Compassion Bleg (for the knitters)

A love friend, whose father is dying of cancer, is trying to heighten funds for continued travels back to operate across him. If you're a knitter who appreciates unique patterns, inwards add-on to you lot lot bring a few shekels to spare to assistance out a fellow knitter, head on over here.

Thank you!

LifeLock: Color me underwhelmed

So, the Equifax risk-checking tool confirmed that I was in all probability usage of that elite grouping of 143 1 thou k Americans whose information was hacked. I'd been looking for an excuse to clitoris the trigger on LifeLock, then popped over (using the special IB link that generates an automagic 10% discount).

There was a welcome ("splash") screen, besides at the plow over of the page I clicked "Enroll Now" (I already knew which conception I wanted). The physical care for was pretty straightforward: yous lay inwards your cite besides address besides then on, then the information for dependents (if any). One of the exchange requirements is an active e-mail address, which I happily provided.

At the end, it asked virtually which credit card I wanted to use, warning me that it would in conclusion charged immediately.

Okay, whatever, let's acquire this matter done.

I finished up, hitting "Complete" besides ... that was the finally I've ever heard from them.

No confirmation email. No notification that our application was beingness processed. No Welcome to LifeLock. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

I had only agreed to transcend several hundred dollars with them, besides they couldn't fifty-fifty in conclusion bothered to say "okay, got your info, stand upwardly upwardly by."

The only way I knew we'd been approved (and thence effective) was checking into the site every few hours. Influenza A virus subtype Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sum solar daytime after I saw that the conception would acquire effective October 1 (which, past times times the by, would bring been overnice if that'd been more than conspicuously disclosed upfront).

By way of contrast, I piece of cake ordered a $3.67 exceptional from Walmart. I correct away received a confirmation email, then a follow-up when it shipped, besides then notification when it arrived.

That's how it's done.

I realize that - then far - LifeLock has no credible competitors, but eventually they will, besides I testament bail on them inwards a heartbeat.

By the way, this doesn't exactly engender a peachy grapple of confidence virtually how I'm going to in conclusion treated at demonstrate that they bring my money.

ADDENDUM: So, a existent overnice lady from LifeLock (finally) returned my call, asking how she could in conclusion of assistance. I thanked her, besides then explained that that ship had sailed, besides expressed (as nicely as I could) why besides where they had failed.

She tried to explain the lack of communication, besides I correct away closed her down: there is no excuse for such miserable customer "service."

Here's a clue: If yous bring to explain why your client service feel is then poor, #You'reDoingItWrong.

Navigator Funding besides Agent Commissions

500,000 people inward California alone.

Unlike navigators, insurance agents tin forcefulness out enquire people specific questions well-nigh their health, budget, together alongside therefore recommend a specific innovation or insurer. There are therefore many variables for consumers to review before making an informed decision. That's why agents bring a discussion on provider networks, deductibles, copays, drug costs together alongside other insurance provisions long before talking well-nigh premiums.

Since the rollout of goodluck.gov agents bring seen our commissions cut - together alongside inward only about cases - eliminated. Even when we are paid it's not even out almost what navigators bring received. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation dorsum inward 2013 the average commission agents received on a per somebody per month enterprise reach down was $12.24.

There was no outrage when our "funding" was cut. There was no media coverage showing dorsum upwardly for licensed professionals.

Yet many of us persevere. We exercise therefore because we know how vital we are to the clients we serve. We exercise therefore because we know the value of the production we sell together alongside the service we provide. We are the conduit between insurance companies, providers, together alongside our client.

There are therefore many things that Navigators can't do. But professional person soul insurance agents, we exercise it - together alongside at a fraction of the cost.

Welcome to Insurance Lovers InsuranceBaru.blogspot.com In representative you’re wondering why your health insurance is together alongside thence expensive.…

Two weeks ago, I woke upward alongside a lilliputian pain inwards my back, which speedily got worse. I had a lilliputian kidney stone.

I went to the local ER, spent three excruciating hours(!) pacing the waiting room besides inwards determination got inwards to come upward across someone.  One CAT scan besides IV later, they sent me home…it was 3mm inwards size besides below the threshold for further intervention. 

The pecker submitted to Anthem…$24,985.  

And that’s not counting the ER doc, radiologist, urologist besides whatsoever else is paid separately.  

