Aetna Health Insurance Reviews
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- Helpful customer service
- Wide range of coverage options
- Quick claims processing
- Affordable premiums
- Frequent claim denials
- High out-of-pocket costs
- Limited provider network
Aetna Health Insurance Reviews
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Reviewed Feb. 11, 2015
After a year and a half with Aetna prescription coverage, I am saying adios. I just read another complaint from a client who no longer can use her current pharmacy and going elsewhere is creating hardship. I have been denied on a third of the meds I was taking before joining Aetna, now three more have been eliminated from the formulary. They are "prior auth." - crazy and my doc is pretty disgusted.
Just got a letter yesterday, they will no longer honor Rite Aid drug stores. I guess they have plenty of money, cause they sure aren't getting anymore from me. I spoke with another company today who assured me they cover all drugs I am taking. No prior auth's either. I immediately signed up. I will know next month if they are for real. If I have success, I will kick myself for not leaving sooner. Yes, it took about 45 minutes on the phone going over my list of meds, but that's nothing compared to the headache Aetna gave me. If I post the new prescription company name, it will look like I'm pushing them. Just believe that there is better out there.
Reviewed Feb. 5, 2015
Got coverage through emperor, waited for cards, nothing. Called, was told it had been sent Dec 28. January 9, called, told a new one had been sent on Jan 3rd. Called again on Jan 22, was told it may be stuck in the snow up north. It's now Feb 6 and no cards. So you pay for coverage but can't use it.
Reviewed Feb. 4, 2015
Aetna has been my provider since 2013, under a PPO plan. They "discontinued" that plan, according to the MCO service I used to select replacement--effective December 31, 2013. Before the Medicare enrollment deadline, I elected to enroll with the replacement coverage with them, which was to be effective January 1, 2014. Because I am on an absolutely limited income, I had the MCO representative repeat that to me, and I repeated it back to him, twice. He confirmed my info already in their system to ensure it was current.
He told me it was an HMO, and as such, needed to have a PCP name. He said, "But you can add that later." I replied, my PCP is the same as for 2013, and told and spelled my doctor's name; and explained that I didn't want any issues because I need to make appointments in January; and that I cannot have any coverage lapse because I could get sick in between. He assured me, no problem, no lapse will happen. He also informed me that I had the option to have Aetna direct bill me for my monthly premium, or continue to have it paid through deduction auto pay by Medicare. I opted to let the auto deduction continue.
I have so many other challenges to deal with already, and it's one less thing to deal with. Sooooo, if I had listened to that okay to defer naming my PCP, I would have bitten in glutes with Aetna's PCP referral requirement. How slick is that??? I became extremely critically ill and was hospitalized in January and again in February. Well, Aetna started calling me around end of March/early April 2014, claiming January 2014 premium hadn't been paid by Medicare. I asked if February's & March's had been paid and the representative confirmed "yes.”
He claimed Medicare didn't pay January because of some paperwork backlog--didn't say on whose end. And if I don't pay the premium, my claims for January would be denied. I replied that Aetna should have the error corrected directly with Medicare. He then claimed they won't pay because the paperwork wasn't done in time for the January premium. So they hadn't contacted Medicare and wanted the premium from me. And if I paid, they'd retro cover any claims for January. Made absolutely no sense.
Businesses routinely do retroactive transactions--including Medicare. In April I returned a call from Aetna, and while we were in discussion, she states she notices I have not selected a PCP--so I corrected her, filled her in on the application I'd done, and AGAIN, gave and spelled my doctor's name. She entered it into the system again because they'd had another system glitch WHILE we were speaking. She said, her system showed my coverage had been terminated. She kindly dug deeper and explained, "You're not terminated, but the 2013 coverage was ended.” She reconfirmed that my 2014 policy was still in place and started on JANUARY, 2014.
I have several specialists I also must see for continued care. During follow up care visits between those 2 hospitalizations, 2 of my doctors' office staff told me they could see TWO insurance coverages for me--both with Aetna--the plan from 2013 was STILL in force & paying billings and one starting January 2014. So I actually had OVERLAPPING COVERAGE with Aetna. That explained why they resisted my suggestion to contact and resolve it with Medicare. So, rather than moving that payment over--they were trying to get paid AGAIN directly from me.
On another follow up visit in middish April, the doctor's office told me the 2013 coverage had now dropped off. It seems that my January premium had been auto withdrawn for the 2013 plan. I remember there was such a mess within Aetna with this sudden plan discontinuation and transition new plan for 2014--of course the 2014 price had increased both price & restrictions. My PCP billing department started calling me around August 2014 about non paid claims for January. They said they had billed my insurance as usual from 2013. I told them what I knew from doctors of the overlap, and they were to try for Aetna to reprocess the claim.
Been back on the phone today with Aetna for 1 hour with 3 different reps from 2 departments. Got nothing but scripted answers, and loophole logic. Despite, their own confirmations to me that ALL THE OTHER APPLICATION INFO I GAVE for the 2013 was intact and still in their system. Yet they only acknowledge the notes from my mid-April conversation where I had--again--named my PCP.
Another irony in this mess, is that my claims history SHOWS where they paid for my 2 other doctor's billings--of lesser amounts--for services in JANUARY 2014. But the bigger bill of $1,200.00 they denied. And that billing was from within my PCP's office for an EKG done on the spot & that had to be diagnosed by her Cardiologist and practice partner---because my symptoms indicated a possible heart attack during that visit. The last rep I spoke with today in Enrollment said she could only request that they reconsider the denial because they did pay other claims in that January 2014 window. And she said she would mail me an appeals/grievance form to file with them. I confirmed that she would do both; and she agreed and reconfirmed twice with me that she would call me to inform me of the results of her internal request.
Aetna is more than a joke, it's a dysfunctional obscenity!
To me, Aetna uses its insurance provider licensing as a license to steal! They are guilty of creating financial hardship, and mental and emotional duress for its customers. And this is the kind of stuff that results in class action suits.
Reviewed Feb. 1, 2015
I have been covered 2 years with Blue Cross on my adult ADD medication. When TEA switched teachers insurance to Aetna, they would no longer cover my medication. I hope TEA brings back Blue Cross.
Reviewed Feb. 1, 2015
I am a retired space scientist. My former employer changed all employees/retirees in January 2015 from Blue Cross plan to Aetna plan. Mine is the top one available, Aetna Medicare PPO Premier Plan. It ostensibly puts control of health matters into the hands of the physician, but Aetna actually tries to influence and delay every action.
On December 25, 2014 I went to Emergency Room at local hospital, with severe abdominal pains. ER physician ordered an abdominal CT scan which indicated a mesenteric mass in the abdomen, probably a carcinoid tumor. I have same primary and specialist physicians before and after the switch from Blue Cross to Aetna. Visits with specialists were scheduled for Jan 9 and a chest CT scan scheduled for Jan 13. Aetna denied the scan because the said Medicare required first a pulmonary function test (which actually had already been done in December 2014), but they never contacted me or the specialist who could easily have set Aetna straight. The CT scan was performed Jan 16. Cancer surgery had been planned for Jan 21, with octreotide tracer scans scheduled for Jan 19 and 20. Because of lack of planning time between scans and proposed surgery and since Aetna insisted on pre-approving surgery and viewing surgeon's detailed notes, the cancer surgery was delayed until Jan 22.
I was in hospital for five days. When I was dismissed, the surgeon gave me prescriptions for pain, constipation and nausea if needed. Pharmacy would not fill prescription for nausea medication since Aetna insisted on having to pre-authorize it. Aetna's "fast" approval route takes at least 2-to-3 days (and by the way, Aetna does not work weekends). Pharmacist said they'd try to get Aetna's approval, but 2 days after discharge I had vomiting and, of course, no medication. The authority for medical decisions under my plan is supposedly with the physician. But Aetna's constantly meddling and delaying and denying service makes an already stressing cancer surgery an even more distressing experience.
Reviewed Jan. 30, 2015
This year has been filled with hours of time being spent trying to rectify the absolute poor behavior, lies, being hung up on, treated like a liar - never mind doing this while being ill and feeling sick. I made sure this time I picked doctors that were in fact "in network". The reason as I was told and denied payments in the past, so at my last pain specialist visit...my doctor called Aetna and they told him he was dealing with a covered California patient (which I AM NOT) and my payments to Aetna were raised 3 times to almost 700.00 a month. They then told him other fables. I worked with his billing specialist for a long while, twice in the office, to get to the bottom of this one mess they have produced while taking my money, my peace, and health.
I then was told at the pharmacy that my years-long script of thyroid was no longer covered due to a change in coverage which I never was privy to (!) and have paperwork to prove as such!! They have hired imbeciles but also have lied to the doctors and to me, and I am about ready to contact an attorney if I do not get satisfaction for the disturbance they have created. PS: this is only the one mess up, this one doctor I am mentioning!! It has also occurred with my OB/GYN and now others...what the heck is going on???!!! I could go on and on.
Reviewed Jan. 23, 2015
Plain vanilla requests are processed fairly quickly. However, God help you if ever have any questions. The monkeys in the mail room can never separate the mail correctly. I've had to send letters 3 and 4 times and still have to call in order to get any action. The people on the service line can only spew company line scripts and do basic things so they're no help if you have any real problem. Between that and their phone system I absolutely hate when I have to call, but maybe that's by design.
Reviewed Jan. 22, 2015
When facing bad customer service, I never bother to post online since it is a hassle to create an account and reveal personal information just to complain, except for Aetna - they really frustrated me this time. My dental claim on 12/11/2014 was denied because their system showing my coverage ended in 7/1/2014, while I am 100% sure it should be 12/31/2014, since I have it in my employer's record, and I did go to dentist during 7/1 to 10/1 and those claims weren't denied. I was transferred to 5 different people. They were just like, "this is what the system says," "let me transfer you to this department", and the problem is still not solved because they didn't even try. One of the CR was really rude. I hope she's just being in a tough time so she forgot what a customer service should be. I wasted 1 hr on this, but I'm glad that my employer change the insurance to other providers because they also say that Aetna is difficult to work with. Stay away from Aetna.
Reviewed Jan. 16, 2015
I have cancer, and frequently need blood transfusions. Aetna's default coverage is that they will not provide this, no matter how medically necessary it is. Totally ridiculous because transfusions are needed for thousands of different reasons, including after ulcers, after operations, after anything to do with the heart, and frequently in cancer like in my case.
So we have all these wonderful people out there in the world who donate their blood to the Red Cross to help save lives, and yet Aetna and the hospitals are profiting on this and won't even cover it for insurance. The only blood transfusion that Aetna will cover is an autologous blood donation only - in other words where you donate it for YOURSELF. This works great if you know you are going to have a car wreck and for the three months before hand you can stockpile some of your own blood - but it doesn't work in the real world and it doesn't work for people with cancer (who aren't producing enough blood anyway).
I had the Aetna senior guy on the phone with me and he agreed that it was crazy, but it's just corporate policy. Horrible corporate policy. I give Aetna and F for ethics. Aetna should cover blood transfusions 100%.
Reviewed Jan. 15, 2015
My physicians & prescriptions had been covered until this yr 2015. I'm disabled, in wheelchair & cannot always run errands especially picking up Rx's. My main pharmacy delivers: a small business woman trying to make a living & help community. Aetna now refuses to process my Rx w/ this pharmacy. Pharmacist has made several attempts to contact & renew contract, but Aetna won't respond. Now I, & 25 others, must find another pharmacy; unfortunately no others deliver. BUT due to complaints, Medicare will do investigation & is giving us to Feb 1, 2015 to change plans if we want. I dread having to spend hrs comparing plans for my Rx's & physicians all over again. Sad situation...
Reviewed Jan. 10, 2015
My husband's company offers insurance but to add myself and our son on his policy would cost $800 so I did the responsible thing. Went on Marketplace@healthcare.gov, researched policies, found one and made my first premium payment of $251 with an (Advanced Premium Tax Credit) APTC. Then tried to use my plan and found none of my doctors and for some reason my compounded prescriptions were not covered. I'm out of work and my husband is horribly under-employed. We made payments in May, June, and July but then his commissions weren't included in his paycheck and couldn't make the payment in August or September. I called The Marketplace and provided the new income amount and was given an adjusted premium with a lower APTC that was very affordable. I have made my premium payment every month since, however, I am getting notifications from Aetna that says I now owe $634.57 and "If we do not receive full payment by the end of the premium grace period, we will end your coverage. Your last day of coverage will be the last day of the first month of non-payment." This was definitely written by a lawyer.
I have a graduate degree and I can't find where the last day of coverage is in any publications. In December my son had to go to Urgent Care for stitches. That was the first time I heard our policy was inactive. When I call Aetna, I go into an eternal loop of all the different ways to make a payment. Customer service says call The Marketplace and The Marketplace says call Aetna for policy adjustment. I can't seem to get anyone outside of a call center to help me. I've offered to make payments or set up a payment plan and I get the same rhetoric about "if you want to make a payment..." Where is the customer service?
I'm trying to keep my healthcare plan but this is getting very frustrating. This is a policy with a face value of $6,000 and I need help with just 1/10th of that. I'm making payments and it feels like they aren't going anywhere and I can't use the policy with anyone. Time is slipping and I get nowhere with Aetna. Does anyone know how or who to reach at Aetna's corporate office?
Reviewed Jan. 9, 2015
I have had headaches for the last 3 weeks - Every day. I made appointments with my eye doctor and primary care physician. Eye dr. said everything looked good. PCP said maybe sinus infection but wanted to do a CT scan first. Aetna denied the CT scan and said to go on 4 weeks of antibiotics...meaning they wanted me to just take some drugs before they even knew what was wrong. Instead of properly diagnosing the problem, they opted to save money and leave me suffering with headaches while I take antibiotics for an issue that nobody can pinpoint. Customer service is a bunch of brain-dead robots reading from scripts.
Reviewed Jan. 8, 2015
I have a claim for 162$ with Aetna HMO and have been calling them from the last 6 months. Every time, they have told me that a check has been sent. But I have not received the check yet! The reference number for customer service calls is **. The phone number of insurance company is 800-323-9930. Appreciate any help in making Aetna actually mail my claim check.
Reviewed Jan. 6, 2015
I require an Albuterol inhaler in order to breathe in times, where my asthma and COPD get bad which is daily. I've had Aetna for 14 months now and they've done everything in their power to make my medication out of reach. I was prescribed Ventolin 1st, which worked great. It was affordable and it was exactly what I needed. 5 months later Aetna decided that they weren't going to cover that anymore. I found this out after being treated in the hospital and sent to get my medication. The doctor came back and told me that I was out of luck. I had to go see a specialist in order to obtain a different medicine, all the while you can't breathe and Aetna wouldn't call me back. Specialist authorized me to get Proair which was the same medication but different company. Again, worked great and it wad affordable.
Just found out today 1/5/2015 while trying to get my refill that Aetna doesn't cover Proair now and I was up the creek again. I've called 14x and spoken with too many people at Aetna. I was finally told that there was an option. I was told to call my doctor/specialist and double check. Well, it wasn't an option. I called back to Aetna and of course you can't be transferred to the person you spent an hour talking to so now you have to start all over again with someone who doesn't have a clue. There are 3 options for my medicine. 2 are off the table completely and the 3rd is 5x the cost of the other 2 which makes it unaffordable to me.
I just spoke with a woman at Aetna and asked her "What would you do if you found out that the medicine you need to breathe was suddenly too expensive for you and that you couldn't have it??” Her response just blew my mind... She said and I quote: "I would get off my ass and find a way to get more money to afford it. By any means necessary." Are you kidding me? Single Income household and I work 70 hours a week and that’s her professional opinion? DO NOT EVER EVER EVER put their brand on your health care. This is the most atrocious provider I've ever had to deal with. Go any other direction you can. This company is doing more against me than for me and I've already mentioned their outlook on my problem-solving question. What a joke.
Reviewed Jan. 4, 2015
My family enrolled in a plan with Aetna in Dec 2014 after carefully looking at the doctors who accepted Aetna purchased through the ACA marketplace. To our dismay the list is not accurate. Most of the doctors listed would not take it. That's their choice...understood. When I called Aetna for assistance with finding a doctor who would take us they were no help. Besides not being able to understand them due to thick accents (calls routed to Philippines), they were just useless. I decided to cancel the policy before it even took effect. I will await my refund which according to 3 different people will take 3 different amounts of time to go back into the bank. One to three days, seven to ten days, or three to five days. Not sure who is right so I will watch my account closely. I switched back to Blue Cross.
Reviewed Jan. 3, 2015
I had two visits at Savin Dermatology Clinic in New Haven, CT in the fall of 2014. Between the two visits, I was in the office for no more than 1 hour. The medical professional that saw me was not an M.D, but rather some sort of glorified nurse. I came about a chronic skin condition that I’d had for 12+ years. I’d seen a general practitioner over a decade ago who hadn't told me anything particularly useful and only gave me a steroid cream that I found to be unhelpful.
I specifically went to a dermatologist this go-around hoping that a specialist would care more and have more information for me. They did a biopsy, but it turned over no new, meaningful or useful information. The medical professional I saw did not tell me anything I hadn't already figured out myself from years of research. He prescribed the same steroid cream for me that I’d told him I tried years before and hadn't helped. So medically, I’m back where I started. Financially, I’m down $825.52!!! And supposedly, I’m insured by Aetna. What a complete rip-off. I got nothing out of that and had no way of knowing upfront the appalling amount this was going to set me back.
