The Joys of Obamacare

[oneforthebus]

Ok, I can't entirely blame this on Obama, a lot of it is United Healthcare, but it is precipitated by the cost controls and the fact that there are so many new enrollees who aren't being properly informed and who also either aren't paying their premiums, or don't understand that they have huge deductibles so they are still going to pay a shitload of money.

I have spent about 5 hours on the phone today trying to rectify a billing mistake that cause my policy to be terminated. The day after we had to take my son to the ER in the middle of the night because he was having trouble breathing. A week after my daughter's well appointment where she received a rather expensive vaccine.

Soooo...

I have spent almost 6000 in premiums over the last 6 months.

My dental "coverage" did not cover the kind of filling my daughter needed in a back tooth (the dentist told me the metal filling she had previously caused her tooth to break, so he needed to do a large resin one in that tooth and another...to the tune of 500.00. My Obamacare policy considers this cosmetic).

I was billed twice in November because I called and asked why the automatic payment hadn't gone through, and I was told it wasn't set up. I paid the premium and two days later the automatic payment went through. They told me they would refund the premium but never did...they applied it to the December premium...I said **** it and left it that way. For some inexplicable reason they decided to refund the premium two days ago...causing my December premium to show up as unpaid...causing my policy to be terminated as of January 31. 4 months after I paid my premium...twice.

I have been on hold for hours with a foreign call center, spoken to three "escalation specialists", been disconnected 3 times and had to hang up myself twice after being on hold for over 30 minutes. Finally got someone who took my premium payment for that month and the current month, told me my policy would be reinstated. 1800 taken out of my bank account, two days later, policy still showing terminated. Another whole day on the phone, getting no where.

Did I mention I have never received a bill, late notice, cancellation notice, email, letter, phone call or anything.

Looking forward to another long day on the phone getting nothing accomplished tomorrow.

 

[Troglodyte]

I've always said that "Insurance Fraud" is a redundant term.

I hate insurance companies.

 

[IndySteel]

Ocommie is 99.9% to blame. There's a particular candidate who has vowed to repeal and replace commiecare with a free market system. There's still a little room left on the Train.

 

[oneforthebus]

Ocommie is 99.9% to blame. There's a particular candidate who has vowed to repeal and replace commiecare with a free market system. There's still a little room left on the Train.

I'm pretty sure every Republican candidate has promised to do that. Some of them have actually given specifics. One said within the last few years that he's all in favor of single payer government controlled healthcare.

 

[madinsomniac]

Meh I just got my first medical charge in years... because OBC basically put my prior insurance plan OOC... it was $157 but still Its absurd.

 

[Max Power]

Ok, I can't entirely blame this on Obama, a lot of it is United Healthcare, but it is precipitated by the cost controls and the fact that there are so many new enrollees who aren't being properly informed and who also either aren't paying their premiums, or don't understand that they have huge deductibles so they are still going to pay a shitload of money.

I have spent about 5 hours on the phone today trying to rectify a billing mistake that cause my policy to be terminated. The day after we had to take my son to the ER in the middle of the night because he was having trouble breathing. A week after my daughter's well appointment where she received a rather expensive vaccine.

Soooo...

I have spent almost 6000 in premiums over the last 6 months.

My dental "coverage" did not cover the kind of filling my daughter needed in a back tooth (the dentist told me the metal filling she had previously caused her tooth to break, so he needed to do a large resin one in that tooth and another...to the tune of 500.00. My Obamacare policy considers this cosmetic).

I was billed twice in November because I called and asked why the automatic payment hadn't gone through, and I was told it wasn't set up. I paid the premium and two days later the automatic payment went through. They told me they would refund the premium but never did...they applied it to the December premium...I said **** it and left it that way. For some inexplicable reason they decided to refund the premium two days ago...causing my December premium to show up as unpaid...causing my policy to be terminated as of January 31. 4 months after I paid my premium...twice.

I have been on hold for hours with a foreign call center, spoken to three "escalation specialists", been disconnected 3 times and had to hang up myself twice after being on hold for over 30 minutes. Finally got someone who took my premium payment for that month and the current month, told me my policy would be reinstated. 1800 taken out of my bank account, two days later, policy still showing terminated. Another whole day on the phone, getting no where.

Did I mention I have never received a bill, late notice, cancellation notice, email, letter, phone call or anything.

Looking forward to another long day on the phone getting nothing accomplished tomorrow.

Hello, I work for United Heathcare. If you're still having a problem please let me know. I'd like to know who you're needing to deal with.

 

[oneforthebus]

Hello, I work for United Heathcare. If you're still having a problem please let me know. I'd like to know who you're needing to deal with.

