Due to extenuating circumstances, I needed to get decent healthcare, and i needed it quickly. My information was entered into a "reccomended" quote database that was linked from a legitimate self-employed healthcare advice site. Within minutes, they were one of several respondants. Most quotes fairly high as you can imagine, but through some advanced tactics of sounding just a little bit better, This company swayed me in their direction.
A rep called me named "Jamil" who was extremely clear, concise, and well-spoked. He uttered assurances that their polices were underwritten by AIG (apparently they have a health insurance area aside from auto and home) and that they were through the "Beech Street PPO" another known provider from my doctor's offices. They told me their benefits were as follows:
10/20/60% coverage for perscriptions.
70% doctors visits and Labs
free "wellness profile" and 2 dental clean/check visits for free
accident coverage with a low deductibles.
... All sounding just a little bit better than BCBS/Cobra/UHC quotes i had recieved, for a nice low $239/mo for myself and my spouse. Even the underwriting fee was $15 cheaper. All just a little better, right? Well, so i thought. I had a bad feeling, but i was pressed and needed coverage asap for a reasonable cost. They refused my CC to cover the initial fees (this should have been a tell-tale sign for me, as REAL companies take CC for payment. Slime only accepts ACH/electronic check transactions) They recorded all my information, name, address, SS# account info. The guy even could do lookup on bank routing numbers. After recieving my "confirmation number" (that the guy didnt seem to want me to 'repeat' by phone prompt so i could write it down) he reffered me to their "members/claim hotline" which was the number listed here.
Upon calling this number, my paranoia resurfaced in full force. Who was "Member Benefits USA? I thought I was talking to 'Alliance Health'?" I wondered. I immediately went to their information teleprompt. I googled their information, got their website, and it seemed... Spartan? A little too barebones, to be honest, I saw "member login" and "become a sales rep" wait, why would their front page have an express lane for a career opportunity with them? Shouldnt that be buried in the corner? Finally, I keyed in the right buzzwords and it led me here, where i read another person who was smart enough to share. I had luckily (and ironically) had to delay my initial payment for a week so I could get money in the bank, but thanks to Sarah posting about these guys, within 12hours i got to my bank, reported them and their attempt to make a transaction later in the week, as well as changed ALL my account information.
I don't have much money to spend, and this saved me from flushing what little i have down the drain. If you ever hear "Member Benefits" as a company name in ANY form. Hang up!
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