After receiving bills from both Savin and the Yale Medical Group, who Savin sent the biopsy out to for results; I looked up the cost of the procedures I was billed for on clearheathcosts.com. The total charge at Savin Dermatology Group was for $390 of which Aetna paid a lousy $28.55, the CT Medicare price for the same procedures was only $90 total. The total charge for the Yale Medical Group analysis was $550 of which Aetna only wrote-off $85.93 while the CT Medicare price would have been only $164 total. That means my total insured out-of-pocket costs were $571.52 or 325% above the Medicare price!! Where is consumer protection on this? How can so many people be gouging money without doing anything useful?
Reviewed Dec. 30, 2014
Let's just say we have spent about 50 hours on the phone - they keep telling us we owe, then we overpaid, multiple times, every month, then they retroactively stop our service and we get a bill from the doctor, then we get it "fixed" and then they go back again and retroactively take out the coverage and we are constantly hearing from Aetna people in different departments telling us different stories. This is not easy to deal with for anyone - I would avoid Aetna whenever possible!
Reviewed Dec. 27, 2014
I have Aetna insurance through my work, have had it for years. I'm relatively healthy and rarely need hospital visits. A couple months ago I was too sick to work and visited a nearby clinic called Patient first and were diagnosed with pneumonia. Missed about a week of work and had two follow-up visits. I had x-rays done twice, and was prescribed antibiotics and ibuprofen, which I had to pay for. I had to pay a copay of $70 for the first visit.
Recently I was sent a bill for about $80 from them, and then another for over $400. I read the details of the bills and it appears that I am being billed for the entirety of the cost. Aetna did not cover anything. Why the hell do I even have insurance? What have they been doing with the $30+ they collect from me every month? I don't know whose at fault here. Aetna, my employer, the US healthcare system... Whatever it is, something needs to change. This is unacceptable.
Reviewed Dec. 22, 2014
I have been on long-term disability for 18 months and have had my disability check shortened multiple times. Harassed by the account managers and lied to and have had to call multiple times which has made my condition worse. Told they were not receiving my paper work from all my doctors and had to pay for extra paperwork to be filled out multiple times because Aetna stated they did not have the documents. No one should have to go through this when they are already ILL.
Reviewed Dec. 21, 2014
Aetna is breaking the law. Under the ACA birth control must be covered. If there is not a generic version available they must cover the name brand. I am on OrthoTricyclin Lo. There is no generic version of this type of birth control available. I am on this brand because every other kind I have tried makes me chronically nauseous and prone to vomiting. Aetna refuses to pay for the medication. The only way they will pay is if I switch to a generic version which would be detrimental to my well being, as noted above. It costs me $120 per month for one pack. It should not cost me anything.
Reviewed Dec. 21, 2014
Prescription rates are more expensive than regular pharmacies. Customer service is NEVER helpful. They do NOT have a Pharmacist seven days a week. If there is an issue with your prescription, they do NOT contact you to notify you of any potential delay. They charge a fee for "quicker expedition" for a prescription!
Reviewed Dec. 12, 2014
We live in CA and were in MN during the summer when I came down with pneumonia. I called Aetna and they said since there were no in network facilities we would have to go to another facility and be sure it was during urgent care hours. We did that and then for the last 2 1/2 years my wife has spent 20 hours on the phone with Aetna trying to resolve this and get the bill paid. Every time they are polite and claim that the issue is resolved. And then a month or two later we get a stating that the bill is still due.
Reviewed Dec. 11, 2014
My insurance coverage ended on 8/30/2013 and I filled a prescription on 8/29/2013. Although my pharmacy has contacted Aetna on 2 occasions to inform them of this, Aetna insist on the 9/3/2014 date that Aetna has on file and want me to re pay them $350.00 for medication.
Reviewed Dec. 8, 2014
Prior to a scheduled preventative procedure (digital mammogram) that is 100% covered "in network" I called Aetna & asked if St. Anthony's breast imaging for such procedures was in network and she said yes it was. My service date was 9/30/14 & soon I began receiving invoices. I called Aetna but as I spoke to a claims representative, he informed me that it was "out of network" at the time of service but they became "in network" on 10/24/14... Only 3 weeks after my procedure..the information given to me was wrong and for a 3-week difference I'm now responsible for $1,327.26 which includes the $206.00 bill from St. Anthony's. Appealing process is extremely confusing and my insurance agent is unwilling to help me.. I pay my $647.00 premium (or close to that amount) on time every month & I feel like they're taking advantage of people like myself. How many others have they done this to? My Aetna Member ID is **, Frances ** dob cannot display personal info. Claim ID with Aetna **. Date of Service is 09/30/14. I can provide copy of invoice if needed but no scanner available now...
Reviewed Dec. 1, 2014
Aetna really has my wife and me in a bind and we cannot wait to start with a new insurance company when I start a new job soon. I sent a prescription which Aetna makes me pay $270 for 1 month at the retail pharmacy or $80 for 90 day mail in. The prescription envelope was tracked and arrived 11/18/14. I asked to have it expedited so that I would get the prescription gill prior to leaving the country for Thanksgiving.
I called 11/20/14 when it still did not show up on the website. The customer service person had me on hold for an hour, told me that I did not pay for expedited shipping (I made sure to elect it), but was able to delay the shipping of the prescription until 11/26/14, so that it would arrive 11/29/14 when I was back in the country. I called today 12/01/14 and the representative said that the medication would be shipped out 12/04/14, but I can pay the extra $23 to get it to me by 12/04/14. I did because I feel like I have no choice at this point. The customer service representative refused to waive the fee despite my explanation of the situation. In sum, I am getting insurance coverage with a different company as soon as I can.
Reviewed Nov. 26, 2014
My employer offers this Cruddy insurance- they want me to take a health assessment or ELSE they will Charge me 600.00 for not doing so. Can you say Blackmail? I will lose my MD if I get this insurance through my Work-AND everyone KNOWS Quest Diagnostics Is a lousy lab and it is expensive. I used to work there drawing Blood. Aetna says I am required to choose a new PCP- bite me Aetna. Not happening. And it has a HSA attached to it. The deduct is so high you cannot reach it, and 100 percent out of pocket to go to the dr etc. This is insurance?? No, it is not. And if you think they want you on Generics to save YOU money, guess again. Your md went to med school, your MD tried other meds and put you on a name brand for a reason. BUT name brands are expensive. They do NOT care- they need to save and make as much money as possible. I'd rather give uncle Sam 95 bucks a year than to have this. I cancelled it with HR. I just will go without or go to the marketplace but take Aetna, NO WAY!
Reviewed Nov. 24, 2014
Prior to a preventative procedure, I looked at three sources of information - 1) What my company provided re: coverage. 2) The website given to me to review for information. 3) I called and spoke with a representative and gave her all the information she asked for and asked what the coverage would be so I was prepared when the bills came. I was told the procedure would be paid for 100%, with no copayment and the deductible would be waived. When the bills started to come in, they paid 80%. I had to pay copayment toward the deductible. I called Aetna and was told I had been given the wrong information and should have called a second time for information. I called Aetna again to see if I would get the same information. The representative had a copy of my claim(s) and was told to call the MD and get the code changed and I was given a code that would remedy the situation.
She too said the procedure would be paid for 100% and the deductible would be waived. I followed the guidance I was given, with minimal result. I still had to pay a copayment and a significant amount of the bill. Were the answers/information from AETNA deliberately wrong? Why was I told one thing and why did I repeatedly get the opposite? Deliberate misguiding, misleading, just plain bad information with the intent not to pay what I was told they would pay (from a variety of sources) isn't what I expect from an insurance company I am paying to help me manage my health care. I will NOT recommend AETNA to anyone as an insurance company for anything. If I were choosing a company and not my employer, I would never chose AETNA - If an employer thinks they are getting a good deal - they probably are because the company isn't paying anything out, but taking premiums without any dignity or professional integrity.
Reviewed Nov. 24, 2014
My employer offers income continuation coverage through Aetna Insurance. I have religiously paid my premium for this coverage for the almost 8 years I have been an employee of the State of Wisconsin. I had not made any claims until April of this year (2014). I injured my two lower ribs on my last side. I saw a doctor, he, like my employer asked if I was hurt at work. I could not honestly recall having been injured at work. The doctor said my ribs were not fractured but were probably just sprained. Aetna submitted some forms they requested my doctor complete and return, he complied. I was not made aware by my doctor or Aetna what the doctor had written on their forms. I informed my employer that I was going to have to be out of work for awhile. They told me that I would need to have my doctor complete FMLA paperwork. I obtained the paperwork and dropped it by my doctor's office. When I handed it to the receptionist I told her that I had highlighted the fax number the paperwork was to be faxed back to. Again my doctor did this and faxed it to my employer.
I then received a call from my employer saying that my doctor had recommended 3-6 weeks off for recuperation. I work at a mental health institution and am oftentimes having to assist acute and aggressive patients by putting "hands on" or taking part in "take downs." My employer felt it best I take the recommended 6 weeks to fully heal. I was out of work for a total of 6 weeks. My policy with Aetna says I can file a claim after being out of work for 30 days, I met that requirement. They denied me initially saying that the doctor's recommendation of 3-6 weeks on the FMLA paperwork was not sufficient proof that I needed that time off. I'm not sure what more they needed or wanted. Did they expect my doctor to attest to my injury swearing it to be true on a stack of bibles or perhaps they preferred seeing it written in blood. Their denial and subsequent denial of my appeal has set me back on all of my bills, I don't fool myself into thinking they care, after all they are an insurance company so it's their job to try and get out of paying on claims. I just wanted everyone to know what fat, greedy, capitalist pigs they are.
Reviewed Nov. 20, 2014
I recently got pregnant with a fertility specialist, and he administered a transvaginal ultrasound to determine the state of the fetus. It was found to be viable, and signed off on releasing me to my regular OB/GYN. I had an appointment with the OB/GYN the same day, and she gave me another ultrasound to check the pregnancy. Aetna refuses to pay for the first ultrasound, because they say that they already paid my regular OB/GYN. There's nothing in their available information online to tell me that they won't pay for two ultrasounds from two different providers for the same day. I've appealed the decision and was turned down, so I'm submitting a second appeal with the clinical records from my fertility specialist.
I don't hold out much hope for the 2nd appeal, but I can't afford the full cost of the ultrasound. Aetna has been giving me problems from the get-go. Their approved price for medications is exorbitant ($291 for a 3-month supply of Keppra, for example). They won't pay for my heparin to keep me from getting a blood clot during my pregnancy, and will only pay for Lovenox. I can't afford the Lovenox - it would have cost me $4500 for the nine months of my pregnancy. Sure, I would have been through my deductible, but even with the 80% copay, it's still too expensive. Aetna believes in 'managed care' - but what that means is they'll manage the costs so you have to pay more, and if you can't afford it, you'll die. I've gone without Keppra so I could pay for the heparin and synthroid medications.
Reviewed Nov. 17, 2014
Aetna is auditing many of our small health care providers for what they claim to be fraudulently filed claims. This insurance giant will continue to push our smaller independent Doctors of various practices into bankruptcy with their sudden suits of fraud. How can a struggling practice fight this when they're barely making ends meet as it is? The first step is to drop Aetna immediately! You don't need them and you're better off going to a cash practice all together. That's the only way to survive the Aetna bomb if it hasn't hit you already. Sure, many of the other insurance giants are just as bad if not worse. That's why I say, go to a cash practice. It's not your fault. It's not your patient's fault either. They can file their claims through their insurance if they so choose, but you must get the bomb out of your office. As for your patients, most of them likely have a $5,000-$7,000 deductible anyway. What's the point of having this frivolous insurance in the first place? Thank you Obama-care! for allowing the crooked giant to hold all this power over our great nation's people. Take action people.
Reviewed Nov. 16, 2014
I have had chronic HEP C for over 35 years and have been through 4 different, unsuccessful treatments. In the last 10 years my liver condition has degraded from a grade 2 to a grade 4, severe scarring and cirrhosis. I suffer from severe fatigue, insomnia, headaches, chronic indigestion, and depression. I will eventually face a transplant if I cannot beat this virus. I have been seeing the same liver specialist for the last 12 years, and have been insured without interruption for over 35 years. A new drug was approved this year designed for people in my condition, and while costly, it's cure rate is over 90%. Aetna recently denied pre-approval of the treatment based on "no medical necessity". To claim this treatment is not medically necessary for me is nothing but an insulting transparent excuse to save money. What is health insurance for if not to assist in payment when needed treatment is not affordable?
Reviewed Nov. 15, 2014
Since 15 October I, my husband's employer, my doctors and my pharmacies have been trying to deal with them. On 15 October I went to my usual pharmacy to fill a prescription for an antibiotic. Was told I had no coverage. Went home and called Aetna who said I had no coverage because someone at the husband's company had cancelled the policy. Called HR, who called the broker that sold them the Aetna policy. Broker said all employees were covered. Called Aetna back and was told again - no coverage.
Called HR again. HR called broker again. Again was told all employees were covered. Called Aetna again – “I'm covered.” It was the pharmacy's fault for not using the correct group number and Rx number when I went in for the script. (Mind you, it's the same group number it has been for over a year). Called the pharmacy who double checked. Pharmacy called Aetna and was told that I had no coverage. Called HR who called the broker blah, blah, blah. Called pharmacy back. No coverage. Called Aetna. Now, I'm covered for medical but not prescriptions. My husband is covered for prescriptions but due to a "glitch" in their system I had not been added back on. Was promised that they would take care of it.
A week later after more of the above nonsense, went to get a script for my cancer meds refilled. Same, same. Not covered, not approved. Pharmacist's fault again. Pharmacist gets pissed and calls Aetna. Same group number, same Rx number, 11 more months of Dr's authorization on file – “sorry” says Aetna – “We'll do an ‘override’ - glitch in our system again.” Time to refill second cancer med. No, Aetna tells the pharmacy – “Patient has to buy this medication from us. Can't buy it anywhere else.” “Why has it been approved in the past?” “It was a one-time courtesy.”
Reviewed Nov. 14, 2014
I am disabled and have both part A and B of Medicare and used Silverscript as my prescription plan. Three weeks ago I wanted to switch prescription plans because Silverscript keeps dropping medications I am on off their formulary. A representative with E-Health named Morgan talked me into a combined Aetna HMO/Prescription plan saying it would save me a lot of money but that I would need a Primary Care Physician listed. What he didn't explain is that you have to have a PCP in their network and that PCP has to refer you to specialist in the network for anything outside of normal doctor care. I am a disabled Chronic Pain Patient and don't have a Primary Care Physician as I see a Rheumatologist and a Pain Specialist for care and pain management only. This representative picked out a PCP in my area from the Aetna network and we proceeded to get me onto this plan. He told me to go see this doctor so I would be covered.
Three weeks later I get all the paperwork only to discover this PCP has to refer me to the Specialists I see now or nothing gets covered. I have doctor appoints with my Rheumatologist and Pain doctor in about a month. In a panic I called this PCP he gave me and they haven't been in practice for 3 years! I called at least 4 other PCP's in their network and most are not taking new patients and some won't see me because I am a Chronic Pain Patient (which I don’t understand because they wouldn't be treating me for Chronic Pain, just giving the referral). I spent hours on the phone with Medicare having to switch back to Silverscript. I do not recommend switching to Aetna at all if you are on Medicare A&B. Beware. Especially if you are a Chronic Pain Patient.
Reviewed Nov. 14, 2014
My wife and I have used Aetna for several years now. The company has accepted all claims and processed them without issue in most cases. At times they request more detailed information from the physician's office and then complete the claim processing. They recently notified us of a change in pricing for a prescription drug that will be generic in Jan. 2015. This change will help us save quite a bit of money and it was a good customer service practice to let us know.
Reviewed Nov. 12, 2014
This insurance does offer several options depending on how much deductible you can afford to pay, however there are several things you need to consider before hiring this company to manage your or your employees' health matter: 1. BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE: Took 6 months to find out the amount I had to pay for a lab, the reps had an attitude, I was hung up on the line 3 times and once I was transferred to "the escalations" where the person providing information did not show any empathy. In the meantime, I had to deal with the very unfriendly letters from THEIR lab provider: Quest diagnostics.
2. DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THEIR DENTAL: Aetna has chosen to "do business" with some of the creepiest dental provider where you will be told to do just what they say and if you are not believing them, too bad they won't service you, along with the long wait time and persons with attitude. 3. ONLY ONE LAB PROVIDER: Yes, your heard that right, a huge company that provides services to some of the biggest companies in the country, and ONLY one lab provider and it is: QUEST DIAGNOSTICS. Any one that has had the opportunity to receive "service" at Quest knows what I am talking about.
4. WELLNESS EXAM: Required by my employer to reduce the amount of co-payment have to be done thru: QUESTDIAGNOSTICS, 2 years in a row they have done this, and always have messed up my results. Why do they ask us to complete this activities that are not important? That is what I was told when I called AETNA to complaint about it. Also if you don't want to deal with the ineptitude of Quest diagnostics, you can have your wellness test with your provider at another lab, after paying the deductible of course. 5. YOU CANNOT COMPLAIN. You cannot complain to Aetna, they won't take your complains over the phone, they don't provide a complaint line, and they do NOT offer a clear complaint link in their website, also your complaint will fall on deaf ears.
Reviewed Nov. 11, 2014
I had to have endometrial ablation last year. My doc's office called AETNA to verify what would be covered. Doc's office was told that I was covered 100%. Have to procedure and then AETNA decides that, "Oh we are sorry we forgot to mention that you have to have a biopsy performed first." Oops! Now $2300 later, I have appealed 3 times and went thru an external review and lost! How can you tell someone yes you are covered and then say no and admit that you were wrong about the coverage??