OMG, anyone who speaks English and does't read canned quotes from a screen, doesn't put me on hold for over 30 minutes or disconnect me. Please PM me, if you can help I will be eternally grateful! Just a phone number where I can talk to real live American person who actually understands what I'm saying would be great. I'm sorry if that sounds racist.

 

[RollRed]

Ocommie is 99.9% to blame. There's a particular candidate who has vowed to repeal and replace commiecare with a free market system. There's still a little room left on the Train.

Of course he is because dealing with insurance companies before Obama was such a wonderful experience.

 

[Yinzerlyn]

Reminds me of when I was in a car wreck back in 1999. Dude hit me from behind and I had jarred my neck. Plus, kiddo was in the car- in her carseat as she was a little over a year old. Took her as a precaution. 2 YEARS later I was sent a collection notice for an unpaid medical bill from that ER visit. By then, I had moved out of state and was having to make long distance calls from work...NOT good. Turns out that the hospital coded one of the treatments incorrectly on a form causing Tricare not to pay it. I of course have NO knowledge of this, as how the **** do I know who writes what down and codes what.

Anyhoo- after 4 months on back and forth, I finally got an answer- the statute of limitations for demanding payment had expired so I wasn't responsible. That was the ONLY reason I didn't have to pay. So a coding error is MY fault...SMDH.

 

[DBS1970]

Of course he is because dealing with insurance companies before Obama was such a wonderful experience.

It's never been an issue for me. But for some it's gotten way worse under Obamacare.

 

[Superman]

Reminds me of when I was in a car wreck back in 1999. Dude hit me from behind and I had jarred my neck. Plus, kiddo was in the car- in her carseat as she was a little over a year old. Took her as a precaution. 2 YEARS later I was sent a collection notice for an unpaid medical bill from that ER visit. By then, I had moved out of state and was having to make long distance calls from work...NOT good. Turns out that the hospital coded one of the treatments incorrectly on a form causing Tricare not to pay it. I of course have NO knowledge of this, as how the **** do I know who writes what down and codes what.

Anyhoo- after 4 months on back and forth, I finally got an answer- the statute of limitations for demanding payment had expired so I wasn't responsible. That was the ONLY reason I didn't have to pay. So a coding error is MY fault...SMDH.

it is your fault.
had you been in the kitchen instead of out driving around ... btw, did you receive a man's hand-written permission to maneuver an automobile, and if so, did you retain that form?

 

[21STEELERS21]

I believe that would be the Trump surprise if elected, he would propose replacing Obamacare with Single-payer and lay
out the good for business case for it. Saying our businesses can't compete globally if our companies are burdened
with high cost medical care for their employees while our competitors don't have the same burden.

 

[Superman]

I believe you need to finish your coloring book.

 

[ark steel]

I believe that would be the Trump surprise if elected, he would propose replacing Obamacare with Single-payer and lay
out the good for business case for it. Saying our businesses can't compete globally if our companies are burdened
with high cost medical care for their employees while our competitors don't have the same burden.

Maybe he will explain where all that free healthcare is coming from. Surely not the companies who are now so 'burdened'?

 

[oneforthebus]

Of course he is because dealing with insurance companies before Obama was such a wonderful experience.

We've had United Healthcare through my husband's job for the last 5 years. Never had a problem, which is one of the reasons I chose it when he became self-employed. The exchange billing is a completely different system. I don't know if the customer service is different for exchange customers too, I don't recall ever dealing with a foreign call center before though.

 

[Steelin]

My 20 year old is a full time student who works part time at regional grocer. She has worked her way up to be a shift manager at the store. She wanted to work 35-40 hours a week over the summer to save money for school, car, etc. Her boss informed her that because of the ACA she can't work over an average of 28 hours a week for a two week period. She has insurance under our policy but because they have this corporate policy that allows them to not provide benefits, she can't work as much as she would like to. Thanks Obama for making my public school indoctrinated daughter a Republican! Life's lessons can be hard but she is getting a crash course due to FAFSA, ACA and who knows how many other governmental take-overs of our systems. I'm serious about this. At one point, as a junior in high school, she shut down completely when her father and I tried to explain why socialism doesn't work. She knows now.

 

[Max Power]

We've had United Healthcare through my husband's job for the last 5 years. Never had a problem, which is one of the reasons I chose it when he became self-employed. The exchange billing is a completely different system. I don't know if the customer service is different for exchange customers too, I don't recall ever dealing with a foreign call center before though.

We have PLENTY of off shore here. IT is over 60% and I hate having to deal with them on a daily basis. My team is six offshore and Me in support of Billing and Enrollment programs on the Mainframe. Believe me, I have no problem making them repeat things over and over until I do understand them. Most are nice folks, some actually learn English well, others not so much. Do you know there are many different languages alone there in India? That's why some of them are easier to understand than others. The worse part for me is the difference in how we do the job, they're all about the numbers, closing tickets etc.. I'm more about the user, getting them satisfied with what ever the issue is.

