I became unemployed and therefore lost my health insurance late 2000.
Watching TV, I saw advertisements for individual coverage offered by Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Kaiser and HEALTH NET.
First I applied for Blue Cross. I was honest and marked that I... Used tobacco (I was age 49).
I was not accepted by Blue Cross because I was a smoker. Same story from Kaiser.
N November I applied to HEALTH NET and was accepted (I also indicated to them I was a smoker).
The deal was they would bill me monthly for my premium of $164.00.
All went well — they sent the bill and I PAID IT until May when no bill arrived (I never used the insurance nor made any claims).
Because no bill came, I called them TWICE AND EMAILED them TWICE in June.
Their response was..."It's in the mail."
Between November and May I had sent the crooks $990.00.
They then ignored me and I ignored them for a year (silly me — I thought they would straighten out the problem).
In May I get a letter stating my coverage had ceased a year ago. I called to ask WHY and was told it was because of non payment of the premium.
The next month they sent me a bill for 2 months coverage!
I have two theories why this FIASCO happened.
1) After their advertising campaign, they had received many applications and signed up everybody regardless of risk or health condition.
Eventually, a trained analyst came across my application and recommended I not be insured by HEALTH NET because I was over 50 years old and a smoker. So they just stopped billing me and hid away.
2) They [ HEALTH NET ] are simply INCOMPETENT.
HEALTH NET of California RIPPED ME OFF for almost $1,000.00
They have left me without any health insurance and I am a THOUSAND DOLLARS POORER.
I PLAN TO SUE THEM in SMALL CLAIMS COURT and a registered letter I sent to them of my plan and dissatisfaction with them was answered saying: We will not return your premiums so sue us.
Ok, i will.
Edward
Alhambra, California
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