On top of that I have asthma and require an inhaler every day. Ran out and went to get my refill only to find out that AETNA has decided that now I have to go thru Medco to get my meds, NEVER informing me that this change has been made. Meanwhile I am out of my meds. Luckily my doc had samples for me because this all happened on a Friday afternoon. AETNA is just awful. I have heard from other people with the same issues regarding AETNA lying about coverage. Doctors are jumping ship and not accepting patients who have AETNA. Shame on you AETNA!!!!
Reviewed Nov. 11, 2014
I was shopping for my Medicare Advantage Plan and had to unfortunately speak to Aetna Service Rep. From the onset, she sounded as if she was in a hurry to hang up and was clearly reading from a script. She sounded more like a robot, no really. When I inquired whether my existing drug plan will still be available prior to Aetna plan kicking in on the 1st of the next year, the answer was NO. Excuse me?
Once again, I explained that my new Aetna plan wouldn't start up until the 1st of the next year; does that mean that I can still use my old drug plan in the meantime? This time around, the answer was YES. Here now, I got 2 different answers to the same question, and that was BEFORE I ever signed up with them, wonder what will happen after I signed up. Will likely pass on it, more so that this plan is HMO meaning that I'll need a referral each time I want to see a specialist. I can foresee a small nightmare had I signed up with Aetna on this one, so no thanks. LOOK ELSEWHERE.
Reviewed Nov. 7, 2014
I am a federal retiree enrolled with Aetna and also on Medicare. I am subject to Remicade treatments every other month at our local hospital. I'm very satisfied with my care. My wife and I have been attempting to straighten out hospital and Aetna insurance payments/reimbursements since February of this year. My wife has been on the telephone dozens of times with various hospital and Aetna officials involved with billing/reimbursement/customer service to no avail. Now we are being contacted by hospital collections people. We always pay our bills and both of us have credit scores north of 800. However, we are loathe to pay more than we are obligated to pay between Medicare and Aetna.
Our difficulties of late in calculating, definitively, our medical coverage obligations have proven elusive. For example, we have been informed several times by Aetna that our co-pay is $35. We continue to receive bills in greater amounts - sometimes exceeding $800. The hospital is not faultless because it bills Aetna for different amounts for identical treatments. Hospital officials recently informed us that Aetna is apparently telling us one thing and the hospital another. Our contract with Aetna indeed shows a $35 co-pay (page 37 of Aetna's explanation of benefits brochure) but Aetna tells the hospital that its contract with them trumps our plan. This is dishonest practice and everyone considering using Aetna should be aware that Aetna's listed coverage in individual/group plans may not be honored if in-network providers (doctors/hospitals) have separate contracts with Aetna (which virtually all have).
Hospital contacts have been generally helpful but experience with various Aetna officials have been frustrating and unhelpful. Neither Aetna nor the hospital have been able to solve the problem. Still working the problem but, according to hospital affiliated official, Aetna does not cooperate with the hospital. Aetna apparently continues to tell the hospital one thing and us something else entirely. The U.S. Government should reevaluate its association with Aetna. At the least, some form of full disclosure to prospective enrollee/subscribers should be required legislatively. People should not be deceived. The optimum solution would be to prevent insurance companies from entering into contracts with hospitals and similar institutions that conflict with contracts these companies have with individual subscribers. Lastly, I don't know if any of this is Obamacare related but we didn't have this problem previously. With certainty, deductibles and the like are increasing at an alarming and unsustainable rate. Healthcare is becoming unaffordable.
Reviewed Nov. 7, 2014
AETNA PREMIERE 2000 - Review: Not good. I have submitted lab work to MRI's and they are not covering any of it. This is terrible. Everything that was supposed to be covered is not. I am going to cancel my insurance and will never use AETNA again. It was supposed to be the best plan and it has turned into a nightmare.
Reviewed Nov. 7, 2014
Aetna is dropping my OBGYN along with 300 other doctors in Florida. They did this after open enrollment. They refuse to negotiate with high quality doctors and are leaving many people in despair. I have so many problems with this greedy company. I used to have United and I loved them and never had a problem. Unfortunately my husband switched jobs. Have had nothing but trouble from Aetna. They always make you jump through hoops. As soon as we get the chance we will be dropping them and finding our own insurance.
Reviewed Nov. 5, 2014
This is my first time ever giving a review, and it's because I have never seen anything like this. I have a surgery scheduled for next month. Prior to switching to Aetna, I was covered under my parents' health insurance. Since I recently turned 26, I was required to subscribe to my university's plan. I have scheduled and attended a number of appointments in the past month to diagnose a problem that I had been experiencing. I had spoken to a representative of Aetna prior to switching because I was new to the insurance and knew that some quirks would inevitably come up. I was reassured that everything that I did prior to switching would allow me to proceed with the surgery that I had scheduled for the end of the year just fine.
Today, I was told, by the hospital where I will be having the procedure, to inquire into the "referral" process that Aetna might have to qualify for coverage since they are a university sponsored plan. As a result, I called both my university and unfortunately Aetna. The customer service person told me that I had no choice but to undergo all of the previous appointments that I had already done all over again and have the last doctor at my university refer me to the surgery doctor once again. It was either that or pay for the procedure out of pocket as I was so rudely told.
I'm sorry but I did not have a shabby doctor, or clinic, or health insurance for that matter. I can't really see any other reason for that recommendation other than Aetna wanting me to give them more business. This just does not seem right to me. If I do get have this doctor's appointment to obtain the referral, I have no doubt that the appointment will go something like this: I will pay the co-pay, I will meet the doctor for 5 minutes who will look at the medical files that I will have already faxed over to the university's doctor's office, and I will then leave. No further treatment, just a waste of my time, their time, and my money.
Reviewed Nov. 5, 2014
Aetna is my insurance thru work. I have been on long term disability since May. They have told me on numerous occasions that I only need Medicare part A but now they have decided that I should have had Part B. So now they are rejecting my claims. They are a bunch of idiots that are costing me a lot of money.
Reviewed Oct. 29, 2014
Once again, Aetna leaves me with a Sophie's choice: pay $417 in lab work myself or go without the blood test ordered by my doctor. When I called Aetna to make sure it would pay the 80% for the tests, the young person told me that this amount would be applied against my deductible. I have never met the $5,000 annual deductible in my life and doubt I ever will. I can't afford the premiums if I choose a plan with a lower deductible. In the meantime I have had to forego physical therapy that I desperately needed on my back and many a lab test because I hadn't met the deductible. This company gets thousands of dollars from me every year and what do I get?--bupkus.
Reviewed Oct. 27, 2014
I've had Aetna as my health care provider for more than 1.5 years now and every experience has been absolutely outrageous. There is absolutely NO sense of care from the health care provider from how they train their supporting staff to review member plan information, what the member is asking, their extremely poor scheduling system via their website. All looks great from their pamphlets but once you are a member, you are absolutely ON YOUR OWN!
Reviewed Oct. 21, 2014
So I just started with Aetna, a plan that was supposed to be a Cadillac plan through my employer. As a healthcare professional with years of dealing with health insurers, I cannot imagine how many consumers figure out who to get anywhere when they have questions. They push using the website, but I have found that worthless as it really does NOT tell you where to get the information you need. Their health providers status are not up to date, and there are few providers in my area taking new patients. If you require special medical care or medical equipment, good luck in trying to figure that out.. It took me some 10 calls to figure out where to get my child's special needs products. The prescription quotes they provide are in no way close to what is charged. It is just overall frustrating to work with this company and get what you need. And thus far, each of our claims has been denied, even though we cannot figure out why. Call to ask and we get "well let me check into it" and they put you on hold never to be heard from again.
Reviewed Oct. 20, 2014
I have the unfortunate pleasure of having polycystic ovarian syndrome, and the only marketed and proven BC for preventing cysts is Yaz. However, Aetna used a "clinical pharmacist" to decide to deny me from this BC. First of all, pharmacists do not prescribe or choose what medication you take, they fill it. I am sure it is illegal for a pharmacist to decide I cannot have that medication. Also, my father is a pharmacist, a good one, and he has never said I should take something else for my PCOS because it is "unnecessary". When I am on other BC's I get extremely ill, with multiple trips to the doctor, vomiting, and pain due to cysts. I spoke with them right now and they told me I should try something else and it is my choice for not wanting to follow the guidelines. First of all, this is a doctor prescribed medication, and it is NONE of their business or not their right to dictate what medication I am on for my PCOS. I am horribly disappointing. Horribly. If I get sick, like I always do if I'm not on it, they'll be hearing from an attorney.
Reviewed Oct. 16, 2014
These people are crazy. Unprofessional and disgusting. I've been working for them and sick. They have denied my disability claim hence forcing me back to work and denying medical tests my doctor is requesting for me. It’s the worst company I ever worked for and I’m trying my best to get out. Some of the people where I work is a joke. Very unprofessional and kangaroo. I hope they all get their payback for what they have done and are doing to people. They wouldn't care if you lived or died.
Reviewed Oct. 15, 2014
What this insurance company considers to be in-network and out-of-network is nonsensical. How can Aetna cover the clinic and the doctor that I went to, but NOT cover the clinic's own lab that is in the SAME building? My doctor wanted me to get labs done and told me the lab was downstairs. I did what my doctor told me to do, and the labs were not routine. They were done because there was a serious concern for my health. But Aetna will not cover the labs because the clinic's lab was out-of-network and now I am stuck with a bill for over $1000! It's not like I went to some random stand-alone lab facility, I never even left the clinic that Aetna considers to be in-network.
What is the point of paying premiums if an insurance company will not even cover services, especially those services that are not routine, but that are done because the health of one of their members is in question? Their response was to just apply the cost to my in-network deductible but they are still not covering the labs. This does not help me at all, because I am still on the hook for the huge bill. I thought I was being responsible by making sure I went to a clinic and doctor that was in my network, but it looks like that still wasn't good enough.
Reviewed Oct. 11, 2014
After years of being with this company and Never missing a payment and I had shoulder surgery about 6 months ago and that's it. Done. I still paid a 5000 deductible. Out of nowhere they sent a letter of cancellation and did not even give a reason. It is impossible to reach a representative of this company as well. I've made over 100 attempts to contact a rep over the past year to change our policy and not one person ever returned our call...
I will be in contact with my lawyers and the National Insurance Board and every and any other entity to deal with this company that is screwing Americans to the wall. You bet we need Obama care. Every other country in the world takes care of their people. Your reps won't even contact me. They hide behind an automated phone system and never give you personal attention. Just another computerized company that does not care about your health just your money. This is a sad America and a pitiful excuse for an insurance company. I will pray your CEO and his gang of thieves get ill and have their coverage denied for no reason...
Reviewed Oct. 11, 2014
I am leaving on a trip and will be gone when my next dose of osteoporosis preventative medication is due. Aetna refuses to authorize my monthly osteoporosis medication four days early. I will have to go without. Apparently they think fractures and crushed vertebrae serve you right if you have the temerity to travel. There have been nothing but complaints since Aetna took over the administration of the Alaska retiree health benefit plan. It is a truly awful company in the business of making money by denying health care to sick people.
Reviewed Oct. 2, 2014
Who in their right mind approves a medical group in the city that I live in including all the doctors in my area, but does not approve the hospital to which those doctors are contracted with. I was pregnant and told I could have my doctors up until I go into labor, then I would have to deliver at a different hospital with an entirely different staff and doctor!! To top that off, all the approved hospitals were more than 20 miles away. I live in SF Bay Area/Silicon Valley which means that traffic is awful between 5-10 am and 3-7 pm!
I had to travel thirty minutes each way to see a different obgyn at the hospital I wanted to deliver at. Luckily, that all worked out for me aside from wasting a lot of travel time/gas/money. But after my baby was born at the approved hospital, I was told that the pediatricians that saw her in the hospital to release her were not "covered doctors" so I had to pay for them out of pocket on top of the $400 costs out of pocket for having a baby.
It gets better. I had my mother fax in her forms to add her to my insurance plan the week she was born and received confirmation from my work that they had processed it. I go to get her 2 month immunization shots and am told by the in-town approved medical group that she "is not on my medical insurance, and I had two options: 1) pay out of pocket and the insurance will reimburse me, or 2) go forward with the shots and not pay and my medical will correct the fact that she is covered and the bill will be paid upon processing on Aetna's side. I went with the latter.... here it is 5 months later and every single month I get a bill for the shots that Aetna still has not processed off her account and I am being sent to collections.
They are just awful. I have called them as well as my husband at least twenty times between us. My job, as well as ADP total source has contacted them and advised that they need to wash the bill on their side because she was always covered and they still to date have not processed this! Just terrible. MIND YOU, had I been able to switch to Kaiser prior to her birth I would have only had to pay $125 total out of pocket for having a baby! Aetna is a RIP OFF! Oh, and the only birth control that they would approve for me was a $50 co-pay for generic form of YAZ which Kaiser will not give to patients because it causes blood clots & has a higher percentage rate of babies conceived on the pill. Great job Aetna!
Reviewed Sept. 30, 2014
I and my husband had blood tests done which were abnormal in past. Tests were ordered and dr's office was surprised that they are not covered. Aetna should be dealing with or have program to inform patients. Also, call Aetna get different info, first I was told it's all us covered and paid. Keep getting the bill and I was told appeal denied, send second appeal. Did not even look at it and denied saying that it was part of first appeal.
I did not know or had any information but I understood that I had to file second level of appeal but was not looked at or reviewed instead was placed as first part of appeal. I had to take my son to see specialist last week. Dr. told me to go to see dr in Long Beach. I made appointment and called before leaving that dr is in network. I just saw message that there is no information. Dr's office did place me with different doctor in same office because he did not take any new patients. It has been taking life out of me dealing with Aetna.
Reviewed Sept. 23, 2014
I have a diagnosis for my child, the hospital and the doctors are all providers for Aetna. So, every visit is documented and billed to Aetna. But I was denied coverage for lack of supporting documentation. So I called Aetna and it takes 4 phone calls to track the right department. They want medical history and the clinical diagnosis. I am surprised they require fresh documents which is already in the system. I believe it is a tactic to make the person tired and hang up the phone. It took me nearly an hour and had to explain to different people the reasons over and over again. Why is it my responsibility when the providers already have sent the information. They are getting billed and Aetna does need the reason for billing. Just to harass the patients, these people make up things so they do not have to pay for services.
Reviewed Sept. 18, 2014
I filed my first claim with them 05/07/2014. I have a $3000 deductible. Met deductible back in end of July. They started paying out 80%. Sept 11 tried to get two prescriptions filled and my pharmacy said I hadn't met deductible according to Caremark. My prescription benefits are integrated with medical plan. I called Caremark. They said I had $87.38 left on my deductible. Called Aetna. They said Caremark didn't have my first claim on 05/07 so they "re-processed" it on 09/15. I had already paid my doctor the full amount, and supposedly they are mailing me a check for 69.90. When I asked why they are not correcting the problem in full with Caremark (87.38 - 87.38) they said I had to call Caremark. Called again to Caremark who says Aetna is lying and they did have that claim. Somewhere between Aetna and Caremark is screwing up.
Now they say it’s fixed but in basic math, they stole money from me. It’s not much but it still is illegal in my mind. 87.38 - 69.90 = 17.48. Now how is that correcting their mistake? Why do I have to pay extra? They say it’s correct because plan pays 80%. I say they processed claim twice and both times I ended up paying. 1st time I paid 87.38 and 2nd time give an extra 17.48. Absolutely people make mistakes, but why does the customer have to pay 20% for them to correct their mistake. But, I've gone back and forth with customer service both with Caremark and Aetna, both by phone and secure Aetna messages with grievance and complaints department and still getting screwed.
Reviewed Sept. 11, 2014
I found it extremely difficult to avail Aetna Pharmacy's prescription refill. I submitted a request for a 3 month supply for a certain medication on 7/6/2014 and on 9/10/2014 the pharmacy was still not able to fill this... when I finally cancelled and went to my local pharmacy to fill it within an hour. I found that unless I call them (which I did 4 times) in the 2 month period... Aetna will put a prescription on hold but not contact me by email or phone to notify me that the medicine was not being processed. My doctor called a few times... I called 4 times and Aetna could not get this prescription filled. They always had some excuse or the other... I finally had to go to a local pharmacy. Will never try to use this horrible service again.
Reviewed Sept. 10, 2014
William ** was refused admission to TIRR Memorial Hermann because Aetna did not believe he was capable of following the Program. There are two Neurologists... his Surgeon Stephen ** and his Neurologist Dr Cindy ** believe in him. No one from Aetna Insurance Company has seen or talked with my husband. Everyone's focus was on his Brain.... there was no injury to his legs... his muscles are hypotonic at this time. The last time he was at TIRR in The Medical Center... Dr ** observed him during Therapy Session and wanted Stephen **, MD to check for fluid on his Brain. CT Head ordered... and Glenn was positive for fluid on his Brain. Dr ** placed a Shunt in his Head to drain off the fluid into his stomach. It has increased his alertness and his memory!! Now because he turned 65 years old... he was dropped by Cigna and the City of Houston placed him with Aetna Insurance Company. I voiced concerns but to no avail! I do not believe Aetna Insurance Company is "looking" at the whole picture. "THIS IS WRONG". He is a Husband and a Grandfather!!! And we LOVE him.
Reviewed Sept. 6, 2014
My wife received emergency services in Germany. We spent over $15,000 out of pocket because we were out of network on top of which they discounted the already low charges by 30 percent. Aetna failed to recognize our out of pocket expenses.
