Consumerist

Find Your State Insurance Commissioner

When sending a complaint letter to an insurance company, it can be handy, or necessary, to cc it your state's Insurance Commissioner. The Patient Advocate Foundation has a big list where you can look up insurance commissioner's mailing addresses...

11:12 AM on Tue Sep 18 2007, by Ben Popken, 933 views, 5 comments

Blue Shield lies to popular political blogger, his wife, and anesthesiologist, to avoid paying fully for an epidural. [Daily Kos]

10:15 PM on Thu Nov 1 2007, by Ben Popken, 1,115 views, 9 comments

Find Out How Much Your Insurer Sucks

So you suspect your health/auto/home insurer is run by the devil, but you're not sure whether the alternative you're considering is any better. Kiplinger Finance has posted a helpful article on how to find the complaint ratio of an insurer via the...

10:27 AM on Thu Aug 27 2009, by Chris Walters, 14,430 views, 78 comments

Individual Insurance More Horrific Than Employer Plans

Consumer Reports' investigation found that, in comparison to employer offered insurance, individual insurance sucks and it's expensive. Here's the results of their survey, published in the January issue, asking consumers about their experience...

6:03 PM on Mon Dec 3 2007, by Ben Popken, 1,862 views, 25 comments

BCBCS Must Think Your Breasts Are A "Pre-Existing Condition"

Marc's girlfriend found some lumps in her breasts, the mammogram and ultrasound came back ok, but BCBS is denying coverage for the biopsy, saying it's a "pre-existing condition." The out-of-pocket cost is over $2,000. We're confused, BCBS. What...

12:45 PM on Thu Aug 7 2008, by Ben Popken, 13,998 views, 106 comments

Oxford Tweaks Rules So It Can Double Your Monthly CoPay

Kristine writes:Oxford healthcare recently updated its policy to read that no dosages of prescriptions exceeding 31 days would be processed. In the case of a patient receiving injectable solution, this may mean that their reconstitution device...

12:19 PM on Wed Apr 16 2008, by Ben Popken, 3,184 views, 40 comments

Sicko, For Pets!

"I just got off of the phone with the insurance company [VPI Pet Insurance] that covers our puppy. They advertise a broad range of protections for pets and make lots of promises about the great coverage that they offer. They were recommended to us...

9:14 AM on Tue Jul 10 2007, by Ben Popken, 6,162 views, 61 comments

United Healthcare Doesn't Feel Like Paying For Your Drugs

"Your drugs are too expensive."

12:26 PM on Sun Oct 29 2006, by Ben Popken, 8,396 views, 66 comments

ConEd and GHI Blindly Bully Blogger

ConEd and GHI insurance bully customers into paying on time, threatening cancellation, even if they pay they bills punctually, rants PR and blogging maven B.L. Ochman.

3:22 PM on Fri Feb 10 2006, by popkin, 284 views, 4 comments

BCBS Double Copay On Thyroid Meds

Mary is freaking out because BCBS of Maryland just doubled the copay on her thyroid meds. Times are tight, and Mary doesn't have a thyroid. The insurance companies have been telling her for years that Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs is a generic,...

11:58 AM on Thu Jun 5 2008, by Ben Popken, 5,092 views, 95 comments