ComplaintsforHealthcompare Insurance Services, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  05/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Today is Monday, May 22 around 6:30 pm and I was speaking with a sales agent who said I was talking for 75% of this call and she objected when I asked her if she could please listen and not talk over me. Im 70 yrs old, worked for over 50 years despite receiving Social Security Disability at age 40 (not SSI) and my ***************** supplemental health care premium was always affordable until I turned 65 and went on Social Security Retirement Benefits. I had to choose one Medigap policy for life because for all practical purposes my guarantee issue rights only lasted for a six-month window before and upon turning 65. BCBS was a nonprofit for over a half century in ******** but was granted for profit status in the 21st century. They were required to set up a subsidy fund for low-wealth customers and it was in effect when I had to choose my Medigap policy. Because Plan F was the best coverage and similar to the coverage I had before I turned 65 and the monthly premium would also be less than most other policies including Plan G w/other companies. And ********** at the time didnt offer a Plan ** They only started offering it after the subsidy ran out and the prior subsidy beneficiaries would have to be placed on the market. So, I went ahead w/Plan F (which wasnt offered by other carriers) and stayed w/BCBS because I wouldve had a higher premium switching to another Plan and carrier, as they couldnt provide me with the ******** Medigap Subsidy. However, starting in January of 2023, the ******** subsidy ran out and my insurance premium jumped to $270 (and will only go up) a month. This is a far cry from my original premium which covered all my co-pays for doctor visits at $35 a month when I was first eligible for ******** due to a disability in ****. I was paying $75 in 2018. I live solely on my Social Security benefits of $1,365.00 a month. Im eligible for ******** in the ***************** to pay my ******** Part B premium and Special Help for prescription drug coverage, but not for their ******** plan that helps with co-pays. My spend down plan for regular ******** is $700 a month. If I cant afford $270 a month - how could I afford $700 in medical fees each month?I worked for Legal Services as a nonlawyer advocate and public policy lobbyist in public benefits administrative law, before I was told by a psychiatrist, some people make good employees and you dont, and another Social Security psychiatrist concurred and proclaimed my prognosis to be guarded. Nonetheless, Ive researched ******** and ******** recently and feel like I know what Im talking about at least as far as it pertains to my situation, although I do feel Im open to learning something I dont know.The representative insisted that it was better for me to be liable for $5,000 in medical expenses with a ******** Advantage plan each year, because of a $0 premium, than currently pay $3,600 a year for a Medigap policy plan with no other out of pocket costs. She was clearly biased - not neutral and objective and said she was more or less frustrated that I was talking more than her. (Which I admit would be frustrating.) However, Im the customer - shes not. Yes, I could *************** listening skills, too but she is the sales person and it wouldve been helpful if she had been listening and reflecting back what Im saying before interrupting and telling me her opinion of why she thought MAs were a good deal. Im sorry but I trust the Center for ******** Advocacy attorneys in ** more than I trust sales agents or insurance companies and the *** is very concerned that insurance companies have convinced the federal government to pay them more for MA policies which is taking away monies from the ******** system as a whole and offering costly regular ******** coverage under the guise of $0 premiums and a poor dental, vision and hearing plan or extra groceriesI apologize for getting angry - its hard for me to remain calm when I feel Im being wrongly contradicted. I suppose Im not much different than the anyone else and thats probably how the salesperson felt, as well. (She was also trying to be helpful - not rude.) Nonetheless, since Im the customer, I feel the salesperson could be better trained/coached to handle angry, emotional customers like myself. I know I respond well when I dont feel my ideas are being dismissed and it usually works to validate what the person said whether I agree or not, when Im in the listener position.Sales people could also be better trained to be neutral and rely on the facts: services covered vs. costs; and that certain scenarios can matter differently for each potential customer. This is what they should find out - the customers priorities. I prefer consistency (no surprises) and the security to not have to worry about going to the doctor or the ** because I cant afford it that month, or having to cover my co-pays for PT or psychotherapy which would amount to more than my Medigap Plan F premium currently at $270 a month w/out the ******** subsidy in effect.This was an upsetting experience; plus your company called me - I didnt request the call, but I thought I would see what they had to say and now Im all worked up. And Im sure the salesperson was frustrated by the call, too. She was trying to be helpful and professional. I have no hard feelings. Its also my fault because it was wishful thinking on my part that our health care system isnt really broken in my case and someone has a solution I didnt know about NOT?! And I was the one yelling?! I would of course appreciate a recognition of what I say is valid - if only for me; but even better some acknowledgement that our system more often than not, doesnt always benefit the people who need services and is weighted to benefit the private insurance provider. It also pays bupkas to the doctors and more of them arent even accepting insurance, at all. Im not opposed to people being paid well or making a profit, but even your sales people could be paid better - and trained better. They cant fix the system, but they should understand some people are feeling left out and desperate, and there may not be a solution without changing the system. I guess we will see if you earn your A+ rating by how you respond to my grievance.Thank you and have a nice evening.Yours truly,********************************** P.S. BTW, my father died a little over a week ago, just shy of his 95th birthday and now I dont know how Im going to keep the place I live in because he was able to pay the bills and the rental income of the unit upstairs helps, but doesnt cover all the taxes, insurance and utility bills let alone regular upkeep; and even if the special needs trust in my name (unfunded) sells the property and the profit to be used on my behalf, it wont last my lifetime, unless I expire in the next few yearswhich could happen, but not likely and certainly not the outcome I wish forhowever, where not an excuse, this may partly explain my increased emotionality and I sincerely apologize to my sales agent and I hope she wont take my reaction personally. I imagine she will need a little timeout to release the intensity with which I reacted. Again, I do apologize for my emotionality and hope all is well.

  Business response

  05/24/2023

  Our response is attached for your records.

• Initial Complaint

  03/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have been receiving ***** calls a day, trying to sell me car insurance, life insurance, or advantage plans. These calls are from 3rd party "lead" generation companies that they use to make out bound calls. No one will stop these calls, or get me in contact with the lead companies to get me removed from their system. These lead companies violate the do not call list everyday, and companies like this seem to use them to get around the do not call list.

  Business response

  04/27/2023

  Hello-
  
  Thank you for your inquiry. We take these requests very seriously and require agents to adhere to the Telephone and Consumer Protection Act. On 4/7/23 as a result of this inquiry, we confirmed that the complainant was added to our Do Not Call list to cease any further calls from our company.
  
  Thank you!
  

  Customer response

  04/28/2023

   
  Complaint: 19860714
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I have been receiving calls like this for several years, average around 20 a ******************** all say the same thing we will take you off our list  The calls still dont stop. I would like financial compensation as a penalty for you breaking the law in the first place.  I look forward to hearing your offer.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

• Initial Complaint

  12/12/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am ********************************************************************************************* so. On the first call I told them my age and asked to be removed. FYI I am on the Do Not Call registry.

  Business response

  08/02/2023

  Our response is attached for your review. 

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