Reviewed Aug. 23, 2014
Aetna is no longer using Walmart in the pharmacy network. Aetna a part of what's wrong with big insurance companies are only bottom lined concerned. Walmart provides low cost meds for customers, however Aetna sees this as a negative. I say get rid of Aetna.
Reviewed Aug. 20, 2014
It is now August, and I'm past my 20 prescriptions a year. I have major depression, anxiety, degenerative arthritis. I took out insurance at my work, the only plan I could afford. Now I get sick, no doctor. I will probably have to do without my medication. Which will harm me. And another problem, this insurance does not cover any mental disorders. If I go to the doctor for feeling anxious or severely depressed, I have to pay out of my pocket. I have you know depression is a medical condition, and it is a illness. For anyone that believes otherwise I pity you, and you need to hope and pray you never have it.
Now working, I have to hurt, because I can't get my pain med. I will probably, well I don't know what's going to happen if I can't take my depression and anxiety meds. This is ridiculous. So I think somebody needs to look into this and change all this. Why do people get sick, aetna. Don't ever tell me that insurance cares. When they are not smart enough to know depression, major depression is a sickness, then, they need to quit.
Reviewed Aug. 20, 2014
Aetna is a horrible medical insurance and I would never recommend this medical one to anyone. Their representatives are very hard to understand and they cannot do anything right. I always had a problem like claiming. I missed a payment and I never did and they terminated me without giving me any kind of notice. And the people are just downright rude.
Reviewed Aug. 18, 2014
This is absolutely the worst experience I have ever had with an insurance company and customer service in general. Representatives have hung up on me, been incredibly rude and shown little patience or understanding. I have never been employed in the insurance field and am fairly young (a year out of college) so I required some guidance when it initially came to learning about my new insurance provided by my current employer.
I called requesting information and was treated with passive aggression and disdain. 2/3 customer service reps I spoke with over the course of several months acted as though I was a pesky telemarketer who had rudely called them during dinner. I went into this experience with a positive attitude, despite the fact the my co-workers all gave very negative reviews, but unfortunately I can't say that I disagree after being insured by AETNA for almost one full year. Thus far, the coverage has been less than satisfactory as well. Go ANYWHERE else for insurance.
Reviewed Aug. 6, 2014
My daughter has type 1 diabetes and requires many supplies and life sustaining insulin. I order my supplies through mail order and order a 3 month supply so I have fewer copays. My daughter's primary insurance is Bluecross and her secondary insurance is Aetna Better Health which I chose because my daughter qualifies for Medicaid and Aetna Better Health is one of 5 insurance companies that I could choose from under Medicaid. I was told that my primary insurance covers most things and Aetna Better Health covers everything else. Well they have covered nearly nothing! They refuse to reimburse me for copays.
My copays for my daughter equal a car payment every month! They reimbursed me once but I spent HOURS on the phone! I don't have time to spend hours on the phone each time I need to be reimbursed! I'm a mother of 4 and don't have the time or money to deal with this. Every time I call I have to explain that she has type 1 diabetes and she meets the loop hole clause that states everything is covered because she needs life sustaining meds. If anyone out there could help me or have been through this before please help!
Reviewed Aug. 6, 2014
Despite following every procedure as outlined in my plan and despite having written documentation from Aetna that expenses are approved and covered they, repeatedly deny my reimbursements. I always get paid but only after appealing 2 times every time. It's no wonder health insurance is so expensive with these bureaucrats. I am escalating to the insurance commissioner.
Reviewed Aug. 5, 2014
Each month Aetna/CVS violates our agreement, I lose time, money and risk heart failure and even death, not to mention the frustration and anxiety they cause. 1. December 2013, I enrolled in Aetna Medicare CVS Part D prescription plan. 2. I pay the premium amount of $45.00 per month for this CVS/Aetna policy coverage. 3. Resulting from several breaches, I met with CVS Pharmacy District Supervisor on several occasions to discuss a system/method which would allow me to receive my regular monthly prescriptions in an uninterrupted, trouble-free manner because of several past failures and the risk of severe physical injury/damage without these medications (see item #10). 4. CVS failed and continues to fail to keep their end of the bargain, which is to order in advance my regular and necessary prescription(s) so they are on-hand when I present my monthly written prescription. 5. On July 7, 8th 2014, they failed and refused to fill my regular required medication. I was told because they did not have them in inventory as agreed.
6. CVS failed to meet the requirement they themselves set forth in an oral agreement/arrangement between Sheela ** (CVS area pharmacy manager) and myself. 7. Aetna has failed to provide the benefit of our bargain and through its agent (CVS) collectively failed to fill my medically necessary prescriptions at the agreed contract price which requires they be filled through CVS pharmacy. 8. I filled a complaint with the store asst. manager that day who suggested I phone in my complaint which I also did. 9. The following day, I received a call from another dist. supervisor with a laundry list of excuses and apologies but no ability to fill my prescription now and from what she said, CVS will be unable to guarantee the availability of my medications for future prescriptions. 10. My physician has cautioned against running out of these medications. In his words, within hours, the symptoms will become (severe) intolerable with a high probability of heart failure and risk of death.
Reviewed Aug. 2, 2014
I was diagnosed with PAH and my previous insurance was Aetna...no problems. I was authorized for my special medication with a $40.00 co pay per month. I considered that reasonable. But, by the month was over and I needed a refill, my insurance had changed due to the company my husband worked for sold out to another and this other company changed the policies. They are still with Aetna but the serving pharmacy which was Express Scripts has now changed to Aetna Direct which is just a pharmacy, not really associated with Aetna. They would not authorize the drug I needed, Adcirca, because I am a woman. If I was a man and can not perform sex...he would get it, no questions asked but I need it to live each day for as many days as I have left and I needed special dispensation.
I got the authority and was delivered enough for 1 month. It took 2 weeks of constant daily dealings with the insurance company to do this and I am in no condition to be my own medical advocate but if I did not do it, I would have died a month ago. So here we are...and I have 3 days left of meds and Aetna calls me and tells me that last month the drug was only 40.00 but this month, the drug will cost me $460.00, and going forward every month as my copay. I asked why after I cried for 5 minutes and they told me that they change the tiers and do not have to explain why. So, I would have to put the payment on my credit card and hopefully I would still get the meds by Monday when my last dosage would be Sunday morning. With Express Scripts dealing with Aetna, my outlay was 40.00, and the first month with Aetna Direct pharmacy was 40.00 but now, in order for me to be able to breathe I have to spend $460.00 every month....
I do not work. Only my husband does. And why is it not special for a man to take it for sex but for me to live it's considered special? I HATE WHAT AETNA IS DOING TO ME. IT'S AS THOUGH THEY'VE DECIDED THAT IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THEM TO PAY FOR ME TO BREATHE, SO THEY WILL MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO AFFORD THE MEDS AND I WILL DIE SOONER. Yes, that really makes me feel wonderful. If you have a choice on Medical Plans, seriously reconsider Aetna... and certainly do not take a plan that has Aetna Direct Pharmacy... only Medco or Express Scripts.
Reviewed July 22, 2014
I had surgery on June 19th. I stay for 2 nights on the hospital. I have a hospital Medical benefits plan that pays for anytime you are hospitalized as long as it not a preexisting condition which mine is not. I submitted all my documents as per the instructions and first of all they only need my itemized bill. I've called every morning since and it's been something else each time. Now it's July 18th I still have not received any notices by mail at all. I had to call again and I'm told now they want me to send them codes. So I do that.
I call in July 21st, they state, "Oh yes we received them, now we need proof of previous coverage a letter form your insurance company." So I call today and the operator is like, "we haven't received any faxes for your codes since Friday the 18th." WTF! We, the company I work for, renews. I will be dropping the coverage I pay monthly. I earn more in my 104k with what I pay to that plan.
Reviewed July 7, 2014
I had Aetna student health through my graduate school and because I live in a state where health insurance is mandatory by law, I had to choose Aetna or pay a lot of money out of pocket for another insurance (this was before Obamacare). Aetna is the WORST insurance I have EVER had. The following is why I will NEVER choose this health insurance again: They don't know their own policies. As a graduate student, I had to use my school's health center when school was in session. Only after visiting them, I could get referred to an in-network provider. When that happened to me once or twice, the school suggested a few providers and I picked one and called Aetna to make sure this provider was covered, which I told was the case. Imagine my surprise when I received a bill for the provider that Aetna said was not covered, even though I was told the opposite by my graduate school, who kept a list of in-network providers, the Aetna website and the representative I spoke to on the phone.
Regarding office visits, when school isn't in session, I'm allowed to choose any in-network provider to see for my health needs. I did so twice over the course of summers in my graduate school career and both times Aetna billed me for the full amount, claiming I should have gone to the school center, which was closed for the summer. I had to call and explain to them that school was closed and I was allowed to go to another provider that was in-network. I was told by a representative that they didn't have the school's operating dates and that's why I was being billed. Here's an idea: if it's your policy, then you should know what that policy entails. I can't tell you how many calls I had to make just to get my bill covered. I had a severe ovarian cyst issue that resulted in ER visits and doctors appointments and I now have to have routine ultrasounds to check on these cysts and to make sure more aren't forming.
Aetna bills me 20% for these office visits and ultrasounds because they're not "covered" fully because they're not considered preventative. Glad to see one more company not respecting women's rights and reproductive services. Aetna pays 80% of imaging services and office visits that aren't considered wellness exams. That's with a copay. Also, there's a $2,000 deductible for ER visits and then they basically bill for the entire amount of services. As a graduate student, the stress of one needed ER visit made me panic for months because I owed thousands of dollars that Aetna didn't deem "necessary" to pay because I decided to go to the ER and not my school's health center during an emergency (one that occurred at 2 o'clock in the morning). Because they pay for the bare minimum, I've put off seeing doctors and refilling prescriptions or even having my ultrasounds because I simply cannot afford the copay plus the bills I know I'll receive.
I received my master's and needed a letter of termination from Aetna that states the date my service ends so I can sign up for Obamacare when that date comes even though I missed the enrollment date. I called Aetna, explained the situation and was told I'd receive a letter in the mail. I never did and I called again and was told no record existed of my request for a letter. I requested another one and the same situation happened again. Thankfully, the third time's a charm and I received my letter, but it amazes me that someone can't send out a simple letter and do his/her job as a service representative. I will NEVER choose Aetna for me again or for my future family. In the past, I've had Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross and Tufts and they were all extremely professional and reasonable. Aetna should be shut down because they clearly care about turning a profit and not the citizens they "cover."
Reviewed July 2, 2014
In May, I signed up with Aetna through the Exchange. I was told that Aetna plan had good coverages with doctors and hospitals, and that I would have no problems. Unfortunately, that's all I have had is problems! In May, had a doctor and hospital lined up for life threatening surgery. 4 days before surgery, Aetna told me that the doctor and hospital had been removed from my in network, taking my deductible from $1,500 up to $23,700! So, I started over on the Aetna website. Found a good doctor, IN NETWORK, and he is employed by the hospital, works out of the hospital, is paid by the hospital, and only has privileges at that hospital. 6 days before surgery, Aetna told me that the doctor was in the network, but the hospital was not... deductible now up to $23,700 again!
When the hospital called Aetna, Aetna told them that the website was in error - the doctor was not in the network. After four hours on the phone yesterday with Aetna, they told me he definitely WAS in the network, and that a request for the hospital to be in the network should be filed. I'm not getting anywhere. Please people, do NOT let people sign up with Aetna. Now, I went to my pharmacy as my cardiologist renewed my prescription for blood pressure medication... Aetna declined it, saying that I had to go into a STEP PROGRAM!!! Have called my doctor, but he's on vacation. I have been out of the medication for over 5 days, won't get any for at least another week, and Aetna won't even try to work with me. Please, somebody, do something about this unethical and dishonest, selfish company. It must be put out of business so it cannot hurt anyone further.
Reviewed June 30, 2014
I had a Flexible Spending Account with Aetna through my company UPS. It was a horrible experience. Every time I faxed in receipts for reimbursements, I made sure that the date, the amount & purchase or prescription name and quantity and date was legible. I cannot tell you how many times that I was told that they had not received my fax, even though I received a confirmation that it had been received. It got to the point that I was faxing the receipts 3 times still being told the same thing. When they did receive it, they claimed that part of the receipts were not legible, including the printouts that I sent for prescriptions from CVS. How crazy was that. Every phone call left me angry and upset.
The ultimate was when I was told the first part of May that all my receipts for receipts had to be submitted by March 15, 2014 for reimbursement by the representative. I was livid because I was NEVER informed of this deadline. The only deadline that I was aware of was on the website that the Flex Spending for 2013, ended on May 31, 2013. I still had a remaining balance of over $800.00 of MY own hard-earned money that I did not get reimbursed and is lost. Do NOT get a Flexible Spending Plan with Aetna. You will be sorry. By the way, the Customer Service Reps were not helpful, snippy and uncaring.
Reviewed June 25, 2014
Since December of 2013, I have received ID cards for no fewer than THREE separate insurance accounts, including one where I was listed as a dependent. Of course, this threw a wrench into Aetna's system and it still hasn't been fixed, despite countless phone calls by myself and my employer in a vain attempt to get this problem (of Aetna's own making) straightened out. The biggest problem is that Aetna can't figure out how much money I've applied to my deductible and how much I haven't. The website told me I met my deductible in January, again in March and then again in April - which correlates to the payments I've been making.
Now we're at the end of June and I've been told I need to pay another $3,000 to meet my deductible YET AGAIN. As I mentioned before, I have spent countless hours on the phone with Aetna representatives trying to get this sorted out. Each time they act as if they have no record of my previous calls, so I have to start the whole process over again. Aetna is by far the worst-run company I have ever had the immense displeasure of dealing with and we haven't even started trying to sort out the mystery of how all of my coinsurance payments seem to fall into a similar black hole. Unless you're looking for hours of frustration, a way to fritter away thousands of dollars and an insurance company seemingly intent on bleeding you dry and acting in bad faith, then look elsewhere for health insurance.
Reviewed June 1, 2014
I have been a member since 03-01-14 and to this day I can not get a plastic ID card for myself or my family. I have called 17 times and get nothing but the runaround! They all tell me you will get your cards in 7 to 10 days. I guess they just didn't tell me what year! So I starting emailing them so I can save their emails. The first one said they were sorry and my cards were going to be sent by overnight mail on 5-08-14. Well I guess they got lost. So I email again and again and they deny they ever sent that email. I said "Let me send it to you." It's nothing but LIES, LIES, LIES!
Reviewed May 30, 2014
I finally cut back on living expenses enough to buy medical insurance in April 2013 because of the "mandate." What I've got in return for my money is a joke. Aetna and all insurance companies in the US are nothing more than legalized organized crime! I pay almost $400 in monthly premiums and have $2500 deductible, yet I'm still having to pay the lion's share of every doctor's visit. Also, every prescription I've had has been rejected for coverage, demanding "prior authorization." The latest "rejection" was for a drug that has no generic alternative. I have already tried and had side effects for the alternative medicine "recommended" by the insurance company - someone who has no medical knowledge, just looks at the cost. Because prior authorization is an obvious ruse by Aetna to avoid paying for prescriptions, this process takes hours, weeks and sometimes months.
Because of this planned bureaucracy, one of my doctors now no longer handles "prior authorization" demands and my choice is to get sicker without the drug or cut food expenses so I can pay $217 for month prescription coverage for one medication. I know my out-of-pocket medical expense is small compared to those poor people with very serious illnesses. My heart breaks for them. But with an insurance racket required and sanctioned by the US government, I can't afford the healthcare and medications that will prevent me from becoming seriously ill. When will someone step in and make health insurance companies actually provide coverage rather than be a legalized - and now mandatory - shake-down bunch of greedy thugs. There has to be grounds for a class action suit.
Reviewed May 8, 2014
I first called to start a short term disability claim with them and on day one was told that I had no short term disability claim left and was not covered. Day 2 after further investigation on my end through work and union reps, I called back and was given another person to talk to and this time my information she entered in was incorrect. Come to find out that she was looking up on a claim from the previous year, but I didn't click for the existing claim instead on the start a new claim. So, how this got misconstrued I have no idea. Day 3 still have yet to get my new claim started because of the lack of service that I have been dealing with on the other end of the phone once again. Though I am talking with someone different, again, I am now being told that it shows I have no coverage available for short term disability. So they have to send an email to someone over in HUMID who can verify I have coverage and was told it would take 3 days, after wasting 3 days to get to this point.
Day 4 call back to Aetna with my union representative on the line and a person from HUMID on the line and was given yet another person to talk to. And when we asked, "Who do you need to talk to to verify my coverage", she said someone in HUMID. Well we have so done on the line with us who is from that department and can verify right now. And of course, the Aetna representative just read off a script and said we have to send an email request and will be in touch within 3 days and hung up the phone. Following week, call on Monday and still no word from Aetna so I called back and this time I asked to speak to a manager. Was given to a manager who verified that I have been talking to several different people and yes, it seems as though they made some mistakes entering in my claim.
He gets the ball rolling and everything seemed to be going fine, but yet another snag comes up. They deny my claim because of no workers compensation letter. Why do you need a workers compensation letter and why didn't anyone tell me this earlier! Everyone I have talked to says this is a non-workers compensation claim and shouldn't be even filed this way. So now I am being denied my claim because I can't file a workers compensation claim. Aetna is a con... They are only looking after how they can save money on paying out to people who deserve this claim. Customer service sucks, lack of knowledge in certain field or putting in information.
