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.
I went to a shrink because I was suffering who diagnosed from panic syndrome from the stress. B of A threatened to take my house and I paid them 32,500. some borrowed. I was becoming so ill I went to a doctor who found I had Hepatitis C, which they think was contracted from a 1990, mastectomy for Breast Cancer. Then my Mom was diagnosed with Nesothelioma and I went to NY to help her. I thought she would pay my Blue Cross premium on-time but she was so sick and angry and had loaned me 10K to pay BofA. I had to stay and help her and not pressure her as she was so sick.
When I got back to CA I sold a $2500. tread mill for $650. and sent the money to Blue Cross which they cashed. I was sooo relieved and thought everything was OK. Then they send me a refund check. Yes, I had already received a cancellation letter waiting for me in LA.
Over the years I had asked Blue Cross if I could change to an agent who was a personal friend. They said only if I dropped my policy and reapplied… what if I had done that, then I would have been without insurance at an earlier date, and at their own phone customer service persons suggestion. Had I been able to change to this agent he would have suggested a less expensive plan and this would have been avoided. He is someone I know and may have even covered me until I paid.
I filed a complaint with the CA insurance board who spent several months deciding in Blue Cross’ favor. I wrote to Gov. Arnold who not surprisingly referred it to the insurance grievance board and re-iterated their decision. I contacted several lawyers and said, I did business with this company for (14) years, “HOW CAN I BE HIGH AND DRY”, what other industry would treat a good customer with such disdain, ever lawyer said sorry, nothing you can do.
I reapplied to Blue Cross who would not accept me stating a history of:
breast cancer; hepatitis C, and Panic syndrome.
They sent me info to apply for CA high-risk insurance which costs a fortune, takes many months to get coverage and only lasts 36 months with a low ceiling on coverage.
I have been in such a panic since this happened I have not been able to look for work but own a home with equity. I have no money and don’t know how I can afford the $665. a month premiums for the high risk insurance. Had I not been sick with Hep C which causes confusion and depression I may have been able to cope better and not missed the payment. I just had thousands in bills and left in a panic to help Mom.
So, the very illnesses they state for being uninsurable, the panic syndrome kept me from being able to cope with my bills. I asked a lawyer What happens when someone is too sick to make the payment on-time — as I was? and he said, “you better get someone else to or you are out-of-luck. ” This makes no sense. If you are too sick to pay they get to drop you??? I’m thinking of bailing out of the United States and moving to another country. I just can’t take it and worry about my lack of health insurance day and night. It keeps me awake and in a panic constantly. I can’t believe that Blue Cross gets special treatment from the government and they are the ones that manage the high-risk plan, where they get the payments and gov’t subsidies plus I’m sure fees for general management of the program.
BLUE CROSS SUCKS!!!!
What can I do to help fight them?
Any ideas of open group plans I can join to get affordable coverage.
Thank you and best wishes,
Susan
