BLUE CROSS Of California THREATENS to REVOKE The Coverage Of Customers Who MISS A SINGLE PAYMENT

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And one wonders WHY we desperately need single payer Health Care Reform in this country.


One of the worst abuses of the private insurance industry is known as recission, where insurers decide to revoke the coverage of their customers for frivolous reasons. The Los Angeles Times reports today that one of the nation’s largest insurers, Blue Cross of California, has “notified policyholders” that their coverage could be “immediately dropped” if they miss even a single payment:



Amid a national debate on how to make the healthcare system friendlier and more accessible, and as millions of people grapple with the loss of jobs and homes, what does insurance heavyweight Blue Shield of California do? It decides to take a key benefit away.



The company has notified individual policyholders that their coverage could be immediately dropped if they miss a single payment — or so it seems. Blue Shield says in a letter to customers that they can reapply for insurance, but with potentially higher premiums and stricter conditions.



Thankfully, a California law that mandates minimum grace periods and a decision by the company that will allow for a 28-day grace period will keep Blue Cross from immediately dropping people from coverage, as their letter threatens. The LA Times goes on to note that the the company’s pronouncement comes “after last year’s announcement that Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross agreed to pay a total of $13 million in fines after cancelling the policies of more than 2,000 Californians after they became ill.”


<http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/16/blue-cross-california-threatens/>

[FiveGoodMen]

1. And then they'll get fined for not having insurance, right?

[laughingliberal]

2. Oh, our COBRA through United Health was that way. No grace period. 1 day later? You're otta here! nt

[Segami]

3. Right after they're evicted from their home.

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4. Blue Shield Blue Shield Blue Shield Blue Shield Blue Shield

Two different companies.

[Zodiak]

7. I worked for Blue Cross and Blue shield of Kansas

Same company

Is California different?

[jemsan]

11. Yes, they are separate in California. I know. I have Blue Cross now known as Anthem Blue Cross of C

[Libertas1776]

5. And these are the folks

who were given VIP seats to the health care "debate" while single payer was thrown out to the curb. I don't know how much more of this change I can handle :sarcasm:

[Zodiak]

10. Correction

Single payer people were thrown in JAIL....or at least arrested

[JHB]

6. Up their sleeve: sleazy credit-card company-style billing tricks to get you to miss one...

Statements "lost" in the mail, or arrive late...
Delaying crediting your payment until after the due date...

Yeah, you can fight that, but how many people will?

[Zodiak]

8. LOL. the insurance companies sure are bold aren't they?

They know they have bought and sold the Democrats. They know they will have no effective regulation.

And now they have a new idea to get those pesky sick people off of the rolls....cancel you for one-day late payment, which they have partial control of.

Thanks, Congress, for throwing all of those people to these wolves.

I ought to know, I used to work for these jackals and scumbags. They kill people by spreadsheet in little rooms full of non-medical professionals (plus one doctor not in practice). They also make decisions like this there, minus the token doctor.

[Bonhomme Richard]

9. I wonder what happens when an employer is slow paying. n/t

[JVS]

12. The disbanding of these organizations would be a boon to the public interest

[unabelladonna]

13. THIS is why we need single payer

or medicare for all. healthcare shouldn't be dependent on a profit driven model.