Reviewed May 6, 2014
I'm filing my 2nd appeal because Aetna refuses to pay for my emergency visit. My back went out on Thanksgiving 2013, had to work on Black Friday and Saturday. The next day I could barely get out of bed and walk. The doctor examined me, wrote out 3 scripts and was charged over $1,000. Aetna has ruled it wasn't emergency or life threatening. How could the hospital charge over $1,000!!!!!!!? BS.
Reviewed May 2, 2014
My wife had three days in intensive care. On the second day, a hospital staff person came in and told my wife her insurance had maxed out. In intensive care. We had a county aid come to help pay the bill because our Aetna was inadequate. We ended up paying off a $10,000 bill to the hospital when it all settled. I sent doctor bills that Aetna refused to pay. They should be put out of business.
Reviewed May 2, 2014
I am also on AlaskaCare. Aetna is the administrator of this plan since Jan 1st. The rollout has been rocky to say the least. After reading Pauline of Craig's submittal, I thought I would post this. If you are in the same situation, please contact the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) Sharon **, and/or Local 52 Liz ** with your complaints. They are collecting information. The state encouraged posting concerns and complaints about the new plan, the window closed yesterday. RPEA has documented at least some of the meetings regarding the new insurance... Excellent information. Some problems have been fixed and DRB is aware of others.
I am also on Medicare and I am a patient with a Naturopathic doctor. Aetna is insisting claims be filed with Medicare first. Medicare does not recognize Naturopaths nor lab services ordered by a Naturopath. When I first discovered this in January, I called Aetna. At first, I got someone reading me the policy. Next, I did get some sympathy. I sent emails to the state employee in charge of the coordination w/ state & Aetna. Nothing (it was a very busy time.). Called the DRB, "You will get a call in a couple of days." Nothing. Posted a complaint on Aetna's site, received email back, have a case number and it was supposedly directed to the appropriate department. Nothing. Alaska recognizes Naturopaths in the past, the claim was filed directly with the insurance administrator.
I did file w/ Medicare asking for a "Denial of Service" so I or Naturopath can file directly, including that document. It should work. Medicare takes more than 60 days, filed mid-March. I will again send an email to the state's vendor coordinator (sorry, cannot remember exact title.) Right now, my lab is sitting on Aetna site "denied" because I did not get them a Medicare EOB within 45 days. (sigh)
Reviewed May 1, 2014
Signed up on January 14, 2014 via healthcare.gov. The web site advised me that the company would contact me to schedule my first payment. When that hadn't happened a week later, I reached out to them and offered my money (which they took) and set up automated payments (which they failed to do). So February was paid for, and I never heard another peep about it until today when I got paper mail telling me my coverage was terminated.
What I DID get to hear from was a medieval torture device of an automated robo-call that would phone up my cell several times a day to ask me about various aspects of my health and lifestyle. This was "to offer me better services and discounts." There is no way to stop these calls. There is no way to get a human on the line. If you hang up, it calls you again later. Then it calls you the next day. Call Aetna to tell them to stop this? Twenty minutes on hold and I had to hang up. I had other things to do. So they can reach their customers any time, but you can't talk to them!
Today, I had to wait through the long hold time AGAIN to finally get a human who could reinstate my damn coverage... only he can't. He has to contact Billing. So I'm on hold yet again while he does that. At the end, HE CAN'T REACH BILLING. So now I'm sitting there, Visa card in hand, TRYING to give them my money and they STILL can't take it. He says he'll call me back later.
Reviewed April 27, 2014
NO STARS IF I HAD THAT OPTION... Had to reset my password at least 5 times already... Website said I do NOT EXIST! Very aggravating especially since I had my member card in hand. Finally I called and the guy there was nice and he said the site was not working and he will call tomorrow. But before we hung up, he gave me another address to go to... HOWEVER THAT ONE WAS DOWN TOO :-( No stars if I had a choice!!!
Reviewed April 25, 2014
Aetna's model is to snap up smaller and profitable insurers to gain their business contacts then term the employees from the smaller companies to be replaced by temps with no vested interest in the company's success. From terminating employees that are out on FMLA and short term disability, to wholesale terminations of infrastructure replaced by temps. They also had the absolute worst insurance plan for their own employees. It was horrid, from the pricing to the providers available. If they are happy to treat their own like dirt, what do you expect as a third party consumer?
Reviewed April 17, 2014
I signed up for health care coverage with Aetna on 2/26/14 with the Marketplace and was told to wait until I received an invoice from Aetna to pay my first month premium. I waited and waited, and finally received my first invoice on 3/21/14. Because it was late, the invoice was for two months (March and April). I called Aetna the same day I received the invoice to ask if I could just make a payment for one month's premium and then I'd make my next payment in a week or two. I was told that I had a 90-day grace period so that was not a problem.
I mailed a check for the one premium on 3/24/14 and the check cleared my bank account on 4/2/14. I called Aetna on 4/11/14 and made an electronic telephone payment with my debit card to cover the next two months' premiums (April and May). I called Aetna customer service on 4/16/14 because I hadn't received my insurance card yet and needed some information for a doctor's appointment and a prescription. I was then informed my policy had been cancelled for nonpayment and that the enrollment period had ended. I was dumbfounded!
I told the representative (her name may have been Johanna) that there had to be a mistake because I paid my premiums and Aetna had taken my money, but she just continued to repeat the same thing while talking over top of me. I asked to be transferred to someone who could help me and she suggested the billing department. I said that would be a good start because, once again, Aetna took my money. After a few minutes on hold, the same representative came back and said she had arranged a refund. I don't want a refund! I want what I paid for! She finally transferred me to the Marketplace, although I'm not sure why, and they said that Aetna had accepted the government subsidy that helps pay for my insurance, too, and according to their records my policy was active and everything was fine.
The representative suggested I request a 3-way call between the Marketplace, Aetna, and myself if they continued to tell me they can't help me. So I called Aetna back again and was hung up on a couple times. Once I finally reached a new representative (Ralph), he contacted the Marketplace on 3-way and we tried to resolve this issue, but as of right now I'm still waiting for that resolution. Ralph said I should receive a call from Aetna in less than 24 hours. He said the issue is being reviewed and once I hear from Aetna I should call the billing/enrollment department. In the meantime, I've had to cancel a doctor's appointment and can't refill a prescription that I need because of this mess.
I know that this Obamacare/marketplace thing is new and there are some kinks that will have to be worked out, but I felt like Aetna customer service was rude and clueless. I wasted 3 hours on my phone yesterday for something that should have never happened and should have been easily resolved, but it's clear to me that there is a lack of communication within Aetna that has caused this to happen. May I make a couple suggestions that it should be a priority for Aetna's customer service team to LISTEN and resolve problems...not just read generic prompts off a screen while talking over top of customers. It should also be made a priority to mail invoices out in a timely manner and not hold customers hostage if they aren't mailed out on time, because that seems to have played a role in all of this.
Reviewed April 13, 2014
After being on hold for 45 minutes I'm finally connected to a woman who barely speaks English. She couldn't even verify my plan or my coverage. Each time I call or email them I get a different explanation. They are worthless and incompetent.
Reviewed April 11, 2014
I am going on holiday and only have a week left on my high blood pressure medicine. I tried to refill but my pharmacy said Aetna would not allow me to refill as it was not time. I explained I am going on holiday. The pharmacy girl said, "Oh we can help. We will call them and get a vacation request." However, Aetna said as I was not going out of the country, I could not have a vacation request. So I called Aetna. The girl told me my choices are: 1. Take half a pill; 2. Take them til they run out and then do without. Do without.
Now my company and I pay thousands of dollars yearly to this company and they can tell me I can "do without". So I visited with my HR rep. She told me the same thing. I am now faced with just doing without my prescription. It is not right. If you are shopping for insurance, run away from this one. I have no choice as this is the insurance company my company uses. They are playing with people's lives.
Reviewed April 11, 2014
I'm a new member of Aetna SRC, which I get through my employer. A week and a half after my coverage supposedly began, when I tried to use my new insurance to purchase a medication at my pharmacy, my pharmacist said it wouldn't go through. So I called Aetna's member svcs. line and they said matter-of-factly that it was because my information hadn't been "loaded." Uh... were you waiting on me to ask you to "load" it? They said they'd do that, and I checked back an hour later, and they confirmed it was, but that I should double-check with their pharmacy dept. to make sure my information was now showing for them too. (Wouldn't that be their responsibility?) So they transferred me, and the pharmacy dept. said they'd look into it and put me on hold for 10 minutes, until a person picked up and said "Hello?" and I explained what I was waiting for, and this person had no idea what I was talking about. I guess she worked for Member Services? Not clear.
I expressed my frustration that I'd wasted 10 minutes on hold. She didn't seem sympathetic and she said she'd transfer me back to the pharmacy dept. Sigh. So minutes passed, and she still hadn't transferred me, and I asked if she was going to, and she said she wanted to make sure she transferred me to the right place, and finally she did -- and the woman who picked up worked at a hotel. (???) At that point, I gave up for the day. This was my first experience talking with my new insurance carrier since my membership with them began.
Fortunately, a day later, I managed to reach the pharmacy dept. and they confirmed that my information was showing. The woman I spoke to in the member services dept. this time was very sweet and helpful and she apologized for my experience the day before and the woman I spoke to at Aetna's pharmacy dept. this time confirmed that my information was now showing for them. I'm about to call my pharmacy... Fingers crossed. :)
Reviewed April 8, 2014
I have a son with a chronic illness. I am having to change my individual plan with Aetna but my son must be covered for providers in Baltimore, MD at Johns Hopkins Hospital. I get completely different answers from different phone representatives about whether I need to be on the plan with him or not in order for him to get coverage. The telephone service at Aetna is so very disjointed that you get different answers from different departments. No one really knows what they are talking about there... and this is very urgent and important.
Reviewed April 4, 2014
I suffer from chronic pain. I don't look like I am in pain but I injured my cervical and lumbar area of my spine and I can't seem to get a true diagnosis but when I can't get my medication regularly, it creates a problem. My life is at a standstill. I can't fight fires and I am paralyzed at times. I have place on the beach and had to move back home, back to my parents at 40 and inconvenience my Mother who is 72 with ten grown children. They won't ship to Florida b/c of the "regulations". Why can't I be treated like an individual? They think with the meds I have been taken, which I have been taking since 2009 and in higher doses before and I need to have a local pharmacy b/c I live in South Florida and b/c they have kids and even adults abusing it? Is that my fault?
I feel terrible that I have worked since I was 14, hit the the height of my success and trying to get back on my feet and be a contributing member of society and I can't b/c the local pharmacies have a limited amount of meds they get and there were times that I had to go to 40-60 pharmacies. Now, I have a pharmacy that would hold my scripts. Thank God!!! How am I going to get better. I haven't done three years of my taxes!!!
Reviewed March 31, 2014
Horrible dental insurance. 99% of the preferred providers in my area are places like "You chip 'em we fix 'em" or "Mister Happy Tooth." Not much of a choice - either a quick fix auto body for junker cars or "Mister Happy Tooth." Thanks but no thanks. I'd rather go out of network & pay the extra to see a real dentist.
Reviewed March 28, 2014
I tried to call Aetna's member services department to cancel my insurance as I became eligible for medicare. I was put on hold in first attempt for 45 minutes and gave up. Tried again and was put on hold for 30 minutes and gave up. I wonder how they handle customers who have an urgent issue! I will just have to stop paying and see what happens. I will do my best never having to deal with them again!
Reviewed March 27, 2014
This is ridiculous. They sell you policy when you are a student. Whatever "non-refundable" terms there are, they are under the title "student insurance plan". However, if you have left (graduated, drooped or even sick) the school and become a non-student, they will not allow you to cancel your plan and keep charging you the premium. So now, I'm having two health plans (another one from my employer). Thanks to Aetna! I made quite some calls and even talked with their director, but the response is the same - no cancellation, no refund!
Reviewed March 22, 2014
Been with my family physician for 18 years and have had a myriad of health insurance companies. Nearly Every Prescription is denied stating it needs to be pre certified. I called to straighten it out, there is no getting to the bottom of anything. Excuses are that's the precert department not my department. Your Physician hasn't... (I know they have done what they are supposed to do)! Finally, I said "OK you can assume the responsibility then" when I can't take the prescription my Doctor says I need. I hope they save a bunch of money because it's going to go to legal fees! Aetna is the WORST Insurance Company I have ever seen!
Reviewed March 18, 2014
I've switched over to another insurance company and still have claims outstanding with them. They are denying almost everything. This is really, really low!!!!!
Reviewed March 11, 2014
3 months of calls and Aetna cannot fulfill my prescription. Excuses range from Dr. hasn't called them (I know he has) to the faxed prescription can't be read and they're awaiting another (I know it was sent). Repeated promises to call with an update but no one gets back to me - not once. 5 years with my doctor and I know his office is professional and efficient - 3 months with Aetna and I know they are a hapless bureaucracy. If this was a life-or-death med, I'd be six feet under.
Reviewed March 6, 2014
I am a retired teacher that had a great retirement insurance through AlaskaCare. The paper work, phone calls and payments were made smoothly. Then things changed unexpectedly to Aetna Insurance. I did not receive information of the change until January 5th. The card arrived later. The information sent indicated that coverage were going to be similar.
I have a very serious concern with the wait time and the run around I have been getting when trying to receive my medication. Wait times have been 30-50 min each time, then a hang ups or transfers to someone else. I have MS and have been on several other MS prescriptions before starting Tecfidera. The other meds have eventually caused serious issues. Starting Tecfidera in May or June of 2013 has been helpful. This was coming from a specialty pharmacy which has worked very professionally with me and sent the meds on time and arrived when they said it would.
Aetna is very difficult to work with especially the run around between the doctor and Aetna. The doctor's office had to spend up to 50 minutes at a time trying to talk to an Aetna. The precertification was faxed and I was told by one person that it hadn't arrived yet. A few hours later I called again and the next person said it was sent but not enough information was sent. The doctor sent that in. Meanwhile I am almost out of Tecfidera. I ran out of meds during the time Aetna was not providing me with correct information.
During the night with medical issues I decided to call the Bio company on their emergency line letting them know the frustration with the insurance change. I was called back within minutes. The nurse talked me through my MS problems and said she would talk to the supervisor in the a.m. I was called the next morning saying that they called the doctor and insurance company. Sure enough Aetna still not willing to give Tecfidera but I would have to start using Copaxone instead. I was called after 10 days that I was denied meds or start using Copaxone. I live on an island that does not have a neurologist. I have to fly to another state, which would delay starting a new medication without a doctor's supervision. I am now 3 weeks without meds.
It is unconscionable for an insurance company to deny a medicine that is FDA approved and is prescribed by my neurologist to use. Stopping a medication suddenly is not advisable, creating further medical issues. This happened to my husband 5 years ago with meds dropped then new ones added - creating mental anguish, hives, confusion and extreme pain (as a result he committed suicide).
Fortunately, the MS organization sent a month's worth of Tecfidera and will help me appeal this issue. I have contacted my lawyer to help fight the power Aetna has over a long time paying member of insurance. I am contacting the governor's office this week. Sadly, a teacher friend of mine on this same island was approved for the same tecfidera medication. But is going through issues of having to get the next months meds to be approved and sent without having a medication lapse. A very discouraged & disappointed member.
Reviewed March 4, 2014
I, too, used the mail order pharmacy from Aetna for many years & due to their routine screw-ups, i.e. when ordering each month, being put on hold for 15-25 minutes, late or no deliveries, having to miss work in order to be home when meds are delivered, etc. Two of my drugs were immune-suppressants due to a liver transplant & so it was a matter of life & death that I always had them available. We finally had to change to an insurance plan that allowed us to obtain our prescriptions locally - they were always available that way & even less expensive!
Reviewed Feb. 14, 2014
We have Aetna health insurance. When I picked up a new prescription at our local pharmacy (we have 4 in town), I was told I would be required to use Aetna Specialty Pharmacy because of our insurance rules. When I called them, I was told we would be required every month to phone them to schedule a delivery. They are based in Florida and we live in the Northeast. Every month I phone them, am put on hold for 20 minutes, to schedule a delivery. Then I must stay at home from work to receive the delivery (can't get delivery at work). They cannot give me a 2 or 4 hour window of time for delivery so every month, I am missing an entire day of work.
This month I asked about other delivery options and scheduled the shipment for a guaranteed delivery by 8am thinking I could get to work and it did not arrive until 4pm. When I called them to let them know, they shrugged their shoulders and said it is because of the weather. I cannot have UPS leave it at my door because it is so expensive ($1,000+) and because the medicine is not effective if left in cold weather long term. With plenty of pharmacies to choose from locally, it makes absolutely no sense to require this lengthy ridiculous maze-like process. I have asked twice to be able to use my local pharmacy instead. I've checked with the local pharmacies and they can carry the pills and it is $300 CHEAPER than what they are charging me!
Reviewed Feb. 11, 2014
I had severe neck and upper back pain, and due to the pain I could not focus. I also had diarrhea and body was weak. Doctor's office and urgent care was closed. My family rushed me to Kaiser Permanente emergency. Aetna refused to pay my bill and their explanation is services do not appear to support the prudent layperson definition of emergency. And it was not an imminent threat to life and I could have gone to other facilities. What other facilities are available at midnight? How ridiculous is this??
