CHBA (Consumer Health Benefits Association) - I was attempting to help my son find a more affordable health insurance program to enroll. I filled out a survey on line (which I will never do again) and began receiving phone calls from various companies cla

CHBA (Consumer Health Benefits Association) - I was attempting to help my son find a more affordable health insurance program to enroll. I filled out a survey on line (which I will never do again) and began receiving phone calls from various companies claiming to be selling health insurance.

CHBA (Consumer Health Benefits Association)

I was attempting to help my son find a more affordable health insurance program to enroll. I filled out a survey on line (which I will never do again) and began receiving phone calls from various companies claiming to be selling health insurance. Consumer Health Benefits Association sounded terrific and was the most affordable.

It would only cost him $99.95/month plus a $100.00 set-up fee. To make a long story short, when the package arrived the first thing I noticed was that was not health insurance but rather a health discount program. It stated on page 4 of the brochure "do not cancel your present hospitalization". So what the heck - I was told I was purchasing health insurance when I wasn't.

They did credit his card for the $99.95 premium but refuse to refund the $100.00 set-up fee. I feel that since the were fraudulantly selling me insurance for him, the set-up fee should be refunded. Oh, it's a "set-up" alright. I'm sure they are pocketing these $100.00 set-up fees left and right leaving people in the lurch.

I would highly recommend NO ONE purchase this bogus program.

Jeanine B

Click this link to e-mail the above consumer: //

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I had a similar experience thinking this was a good policy covering prescriptions and pre existing conditions. It is a discount company. I was told 80 % was covered and 20% was my responsibility in medical billings. I found out that they slit the throat on the medical field for 20% which I think is terrible and leave me with 80% . Quite frankly I think I could do better with no policy at all . Now if I want the prescription covered that they said was covered I need to pay another 150.00 application fee and buy online . This is garbage --- stay with Aetna or Blue Cross -- you will be covered and treated well !!

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I know CHBA very well. And unlike most of you, I would recommend this plan to anyone who has a pre existing illness or who can't afford health insurance. Other than some over zealous sales reps- this program is legit. For those of you that THINK you can get guaranteed health insurance- think again. Why do you think that health insurance is the big focus of the presidential election?? If it were that easy to get coverage- EVERYONE would have coverage right?

It is the only option to those who have not had coverage in a year, have MS-diabetes OR ANY other illness. And while the law in certain states does state that companies cant exclude you if you have a pre existing AND have had continuous coverage- THE LAW DOES NOT STATE THAT IT HAS TO BE A PRICE YOU CAN AFFORD.Can any of you with ANY health issues afford 1200.00 amonth? Why look for Blue Cross if you cant afford it- for the name?? Or why pay 1200.00 a month for coverage that you barley use?

Wake up people. AND FYI- THIS IS THE SAME KIND OF MEDICAL PLAN THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS ARE PROPOSING.

And if anyone is curious- I work for BLUE CROSS And have for 15 years and there is a reason that we are a billion dollar industry.

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I am also someone who fell for this as I needed to find some kind of coverage for my wife. Pre-existing conditions make it hard to get coverage anywhere!

I had been generally satisfied with what has come of this plan until recently when they charged a card again I very specifically told them to only charge once. I then went through the trouble of trying to get them to refund the payment and to charge the original card the plan was created with.

They first tried to get out of it saying the the account doesn't bill monthly. RED FLAG, they charged my account on the same day every month previously and never called me to set up payment arrangements, this sounds like monthly billing to me, I then proceeded to "lay into them" about they made the mistake when it was clearly noted in their account notes that my card was only to be charged that one time and no more.

They accepted the responsibility for the mistake and proceeded to commence the refund steps.

I then got weary and did my google search about CHBA to see what other complaints had been written about them and was surprised to find a lot.

Now, when I had originally been contacted, they did tell me it was not an insurance program, but a benefit program, which I accepted at that point. So I don't feel I was mislead initially, but I have had my eyes opened about their ethics.

