Health "insurance" fraud

Looking for health insurance? Well, here's one to avoid:

HealthCare Advantage is one of the sleaziest, slickest, smoothest and most cunningly fraudulent oufits around.

They responded with cheer and pleasantness to an internet request I had made, looking for health insurance. I was told in clarion terms that indeed they were a PPO and that for $169/mo. (plus intro fee) I would benefit from some really comprehensive insurance, not just discounts.

Well, minutes after plunking down (first big mistake) $294 on my credit card to try them out for a month, I decided to check 'em out on the web. That's when I realized that there was a rat in the woodpile. They were NOT a PPO, but rather, a wannabe "discount" huckster.

In my web searchings I also went to the Better Business Bureau and discovered to my horror that this company has an "unsatisfactory record with the Bureau"...

The problem? Among other charges, such as the Kansas attorney general filing suit for "misleading" claims, I was stunned to learn that other victims were "experiencing delays in getting refunds for the 30-day money back guarantee."

I knew I had to act fast. Even though it had been just minutes since I had been duped into signing up, I knew that I was a goner if I didn't get this charge off my credit card in a hurry.

I called the customer service number and...you guessed it, couldn't get through. But, thankfully, on the 2nd or 3rd try I actually connected with someone who looked up my brand-new file and chirpily said: "No problem, you haven't even been entered into the system. We'll cancel the charges."

Whew! So now I've successfully terminated my involvement before being charged big bucks...wonderful!

Until more than a week later...Uh...maybe I better check my latest credit card transactions, you know, just wanna be sure.

That's right. Big as life. Starring me smack in the face. The BILL. The whole 9 yards. A full $294 had been charged against me THE DAY AFTER I was assured that the charges would not even be entered!

Know what I think?

I'm reminded of those documentaries that chronicle just how unethical businesses "train" their workers to lie with cheerfulness.

Well, I can say for certain that's exactly what happened to me; indeed, I was happily told what I wanted to hear, but of course, I couldn't hear the horselaughs all the way to the bank as they bagged another poor lackey...

Oh--today (February 7) when I called their 800 number I was assured yet again that indeed, ALL the charges would be removed.

If it happens I'll write an update. If it doesn't, I guess the Better Business Bureau and other "interested parties" will work on it together for me...

Stay tuned!

Chastened but still hopeful I remain,

David Grams

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