OnwardandUpward

way-hay! I'm covered...

Happy New Year everybody!!!

WEBlue

Excellent!!! Very glad to hear you made it through....

It can be an arduous process, but the relief is wonderful once you get it behind you.

Mrs Danvers

Congrats, Ms O&U.

OnwardandUpward

Well the fun goes on...have my first doctor appointment tomorrow, card not received. as expected ( has been mailed apparently )
Instructions on UHC website- if you have not received your card go here to print one. OK. Have to register- using numbers on back of card!
45 minute hold to speak to customer service- gives me numbers to register to get copy of ID card online.
Fill out registration- go to screen- we are unable to complete your request at this time...please try again or go here ( link doesn't work )
Now on hold to customer service again...

Funny how the only part of the website I've found easy to use so far is to pay the premiums!

I do hope it gets easier.

Michael

Was that on the healthcare.gov web site or the providers web site. If it was on healthcare.gov, try the providers web site or direct phone to the provider. Healthcare.gov should be out of the loop once you are signed up.

OnwardandUpward

@Michael this is now the healthcare company ( United ) website.

Customer Service say one of the numbers given to me in the first call was wrong...but the website's crashed anyway now. I think it's probably volume.

I still receive a daily email from healthcare.gov advertising btw. I don't know how long they'll keep coming!

Michael

I have Medicare Part D and didn't change companies from last year (First Health) and open enrolment closed December 7th and I've yet to get a new card or foundry list. My old card is probably still ok and I can go on their web site for the foundry but they are supposed to send that out each year since not everyone has or knows how to use a computer.

Part D has been around about 7 years so you probably have another 7 years to get to this stage of efficiency.

OnwardandUpward

Great!

I thought in my naïve state it would be just a matter of calling and getting someone competent and they would email me a temporary ID like every other kind of insurance does...but that's way too simple apparently.

Have a feeling I'll end up paying up front for tomorrow's dr appointment, though the customer service guy said the numbers should be ok- the dr office can call through or use the computer. Can't see them being way impressed if it's a computer crash or 45 minute wait to get through for them too! I need antibiotics so I'll go but the other referrals I need may have to wait. I've made a two month space in my work to get a surgery done so hope it all doesn't take too long to sort out...

kins

I've never been asked to pay upfront for a doctor's appointment, even when I was in between insurance policies having just left my job.

Pulaski

Us neither, even though we're on a high deductible plan and everything but preventative visits come back to us for payment anyway. By the time a charge has been through the system it is often 6-9 months later before we get sent our bill.

OnwardandUpward

Well I've cancelled the appointment.

Having finally got online with the insurance co and got my full details- the doctor I selected as my primary care is not the one listed on the card, and apparently I can't change it online 'at this time', and I can only change once a month with time restrictions also.

I'm beyond frustrated...

OnwardandUpward

That didn't read very coherently: what I meant is I can't see the PCP dr I carefully selected from their list when it said 'pick your PCP dr'!

OnwardandUpward

'I'm going slightly mad...' song playing in head...

WEBlue

I feel your pain, O&U. The husband & I have also not received any card or documentation from the insurer we signed up with last month. I have a couple of ID numbers given me by the (seemingly) competent person I last spoke to on the Helpline, which is supposed to be accepted by anyone treating us.

But...like you, I want to make sure we seek help only from medical personnel in the insurer's network. And like you, we did a careful PCP search before we chose this insurer because I like my GP & want to stick with him if at all possible. The husband & I've already followed him when he moved from one practice nearby to another office in a more distant town. However, his receptionist isn't certain they accept the "metal" (bronze, silver, etc.) of insurance that we signed up for.

OnwardandUpward

Well it seems the original PCP doctor I picked has dropped out....

I bought the 'platinum care' policy, seems like I might be stuck with the United Healthcare allocation of doctor.

I don't know what to do to be honest...every time I try to access US healthcare it gets stranger and more expensive- and worse value!!!

Still no card which was supposed to be mailed 12 days ago.