This is very unprofessional and unethical. If the doctor treated me for an emergency, who is Aetna to determine if my condition is not an emergency???? Aetna is looking at ways not to cover out of network. I also learned that Aetna is being sued currently for not covering out of network. If anyone of you read this was not covered for out of network please do contact me. I am going to write to Washington about this and also take action about this so your input will be valid.
Reviewed Feb. 8, 2014
My husband retired and I had to go on group plan at work. Aetna. The first time my doctor prescribed my blood pressure meds they denied it. She changed it to what they wanted, Diovan. I switched Sept 1, 2012. Our plan changes 1st of each year. I had it 9 months of 2013, last refill of the year they denied it. Tried, and tried, they even told me I needed to change doctors. No meds for 4 months. Went to doc today, denied again!!!!!! I am calling my state senator.
Reviewed Feb. 6, 2014
I have just refilled my medication from Pharmacy RX. And it cost me $250 for the co-pay for 30-day supply (yes. $250). It cost me $65 in 2013. I asked them for my detail medication copay and benefit. They don't know and refer me to the member service. When I called the member service number, they told me the copay for non prefer brand injectable is $200 and they don't know what additional $50 Pharmacy RX charged me from. They also asked me to call the Pharmacy RX for explain. Very much, they will send you around until you give up.
It is really funny. Every time I call in, it recommends me to use the Aetna website for questions and service. When I use the website for questions, It told me I need to call the customer service number. Again, send you around the circle. The other thing, I have to talk to the machine every call. It will ask for who I am, my member ID, what I want to do. Then it connects me to the customer service and the customer service asks me the same question; what my name, my ID, etc. Really waste your time and really dumb. Stay away from Aetna.
Reviewed Jan. 30, 2014
Doctor ordered prescriptions Jan 6th. Prescriptions were delivered Jan 28th. Prescriptions were filled correctly but it took Aetna Pharmacy 22 days to fill and deliver the prescriptions.
Reviewed Jan. 22, 2014
Logging complaint is a mess. Work hours are short, they close by 06:00 PM EST. If you call you will not be able to talk to anyone the machine takes you around. If you log in complaints you will not have any reference to it left in your system. So no history to refer to and speak about. You will get a email response after some days/time. This will be in secure html attachment. Opening it tells aetna you have seen it. There will be no reference to your complaint there too. After lot of disclaimers in broken English there will be independent couple of lines which means nothing most of the time. If you write again it is new story!! So either you give up or you go the whole 9 yards for zero outcome.
B. At this moment it stands rejected through the stupid mail as below. When it is clear that the claim is due to County health department bills and refers to immunization..but then it is same round as above.
"This is in response to ** claim for date of service 08/13/2013 in the amount of $**.00 from ** County Health Dept.
This claim was denied because the diagnosis for this charge is either unclear or missing.
We need the following information:What was the diagnosis or type of illness?
If this charge was for treatment of an accident:How did the accident occur?
When (date and time) did the accident occur?
Where did the accident occur?
Was this a motor vehicle accident?
Did the accident occur at work?
Reviewed Jan. 15, 2014
My mother broke her hip and they had to keep her in the hallway and couldn't give her care in the emergency room as the insurance company was slow to give approval and the hospital kept telling us if she just had Medicare they could have taken her straight in. Trying to transfer her by ambulance around 100 miles to another hospital, again, Aetna insurance prevented this and the hospital told our family if she just had Medicare she would had been transferred right away. We had to transfer in a private car - scary. Shame on them.
Reviewed Dec. 28, 2013
I was scheduled to have a cervical spine fusion for which the use of, "cages", a device which holds a bone graft is the standard of care. Aetna would not authorize the implant cages, citing one article which found that cages are not necessary. The article conceded that the healing time is delayed without the use of cages. Other studies have concluded that cages are helpful for recovery and outcome. My surgeon is affiliated with the renowned Hospital for Special Surgery, where cages are used all of the time for this procedure. He was kind enough to use the cages, absorbing the cost, because it was in my best interest. He is considering dropping Aetna from his accepted insurance because they are the only company who has refused to approve these devices. I was lucky and am healing well, which is one of the functions of the cages. Aetna is practicing medicine by refusing to allow doctors to use standard devices and treatments. Additionally, the surgery was not approved until the day prior to the procedure. They could have approved the surgery but denied the use of the device, but chose not to take that path. We have switched insurance companies as of the beginning of next year.
Reviewed Dec. 26, 2013
Between Aetna, United Health Care and BCBS, physicians are being bombarded with requests for records. United Health Care is actually set up an entity to review claims and want all the records from the provider - by all I mean x-rays, consults, and any other records plus a statement. The doctor is having to pay his employees, buy the ink, buy the paper and pay the postage. Also, they will give you several reasons for denials and all of them will not be correct.
Reviewed Dec. 11, 2013
I work for medical office. We have consistently had problems with obtaining correct information regarding a patient's benefits. It seems as if their customer sales representatives are not as well schooled on providing these benefits more often than not. More recently, as of 11/01/2013, the medicare replacement plans Aetna has, have decided to kick back claims with certain CPT codes and denying payment stating that this is not a covered service when in actuality... it is and always has been. They are stating that Medicare announced this on their website and that we have to file an appeal.
This has happened consistently with all of our Aetna Medicare patients and we have to go through this circus with them each and every time. It appears as if the EDITS that they are applying to the claims are incorrect and that these claims and the denied CPT's are EVENTUALLY PAID; however, it takes many calls, sending notes and laborious follow up to make sure that this god-forsaken company follows through. Even more troubling is that they state they follow medicare's guidelines; however, they do not! Their non-medicare products have a 4 modality limit which they apply to their Medicare product even though they state it doesn't apply.
They attach the AETNA fee schedule to the claims, not the MEDICARE FEE SCHEDULE... and they seem to never be available on a Friday as their personnel are in training/education which is a joke being that I get a different response from whomever I speak with regarding claims that have processed incorrectly. In closing, as someone who works in the medical field, Aetna is my least favorite company to deal with as you can not rely on any information they give you at any given time as it changes from representative to representative, some of which I believe may be in the Philippines.
Reviewed Nov. 26, 2013
My fiancé went to have his regular eye exam. We called to find a Dr in network. He was told by the Dr he needed to go to a specialist since he had cataracts in both eyes. We called to make sure the eye dr recommendation was in network. They were. The specialist told him he would need to have surgery. We called to get approval. After some run around, they said the surgery would be approved; we would have to pay out of pocket expenses, which we knew. The surgery was done on the worst eye first and then the second eye would be done at a later time. When it came time for the second eye to be done, Aetna said we didn't meet the deductible the first time. I know we did because our deductible is $1,000 and we paid over $1,400. They said they denied the claim because our Primary Dr never sent in the referral. I told them our Primary Dr has nothing to do with his eyes. He was referred by an Eye Dr in their network. They said that's not the way it works. The Primary Dr has to make referrals for any work to be done.
The Primary Dr went ahead and made the referral. They still won't cover the previous surgery. They are still denying the claims and saying that his Primary Dr, who is in network, isn't listed in their system as his Dr so they aren't going to cover any of the medical bills from him, the Eye Dr, the Eye Surgeon. Their Surgeon won't do the other eye until they pay the claim. On top of all of that, they have 2 different accounts open for him. One with the right ss# and one with the wrong ss#. They are trying to say he owes premiums on both accounts. The HR Department at his employer is trying to get this all figured out. I would steer clear of Aetna if at all possible. They are a bunch of liars, cheats, and scammers
Reviewed Nov. 20, 2013
To get the scene . . . I have the Aetna Medicare Select plan (although it makes no difference) and this past June I was admitted to an approved hospital for about six days. The hospital bills an extraordinary amount of $44,000+ for those days.. The claim was not approved because Aetna said it was not a "capped" hospital on there list. When I told them it was, they said "Oh that was Aetna's error, and we will resend the claim."
Well, it was paid a couple of weeks later, to the amount of about $12,000. I would like to see the EOB (Explanation Of Benefits) which does NOT appear on their website under my name and Member Number. So, I call customer service only to get some gal who says "It was not approved". When I tell her it was resent to claims due to due Aetna's error, she found the approval. Now I asked her to show me the EOB, and she says it is not available. Asking for a supervisor only got me an additional 12 minutes wait with terrible music . . . then disconnected.
To make this short, I have called 5 separate times of which I recorded 4 of them, been told that they will mail me the EOB, asked for a supervisor but none are available, and most likely spent an hour and a half on the phone waiting and waiting. My next move is to use their website to send an email, requesting that a manager call me back or send me an email answering my question. No phone calls, nor any emails during the following weeks.
Unfortunately, I had to return to the hospital after 8 days at home, and the next stay was for only $30,000+ and it also was denied. I had to inform Aetna that please LOOK AGAIN, because it is one of your approved hospitals. "Oh yes, but it has been denied, so the hospital will have to re-bill us." NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW ANYTHING! The open enrollment period is now, and I have already chosen another provider, since Aetna does not deserve my business.
Reviewed Nov. 14, 2013
I pay my premiums through my employer biweekly. I've had medical procedures done and surgeries. When I receive the out of pocket portion of the bill that I am reliable for, there is always some discrepancies about Aetna not paying its portion. I am in deep debt because of it. Whenever I have a problem with a bill, it will take 2 to 3 days to resolve the issue. Today, I received a bill from the dental office saying that I owe $82. The procedure cost $259. Aetna is my primary insurance and was billed first and paid only $41.10. The minimum amount that Aetna agreed to pay for a particular procedure $220. My supplemental insurance is Metlife. They are responsible for 70% of the bill. Metlife paid the dental office $96.60. The dental office billed me for $82. Aetna should have paid the minimum $220 and Metlife $39.
Reviewed Nov. 8, 2013
I enrolled in Aetna Medicare Advantage about 1 year ago. Before I needed to order prescriptions from their mail order pharmacy (I take 6 medicines all the time), I phoned the number in their brochure for information about mail order service, to find out how their service works (what I needed to do to use it). I asked for something in writing about their policies and procedures, etc., so that there would be no snafus when I needed medicine. I was told something would be sent. 3 weeks later, I still hadn't received anything, and now I needed to order medicine.
I called the number again, asked for something in writing about the service, and asked what I needed to do to order the medicine. The customer service person said all I needed to do was send in the doctor's prescription(s) with my info to the address given, and that was it (At this point, I had no order forms). I said, "That's all?" She said "Yes." No written info about the service ever came. About a week later I received an angry phone message from the Aetna pharmacy saying that they could not send any medicine until I had put a credit card number on file. I called them to give them the info, and they did send the medicine (but not the written mail order pharmacy procedures and policies).
My relationship with them for the past year has been like this and much worse. Every time I needed to order medicines (which was often), I was informed that there was some reason they could not be filled, notified sometimes by phone, sometimes by email, sometimes via snail mail. Mostly you can't order medicine until you are close to needing it, and when I got these notifications it was often when the medicine was about to run out. I would call them, and we would go around and around, and the upshot was always that I couldn't get the medicines - that I would have to call my doctor again, get another prescription (because I had mailed my written prescription to Aetna), and go to the drugstore to get my medicine (which costs more at the drugstore than from Aetna).
There were so many nightmares, and my medicines for asthma were the most upsetting, because I have trouble breathing without them. Their procedures are so arcane and mysterious and impossible, and you can't find out what the correct procedure is, except that they seem to want to keep patients from receiving their medicines on time. One example: 8 months ago I was told by my doctor that from now on, they would phone or fax new prescriptions to Aetna, instead of me mailing them in (I went to the doctor every six months to get new prescriptions). The doctor's office sent them right away, and Aetna immediately sent all 6 medicines to me - before I needed them (I had just ordered all of them not long before that). This was a financial nightmare.
They also once sent an asthma inhaler that I only use as needed, which is not often, that cost $90.00. I already had 3 bottles of this inhaler. I had gotten an email from Aetna saying that they had received the prescription and were going to send it out. It was late at night, so I went to their website and emailed the pharmacy not to send me that inhaler because I didn't need it now. They sent it anyway. This unneeded medicine expense put me in the doughnut hole sooner than I would have been, and now all my medicines cost me a fortune until the end of the year.
But the worst part is dealing with the mail order pharmacy staff on the phone. I called to ask them not to send me medicines until I actually ordered them, rather than automatically sending them. But they said the only way I could do that was to put on my account that they had to get my permission before sending me anything. So now, every time I order a prescription, they contact me to get my permission. That sounds okay in theory, but recently I had a doctor's written prescription for another asthma medicine, and I forgot to send it in until 12 days before I needed it. I called the pharmacy and asked if they thought it might arrive in time if I checked the box for Expedited Shipping on the order form.
As always, this started an argument. "I can't guarantee that you will receive it in 12 days." "That's fine, I'm not asking for a guarantee, just your opinion." "I'm saying that it will take up to 10 to 14 days." (On the order form, it said to expect 10 to 14 days unless you ask for expedited shipping, in which case it takes less time.) She said that even if I used expedited shipping, it would still take 10 to 14 days. I'm looking at the form, and I asked, "So even when I pay extra for expedited shipping, it won't get here any faster?" She said "That's right." Now we are in the twilight zone of the Aetna Pharmacy. I checked the box for expedited shipping, and sent in the order.
10 days later, I received a letter from Aetna Pharmacy saying that my order was on hold, because they needed my "permission" to fill the order, that I needed to go to the website and order it. Now I had 2 days left of my medicine. I called Aetna Customer Service - because I didn't want to deal with the mail order staff, who have never been anything but extremely contentious, rude, and dishonest with me. I explained my situation, and asked if the medicine could be FedEx'd to me (at my expense). No. The customer service rep transferred me to the mail order pharmacy, who told me that since I didn't order the medicine until that day (my first order had been cancelled), I could expect to wait another 10 to 14 days, even with expedited delivery. And that now I should call my doctor, get another 30-day supply until it comes.
Now - I'm in the doughnut hole, partly because of they're sending me medicines I didn't need - and I have just paid for my prescription to be sent from them - which is very expensive - and I also have to go to the drugstore for another amount of it (which costs even more, because it is not from the mail order pharmacy - and we're talking hundreds of dollars). This type of thing has happened every single time I ordered something in the last year, no matter how I ordered it. By this time, I was extremely angry on the phone, and I pointed out that they should have robo-phoned or emailed me to let me know that I had to order the medicine online to actually get it (and you can't order a new prescription that way, you have to send the doctor's prescription via snail mail). Why would they inform me by letter, which would take another 5 days to get to me? I had written on the order form, "Please send medicine as soon as possible - I only have 12 days of it left."
I asked the customer service guy this. He said that the mail order pharmacy person said that, for some mysterious reason, an email was never sent to me - even though I had officially signed up for email notification on their website. He said that even though they hadn't contacted me this way (which they had done before), it was still my fault that the order wasn't filled the first time, and that therefore I was on my own to get the medicine for 10 to 14 days until my order came. Twice, they actually cancelled my order for some mysterious reason, after I had sent in the doctor's prescription (they sent me a letter to tell me that too). Then, I had no prescription because I had sent it to them to fill. I had to contact the doctor again and start over, and I ran out of medicine those times too.
Right after I became a member, I pro-actively tried to find out these procedures to avoid this kind of thing. But it never avoided anything - my considerable experience with the Aetna mail order pharmacy service has been consistently a horrible nightmare, with the rudest and most callous customer service people I've ever dealt with. I think that the customers are their enemies. At one point, I submitted a grievance through them, but it only came out that I had not followed the correct procedure, and therefore was in the wrong.
I am praying that I can find another insurance company for my Medicare in 2014. I feel that I need to make an official complaint to Medicare about Aetna. I don't think they should be receiving money from the government to run their "business" this way. Withholding medicine from seniors is not just unprofessional, it is criminal. Truthfully, I've gotten very upset with them on the phone - something I'm not proud of - but when a company refuses to send me medicine that I've ordered and paid for, for some technicality, because I had to stop them from sending medicine I didn't need - and is extremely nasty and lies knowing they are lying - I just lose it. Especially after 14 months of this.
Reviewed Nov. 4, 2013
It should be against the law what Aetna does to their customers. I am over sixty, but not yet Medicare eligible. I was "job abolished" by my employer in 2008 and have had the same Aetna policy since then. The premium on this policy is $1178 a month OUCH!
It is a New Jersey Individual Choice A/50 Policy. Lots of luck needed to see a policy by that name on Aetna's website. It is like it doesn't exist. I have continued problems with Aetna customer service people not knowing what is covered and what isn't in my policy. In specific, prescription drugs. Today, I spent forty-five minutes on the Aetna Member services phone line. I was transferred five times from individual to individual trying to find out why my prescription claim was rejected and how to get it fixed. Finally, I got someone who was honest enough to tell me she did not know who I needed to talk to to resolve my problem. My main complaint with Aetna customer service is that Aetna sells way too many different policies for their customer service representatives to be up to speed on all of them. Rather than giving you an informed answer or any help, their response is to either tell you "it's not covered" or transfer you to another equally clueless customer representative. Believe me, this is not based on an isolated incident, but over five years of constant frustrating contact with these people. The only way to get the claim benefits that you pay for is persistence, constant appeal, threat and use of legal assistance.
The main reason my latest claim was rejected was that the division of Aetna that processes prescription drug claims said that the receipt provided by the pharmacy was lacking the required information. The pharmacy in question is the Aetna Specialty Pharmacy. It is the same goofy company. The receipt I had sent them had no less than three 800 numbers listed on it to call for assistance. You would think the claims people could call and get the needed information. You would think that the Aetna Specialty Pharmacy would know what their own company requires for claims processing. No such luck. They dumped it all back on me to get it straightened out. While I am doing that, I am out of pocket for over four thousand dollars. Horrible. Just horrible.
