Complain about a product or service

American Republic Insurance Co.

Joe of Indianapolis IN (04/16/08)
They didn't shut down automatic payment even after I said to terminate, now they won't give me back my over $400 premium...

Had bounced checks and want my money back

Nancy of Lee's Summit MO (02/20/08)
This young agent, Jeff McDonald, took a $2,083.00 check from me about 2 weeks ago. He called today, 20 Feb 08, and said his home office lost the check, and would I put a stop check on it and send another one. I refused. I had bad experiences with McDonald who made an appointment with me, didn't keep it, then tried to say he'd called me and left a message for me 10 min. before the appointment time--which was a lie. He'd never called and left a message. He says his wife has a travel agency; but when I called his number once, she said she has a day care in her home, caring for their 3 and several others, and that the travel agency is his--Jeff's. These are reasons why I believe he never ever sent the check to the company.

I told him I'd read blogs by other policy holders--one where a lady put stop checks on a payment, and the company refused to pay the stop pay charges--but continued to send her payment back to the bank even though she told them she was canceling her insurance. Also, there are several complaints about the medical insurance rates doubling. I find it difficult to believe a multi-million corporation could lose my $2,083.00 check. I will not put a stop check on it. I am turning all this into the US Insurance agency. I don't know yet what kind of damage I will receive from this. I know I paid for the insurance, and I have none. So, I'm not covered, and I've paid for it.

Diane of Knoxville TN (01/23/08)
I've had a policy with them for about 8 years. As their premiums increase at a ridculous rate, their service gets worse. You can't depend on the customer service reps to give a correct answer. You can't talk to a superviser. It seems they are all supervisors. I have started requesting a written response to all questions. Over the years, they have denied services (mamogram), don't seem to know what providers are in their network, don't send out EOB. All of which cost me time to correct. They do eventially correct their errors with a lot of effort on my part. It seems they want to keep their policy holders right where they are.

Christy of Smithfield NC (01/17/08)
Every three months the premiums increase, and any time we have to go to the doctor they don't accept the claims from the doctors visits or emergency room. I am so sick of this going on and we aren't taking it anymore.

We found insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield with lower premiums, and if we stay in our network 100% is paid for. In my opinion, American Republic is only out for themselves and to make their wallets fatter.

Steven of Ames IA (08/01/06)
Abusive unexplained rate increases and unexplained discount reductions on high deductible MSA/HSA plans that my agent can't explain. He says the company rep hasn't called him back.

I pay my ever increasing premiums, fund my HSA's and still wind up paying paying for virtually all my own medical care. I haven't had a complete physical in years and haven't met deductible in 2 years yet my rates are spiraling out of control in apparent conflict with the rate determination process in place at the time I enrolled.

Gail of Franklin NH (01/29/06)
Despite a deductible of $4000 and a co-insurance of $5000, American Republic saw fit to increase my premium 56% from last year. This comes on top of annual increases since 2003 of 27% and 34%. I have never met my deductible and receive essentially nothing toward preventive care from this company. I'm tired of supporting the medical costs of people who eat at McDonald's and smoke cigarettes. I have cancelled this policy and, at 56 years old, am taking far less insurance, at one-third the cost, through AARP. Although it is not major medical, I refuse to subsidize these companies who care very little about the health (other than financial) of their clients.

Joanne of Lenoir City TN (08/26/05)
I have 2 complaints against this company. We started out paying around 100.00 pr month for individual health for my husband. Within 2-3 years we got notice that it was going up to around 650.00. I called and was going to cancel when they assurred me that the increase was because this was an ancient policy. We took out another policy with them which has higher deductible and does not cover as much. The premium has more than doubled already and we have not had it a year yet. I know medical costs go up, but this is rediculous.

The way I see it is that as soon as you are approved for a policy it becomes ancient.The pity of it is that my husband hardly uses it to begin with. It will be dropped the next time that I get notice of an increase!

My second complaint is with their privacy issue.Last year AR was billed for charges that were supposed to go to workers comp and when I tried to tell them, I could not speak with them.My husband filled out the form giving permission for them to discuss his case, they sent him a letter to confirm that it was his signature. Before it was over he had signed 3 forms and called to verify. Last month the recovery service called me and asked all sorts of questions about past claims, yet when I called yesterday to find out the calander year date, they could not discuss anything because they could not find a permission form. We have about pulled out our hair dealing with these people and their sorry customer service.