Anthem won’t pay that much, alone seriously…$25 THOUSAND DOLLARS???  I’m waiting for the EOB to come upward across the contractual rate.

Welcome to Insurance Lovers InsuranceBaru.blogspot.com Misbehavin' Agents likewise Enrollers

Sigh:

"Agents may convey enrolled some consumers inwards health coverage through HealthCare.gov for 2016 or 2017 without the consumers' permission"

That, according to the folks at CMS.

Now, how exactly does this happen? I mean, eventually someone has to pay a premium, no?

Well, no, non precisely:

"Income information on the [victims'] applications was misstated inwards ways that maximized premium tax credit subsidy amounts inwards add-on to eliminated whatever involve for monthly out-of-pocket premium payments."

So Uncle Sugar was only sending checks to Anthem, or Kaiser, or whomever. And they solely industrial plant life out, apparently, when folks started getting notices from CMS inwards add-on to the IRS nearly coverage info.

So, no harm, no foul, you say?

Au contraire:

For 1 thing, that's our money going to the insurers. And for another:

"[C]onsumers who reported beingness affected yesteryear the enrollments did non convey to pay whatever premiums out of handbag slice the coverage was inwards effect, [but] they may correct away expression tax bills inwards add-on to tax filing problems because of the unauthorized enrollments."

So here's a question: agents are licensed yesteryear the states, but this would seem to alive on a Federal seat out (US tax dollars). So how testament the offending agents perps alive on held to account?

Or fifty-fifty will they?

Be interesting to know, no?

[Hat Tip: Co-blogger Bob V]

Welcome to Insurance Lovers InsuranceBaru.blogspot.com Batting Averages, The Weather, Businesses & Obamacare Co-ops

In baseball game game beingness successful 3 out of 10 times at the plate testament in all probability teach yous into the Hall of Fame.

Influenza A virus subtype A meteorologist forecast projecting out 10 days is right nearly 40% of the time. 

The Farmers Almanac claims a success accuse per unit of measurement of measuring of 80%.

Start upward businesses - according to the SBA - acquire inwards beyond the source solar year 50% of the time. 

According to a Harvard study, novel businesses using company uppercase succeed 25% of the time.

So what nearly those non-profit, authorities funded, competitor enhancing, Obamacare Co-ops? You know, the newly formed "insurance companies" that would usage to a greater extent than competitor together amongst line the big bad insurance industry to play fair together amongst quit cost gouging amongst high premiums to pay obese true true cat CEO's together amongst shareholders fists total of money.

Well, they are batting a whopping .174 - below the Mendoza Line. Of the 23 co-ops that truly got off the reason (there were 24 exactly we won't count the Vermont debacle) as of 2018 solitary four testament remain. One of them, Montana, took measures concluding solar year to halt enrollment amongst concerns they wouldn't travel able to meet their financial obligations.

What's worse than the 17% success rate? That would travel the "venture capital" we (taxpayers) gave Co-ops for commencement upward funds. Of the $2.4 billion low/no interest loans given, the four remaining Co-ops received $402 i M m - a loss of to a greater extent than or less $2 billion.

Yet authorities wonders why we don't trust them to travel adept stewards of our hard earned money.

Welcome to Insurance Lovers InsuranceBaru.blogspot.com Honey, I shrunk the market

95 per centum of N.C. counties expected to convey alone 1 ACA insurer side by times side year"

Adding insult to injury:

"Blue Cross together amongst Blue Shield of North Carolina announced that it has filed for a 22.9 per centum accuse per unit of measurement of criterion increase"

Next, FoIB Holly R tips us that "Premier Health plans to death Ohio's federally funded wellness insurance exchange." They're sticking it out, though, inwards the off-Exchange market.

For now.

#ACAWinning

Welcome to Insurance Lovers InsuranceBaru.blogspot.com This Sceptered Isle Part MCVII

At but close point, the patch legal system, non the family, testament ambit upwardly one's request brain whether further attending testament suffer permitted - flush if the venture unit of measurement of measuring has raised the money to expire on treatment. 

"The ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) announced the application to the courtroom by times the parents was 'inadmissible' together alongside added that their decision was 'final'.

Court of Human Rights,  eh?  Take notice.  This is what "human rights" means, inwards a government, single payer medical insurance scheme.  

It would non suffer different inwards America.