Strange Happenings with BCBS Plan – Story

In June of 2014, I terminated my employment and called 1800 ASK Blue to assist in finding an affordable Health Plan. The representative was very helpful and I chose the HMO Silver at cost of she noted I could be approved for a subsidy that bring the cost down to $105.70. We could make a three party call to if I qualified. I was a impressed. After answering the questions with my Blue Cross salesperson there to help me along I was “approved”. I purchased Vision and Dental and was relieved that I had affordable healthcare. I have paid that premium since 6/14 through 6/15 to Independence Blue Cross. On July 2nd, 2015 I was informed by a Blue Cross representative my Health Insurance was terminated as of 3pm. I went to pharmacy and was told my prescription was $800.00.

The first concerns I had were the billing statements I received. The invoices were on identical Blue Cross Logo stationary so I called ! 800 Ask Blue for clarification. One stated No amount due $105.70 and second was for $511.05. The billing office said they saw no issues and all was in order. After receiving same billing statements in November, I was transferred from billing to a representative that said he would get to the bottom of it…Easy fix. I was relieved. I had two policies opened. Wow! How did that happen? Although he didn’t know the reason it was easy to fix. I wanted to keep my current $105.70 policy. He said just close the Keystone. He gave me a phone number, we called and he said he would take care of the rest. Keystone? I never thought I had Keystone All the information II had said Independence Blue Cross.

I continued to make payments. I received notifications that it was time to enroll. I called the number on my card, 1800 Ask Blue if I needed to act. “No, you are fine. No need to do anything unless your employment status changes” .

It is May and those annoying big statements were still popping up. I started ramping up my calls. Not so much out of concern but sheer bafflement. Why was I receiving Independence Blue Cross statements that did not reflect what I was paying. Finally a frustrated representative said they had no information and I was directed to call the “the Marketplace”..
After 3 months of no answers, every phone call starting me from the beginning and ending with redirecting me. Independence Blue Cross, ,Marketplace., the light came on. Someone made mistakes and I was lost in a shuffle board game and did not enjoy being the puck.

After learning “The Marketplace” was not a flea Market for cheap insurance but rather the Healthcare Reform.hub that assured everyone had affordable healthcare..

A Marketplace advanced resolution specialist finally facilitated a three call. with an Independence Blue Cross operations representative. The picture became clearer and “a case was opened” internally at Blue Cross. Bottom line, my payments were being processed.for over a year and being applied to a ghost policy. i had received my first notification from Independence Blue Cross billing after the case was opened that no payments had been applied to my policy since November and I owed them close to seven thousand dollars. My case was open so the operations representative assured me they would reach a resolution. This would be fully investigated. I would be notified as soon as a resolution was reached.so I could be directed on how to proceed. I called daily. No response.
As of today I have no insurance. I have reached out for help. My Independence Blue Cross has vanished.like magic .It now shows I had no Insurance outside of dental and vision since November according to their computer. And yes, my June payment has been processed.