When my COBRA coverage ended, I sought some options for ongoing health insurance. Because I have a pre-existing condition, some agents would not even handle me and other companies like AETNA and Blue Cross were looking at $1000/ month for a premium. Enter stage Right United Benefits of America. Stating they had received notice I was seeking insurance (I filled out a form on Assurance.com), after some initial questions they offerred me a $200 deductable policy for $497/ month. All sorts of red lights went off.
The MANAGER explained that only were I hospitalized would that preexisting condition not be covered for a year. The policy came in four parts, Medical, prescription Durugs, General Supplimental, and ER coverage. I waited a few days and called back. When I asked who the company was, "United States Fire Insurance" was the response. Bank account information was requested that would enable them to dray directly from my account.
When I asked to be sent a policy summary, it was refused as an expense the company had lost topo much money on and discontinued. More Red Flags.
I wanted to know in writing from them, exactly what it was I was going to be expecting - and paying for. As the noose tighted and we approached finalization, we reviewed the costs and it was revealed that there was an associated "filing fee" associated with each part of the policy. These fees totaled out only $17 less that the total rates originally quoted, so the total in actuality they were requesting was closer to $967.
I could find no performance reports on this company except here. The prospect of shelling out close to $1000 without having anything in writing confirming what it was going for was not acceptable. I did find the reports here of problems with the company, but they were offset by the fact that this site makes money from having bad reports on companies here! They charge the comany to "clean up" their records. How impartial could that be?
Rather than try and sort it all out, we went to "Plan B".
I asked the company how they were able to provide good coverage for so little and they responded that they specialize in people with pre-existing conditions (All the costly people in one group?). He said I would be part of a group of $80,000 and that was how they could defer costs - so they charged a healthy person more than necessary so they could give me insurance cheaper? This does not compute. They, as a company were able to offer no references. I eventually called my bank and closed out the account whose number I had given them. Just looked too good.
If there is a major company that gives them a great rating, let me know and I will be at their door.in the meantime, better sad than sorry.
Will *
Chinle, Arizona
U.S.A.
0 comments