Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
Jul 22nd 2007, 3:37 am
#16
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Jul 22nd 2007, 3:40 am
#17
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Jul 22nd 2007, 3:40 am
#18
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
They sell the debt after 6 months in most cases ....
and then the debt goes down the chain being sold for a lesser
amount each time until it get to the bottom rung of debt collectors
for a penny on the dollar... it means a weekly phone call from
them for years... I often have a chat when they ring
I speak in tongue .. they hang up
if you pay one penny ..the seven years re-start ...
and then the debt goes down the chain being sold for a lesser
amount each time until it get to the bottom rung of debt collectors
for a penny on the dollar... it means a weekly phone call from
them for years... I often have a chat when they ring
I speak in tongue .. they hang up
if you pay one penny ..the seven years re-start ...
Jul 22nd 2007, 3:40 am
#19
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
but single payor universal healthcare is the devil.
Jul 22nd 2007, 3:41 am
#20
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
They sell the debt after 6 months in most cases ....
and then the debt goes down the chain being sold for a lesser
amount each time until it get to the bottom rung of debt collectors
for a penny on the dollar... it means a weekly phone call from
them for years... I often have a chat when they ring
I speak in tongue .. they hang up
if you pay one penny ..the seven years re-start ...
and then the debt goes down the chain being sold for a lesser
amount each time until it get to the bottom rung of debt collectors
for a penny on the dollar... it means a weekly phone call from
them for years... I often have a chat when they ring
I speak in tongue .. they hang up
if you pay one penny ..the seven years re-start ...
Jul 22nd 2007, 3:43 am
#22
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
They sell the debt after 6 months in most cases ....
and then the debt goes down the chain being sold for a lesser
amount each time until it get to the bottom rung of debt collectors
for a penny on the dollar... it means a weekly phone call from
them for years... I often have a chat when they ring
I speak in tongue .. they hang up
if you pay one penny ..the seven years re-start ...
and then the debt goes down the chain being sold for a lesser
amount each time until it get to the bottom rung of debt collectors
for a penny on the dollar... it means a weekly phone call from
them for years... I often have a chat when they ring
I speak in tongue .. they hang up
if you pay one penny ..the seven years re-start ...
In fact, change your phone number and don't ever answer the phone to them.
Jul 22nd 2007, 3:45 am
#23
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
Sorry, Thydney, I know this is not a laughing matter.......... but you know what we're like.
Anyway, seriously: I would ask at www.fool.com - they may be able to point you in the right direction. There's probably a legal board, as well as the insurance board.
It's sickening that, in addition to having to worry about health, one also has to worry about how one can afford healthcare...
Anyway, seriously: I would ask at www.fool.com - they may be able to point you in the right direction. There's probably a legal board, as well as the insurance board.
It's sickening that, in addition to having to worry about health, one also has to worry about how one can afford healthcare...
Jul 22nd 2007, 3:49 am
#24
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
Anyway I enjoy their calls... I like to hear them stuttering ...
Jul 22nd 2007, 11:55 am
#25
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Hong Kong, mostly.
Posts: 5,214
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
Most insurance companies, if not all, have an office of appeals, or an ombudsman where you can take claims. After that route is exhausted, you can seek redress through your State Office of Insurance registration, which probably has a standard complaint you can file that they will investigate, or you can seek legal assistance from an insurance lawyer who will file a claim for you in the courts (though this can get expensive fast). Do note that in the US, by and large, you are not responsible for the opponents legal fees if you lose (unless you act with great malice and recklessness) so your only cost would be your lawyer. Some lawyers may charge nothing unless you win. Depends.
If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can look for 'Legal Aid' in the phone book and they can give you an initial consultation and then determine if you qualify for free legal assistance.
If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can look for 'Legal Aid' in the phone book and they can give you an initial consultation and then determine if you qualify for free legal assistance.
Jul 25th 2007, 12:06 pm
#26
Position - Offside
Joined: May 2005
Location: Harvest, Alabama from Newport Pagnell, Bucks/Mitcham, Surrey
Posts: 413
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
If the insurance company is Aetna - good luck. I have been in battle with them since October of last year over two issues. First, they didn't pay the correct amount to the hospital under the plan and second, they only paid a small amount of the anesthesiologist bill saying they were not in network.
The first issue the hospital have taken up, but the second issue I have appealed twice explaining that anesthesia is part of the treatment and it is hard to understand they don't have one in this area in network.
I made notes of everyone I talked to on the phone and what they said, sent numerous letters but heard nothing. They turned down the first appeal but didn't answer the question why there were none in network. In January I wrote to the CEO, total waste of time. In all I have written to him about 6 times now and no one from his office has ever contacted me.
I have received letters about my appeal which were pointless. One said they received my letter on May 9th (which was actually sent April 21st) and said I would hear from them in thirty days. The letter they sent me was dated June 28th. lolol
I honestly thought that the CEO would at least look into it or pass it to someone to look at, but as I told him in my last letter it seems that Aetna's training policy is that if you ignore it long enough it goes away. I even mentioned to him that the reason my husband's company did not renew their coverage this year was because half the people in the company who had claims were not happy with the way the claims were handled.
I have wondered if it is worth taking it further. Do you contact the insurance department for the State you live in or the State where the insurance company are?
Jul 25th 2007, 12:25 pm
#27
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
Best of luck. And lots of patience...
Jul 25th 2007, 1:37 pm
#28
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
If the insurance company is Aetna - good luck. I have been in battle with them since October of last year over two issues. First, they didn't pay the correct amount to the hospital under the plan and second, they only paid a small amount of the anesthesiologist bill saying they were not in network.
We have been with Aetna for 11 yrs and have never had a problem.
Contact one of the board of directors...that's what I do if I can't get a problem resolved. However only do this when you have exhausted all other routes. PM me if you want to know the advice I was given on contacting board members...it certainly worked for me.
Jul 25th 2007, 4:44 pm
#29
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
Jul 25th 2007, 7:34 pm
#30
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,397
Re: Health insurance companies. How can you challenge them?
I successfully threatened a US based PHI provider with lawyers a few years back .. do they take any notice over there? Or is the risk too expensive in fees?