Health Insurance / Medical Discount Plan

Health Insurance / Medical Discount Plan

August 9, 2005

US Healthcare Plans, Inc. 555 SW 12th Avenue, Suite 120, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 - an independent marketing company for: Design Savers Plan (Design Benefits, Inc.) 2851 S. Parker Rd., Suite 1300, Aurora, CO DO NOT FALL INTO THIS MEDICAL DISCOUNT TRAP!!! On June 23, 2005, I requested a quote for health insurance from an Internet website. After a few hours, Jeff Balog from US Healthcare Plans called me to discuss my needs. I explained that I am in the process of changing jobs and would be without health insurance for 3 months. Further, I said I needed coverage for myself, my husband and my son. Jeff told me that he would have a plan that would cover all of us for $164 .45 per month. When I asked why this price was so low, he explained that this insurance covers major employers and has just opened enrollment for individuals and small businesses. He explained that my family and I would be covered medically, with doctor's office visits at $20 per visit for a general or pediatric doctor, and $50 per visit for a specialist. Further, we would have dental and vision coverage and chiropractor visits for just $25. My annual deductible would be $200. This seemed reasonable to me and I signed up with him. He gave me the name of the plan (Design Savers Plan) and continued to describe other benefits such as a prescription plan, accident coverage, and hospital benefits. He said that I would be enrolled in this plan by July 15th. At the end I wanted to know if one of my doctors, Alan Rosen, was in the medical network, since I had an appointment scheduled for July 19. He looked it up and told me he was in Network due to his affiliation with the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

I received the benefit package on the 12th of July and discovered that the Design Savers Plan is far from an insurance. After calling Design Service Plan, I found out that this was just a medical discount plan. I would have to call them before scheduling a doctor's appointment and they would negotiate a deal with the physician. I would have to give them my credit card and let them charge me the fee that they negotiated. I now realized that Jeff Balog from US Healthcare used deceptive advertising by using terms like health coverage, guaranteed benefits, and enrollment in his call to lure me into a false sense of security. He also exaggerated the savings potential and promise discounts that might not even exist. I immediately cancelled my membership and requested a full refund. I did not receive any communication for several days, so I filled a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, the FTC, and called my credit card company to do a charge-back.

I was finally refunded the membership fee but not the sign-up fee. The president of Design Savers Plan has since contacted the BBB and sent the following e-mail: We are in receipt of the complaint from Ms. Doerner dated August 2, 2005. We have investigated the sale of this membership and found the following: The sale was made by an independent marketing company, US Healthcare Plans, Inc.555 SW 12th Avenue, Suite 120, Pompano Beach, FL 33069. We received the recorded verification call between Ms. Doerner and US Healthcare Plans, Inc. and found that full disclosure was provided and agreed to. Ms. Doerner's accusations are completely false and made up by her. A copy of the voice verification is attached as evidence. This file must be opened with Windows Media Player. Please review the entire recording as it completely contradicts Ms. Doerner's accusations against the representative. We find it reprehensible that she has gone through such an elaborate scheme of lies to obtain a refund that we guarantee without explanation required.

As requested by the customer, and as a gesture of customer goodwill, a refund of her first months dues has been issued to the account that was originally drafted. Her application fee is non-refundable.

Please refer this complaint to the BBB that covers the Ft. Lauderdale area as US Healthcare is responsible for the sales presentation and complete sales process that is the root of this complaint.

If we may be of further assistance please let us know. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Steven D. Smith, President

Design Savers Plan

Design Benefits, Inc. I called and left a message with Steven Smith's office to see if I can get a copy of the verification and my conversation with Jeff. I also asked if they received a recording with my conversation with Jeff, which they did not.

(Surprised?)

I was told that Steven would review my case to see if a refund of my sign-up fee is warranted. Andrea Click this link to e-mail the message author: Email User