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CHBA

WHAT A JOKE. I WAS CONTACTED TODAY FROM A STEPHANIE AT EXTENSION 335. SHE WAS VERY EAGER TO GET MY BUSINESS AND MY CREDIT CARD OR BANKING INFORMATION. SHE GAVE ME ALL THE BENEFITS OF THIS PLAN AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A GROUP INSURANCE PLAN THAT I WAS GETTING FOR MY INDIVIDUAL USE. SHE SAID THE COMPANY THAT WAS UNDERWRITING ME WOULD BE GUARANTEED TRUST LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.

I WANTED TO INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER, AS I HAD NEVER HEARD OF CHBA OR GUARANTEED TRUST, SO I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD CALL HER BACK WITH MY PAYMENT INFO AFTER I DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY HUSBAND. SHE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD GIVE HER MY PAYMENT INFO NOW, AS THE RATES QUOTED TO ME WERE FOR A SHORT TIME ONLY AND THAT THEY COULD CHANGE AT ANY MOMENT. I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD TAKE MY CHANCES.

AFTER HANGING UP WITH HER, I CALLED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN FLORIDA AND GOT A LOVELY EYE OPENER ABOUT CHBA, WHICH DIDN'T REALLY SURPRISE ME, AND THEN READ SOME LOVELY INFO ON THE INTERNET ABOUT HOW THEY FALSIFY THEIR INFO TO EFERYONE. WELL, WITHIN 1 HOUR OF ME HANGING UP WITH STEPHANIE, SHE PROCEEDED TO CALL MY CELL PHONE 7 TIMES, LEAVING MESSAGES THAT SHE COULD WORK WITH ME AND THAT I WAS MISSING OUT ON A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND THAT SHE COULD HOLD A CHECK UNTIL PAYDAY, AND EVERYTHING ELSE SHE COULD SAY TO SELL ME ON THEIR PROGRAM.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I DID SOME RESEARCH BEFOER GIVING THIS COMPANY ANY OF MY FINANCIAL INFORMATION, AS THEY WANTED $240.00 TO SIGN ME UP.

CHBA HAS GOT TO BE STOPPED, AND I THINK EVERYONE WHO HAS SHARED THEIR STORY ON THIS WEBSITE SHOULD JOIN TOGETHER AND PUT THIS COMPANY UNDER. THINK OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS THAT DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER AND DON'T HAVE ANY FAMILY LEFT TO HELP THEM MAKE THEIR HEALTH CARE DECISIONS. THEY ARE GOING TO GET SUCKERED IN TO THIS SCAM AND GET TAKEN FOR MONEY THEY DON'T HAVE.

LET'S SHOW CHBA THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET THEM SCAM ANYONE ELSE OUT OF MONEY.

AUDREY CURLEY

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

FAMILYCURLEY AT COMCAST.NET

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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I thank everyone who has posted their comments/complaints on this site about CHBA. They have contacted me several times in the last few weeks as I am actively looking for affordable coverage for my family. When I finally spoke to the representative he was very reluctant to give me exact answers for my questions...When I told him that I have learned that when something sounds too good to be true it is usually a scam, he quickly changed the subject and said he was going to contact me at another time....go figure, someone calls them out on being a scam and they don't want any part of you!!! I nearly purchased the plan he offered, but since I read these complaints, I will steer far from them!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

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we also got this "insurance" heres how it works: pay 119 enroll fee and 139/mo. family, you can enroll your doctor or dentist ,but dont count on them coming in. If your doctor charges 100 /visit chba will call and say give patient $20 off and then you'll be responsible for $80.Dentist,eye care is all same. Hospital bill has to be over 1000 before they call and "negociate a special price just for you! Generally if you have no health insurance you can do the same. Their garrentee of a free year and your enrollment fee back is also bogus. read page 13 on their "A" book and you must qualify by completing 4 of 7 requirements. 4 doctor visits and 4 dentist visits 4 precriptions filled 1 accident incident , well you see these have to be their approved doctors and 140 x 12 = 1680 which isnt alot but you would save at least that in their nickel and dime savings . save the hassle and pass this by