Need help concerning a phone call from SecureHorizons....

[OwnedByFerrets]

We received a call concerning my wifes mother and her Medicare. The company which is a part of United Healthcare wants to take over her insurance coverage. I have looked at their site and studied what they offer. What I would like to hear from my friends on DU is:

Do you have any experiences, pro or con with this company.
Are they legitimate?
Do they do what they say?
Or are they just another predator on the poor and elderly?

Thanks

[petersjo02]

1. I'd be very wary of buying insurance from a company

that cold calls trying to sell their services. You need to go on your state government's Web site and find the link to your state insurance commission to see what they have to say about this company and other possible options for MIL's Medicare supplement insurance. They likely have an 800 number for you to ask questions.

[mia]

2. A class action lawsuit

http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/united-insurance-fraud.html

United Health Group, Inc. and United Healthcare

A class action lawsuit has been filed against the health groups alleging misrepresentation and fraudulent marketing in violation of the Florida Medicare Supplement Act. The Florida statewide civil lawsuit was filed in Pinellas County Civil Court. The suit claims United Health Group, Inc. and United Healthcare of Florida Inc. enrolled Medicare recipients into their Medical Advantage HMO and PPO plans without obtaining signatures or consent to enter into the insurance contract and without informing or advising clients that enrollment into their HMO and PPO Medicare advantage plans disenrolls them from their rightful benefits under the United States Medicare Program.

These enrollees were also not informed that the Medicare Advantage Plans such as Secure Horizons and Complete Care provide limited or no skilled nursing home care, while US Medicare covers 100% of such care for 20 days. The companies also failed to inform clients that the United plans have significant co-payments and significantly more limited availability of physicians who will accept their plan than will accept medicare.

The suit also states that United Healthcare's marketing practices fraudulently imply by names such as CompleteCare and SecureHorizons that the United insurance policies provide equal or complete care when in fact they provide far less care that the Medicare coverage that they replace.

"Last year my mother signed up for the new Part D Medicare program—the drug supplement—and the insurance company tricked her into signing up for Medicare Advantage (which is privatized Medicare), says lawyer Joseph Saunders. "This case isn't just about the case with her, but the pervasive fraud that goes in the Medicare system and that is why we filed the class action....

[shraby]

3. We had it thru my husbands retirement

plan and as soon as we turned 65 we dropped it. They only had to cover the 20% that medicare wouldn't, but they wanted us to pay 20% of that as a deductible, plus we could only go to approved hospitals and doctors and referrals were required as well as having to call and get their okay if we have to go to the hospital. I said screw that and went with a local insurance agent, no deductible, no restrictions on hospital, etc.