Health Insurance SUCKS

[Coyote_Bandit]

Received this in my email 12/29/2011 (name of the group carrier is omitted to protect the guilty). Effective date is 1/1/2012. I haven't checked yet but I'm betting they went ahead and took that auto pay out of my bank account for the January premium.



"This holiday season, we want to thank you for being a member of XXXX.

As the new year approaches, XXXX would like to announce a change in our benefits. Please accept this letter as notification that effective January 1, 2012, the XXXX benefits provided by Y (policy YYY 1234567-Y) will no longer be active. These include the following:

Hospital Confinement (Accident Indemnity)
Hospital Confinement (Sickness Indemnity)
Emergency Room (Fractures & Dislocations only)
Accidental Death
Accidental Death (Common Carrier)

To better serve your health needs, we are pleased to announce that the XXXX is currently working on a new Critical Illness benefit through Z. We will send a follow up notification with details on the new benefit once it becomes available.

The XXXX is always working to improve our benefits to provide quality services and products that help you, your business and your family.

Thank you"




Somebody remind me again just how that so-called healthcare reform legislation helped me. My premium went up and my coverage was drastically reduced (but not cancelled) with 2 days notice which just happened to fell over the year end holiday week-end.

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. yep. one of the great disasters of the last decade - American health care costs

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. The issue here isn't cost

it's the fact that the SOBs completely eliminated hospitalization coverage (and other coverages) effectively without providing notice or opportunity for their policyholders to get other coverage elsewhere.

FWIW, the policy does not cover doctor viists so the hospitalization coverage is one of the major benefits of the policy.

But, yes, the piece of sh*t policy is overpriced - especially given the fact that it carries a high annual deductible and a co-pay beyond that.

[tabatha]

3. "The XXXX is always working to improve our benefits to provide quality services and products"

How can they say that with a straight face?

False advertising - they should be sued.

[Coyote_Bandit]

5. Tomorrow morning

I will be calling the consumer affairs division of my state insurance department and providi9ng them a copy of this email which I will characterize as an outrageous bait and switch scam.

[Octafish]

4. Universal Health Care was one big reason for my supporting Obama.

As a candidate, he said he wouldn't sign a bill that didn't have it. Yet, as president, he did.

If only we'd have had Democratic majorities in the Senate and House...

[Coyote_Bandit]

9. Obama

supported single payer before he didn't. And he supported a public option before he didn't. And he had majorities in the Senate and House before he didn't.

Meaningful healthcare reform was my line in the sand. Given this sh*t, I'd say it looks like I didn't get what I so needed.....

[Octafish]

15. It's a very mixed bag.

I really feel for what you are going through, Coyote_Bandit.

My child has a pre-existing condition that made it difficult for us to get coverage after I got laid-off. To keep my family covered under COBRA, we paid more than $1,700 per month. The president's health insurance reforms have made it possible for us to get covered by Blue Cross, but we are still paying close to a grand a month for basic insurance with big deductibles.

Our politicians no longer are able to do what's best for the majority of the people. They can only serve the wealthiest.

The audit of the Fed makes clear: There are plenty of resources available for "Wealth Care." Near zip for "Health Care."

That's not limited to just my Party: It is Washington's shame.

[Coyote_Bandit]

19. Our politicians are able to do what is best for the majority of the people

They choose not to. Not all of 'em but most of the srry bast*rds.

If I didn't believe thay had that ability then there woul be no reason for me to give a flip about poitics and elections. Or to bother to cast a vote.



My circumstances have nothing to do with pre-existing conditions or ability to pay. It was a unilateral decision by the insurer to terminate the primary coverage under the policy by gving 2 DAYS notice by email. That's outrageous.