Reviewed Oct. 31, 2013
I have been going to a fertility specialist, knowing that I am the problem, that I cannot have kids after already going to my appointments. I was finally called back three weeks later by Ruth for enrollment in the program and then told I am being denied due to being a single person, even though I mentioned me and my ex-husband divorced two months ago and never able to conceive. Her response, “go out and find someone to have sex with for a year and then call back if you can't get pregnant.” Even though I was told and my dr that my plan will cover and pay for all services including artificial insemination. RUTH the agent I spoke with is horrible. Managers are horrible. I am currently looking for new insurance. Horrible customer service.
Reviewed Oct. 24, 2013
Of course when disputing a claim, their documentation wins even when it's obviously wrong. My only recourse is to hire an attorney and when the dollar value is only about $900, it's just not worth it. I have documents from both the Dr and Aetna that the Aetna review process denies, or didn't look at but either way insurance is a scam and Aetna just finished scamming me. Not such a good feeling. I think perhaps I'll move to another insurance co. Might cost me more but this is the second time this has happened with Aetna and even more throughout my family.
Reviewed Oct. 23, 2013
I have been told 3 different stories about my dental procedure and given the runaround about what I will get reimbursed. They gave me an estimate and then said it was only an estimate and it's never accurate. Then why the heck even give estimates if they are always wrong and way off? They now claim after processing and completing a claim that it's not dental. It is medical and they made a mistake. No I made a mistake by having Aetna as my INSURANCE PROVIDER! They are rude on the phone, harassing me about this issue. I think their business model is to upset you enough you will leave them alone. I NEED MY MONEY AND THEY WILL PAY! Please anyone with issues against Aetna file with the BBB.ORG and if anyone knows an attorney class action for misleading estimate and please!
Reviewed Oct. 17, 2013
I called today to check claims and this customer service was extremely rude. Her name is Patricia ** and the ref. # for the call was **. I called to check what is going on with the claim and the way she talked was really rude and yelling and insulting the customer that she has to spell every word that she is saying like I am stupid, not even let me talk to ask her what I really need to know. And she said she would transfer me to another dept without even listening to what I am trying to say. I have talked to her too before and this kind of attitude should not be tolerated.
Reviewed Oct. 16, 2013
Aetna is a bad idea. They won't let you cancel their insurance so they can keep pulling money out of your paycheck plus they wouldn't let me add my wife to my policy. All you hear from them is no, no, no and they pick and choose what they want to cover. I had to quit my job to get away from them so good luck with them folks.
Reviewed Oct. 8, 2013
If your company happens to provide behavioral health benefits via Aetna (i.e., grief or marriage counseling, substance rehab), Aetna REQUIRES the treatment providers to provide all notes of all sessions, which then can be shared with the employer paying a portion of the employees insurance. This is clearly unethical! Do not choose Aetna!!!
Reviewed Sept. 18, 2013
Do not buy anything from Aetna! They take your money and run with it! I have now paid them three months for insurance, and yet they say they don't have the payments at all. I have sent them my bank statements, proof from my bank that they took my money and all, and yet they still deny getting anything! So they took $807 of my hard-earned money and ran with it! I have emailed them, mailed them, faxed, talked to them on the phone and still nothing! THEY ARE A WORTHLESS COMPANY!!! I Would not recommend them to anyone! BEWARE!
Reviewed Sept. 16, 2013
Joined in April 2013. First of all, they jacked my 301 premium to 350 per month because of a preexisting depression. Now anything pertaining to my depression is covered they say, but in the next breath I am subject to a 5500 deductible before they pay 70%. That is NOT coverage. So basically I'm screwed. Plus, I decided to get a full checkup which is suppose to be covered 100%. I have a list of stuff I need to get done but will probably put the rest of it on hold until Jan 1.
My first on the list was blood work. I've had numerous calls to Aetna and emails showing they weren't paying my blood work in full. They don't seem to want to share information and use acronyms that the average person isn't going to understand. It is very frustrating and I told them that as soon as I find a better healthcare solution they will no longer have me for a customer. I really believe that they put so many roadblocks in the way of a simple claim that their hope is that you will end up going away and just pay the bill. Meanwhile Aetna is making out like bandits. And they are!! Skip the cost insurance... it is a complete rip off in my opinion!
Reviewed Sept. 13, 2013
Having a terrible time with Aetna with getting prescriptions. They just lie every time you talk to them. I finally got one to admit that the doctor had sent in a request and they had denied it after they kept saying the doctor hadn't submitted anything. I had the denial in my hands from them and told her that and she finally, after a long silence, said "Oh I see he did submit it and we denied it. It isn't covered on your plan." I told her it was on their formulary and she said, "Yes it is but your employer specifically chose to exclude that drug"!!! What employer goes through and picks and chooses specific drugs not to include in their plan?
They also are trying to get away with not paying for a pre-approved investigative procedure by saying it may not be covered under their pre-existing condition policy. It's a procedure to find out if I have something so how could I have already been diagnosed? Also that clause does not apply in group coverage when you've been continuously covered. They want a 3-page questionnaire filled out. Who was your prior policy with? YOU, AETNA What is the phone number? YOURS, etc. etc. Just a delaying tactic. The customer service reps are rude and appear ill-informed about their own product and their own policies.
Reviewed Sept. 1, 2013
I have been taking Diovan for high blood pressure for years and it works wonderfully. Aetna notified me a few months ago that they will no longer cover that drug and that I have to go through a pre-certification process to use it. I felt it sounded like a simple solution. But in reality what it will require is that my doctor will need to try other drugs first before she can prescribe Diovan again.
Anyone who has half of a brain knows that this isn't a medical decision but a financial decision for Aetna. They're probably in some nice, lucrative agreement with some other drug company and want to push their drug. This is what makes me sick about health care in this country - it's not about health, it's about business. Shame on you Aetna. I used to sing your praises. Not so much anymore.
Reviewed Aug. 9, 2013
I been depositing $40.00 per pay check 2 time in month since January 2013. I was waiting for my debit card until March, nothing happened. I contact them. They advised they will be sending soon and expect in 5-7 days. Nothing happened. I been contacting them since March. They advise, "We going to replace another card and be there 5-7 days." Until as of today no debit card. Every time I call they say they sending replace card. And blame postal. I am getting all other mails but not this one. Few months left in this year, my money will be gone. No more flexible care spending with Aetna.
Reviewed Aug. 1, 2013
I have been on the same 5 heart meds for 6 years. Initially I was put on Lisinopril and it gave me a horrible cough. My Doctor then put me on Diovan. It has taken years to adjust to the meds, and for my ICD to help heal my heart a bit. I used to always be exhausted and now I have a short "battery life" where I can go out and run errands, but then I need to come home and take a nap. I realized my script was late and called the pharmacy and my Dr's office. The Dr. said that they had been trying to do a Pre-auth and appeal for 2 weeks. Aetna says I must take 2 different blood pressure meds for 2 separate months before they will consider prescribing Diovan. I was told that an Aetna medical director, board certified in Family Medicine, a complaint and appeal nurse, and a complaint and appeal analyst participated in the review of this appeal.
What does a Family Medicine have to do with me? This is for a Cardiologist. How do I know these changes won't cause my heart failure to come back? The drug they are having me try drops my blood pressure very low and makes me exhausted. I have things that need to get done. I have a husband, father and teenage daughter to take care of. I have met the $6,000 deductible and we pay about $400 month for coverage through my husband's place of employment. I think their denial is due to MONEY! I have called and spoken to many people, many departments, as have my Dr's office. After paying $10,000 this year, I think they should keep me on Diovan - which we already know works.
Reviewed July 30, 2013
On June 10, 2013, my doctor sent in a prescription for Lantus Solostar Pen Insulin. It is now July 30, 2013 and I have yet to see anything in the mail resembling the needed drug. On July 17, 2013, I contacted customer service at 800-227-5720 to inquire about the status of the prescription, as the information on Aetna's website had changed from 'future fill' to 'cancelled'. The song and dance routine I got involved 'it was marked as too soon to order' and he would 're-place the order'. He even gave me a confirmation number.
July 18, 2013's mail brought a form letter from Aetna telling me that the prescription requires prior authorization before it will be covered. On July 18, 2013, I checked the website and saw there was a new order, dated 7-18-2013, for the Lantus, now saying 'future fill', leading me to believe the letter which was dated July 15, 2013, had been taken care of. On July 24, 2013, I checked the website and noticed the new order's date had changed to July 25, 2013, but it still said 'future fill' and 'pending'. On July 26, 2013, the website showed the new order had changed to 'cancelled'.
When I called customer service, the song and dance routine had changed to the prescription needed pre-authorization before it could be filled, with the addition that my doctor hadn't responded to their request to get more information. My doctor's office had not received any such request, and did not get anything from Aetna until late in the day on July 29, 2013, and only after having called 800-414-2386 on July 26, 2013. On July 30, 2013, as of about 10 minutes ago, the requested by Aetna forms have been faxed to Aetna by my doctor's office.
Why has it taken almost 2 months to get a prescription refill for a drug that I've been taking since September of 2011, when I was insured by simply 'Aetna', not 'Aetna Medicare'? What steps are you going to take to ensure this doesn't happen again, to me or to any other Aetna customer? Are you fully aware that your dollar outlays will dramatically increase if my Diabetes goes out of control and causes problems with any of the many things that Diabetes can affect?
Reviewed July 16, 2013
I was a happy Aetna PPO member for 3 years (filing my own claims). They paid on time, issued payment electronically, and I had no issues. Then I was laid off and my COBRA kicked in. After paying for my COBRA my files were to be transferred from my company's HR department to Trion (a billing administrator) then back to Aetna. However, my claims kept getting denied because "I didn't have coverage" even though I did. After 6 months of repeated calls to several different people, waiting on the phone, getting different explanations, I finally figured out the issue. Aetna lost my files and the people working for Aetna were too stupid to figure out the real issue.
Once I figured out the issue I had to resubmit the claim to Aetna. I called again and it was denied again because "the service wasn't accepted on my plan." It was the same service I had been getting for the past 3 years! On top of that, they sent me a checks to my old address rather than sending funds electronically. I don't know what happened with this company, but claims services are a piece of stinky **. I also found out that they started outsourcing claims to the Philippines to save money, which explains some things...
Reviewed July 6, 2013
My doctor put me out of work for 5 weeks due to excruciating pain from a tumor in my ribcage. It feels like a knife in your side and then throughout the day, the knife turns and doubles me over. My STD was denied because my doctor didn't put a game plan for treatment of the tumor. I was also told that since the medication they gave me for me made it impossible to drive, that I needed to be in a carpool. The reason I was out of work was because of the pain, not not being able to drive. I was so angry. I then filed an appeal, which they denied, stating that my doctor didn't respond to their request, which was a lie.
I saw my doctor 4 days before the decision was made and he called Aetna that day and got a reference number and left messages everyday and received no response at all. I now have to seek legal action against them to get those 5 weeks of no pay, plus pain and the stress and anxiety that they have caused myself and my family. Those benefits are supposed to be there when you aren't able to work and they choose to add to the stress that you are already facing with all the health issues. I'm so angry and stressed still. This company is worthless and needs to be held accountable for what they do to us.
Reviewed July 3, 2013
We have had our HSA through Aetna for over four years. They have always been slow to process paperwork and difficult to reach by phone, and sometimes we've had to resubmit various claims. However, it seems to be on an entirely different level for the past year. We submit for the essentially same few health expenditures, with the same providers, nearly every year and this year has been a real nightmare. We are moving into July of 2013 and still, despite numerous calls, discussions with various supervisors and subject matter specialist, submission of a whole host of additional paperwork that has never been required and we find out, yet again today, that they have failed to even submit our claim or begin to process it.
Each time we call, they have lost various supporting paperwork, they claim we need to send additional documents - usually which they realize they have in front of them while we are on the phone. There is no way to continue to deal with the same person, supervisors refuse to respond to calls or voicemail, there is no complaint department. We are at a total loss as to how to retrieve our money that is now deposited with them. If it weren't so sad, it would begin to be comical. Needless to say, we will never sign up for Aetna again following this truly awful experience.
Reviewed June 12, 2013
I paid for COBRA on May 8th... It is June 12 and they have or marked me active yet. I have been on the phone for over 4 hours in 2 days and have gotten nowhere. They need to send an email to their eligibility department and have them get back to them via email. Where is this legibility department and can they not afford a damn phone??? My claims are getting rejected and medical professionals are getting pissed. I paid for this service THROUGH June 30th and I'm still not active. I have been in sales and customer service for over 20 years. This has been one of the most horrible experiences I've ever had to deal with. I will never use Aetna again. In my opinion, neither should you!!!
Reviewed May 22, 2013
My daughter is a dependent on my insurance. She became pregnant. I called Aetna to confirm her maternity coverage. They assured me she was covered. My daughter's Ob/Gyn called Aetna to confirm her maternity benefits. The doctor was assured her maternity costs were covered and received an authorization number from Aetna. The first 6 or 7 claims from her maternity doctor's visits were covered. Then I got notification that this last claim was denied. I called Aetna and they told me that her pregnancy wasn't covered because dependent coverage doesn't include maternity.
She is 12 weeks pregnant. I was told by the Aetna rep she was covered. The doctor’s office was told by a different Aetna rep that she was covered and gave them an authorization number. The benefits sheet that I downloaded from my employer's benefits page says pregnancy is covered. Aetna actually paid 6 of her claims before saying she wasn't covered. We are in a huge financial hardship over this as it's too late due to a "pre-existing condition" to get another policy! I have submitted an appeal to Aetna. I am waiting to see what is going to happen. If they still deny her claim, I will be reporting them to the Florida State Insurance Regulatory Commission.
Reviewed May 15, 2013
My medical follow-ups were refused because Aetna failed to pay my existing claims. I contacted Aetna on numerous occasions and their representatives said the claims were satisfied. However, Aetna's online resources reflected that the claims are not paid. Also, I'm refused medical follow-ups and being contacted by collection agencies for non-payments. The collection agencies forwarded this information to the credit bureau. Presently, I need medical attention and medication, but worried about accumulating additional unpaid claims. Aetna is causing me more medical problems and anxiety by refusing to satisfy the claims in question. This crisis still exists.
Reviewed May 8, 2013
My fiance has Aetna insurance. He has had a lot of foot and ankle problems for the last year and Aetna paid the first $250 and nothing else will be paid until he hits his very high deductible, $2,750! He doesn't make much money, and his medical bills are piling up fast. He has over $1,000 until he hits his deductible. You would think that Aetna would cover the costs that were an emergency matter (ultrasound at the ER when they thought he had a blood clot, blood tests for a potential autoimmune disease, etc.). This insurance is terrible. They cover nothing and won't help my fiance out at all. I can't stand them - worst insurance ever!
Reviewed May 4, 2013
I was hospitalized in October of 2012, had emergency surgery and was in ICU on a ventilator for 10 days. The hospital I was taken to by ambulance wasn't in my husband’s health insurance network. However, because it was an emergency, it was to be covered in network. I am still receiving bills for services that should have been covered at 100%. I have contacted Aetna numerous times, sent copies of the bills, yet nothing is done. Then in December, I developed complications and my family doctor sent me in the early evening for a STAT ultrasound, thinking I would need more surgery.
I went to the hospital that took care of me in October, as this is all related and any outpatient diagnostic centers were closed. Originally, Aetna told the billing clerk that this was going to be covered in network, but then they denied it as an in-network claim. I have done multiple appeals and they still are refusing to pay it as in-network and will not give a reason as to why they said they would cover it originally. I am sick of this company's constant lying about their coverage. I am not sure what can be done, but my family has had a hard enough time trying to make ends meet while I am recovering, and now medical bills that should have been covered are destroying our credit!
Reviewed April 24, 2013
My first call to Aetna resulted in several push arounds to various departments and then being hung up on while I was on hold because, "We are now closed". The next morning, I spent an hour being pushed around, finally getting someone who supposedly "expedited" my request to have my provider of 15 years paid for a cancer diagnostic procedure as a preferred provider. After having my doctor forward necessary "clinicals" on Thursday morning, I waited until Monday to call again. I was pushed from place to place, on hold, etc.
Finally, I got a supervisor who informed me that the guy I spoke with on Thursday had not expedited my request at all but she would. On Tuesday morning, I got a call that I was denied, by a nurse. I ask for an appeal; she gave me a phone number and doctor name for my doctor to call for a "peer to peer review". In the course of the day, they never returned my doctor's call. On Tuesday afternoon, I began the phone call process, was pushed from place to place and then got Kristie who tried to recite the same policy crap that they all do. Finally, she agreed to get me to her supervisor.
I was on hold for 50 minutes. During that time I began reading aloud from a book that was on my desk, all the while stating the time on the call in 5minute intervals so that the supposed "recording" would at least be interesting to someone monitoring. At 4 pm my time, she informed me that the supervisor's cue was closed for the day. Imagine that! - 50-minute phone call, no results. Anyone with an Aetna policy should drop it.
Reviewed March 30, 2013
I was covered by AETNA Insurance from 2-2011 through 8-2012. I needed to elect COBRA coverage from September 2012 to January 2013 and submitted my payments as required. I did not receive my insurance card from AETNA until November 2012. In September 2012, I needed to fill a prescription for my daughter, but I did not have a card. I contacted AETNA Customer Service, for which I was transferred to three different people, and had to tell my story over and over again. I was finally informed by Shamika that I just needed to submit the claim form, which she assisted in locating on the AETNA webiste, and submit the receipts for reimbursement. That was back in October 2012. I have since received two denials for a covered benefit and assurance from an AETNA employee that I would be reimbursed. So where is it?
