Ugh! Insurance vent...

amakayeb

So, as of Jan. 1 I went on to my husband's insurance plan. Same company, but there used to be a rule that spouses employed at different churches/schools and eligible for their own coverage couldn't be dependents on the other's. January 2 I went to the doctor, and realized that we didn't have new cards. No big deal for the Dr., they'll bill it once I get them the cards; I called the insurance company and was assured that yes, our cards had been mailed recently and we should be getting them soon. 

Last Monday, I had my first OB appt., and STILL had no cards. I got orders for blood work and a Rx for Zofran, which I've been waiting to go fill because, you know, no cards. 

So, I called today. And was told that they got my husband's request to add me but never received my request to decline my own coverage. Despite the fact that I spent forever on the phone with them at the end of November making sure everything was squared away after I completed the online form. And was put on hold while she checked with 2 supervisors and then told me that everything was good to go January 1.

I may have broken down and freaked out on the poor lady on the phone today, but seriously????

anjemon

Ugh. That sucks. And I hate that you can't yell at the people who make the decisions/cause the problems. Because the people you get on the phone never have any real power.

I'm also so annoyed at insurance. I actually cried at FI about it yesterday because I'm just so frustrated. All I want is prescription coverage for my BC. I spent a couple hours on the phone yesterday calling my insurance because I had no cards yet (12 days in! I have a monthly prescription. That's like half my month.) They gave me all the numbers, I went to my pharmacy, and the numbers were wrong! Ack! So they have to call my insurer and get everything straightened out and I have to wait.

And then I find out that they don't cover my brand of BC. So now I have three days left on my pills and I either pay full price or change prescriptions. I don't want to deal with that. I like what I have. Sigh. I probably should have done something about this today instead of just ignoring it.

WinstonsGirl

I can't stand insurance companies.  DH's company switched to a new insurer.  I found out Jan 2 that they require a prescription for me to get massage coverage. My primary doesn't require it, but my secondary (DH's) does.  I tried to direct bill my primary coverage and it's been turned down cos the secondary wants a Dr.'s note.  Umm, I'm not asking you to pay it, I'm asking my company.  What a waste of my Dr.'s time.  

ETA - do you remember who you spoke with who said cards and been mail rout??  I'd try to follow up there too

JennyColada

WinstonsGirl said:

I can't stand insurance companies.  DH's company switched to a new insurer.  I found out Jan 2 that they require a prescription for me to get massage coverage. My primary doesn't require it, but my secondary (DH's) does.  I tried to direct bill my primary coverage and it's been turned down cos the secondary wants a Dr.'s note.  Umm, I'm not asking you to pay it, I'm asking my company.  What a waste of my Dr.'s time.  

ETA - do you remember who you spoke with who said cards and been mail rout??  I'd try to follow up there too

Whoa now. What kind of massage is this and how do I get it covered?

mrsk616

i had issues first time on my own when i got my IUD placed. when i went on BC i had major issues and it was noted on my chart i went on it for health reasons not for BC. well when i got IUD placed i got it for BC and my insurance was not going to cover it because of them never updating my chart. i fought it for 5 months and i had issues for all those 5 months

kvruns

@amakayeb‌ did you have open enrollment back in December for a new plan year starting Jan 1? Or are you on a different plan year? Seems really weird they would make you dis enroll for your plan if the year ended. How frustrating

JCbride2015

anjemon said:

Ugh. That sucks. And I hate that you can't yell at the people who make the decisions/cause the problems. Because the people you get on the phone never have any real power.

I'm also so annoyed at insurance. I actually cried at FI about it yesterday because I'm just so frustrated. All I want is prescription coverage for my BC. I spent a couple hours on the phone yesterday calling my insurance because I had no cards yet (12 days in! I have a monthly prescription. That's like half my month.) They gave me all the numbers, I went to my pharmacy, and the numbers were wrong! Ack! So they have to call my insurer and get everything straightened out and I have to wait.

And then I find out that they don't cover my brand of BC. So now I have three days left on my pills and I either pay full price or change prescriptions. I don't want to deal with that. I like what I have. Sigh. I probably should have done something about this today instead of just ignoring it.

This exact situation just happened to me.  I wound up switching and now I am having an IUD placed next week, neither of which I really wanted to do.

I actually felt pretty violated about it.  Our insurance makes a big deal in open enrollment about how contraception is covered 100% because it's preventive, but then once you are enrolled you get the contraceptive "preventive" list and it's like 8 types of generic pills.  You're shit out of luck if you want anything besides a generic BCP or an IUD.  I really don't think my insurance should have the right to tell me what types of birth control are "preventive" or not.  It's going in my body, I should decide what I want.  End rant.

porkchops926

Ugh. The way the insurance companies run in this country makes me sick. I am filled with rage when I even think about it. It's not about care it's a money making machine at the expense of proper care. No, no insurance company should have the right to tell you what you can and can't be on, and you shouldn't have to jump through 6 flaming hoops in order to get an answer or results of any kind. 

I used to work with a lady who's sister answered calls at a major insurer. They instructed her that rule 1 when she got a call about a claim was to either deny deny deny even if it was covered by the plan, or give them a runaround. The strategy behind this is hopefully the caller will get so fed up that they will give up and the company won't have to pay out. 

Also, FI works at a hospital and I wasn't aware of this but evidently there are people stationed at the hospital (don't know the exact job title) who will just go around and ask the doctors about each patient's care as in "does this person really need this? Can we do something cheaper or get away with less" So it's basically their job to lessen patient care and second guess the physicians and pressure them into providing less in order to heighten profits for the insurance company. 

The whole setup is just so goddamn slimy.