You Know You’ve Joined a Cheap HMO When… (funny and sad but true at the same time)

You Know You’ve Joined a Cheap HMO When…

10. Your annual breast exam is conducted at Hooters. 9. Directions to your doctor’s office include, “Take a left when you enter the trailer park.” 8. The tongue depressors taste faintly of Fudgesicles. 7. The only proctologist in the plan is “Gus” from Roto-Rooter. 6. The only item listed under Preventive Care coverage is “An apple a day.” 5. Your “primary care physician” is wearing the pants you gave to Goodwill last month. 4. “The patient is responsible for 200% of out-of-network charges” is not a typo. 3.The only expense covered 100% is embalming. 2. Your Prozac comes in different colors with little “M”s on them. 1. Your ask for Viagra; you get a Popsicle stick and duct tape.

I Want to go to the Grand Canyon on my Hoveround!

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

I am now involved in a lawsuit with yet another Blue Cross. This one has denied payments for prescription drugs, doctor services, diagnostic tests, and for “durable medical equipment” DME, in this case a scooter to allow me to get around in spite of my severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Health insurance Horror Story 9 – Three Strikes

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

When I was working for a small company, they purchased individual BC policies for us. These policies all had a $2000 pre-existing condition limitation for the first year. There were 3 of us who exceeded the $2000. One broke her foot 6 months after starting work. This was denied as a “pre-existing condition.”

Health Insurance Horror Story 8 – “The New Terrorists”

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

This is probably minor compared to other people’s problems, but this so annoyed me that I wanted to tell someone. I have health insurance through one of the companies I call “The New Terrorists” who are terrorizing the American people; this company’s name is Blue Cross.

Health Insurance Horror Story 7 – Slowly Dying while Waiting

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

I think it time to raise hell with the insurance industry and the politicians they have bought. Here’s why. In May of 2001, my wife suffered kidney failure while hospitalized with a severe case of pneumonia. Since then she has had to have dialysis three times a week and has been waiting for a transplant. It has been nearly two years.

Pushed Down that Slipery Slope by a Sinus Infection

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

My horror story, or 10 year nightmare, began in the fall of ‘92. President Clinton was about to win the candidacy and I had suddenly fell ill to sickness within my sinus bones that would wind up haunting me for the rest of my life.

Beware of the Denture Theives!

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

After all the following occured, I contacted the Rockledge Police Department, I found out there were 22 theft complaints against Wuesthoff so far this year. A few were things like car theft, but many had similar complaints to this one. When will someone investigate them? Karen Davila, Vice President of Wuesthoff Health Systems, has threatened me with libel if I tell my story. Well, this story is true, so here it is. Truth is not libel!

Health Insurance Horror Story 7 – They are on a Witch Hunt

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

My husband and I just dropped our insurance coverage with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. We were paying high premiums as we are self-insured and never really getting any benefit. The only thing I ever got was letter after letter saying they were trying to dig up more information on my medical history and couldn’t process claims until they got all the information they needed.

Health Insurance Horror Story 6 – Left High and Dry

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

After (14) years of continuous payments I was late and Blue Cross cancelled my insurance. They had actually processed a payment but said it was a clerical error.

I had a business that closed after 12 years because our product became obsolete. When this happened my partner files bankruptcy and I had tens of thousands to pay. The financial pressure was horrible with bill collectors calling day and night. I was juggling what I could and got sick.

Right from the Horses Slimeball Mouth

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

I worked for a “blue brand” for over 3 years, and I can tell ya folks, they are out to get your money, BUT, they are not out to get it in big chunks, they are going to nickle-and-dime you to the poorhouse.

Jim Long is our Hero!

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

Thanks to the grand blue plan, I have discovered that I have a friend: the North Carolina Department of Insurance.

The saga started 3 years ago when my twins were born via C-section. The anesthesiologists at my local hospital, which was on the “Blue approved” list, had banned together and decided that they would no longer be included “in the network.” Luckily for me, I had out of network coverage as well, so even when the doctor’s office sent a letter and $1000 bill, I figured I was okay.

Black HIV Paitent Labeled a “Troublemaker”

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

To Whom It May Concern:

I am an African-American who is HIV positive, who has been doing Hemo-diaylsis for about eight months. My problem is that I’m being deprived of services of a clinic or facility, because I’m not liked, or my personality is sturdy. However, I don’t think it’s aggressive, I think my personality is assertive. Meaning that I will not be allowed to be treated with contempt or stereotypical biases.

Health Insurance Nightmare Story 5 – My Fake Baby

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

I am a self-employed male that was foolish enough to use A B C B S as my health insurance provider. I was paying about $90 a month for catastrophic coverage. I think health ins. is BS, but after fracturing my clavicle and being treated like a pariah at the hospital (I’m assuming they thought since I didn’t have ins., that I couldn’t pay), I figured I better get it so that doctors would treat me like a human being.

Health Insurance Horror Story 4 – Our Son is the Next “Jeffrey Dahmer”

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

Hello,
We have BC Ca as our health insurance. Although we pay $10,000 a year for this great coverage, we have never had to use it until recently. Our son was diagnosed with many serious and dangerous mental disorders. He has been deemed the next “Jeffrey Dahmer” by many medical professionals.

Health Insurance Horror Story 3 – They don’t care for babies

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

We signed our infant son up with Blue Cross for his health insurance. When he was about six months old we took him to a specialist to look at his eye. Upon receiving the bill, they retroactively cancelled his coverage for all the well-baby checkups gone to up to that point: they actually received a refund from his health care provider.

Health Insurance Horror Story 2 – Drinking Paint Thinner

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

Last winter I was doing some work around my apartment and accidentally drank some paint thinner that I thought was water. I put the paint thinner in a drinking glass because it made it easier to clean the brushes. Anyway long story story short I must have been dizzy and confused from the fumes and was thirtsy. I ACCIDENTALLY drank the paint thinner. Right away, I knew something wasn’t right.

Health Insurance Horror Story 1 – Betrayed by my Own

Originally Posted At: Coalition Against HMO & Insurance Abuse

I recently watched the movie “Sicko” at home. It really lit a fire under my butt. I am so grateful that somebody has finally taken the time and effort to “out” the medical system in this country. It is about **** time!!!

I worked in the allied healthcare industry for over ten years, up until I became disabled as the result of an auto accident. That’s when I became a victim to this horribly dysfunctional and corrupt system I was witness to for so long. I am currently carrying COBRA coverage through Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Texas (HMO). And, let me tell you that they are absolutely wretched.