Also we do a boat load of Medicaid, Contracted by the States - and some of them restrict our work to be done onshore, data included.

 

[oneforthebus]

We have PLENTY of off shore here. IT is over 60% and I hate having to deal with them on a daily basis. My team is six offshore and Me in support of Billing and Enrollment programs on the Mainframe. Believe me, I have no problem making them repeat things over and over until I do understand them. Most are nice folks, some actually learn English well, others not so much. Do you know there are many different languages alone there in India? That's why some of them are easier to understand than others. The worse part for me is the difference in how we do the job, they're all about the numbers, closing tickets etc.. I'm more about the user, getting them satisfied with what ever the issue is.

Also we do a boat load of Medicaid, Contracted by the States - and some of them restrict our work to be done onshore, data included.

They were all perfectly nice...and they spoke fairly well. The problem is they don't seem to understand anything that's not a run of the mill, easily answered problem that they can read on their screen, and they don't seem to have any authority to do anything about it either. They have to transfer you to an escalation department, but you have to go through a whole rigamarole with them to get them to do that. No one will give you a direct call back number, so each time you call you have to explain the whole situation all over again to a brand new person. It's maddening and so incredibly inefficient.

Finally got the problem solved but I estimate I probably spent 6 hours on the phone...most of it on hold for 30, 45 minutes only to be disconnected or told someone would have to call me back later. All for the privilege of paying another $1000 so that they can not pay my kids' medical bills (I have a $12,000 deductible).

 

[oneforthebus]

I believe that would be the Trump surprise if elected, he would propose replacing Obamacare with Single-payer and lay
out the good for business case for it. Saying our businesses can't compete globally if our companies are burdened
with high cost medical care for their employees while our competitors don't have the same burden.

I should tell you about my pleasant and efficient dealings with healthcare.gov when this whole thing started. They had me signed up for a completely different plan than the one I selected on their website, yet somehow I was being billed by the plan I originally selected. Took me a good long time to get that straightened out too.

 

[Yinzerlyn]

it is your fault.
had you been in the kitchen instead of out driving around ... btw, did you receive a man's hand-written permission to maneuver an automobile, and if so, did you retain that form?

I was delivering the dinner I had just cooked....so I was allowed my 30 minutes of drive time.

 

[hamster]

Why didn't you guys keep the plan that you wanted?
Bammy said so. He doesn't lie, right? Either that, or he doesn't know the details of the law he passed. Either way, a failure of Democratic politics.

 

[warriors42]

**** Obama care and anyone that supports it. since his **** took place my insurance has MORE than doubled each month. I have BCBS of Al. I pay 600 a month. when I go to the doctor it is actually half the price for me to pay as if I don't have insurance than it is to use my insurance. my copay at the doctor is 100.00 if I have them bill me as if I don't have insurance it's 50.00. when I asked the doctor about this he told me they have to charge more because of all the hours it takes for them to get the insurance to pay up. We have had insurance with the same employer for 17 years and I could go on for hours as to how ****** up it has gotten since Obama care.

 

[Steelin]

The AARP has been sending me **** for years, even before I was old enough. It took me multiple calls to get off of their mailing list. I will NEVER be a member. Their endorsement of Obama and Obamacare was instrumental in his election and the ACA getting passed into law. **** them, forever. Yeah, that's how pissed I am about it.

My employer who used to give us money for health clubs, money to not smoke which could go to our 401K and money to decline the insurance here if we have it through a spouse ($190! a month), has had to terminate all of these offerings due to Obama Care. It's not JUST that our insurance has went up but these other things that have impacted our bottom line as a household. Additionally, I used to be able to purchase over the counter medications with my HSA monies. Not anymore. WTH.

 

[DBS1970]

The AARP has been sending me **** for years, even before I was old enough. It took me multiple calls to get off of their mailing list. I will NEVER be a member. Their endorsement of Obama and Obamacare was instrumental in his election and the ACA getting passed into law. **** them, forever. Yeah, that's how pissed I am about it.

My employer who used to give us money for health clubs, money to not smoke which could go to our 401K and money to decline the insurance here if we have it through a spouse ($190! a month), has had to terminate all of these offerings due to Obama Care. It's not JUST that our insurance has went up but these other things that have impacted our bottom line as a household. Additionally, I used to be able to purchase over the counter medications with my HSA monies. Not anymore. WTH.

Welcome to the unintended consequences of legislation.

 

[Steelin]

Welcome to the unintended consequences of legislation.

Seriously. I thought I saw something in the mail from them recently and I got mad just thinking about it. And you can bet that I'm sharing that opinion with everyone I know that brings it up too.