[pitohui]

24. i don't think that's even legal

you sure this email is not some kind of hoax or malware or another scam? there are some very convincing ones out there? were there any links or attachments to contracts in the email? if so, don't open those links or attachments

your health insurance coverage information should not be arriving by email and they must give more than 2 days notice anyway

close your browser and go to your health insurer's website by putting in the URL yourself and go from there

if they do not cover doctor's visits and they don't cover hospitalization, they don't cover anything, so the email makes no sense

[Coyote_Bandit]

28. I don't think it's legal either

Email appears to be legit. No links or attachments or such. Yes, I've typed in the URL myself.

It's a group policy and I suspect that the group failed to meet a deadline to have a policy offering continuing coverage in place - or the group could not pay it's premium obligation to continue the coverage it sold to its members.

I worked for an employer once that went out of business. We were informed one Friday just before lunch that our health insurance coverage would cease at midnight that day because the company could not afford to pay the premium. I suspect this may be the same kind of thing.

And if the group does not have the $$$ to pay the premium necessary to continue the coverage then it makes little difference to group policyholders such as myself whether or not the lapse in coverage is legal. The coverage will lapse because the group policyholder did not pay the master policy premium. Any recourse would be against the group not the health insurer because the insurer would be entitled to cancel the master policy for non-payment of the premium. The group is likely about to go under if this scenario is correct.

I opted not to include coverage for doctor visits in order to reduce my premium. The email is notification that the hospitalization coverage is being terminated effective January 1.

[tawadi]

6. Health insurance has become a form of legal organized crime.

[girl gone mad]

10. It's a racket.

Soon to be a government enforced racket.

[Coyote_Bandit]

14. Absolutely

with participation soon to be mandated by our government.

[i_sometimes]

7. What is worse?

Having health insurance you can bitch about or not having health insurance at all?
I have none, zero, zip.

[Coyote_Bandit]

12. The health" insurance" I carry

has a $10,000 annual deductible, a co-pay beyond that and it does not cover things like doctor visits and mental health services. It is major medical coverage for catastrophic medical expenses. I carry it in an effort to avoid bankruptcy should I have some major medical need.

I haven't seen a frickin doctor in nearly 15 years - but if I needed routine care with expenses that falls within my deductible I could manage to fund that.

The hospitalization portion of this policy that is no longer effective is the primary coverage afforded by the policy.

This coverage I am complaining about is actualyvery basc and no luxury.

And it just wet away with no frickin notice and for reasons that are not attributable to my health, or my ability to pay

[napoleon_in_rags]

8. If health insurance were a casino:

1) They'd be happy to take your money, so long as you were losing.
2) The minute you won, you're winnings would be in dispute, based on errors made when signing up for the casino, or paing 1 penny short of one of your losses (which they didn't report at the time)
3) The odds of any game would be subject to change at any time
4) The casino you had access to was through your employer, so you didn't have a lot of choice on which one to go to.
5) If you did decide to change casinos, you would have to report your winnings at previous casinos to get in the door. Any pre-existing winning streaks would deny you entrance to the new casino.

[Coyote_Bandit]

16. They should stll be happy to take my $$$

It is a group policy but it is not written through my employer seeing as I am one pof those long-term unemployed throwaway schmucks who is either too stupid or too lazy or too independent or too nonconformist or too old or too (fill in your own blank) to get a damn job. But the desk in my spare bedroom that generates a few $$$ is considered job creation. Go figure.

I've not seen a doctor for nearly 15 years. And am not particularly to seek out unnecessary medical care/expenses at the present time and I've paid my premiums regularly.

[TBF]

11. If you are not covered for doctors visits or hospitalization what ARE you covered for? ER?

You can take your chances on needing ER and save your premium payment (and look for coverage elsewhere).

[Coyote_Bandit]

13. The policy is a major medical policy

High deductble with a co-pay designed to cover catastrophic medical needs.

The hospitalization coverage was the primary benefit of the policy and the major reason I carried the policy.

They chose to eliminate the hospitalization coverage with 2 days notice.

