I have started this blog over and over and have not gotten very far. This gist of this is to say, anyone can get scammed…anyone can be the victim in fraud. I thought I purchased a private/individual medical policy that would cover the family. Boy I was wrong.
A lawyer from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner confirmed to me today that what I purchased a week and a half ago is indeed a scam. What I bought was through the National Association of the Self-Employed (NASE). Their members can purchase medical plans with “low premiums.” I was told, instead of spending $1200 a month for premiums through Blue Cross/Blue Shield as an individual, I can pay $745 a month through NASE as a member. After I purchased the policy and read the fine print did I realize that what I bought was utter crap…CRAP…CRAP…CRAP!!!
I am now working with a local, licensed, reputable broker to obtain health insurance through Group Health which is all over western Washington. However, I have lost $845 ($100 additional for a “set-up” fee) and I am completely in a panic to have that money returned. The “insurance company” claims to not have received my many faxes requesting my policy to be canceled and to have my money refunded. I turned to my bank, Bank of America, and filed a claim against the charge. I also closed my existing business accounts and reopened them under new account numbers. Now I have Bank of America and the state of Washington fighting to get my money refunded.
If someone thinks they can’t be a victim of a scam or fraud, think twice. These liars invest plenty of money to get a fancy website, professional looking documents, and the proper licenses to do business in all different states. NASE pushes a “limited indemnity insurance benefit” package which is NOT major medical. Here is just a few “benefits” of crap I got…
1. Doctor Office Visits: provide up to $30 per visit (not a co-pay), 5 visits maximum per individual, 10 visits maximum per family, per policy year
2. Emergency Room: Coverage is provided for treatment up to $100 per policy year, 1 visit maximum per person on the policy
3. Daily Hospital Confinement Benefit: Coverage for 31 days $1,000 maximum
4. Intensive Care Unit Benefit: $2,000 maximum when confined for 2 – 31 days
Basically the lawyer I talked to today said people pay for this type of coverage and when they really need it, the insured goes into medical bankruptcy. Hopefully I have covered all my bases and these brokers will be banned from doing business in my state. I wish they would be banned from all states!
Here we are, on the brink of the flu season. Those with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) have compromised immune systems. The flu and pneumonia are very dangerous to them. Those with FOP can have limited lung capacity which limits their ability to fight off such viruses. We lost a few young adults last winter for various illnesses. It can be a scary time for us and even more so without medical coverage.
