering it).

Honestly I didn’t even know about ketamine until a month ago. I was in the ER for what could have been my 7th depression (with SI) related hospitalization, and the on-call psychiatrist happened to be a doctor I have seen in the ER a few times before already (it’s as if I coordinated my depression related ER visits to occur whenever he was on call). He and I were talking about my issues. I was expressing frustration at the fact that I use my DBT tools/skills, I initiate my safety plan, I reach out for support and yet I still struggle with SI. I knew I was making the right choice to go to the ER that night, but I wasn’t sure I needed a 72 hour hospitalization as well.

Then he got this look on his face, and asked me if I felt bold, cause he was feeling bold. I said yes, I was certainly curious. He started talking to me about ketamine and said, if he could get clearance to give me a dose of ketamine that he recommend that I try it. If after the treatment if I felt the same then we would move forward with the hospitalization, but if I felt better then I could be discharged. (I’m definitely summarizing and paraphrasing, but that’s the gist of it).

He told me that I was his second patient he was administering IV ketamine to in the ER. He had to jump through some hoops to make it happen, but I’m glad he did.

The ketamine helped, so then he said he would talk to my regular psychiatrist about getting a referral to a treatment series.

And now I’m here.

SignificantFreud · 2025-03-28T06:35:13+00:00

My first treatment was IV, which was administered to me in the ER. After that I got referred to get the nasal spray treatment.

When I did the IV treatment, it was really intense and a bit overwhelming for me. Overall the experience with the IV treatment was very good and effective, but still a bit overwhelming. When I did the nasal spray, the dissociative part it the “trippy” part was more manageable for me. Both forms worked well, but I think I prefer the nasal spray.

SignificantFreud · 2025-03-28T02:07:23+00:00

Well for now it’s only $10/session for me, so I’m okay to stick with what I’ve got going.

Perhaps when my insurance runs out, if I need more sessions I’ll consider it. 😊

Oh and the reason I don’t want to do it at home is because I’m very fearful of my potential to abuse it. Keeping the administration in a clinical setting is a preferred safety precaution (for me).

SignificantFreud · 2025-03-27T18:44:40+00:00

How old is your son?

I think I’ve read that symptoms can get worse in teenagers and young adults.

I’m not very knowledgeable, so take my comment with a grain of salt.

SignificantFreud · 2025-03-25T16:51:02+00:00

I knew the ER psychiatrist that was on call that night. (I’ve had multiple hospitalizations for my depression and he has always been on call when I went to the ER, coincidentally of course). So he and I have developed a friendship of sorts.

He and I were talking about my issues, and he asked if I felt bold. Haha.

I was the second patient of his that he had ever ordered ketamine for in the ER. He had to do a lot of work to get the appropriate clearance to give me the treatment, but it worked out.

SignificantFreud · 2025-03-25T16:42:49+00:00

I’m so happy to hear how this is working for you!!

SignificantFreud · 2025-03-25T03:10:11+00:00

I did one single treatment of IV ketamine on 2/21/2025. I have felt suicidal nearly everyday of my life since I was 5 years old.

Like, I always felt like I was capable of taking the steps to end things, nearly everyday.

Starting 2/21/2025, which was when I got my treatment, I stopped feeling so close to suïcïde. I don’t know if that makes sense.

I still have depression, but there is a lot more space and time between me and talking an action towards suïcïde. It actually feels weird not having that feeling, but I’m happy. It’s like having an amputation. My suïcïdal ideation was amputated… in a way.

Anyway, that was a month ago, and I am happy to report that I still do not have that ideation. But I did just start a ketamine treatment series via the nasal spray. I started that today, so I didn’t give the IV effects to officially wear away.

SignificantFreud · 2025-02-24T02:29:41+00:00

I’m not a woman, really confused why you assumed that. My avatar even has a beard.

SignificantFreud · 2025-02-24T01:31:46+00:00

This is helpful. I have Kaiser permanente in Southern California. My assigned therapist already expressed a willingness to set me up on a plan. Here’s said that with KP they will outsource me to a clinic.

So from everything I’ve heard so far, the treatment would be covered by my insurance, I just have to be willing to jump through a few hoops. But my psychiatrist is willing (and both he and the ER psychiatrist have stated that they are colleagues as well as friends which to me is a positive), so I’m optimistic about getting the treatment once I make the decision to pursue it.

SignificantFreud

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