They are not customer-focused, and they tell you to call the Member Service number on your ID card, but when you do, the AETNA representative cannot gain access to your account because I was a previous employee, and they need to transfer me; then the story begins again and again. Obviously, the number on the card is wrong and your call, after entering your information, should be routed to someone who can handle your issue. I would not recommend AETNA insurance to anyone as they do not pay their claims as required or confirmed by their customer service employees.
Reviewed March 30, 2013
$450/month is a lot for a family plan. When you do get sick, your limited to only urgent care that diagnoses you to just get by through the day or Aetna’s new online preventive care. Just to register with help through the phone, surcharges in every way. No point there. Then you call Aetna’s free nurse service for advice to see if you should go to the ER, only to get rejected and to proceed back to an urgent care for more service because there are chances you will not be covered. Meaning Aetna have to approve the situation to be covered? What's the point in insurance if you can't use it without being approved upon situation or cause? What online free service is mended here? To the outcome of this situation, I didn't fool with the preventive service to diagnose me. Waste of my time.
I did go to an urgent care and got ointment for an inflamed sty. Through the night, infection spread over my entire eyelid. I called an ophthalmologist and got diagnosed with orbital cellulitis and not a sty. I received oral antibiotics and drops. Pain and fever had persisted through the night w/ an even bigger eye infection. My right eye was totaled. But that’s all the specialist can do unless admitted to the ER. I called Aetna’s nurse hotline for advice on whether to check into an ER or not. I was advised to head back to an urgent care for more service and not the ER for they can't do more for me than what has been done already. I may not be covered under the insurance for cause. Just great news to hear. So I waited it out and googled info on how this infection is handled. My eye is throbbing, huge, and my face hurts. I’m debating whether or not to go to the ER since I can’t afford to pay if not covered as told. Well, I had all the meds; the only thing is my eye needed to be lanced and drained. It’s what the last resort is, that there would be to the ER.
Anyways, I took it in my hands, popped a few Tylenol, and already had antibiotics in me and drops. I lanced a tiny slit on my infected eyelid and drained the sucker w/ caution. Man, do I feel better. Less pressure, swelling gone down, but I need to keep it clean and continue my meds. I think I'm going to be okay. It's frustrating when you have insurance but are limited and even the great services offered are really just a con when it comes down to it. Insurance shouldn't take advantage of its paying clients, really. People go because they seriously need medical attention. Imagine the cost if it leads to a bigger injury or loss. Guess that's the chance they take. Not happy with my insurance and I know there are better ones out there.
Reviewed March 28, 2013
So, I ended up with Aetna Health Insurance through my work. I pay quite a bit weekly and my employer pays quite a bit too, in excess of $1,500 monthly. My wife and I both tried using our new cards and were told account terminated. On my webpage with them, it clearly shows I had no coverage for two months. My employer got things fixed so I ask if I had no coverage, then where did the money go? Thus far this year, they have denied coverage on 100% of our claims. Why am I paying this company? My most recent claim took 3 months for them to request my life history and then they said an acute injury I had was pre-existing. Even the billing department at the hospital billing office has commented on this denial. I will look at buying my own coverage I guess, I am already paying through the nose for nothing.
Reviewed March 26, 2013
My prescription was denied. The company would not pay for it. I called the number provided, and the woman was obviously guessing at why it was denied. I finally told her and she looked further - all the while just being rude and nasty. I did ask to talk to someone who might better understand my question. She went into a tirade. After a long spate of nastiness and quotes about policy, I finally had to ask her to stop talking as she was hurting my head. We were getting nowhere and she would not stop this "canned" speech, and I had to wait it out. She refused to let me talk to anyone else. I still do not have my medication. I’m a client for more than 20 years.
Reviewed March 7, 2013
I have been submitting a monthly claim for a particular healthcare provider for many years. Five or six times in the last year, Aetna told me they never received the bill and I had to resubmit it. The claim is for a sizable amount of money and I believe they are intentionally ignoring or misplacing it. I rely on this reimbursement and I am severely inconvenienced by them delaying it.
Reviewed Feb. 20, 2013
For infertility benefits, you need to have it authorized through Aetna before they cover procedures. Every time that I tried to have a procedure done, I had to call many times until they would finally approve it. Since the medication needed to be ordered from their specialty pharmacy, I could not get the medication until the procedure was approved. If I did not keep calling, I never would have gotten my meds in time to start my procedure. Did several IUIs and they were not working. The doctor's recommendation was IVF. Aetna was giving them the runaround. They kept asking for more and more papers, but this is only when my doctor's office would call to see what the hold up was. Aetna does not inform the office of what they want.
Finally, it had to be reviewed by the medical director and it was denied! They want me to do more IUIs, they said. Why would I keep doing something that is not going to work for me? Ridiculous. Why did they keep asking the doctor's office for more papers and more tests if they were just going to deny it? Aetna was a waste of my time! From other reviews I see, they want to pay the least money possible! I also really hope that they are not just denying me my procedure because my insurance is changing in a month and half since our company decided to go with someone else. I pay for their benefits every month and that is ridiculous not to cover my service.
Oh and don't try calling them. Everyone you talk to will give you different answers. How do you know what is correct? You ask for something in writing and they tell you to ask your employer for a booklet. They tell me one thing and my book tells me another thing. They lied to me as well. They told me they would never tell me I needed to have 6 IUIs before IVF would be covered. Well they did!
Reviewed Feb. 16, 2013
At my 69.5 years of age, an Aetna-preferred provider doctor prescribed Zostavax for shingles vaccination. His office doesn't keep this medication due to shelf life and storage requirements. I went to Kroger Pharmacy where I have had one time prescriptions filled (maintenance medications require mail order). I got the $200 vaccination, and Aetna denied claim because Kroger isn't part of their plan. I'm still working full time, and I am covered by an employee plan. It seems like they have set up a loophole to keep us working seniors from getting benefits.
Reviewed Feb. 8, 2013
I received prior approval for an operation for an in-network hospital, which required a 4-day hospital stay. My plan clearly states a maximum of $200 per day fee deductible. However, Aetna refused to process my claims in-network and are processing them as out of network claims. I have made numerous calls and they continue to deny the claims. This is clearly illegal and against the plan, which I pay for and have agreed. The US government needs to investigate their process of claims and investigate what they do to their customers. They also denied an emergency room hospital one night stay for reasons not related to my case.
How can an insurance plan arbitrarily decide what is needed in terms of medical care? The grounds for their denials of claims is fraudulent and is one of the problems contributing to the breakdown of the American healthcare system. A class action suit should be brought against this company for failure to comply to uphold the plans their customers pay for, as well they should be prosecuted for insurance fraud.
Reviewed Jan. 30, 2013
Aetna refused to pay for my emergency room visit when I had to go because my throat felt like it was closing. I couldn't breathe regularly and I had a 100+ degree fever. To make matters worse, my primary care physician could not see me for 2 days because he was unavailable, so I had no other option. They were incredibly hard to reach and inconsistent in the appeal process and disregarded my personal statement completely. Because they can. Aetna based their decision solely off of hospital records, which of course were made to be less severe than my actual dire condition.
Aetna will find any way they can to weasel out of paying a claim and will scrutinize your case for loopholes that they can capitalize on. They don't abide by their own guidelines and that is so wrong. I would never recommend them to anyone because they are a big headache. From now on, I will tell everyone I know not to use them because they are completely unethical. I am so disappointed that they can get away with this. What is the point of having them? I'd like an insurance company that actually did its job and had some integrity.
Reviewed Jan. 28, 2013
Aetna changed my Medicare Part D plan without prior notice. I found out when I went to pick up my scripts and was told that they did not cover until I met the $325.00 deductible. What I had signed up for was a tiered plan that had been costing 0 deductible. If I had known, I would have changed Medicare Rx plans during the open time period. Why on earth would a person buy this high deductible plan with co-pays when for less than $2.00 a month more they could get a plan that is 0 deductible and 0 co-pay? And then, of course, when I called to complain, their dispute department said they did mail out a notice. We all know how that story goes. So now I am stuck with this crooked company until the next open enrollment period. I suggest that no one sign up for any Aetna policy. They are greedier and fraudulent than any other insurance company.
Reviewed Jan. 26, 2013
I am appalled at Aetna! My 18-month old son had a cold for a week. One Saturday night, he broke out in a horrible painful cry for almost an hour. My son has never had colic or have cried for that long. Something was visibly wrong (frankly, I should have taken him in much sooner). I put him in the car and rushed him to the emergency room after an hour of crying. There are no urgent care facilities open on a Saturday night nor would I have the time to stop and look if there was, when my son was in such agony. The ER doctor only diagnosed him with upper respiratory infection. I was sure there was something else wrong, so I took him to his pediatrician first thing on Monday morning and sure enough, she diagnosed him with two ear infections.
Aetna is denying my coverage of the emergency room as they state it was a non-emergency. Crying does not constitute an emergency in their book. I can't even believe that I have to even appeal this; nevertheless for a second time! To make matters worse, no one at Aetna or the appeal department has ever asked me why I took my son to the ER. They only looked at his chart. How can you have a full investigation if you don't ask your client directly?! Now I have to spend more time appealing this further and now having to go through a third party Arbitration Association. Ridiculous! Never again will I recommend Aetna. I am changing to Blue Shield tomorrow.
Reviewed Jan. 25, 2013
My employer switched health insurance when United Healthcare's contracts were not approved for all nearby doctors and facilities. The boss chose Aetna. I have pulmonary hypertension, a killer disease where I need to take Tracleer twice per day. Aetna refuses to pay for my meds stating all kinds of excuses which were met on the onset, anything from, "We need doctor clinical tests," supplier authorization, and such. I have been on the phone with Aetna specialty pharmacy, every day for 15 days, crying and begging as I ask, "Why? Who is deciding my fate in the company? Please help me, I beg!"
My medicine is not available in drugstores. I have been on this medicine for 3 plus years and would have died had I kept being misdiagnosed. I need to write the Florida Insurance commissioner but don't know where to write to. This company is horrible, especially if you are over the age of 50! I am thinking of writing to Pres. Obama next as well.
Reviewed Jan. 11, 2013
I was denied pre-approval for surgery and appealed. It was denied so I wrote to the President and Chief Executive Officer, to voice out my displeasure with the procedures of Aetna. I also indicated that I would do everything within my power to have Aetna's Health Care Administration of my State's medical policy, cancelled at the end of its contract which is of course my right to do so. At that point, Aetna in retaliation for my complaint, initiated another appeal without my consent or knowledge. I received a letter saying that my arbitrary 2nd appeal had been denied. Finally, I received a call from Aetna indicating that my surgery was not approved due to my doctor's notes.
Questioning my doctor's veracity must be a new law for an insurance company. Per my policy, that exhausts any remedies I have except paying for a $500 external review and of course, civil courts. I truly believe that due to my appeal, medical conditions and age, Aetna has denied my surgery as statistically, I am not a good investment for medical care. I wonder if the "Death Panels" truly do exist.
Reviewed Dec. 12, 2012
Aetna accepted my application with pre-existing condition of high blood pressure. However, when I have a doctor's visit for regular check-up of high blood pressure, they will not pay because it is a pre-exisiting condition.
Reviewed Nov. 27, 2012
On July 17, 2012, my doctor faxed a prescription for Plavix to Aetna for me to take after being treated for a mild stroke. I contacted Aetna and updated my current address, but the medicine was delivered to a PO box of my daughter that was on my account when first established. Because UPS does not deliver to PO boxes, the medicine was returned to Aetna. I contacted Aetna on several occasions about the delivery of the medicine. I was told that there was nothing that could be done until the medicine was received and logged back into their system, which would take about 30 days. On August 11, 2012, I informed Aetna to cancel my order because my doctor had given me a script for 380mg Aspirin, which I had already begun taking.
Around September 20th, USPS delivered the medication. My daughter refused to accept it and had it returned via USPS because the prescription had been cancelled in August, just as it was previously done by UPS. Even though they received the medication back in their warehouse, they have continued to bill me $20 stating that the medicine could not be returned or accepted, but it was accepted when UPS returned it. Considering that the order was cancelled, Aetna should have never shipped the medication in the first place, which is their fault, and I should not be held responsible for the balance of $20. I am sure that when Aetna received the Plavix, it was put back on the shelf until needed.
I am requesting that Aetna do the right and honorable thing, which is removing the $20 fee from my account because the truth of the matter is this: Aetna is responsible and should be held accountable for shipping an order that had already been cancelled. The fact that it was returned or not accepted should not be the issue. It should have never been shipped because there was more than enough time to process the cancellation.
Reviewed Nov. 7, 2012
I have been diagnosed with rare cancer, Thymoma, and Aetna refused to pay for x-ray and CAT scans ordered by Convenient Care doctor. Their explanation was that Convenient Care doctors can't order two diagnostic tests from same category on the same day. The fact that those two tests revealed that I have stage 3 cancer didn't help. Next, they refused to pay for PET scan ordered by specialists, because my cancer didn't meet their clinical criteria, altogether about $16,000. Customer service was more than rude. It was as painful to deal with them as it is to deal with cancer. Shame on Aetna!
Reviewed Oct. 29, 2012
They had okayed the procedure then failed to pay. I had to argue for months to get a bill paid for a procedure that they had previously okayed. I recently received a notice from Aetna that my monthly premium is almost doubling.
Reviewed Oct. 20, 2012
I agree with everyone as this company (Aetna) lies, misleads and does whatever to pay as little as possible, deny as early as possible, when processing a claim. The company waited till the day before the surgery to approve the major back surgery performed on June 20th, 2012 (63030 Laminotomy/Hemilaminectomy), with decompression of nerve root(s), including partial facetectomy, foraminotomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral Disc, 1 interspace, lumbar 1 time. The paperwork was completed and sent to Aetna in April. I received the letter after I left the hospital, and I never received my benefit payment until I had to call after surgery to ask where it was. I finally received a partial payment the first / second week of July!
I received two letters dated June 27 from Aetna upon returning home after surgery, one stating what my eligibility is for weekly disability benefits and the other sending me back to work on July 11. Yes, this was a week after major surgery, when I am still lying in bed recovering from a major back surgery, using a walker, back brace to get from the bed to the bathroom. Aetna completely ignored their Attending Physician Statement that was required of me that clearly extended my disability to August 20. I had to resubmit all the doctor's documentation and my claim information prior to them waiting to the last day to extend my disability.
A week after August 20, I received another letter dated 8/27 from Aetna, ignoring my doctors Attending Physician Statement again, extending my disability to November 1, stating my benefits will not be approved beyond September 11 and my claim will be closed September 12. Aetna informed me they would be contacting the doctor to obtain additional information.
Do they get incentive pay or commission for canceling claims earlier than to term? They never answered my question! According to my doctor's office, they never contacted them. They were even so bold to state they attempted on three different occasions. Not until I pointed this out to them did they reach out and contact my doctor on the day of the denial of benefits. At that time, they misled the doctor in what my occupation was and such denied my STD claim. This surgery normally takes 6-12 months to heal. Aetna denied the extension and stopped paying my benefit 2 months and 2 weeks after surgery! They're forcing me into Aetna's appeal process (Can you guess how that will go? Employed by Aetna) or litigation. I'm open to recommendations/assistance?!
Reviewed Oct. 19, 2012
I recently applied for health insurance with Aetna Health Insurance for myself and my son. I went through a very difficult process in filling out the application, supplying all relevant information regarding pre-existing condition and previous health insurance information. Actually, I had to do this three times. After a long process, I was approved for insurance. I visited my doctor for a cold and routine check up and paid my $40 co-pay as required. Now two months later, I received a bill from my doctor for the remaining $217 of the bill. When I contacted Aetna regarding this, they claimed the cold was considered pre-existing condition and refused to pay the bill unless I could provide them again with my previous health insurance company policy to see if I ever visited a doctor for a cold. I found this to be extreme and crazy that a cold is considered preexisting. I would warn anyone considering Aetna for insurance to look elsewhere.
Reviewed Oct. 10, 2012
This company is obviously dead set on spending as little money on clients as possible. I know they have a right to make money, but when you and your company pay in for coverage, then the insurance company should be held responsible to provide that coverage without constant badgering. I would say 50% of my family's claims require at least two phone calls; one to apologize to our service provide that they have not been paid, and one to Aetna to find out why not, and why no one was notified of the claim denial for 4 weeks or more. Often it takes multiple calls.
Providers all seem to know that this is Aetna's operating style. In one case, our doctor cautioned that we should get a written statement from Aetna that they would cover an ultrasound for a new baby. My wife called and the Aetna rep stated that the particular code we were given was indeed covered. She then told us that "Aetna does not provide written guarantee of coverage." That should have been a warning to us. Turns out, we just got notice from the hospital that it has been 6 weeks and they have not been paid and were threatening collection proceedings on us; first a call to the hospital, who was understanding, then a call to Aetna.
When it was time to pay, this code is not covered. Alas, we have no proof of the verification call and no written guarantee of coverage. The doctor may be able to help us by sending Aetna a written statement that the ultrasound was medically necessary, but this type of runaround is ridiculous and definitely appears to be Aetna doing their best to hold onto money as long as possible. It appears their standard procedure is to deny claims and see if anyone notices. I hope my company is getting a good deal on Aetna, because the employees are not.
Aetna Health Insurance Company Information
- Company Name:
- Aetna
- Website:
- www.aetna.com