We heard about Heartcheck America from someone in our office who was trying to get donations for a foundation set up to benefit our broker who had passsed away very suddenly. This agent was told that in exchange for each person they got to go to Heartcheck America for a FREE HEART SCAN, that Heartcheck America would donate $100 to this foundation. (we were told by Heartcheck that they knew nothing about that)
My husband and I decided that this sounded like a great idea. Arriving there, we were escorted into an office where a salesperson explained "in detail" the benefits of having a full body scan. She showed us a video with both Oprah and Diane Sawyer proclaiming the ease and wonderful benefits of having this procedure. After an hour, we finally decided that having a full body scan every other year sounded like a great idea and we were also going to receive "free of charge, just for signing up!" a virtual colonoscopy worth $1190 each. Why 2 of those would almost pay for the entire 10 years of tests!
We signed up and on June 16th we both had our full body scans. Our reports arrived approx 3 weeks after. My husband's report showed that he should get to a cardiologist immediately. It appeared that he had extensive plaque issues and was his condition was worse than 80% of those taking this test. My report indicated that I had a small nodule on my lung which should be checked again in 6 months.
My husband rushed off to the cardiologist who then requested several extensive tests including the nuclear stress test. We then saw another specialist who reviewed the findings and thought he really didn't need to have further tests and that his test results were within a normal range. That was until we showed him the results from Heartcheck America. After reviewing those results, the doctor felt, as we did, that he should undergo an angiogram to see what was going on. The angiogram which is a test that does have potential life threatening consequences on occasion...
Turned out to show very minor issues, none of which needed treatment. We were grateful, but wondering why the Heartcheck test was so incorrect.
I waited my 6 months and was scheduled to have some minor surgery in April. I set up my re-test with Heartcheck and was assured that those results would be useable for my pre-surgery exray to. After 3 weeks, I called Heartcheck mid day to find out when I would be receiving the results. I got a recording that the office was closed for the day and to call back tomorrow or leave a message. I called for several days, always receiving the same recording. I finally drove over there to find the place closed and the trailer gone. I called their corporate office and was assured they were closing for construction and that they would get me that report right away. I received the report 2 months later after many many phone calls. Of course, by then, I had had to have another exray prior to my surgery. I received the report but there was no no reference to the previous report or nodule.
Unfortunately, we took out credit through Chase instead of Heart check which was an option. The person handling the finances for Heartcheck assured us of better rates and programs through Chase. Now we are on the hook for the balance of the $3495. After reading other people's experiences, I think we got off easily.
I hope they get it for ripping everyone off. I also hope that all of us who had these tests don't get sick as a result.
I will be filing a report with the Attorney General's office and Channel 13 investigates also. Good luck to all of you that were "suckered" into this too.
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