[TBF]

17. That's insane - I'd try to get my premium payment back too.

We desperately need single payer insurance in this country.

[Coyote_Bandit]

23. Yes, we need single payer coverage in this country

While I didn't expect the Obama administration to achieve that kind of revolutionary heathcare reform I was outraged that Obama did not ask Congress to consider evidence regarding such a plan and that he did not fight for a public option.

Meaningful healthcare reform was my line in the sand. Based on my experience I didn't get anything resembling that.

[TBF]

34. At this point I have no line in the sand -

I work towards world-wide socialism honestly and without apology.

We have a two-party system so I vote for the most attractive candidate we are offered (in terms of social policy as they rarely differ economically), and remember that voting has never really changed much. Our real work is in educating, advocating, and agitating (as the 99% are demonstrating). Civil rights? Sure, we got legislation passed - but only after years of demonstrating, educating, etc... - same thing now with economics.

If I thought only voting accomplished anything I wouldn't be on this message board or any other - I would've given up long ago. I hope you'll keep speaking out, keep fighting, and give that insurance company hell to boot (turn them in).

[customerserviceguy]

18. Can I ask a dumb question?

Is this regular health insurance (the kind that you'd get through an employer, or a private policy designed to replace that) or is it some kind of supplemental insurance? I ask because I've never seen accidental death benefits as part of a health insurance policy before.

Maybe you've been depending on some crappy supplemental insurance as your primary insurance, and they finally decided to take a page from the big boys, and see what they can screw you out of.

[Coyote_Bandit]

21. It is a group policy

made available through a membership organization where you select which coverages you want to have included. It is not a supplemental insurance policy nor is it a policy through an employer.

I opted not to include coverage for doctor visits and maternity. I chose to include coverage for ambulatory services, hospitalization, emergency transport, air ambulance, prewscription drugs, accidental death (I have no life insurance), etc.

[pitohui]

25. if it's NASE insurance it wouldn't have covered you anyway

i hope we are not talking about national association for the self-employed because if so...well google them...i think if you had ever needed to make a claim on the insurance, you might have discovered what you are just now finding out, they may have ALWAYS had this policy but now in the new year they may be required to disclose it in print you can actually read

[Coyote_Bandit]

31. I've never heard anyone say ANYTHING positive about them......

[customerserviceguy]

26. Sounds like they're done issuing any meaningful coverage

and simply want out of the business. I guess their only worth would be as a cheap qualifying policy so that you could build up a decent Health Savings Account for yourself.

Compare them to other high-deductable policies designed for HSA's out there to see if that's pretty much their only use.

[Hoyt]

30. I'd check with the membership organization pretty quick. And, I'd quit paying dues if they have

no control over insurance companies that they endorse (and likely profit from). That's in addition to whatever recourse you have through government agency that regulates insurance in your state.

Good luck.

[Coyote_Bandit]

33. I have a list of calls to make tomorrow morning

Thanks or the good wishes.

[frazzled]

20. Your health insurance sucks

I just wanted to make that clear: I can't even imagine having a policy (major medical or otherwise) that doesn't cover, um ... hospitalization, ferchrissake. I'd definitely look elsewhere.

Our employer-based insurance has been very good at coverage these past few years for us. We'd really never used it much before, but we seem to have hit that critical age barrier where shit, as they say, starts to happen (and now all those years of premiums seem to be paying off a bit). My husband had a major accident and subsequent hospitalization and surgery fully covered, followed six months later by a hernia operation, and then I recently had to have a dermatological surgery for a skin cancer. We had no problems with coverage, no massive paperwork, and essentially no hassles. Maybe we're just lucky, but not everybody's insurance is as bad as yours.

I hope you are able to find something better and more reputable (and affordable). I assuming this is not employer-based insurance. I hope that two years from now, at least, you will be eligible for the government assistance to afford a real policy from the health exchanges that will be in operation by then.