I am basically an honest person , but privacy issues go two ways. If someone makes a mistake I cannot report it because they do not have permission to speak with me. I feel that this company is price gouging to begin with - most companies give you a year before raising rates and they don't double the premium every time. They also make it so difficult to deal with them that most people give up- which probably saves on claims again. We are shopping for insurance at the moment. I refuse to hand them 1/3 of my income for nothing. I intend to tell everyone I know and to post online in every venue I can what a lousy deal you get with this company and recommend that they go elsewhere.If malpractice suits could be brought against customer service at American Republic I would be a billionaire soon.

Dee of Theodosia MO (08/02/05)
We had insurance on both our sons, one who lives primarily in Boca Raton FL. We were assured by the salesman, Dale, that the president of the company approved this. Our son in Florida broke some ribs and went to the hospital and was informed that no doctor in south Fl was in American Republic's network. He was not able to get treatment without paying himself, although we paid premiums to American Republic each month since December. I emailed the company in early May and wrote to Mr Mikkelsen 3/31/5 and have never received a reply. Now this salesman, Dale, is calling our son in Florida and threatening him - 5 times today, 8/2/5 and he has a record of each call. The person who represents American Republic has threatened to hurt our son. What can we do?

Our son never received proper treatment for three broken ribs except for the most minor of treatment which meant he was unable to work for a few weeks and we had to pay his rent, and basically support him. It is now August 2nd and he continues to have some discomfort.

Erin of Kremmling CO (01/17/03)
First off, the reason I cancelled this company's health insurance coverage is because it DOUBLED in ONE year. I called on December 30, 2002 and spoke with Debbie from Customer Service to cancel my health insurance, THREE days before they should have taken the premium out of my account, she told me the draft had already left their office FOUR days before it was to come out of my account. I told her the money wasn't in there. I'll make a note of that, she said. Who would know they sent the draft from their office almost a WEEK before it was to come out? They could send it out of their office a month before and I wouldn't know. It is not in their policy how early they send it out.

Around the 9th, I called and spoke to Vicki, a Supervisor, to see if they would reimburse me the $25 NSF fee they caused me and she told me basically that I was out of luck. Then, they tried to take it out of my account AGAIN on January 13th. Which caused the bank to charge me another $25 NSF fee. When I called again on the 15th to complain, I spoke with Melissa from Customer Service and she told me they had no record of trying to draft the money again. I faxed them the information that they HAD indeed tried and a letter, letting them know how I wanted it taken care of and they never returned my call. I called the bank and put a stop payment, which cost me ANOTHER $25, on the amount so they couldn't cause me anymore NSF fees. I called them again the next day and spoke with Marsha from Customer Service, she proceeded to tell me that wasn't their policy to refund charges they CAUSE!

I am willing to eat the $25 stop payment, just so they can't continue to compound NSF fees. But I do expect to be reimubrsed by the company the $50 for NSF fees they caused. I can't help but wonder, had I been a satisfied customer calling them to ask them to delay the draft because the money would be late instead of an unhappy customer calling to cancel my health insurance, if the things would have turned out differently.

It cost me $75 to cancel my health insurance coverage.

Erin of Kremmling CO writes (1/17/03):
First off, the reason I cancelled this company's health insurance coverage is because it DOUBLED in ONE year. I called on December 30, 2002 and spoke with Debbie from Customer Service to cancel my health insurance, THREE days before they should have taken the premium out of my account, she told me the draft had already left their office FOUR days before it was to come out of my account. I told her the money wasn't in there. "I'll make a note of that," she said. Who would know they sent the draft from their office almost a WEEK before it was to come out? They could send it out of their office a month before and I wouldn't know. It is not in their policy how early they send it out.

Around the 9th, I called and spoke to Vicki, a "Supervisor," to see if they would reimburse me the $25 NSF fee they caused me and she told me basically that I was out of luck. Then, they tried to take it out of my account AGAIN on January 13th. Which caused the bank to charge me another $25 NSF fee. When I called again on the 15th to complain, I spoke with Melissa from Customer Service and she told me they had no record of trying to draft the money again. I faxed them the information that they HAD indeed tried and a letter, letting them know how I wanted it taken care of and they never returned my call. I called the bank and put a stop payment, which cost me ANOTHER $25, on the amount so they couldn't cause me anymore NSF fees.

I called them again the next day and spoke with Marsha from Customer Service, she proceeded to tell me that wasn't their "policy" to refund charges they CAUSE! I am willing to "eat" the $25 stop payment, just so they can't continue to compound NSF fees. But I do expect to be reimubrsed by the company the $50 for NSF fees they caused. I can't help but wonder, had I been a satisfied customer calling them to ask them to delay the draft because the money would be late instead of an unhappy customer calling to cancel my health insurance, if the things would have turned out differently.

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