[Coyote_Bandit]

22. Ummmm......

The policy covered hospitalization until January 1, 2012 when the insurer unilaterally decided to eliminate that coveage with 2 days notice. I did not purchase major medical coverage that didn't include hospitalization.

I didn't lose hospitalization coverage because of pre-existing conditions or inability to pay. I was not given notice or opportunity to secure other coverage. I got an email notice that my hspitalization coverage was going to be terminated in 2 frickin days.

That employer based health insuance is stuff that is only available to employees. That sh*t isn't available to self-employed or unemployed folks.

I find the idea of waiting two more years to obatin health insurance obscene.

[frazzled]

32. I understood all that

I'm not sure I suggested that you lost it due to something, but read your post and understood they'd cancelled these things. And I mentioned that I didn't think this was employer based. (My daughter once had to get insurance on her own, and it was a piece of worthless crap.) I don't know quite why you're taking out your anger at your health insurer on me.

Finally, I realize that two years is a long time to wait. But it's better than having nothing at all and letting the industry continue to fester, which is what we always had under every previous administration.

[TBF]

35. Actually we have great coverage too -

we had Cigna the past 8 years or so, and recently the employer switched to United Healthcare. So far so good. BUT, our premiums are over $1000 per month. We are fortunate we can afford it and know many cannot.

And that is why we need single payer in this country. When so many can't afford any coverage or are paying a lot of money for very basic coverage it has gone too far. I strongly feel many of the large companies in this country should be nationalized - and that includes banks, health care, and utilities.

[frazzled]

36. I agree

Our premium has not yet reached that level, but it is indeed an onerous stretch for most people. I am hoping that this level of insurance, as good at least as the average employer-based policy, will be within the reach of millions more Americans when the subsidies kick in.

[lynne]

27. What's the "Critical Illness Benefit" mentioned in the letter?

Sound as though that coverage may replace your other coverage's. Have you received any info on that yet? If not, I'd be calling them pronto.

[Coyote_Bandit]

29. I'll be looking for a new carrier

If anyone here has suggestions for high deductible major medical coverage I'd certainly entertain them. Female. 50ish. Non-smoker. Heavier than the height and weight charts find ideal. No documented pre-existing conditions and minimal documented medical history. Generally good health.


Haven't got a clue what that "critical illness benefit" might be. Email was conveniently sent on 12/29.

[cougarhawk91]

37. Health Insurance in general sucks

We have been lucky for the 18 years of our marriage to have decent to very good health insurance. This fall that all changed. My husband's employer changed health insurance with very little information given to my husband. We were told the name of the company but not the plan. So after having two doctor's bills go unpaid by the new insurance we have realized that the new insurance is not accepted by our doctor. Mind you we have had 6 insurance changes over 18 years, and our doctor never had an issue with our insurance until now. To paraphrase my doctor, our new insurance sucks. It sucks so bad that we can only find 18 family physicians in a 40 mile area that take it. I guess I should be thankful that we have insurance at all. I would have been more thankful to have the information needed to make decisions in the fall. We are stuck with crappy insurance and paying a good sum of money out of my husband's paycheck to have insurance that we can't even use. I am afraid it is going to get worst before it gets better for everyone. Health insurance is not a luxury. I don't think employers should be responsibile for our health. I want to know that I can go to the doctor I want and get the care I deserve because I am a human being not part of some bottom line. Crazy is the amount of money doctors and hospitals charge for things. How much of that money actually goes for the treatment and how much goes for stuff like malpractice insurance. Here is a crazy idea let's get the government out of the health insurance industry and in the malpractice industry and lower our cost for both health care and insurance. I feel for the guy with the original post. I say drop it now. At least you have that option, I am stuck with this crap until November 2012.

[Prophet 451]

38. I wish you guys had an NHS

Granted, the NHS isn't perfect but it's a lot better than what you have right now. I once did a post concerning what the NHS was like from a user perspective but I think it got deleted in the move to DU3.