UnitedHealthCare Reviews

My situation: I was pregnant and chose a doctor under the network. Every time I had an appointment, every time I had to go for a blood test, every time I had to go for an ultrasound, every time they sent me to the hospital, every time I had to pick up a prescription, I called. I called to make sure that I was covered. I'm just that type of person. I didn't want to risk not being covered by insurance, so every time something came up, I CALLED. Every single time I called, they said it was ok, and that I was covered. Every single time I called, there was a sweet sounding person who seemed to reassure me. They are good at that, SOUNDING NICE... so you move forward with confidence.

Then one day, I receive a bill. A bill for blood work sent to a hospital. I called up United Health Care to find out what this was all about, and the lady on the line, again with a sweet voice, told me I didn't have to worry about it. That the hospital was passing it on to me for "some reason" -- yes, she used those exact words. I asked what the reason was, and she said that it was a bill United Health Care sent to the hospital and that the hospital should cover it but sometimes they pass it off to the patient (she even made the hospital sound bad), and that she would take care of it for me. She didn't take care of it. Now, in hindsight, this bill was sent to me because the hospital isn't covered by United Health Care. This is the same hospital that I gave birth in. This is the same hospital that I had check ups in. And mind you, every time I went, I called first to see if it was ok, and they said YES it was.

So now, after having had all those checkups, and my birth in that hospital, I call up UNITED HEALTH CARE to follow up on that bill for blood work sent to the hospital. They say it's not covered. That I have to pay for this myself. This made me ask about all the other services I had at that hospital. The woman, in the sweetest voice ever, told me that none of my check ups were covered. Nor were the births. Mind you, my doctor is IN-NETWORK and this hospital is the only hospital she practices in. How convenient for them that I know this all now AFTER THE BIRTH, AFTER THE CHECK UPS. They couldn't tell me this before I went to this hospital?! Why, all of a sudden, are they telling me that this hospital isn't covered AFTER TELLING ME IN THE PAST THAT IT WAS.

And now, it's their word against mine? What happened to all those calls I made with recordings that told me that the call was being recorded for quality assurance? WAS IT FOR THEIR ASSURANCE? And all the lady could tell me, in her sweetest voice ever, was, "I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do for you. The bill is yours and you have to pay it." So after paying over $750/month for insurance, I get no help in paying for my birth!?

I talked to my doctor about this and even she felt it was ridiculous. She is standing behind me all the way, and I am filing for an appeal, which the customer service representative told me was my only choice, even though she felt I had no chance of winning the appeal (yeah, she told me that). To the people at UNITED HEALTH CARE... may you receive the KARMA you all deserve for your trickery and fake sympathy.

One out of ten agents you speak to understands what is going on. The others muddle through the process, giving you vague answers. Unless you stay on top of your claims, you will never know if they are paid until months later. I diligently play by their rules and constantly follow through with my account. All parties need to be paid! For instance, prior to a necessary follow-up surgery for an emergency condition, the preauthorizations needed were sent to UHC. Within a reasonable time frame, I received, from UHC, their letter of medical necessity approving this procedure for both the admitting doctor and hospital.

Today I discovered they denied the bill for the admitting doctor because my PCP hadn't put in an request (wrong, she did and I have the approval number), but they did pay the hospital bill portion for the service. When questioned about this, the agent "Joe" said he saw the approval and will resubmit it and to wait 10-15 business days for an answer.

A PCP visit and CT Scan bill for the same medical issue are in limbo. My PCP had called in a "STAT CT scan" for a preauthorization and was given permission, but now UHC stated they don't have enough information from the doctors to pay it. This is another case where they approved it one day and then denied it the next. When called about this they say they need more information and when I call the doctor's billing, I am told they never received this request! It's a constant battle to get things done!

Another complaint I have is about the totals for your deductible and out of pocket costs on your "myuhc.com" account site. They are often miscalculated them and you need to question their accounting. Finally today when I called the corporate phone number to find out whom I could contact about whom to complain to about the inconsistencies in my account, I was informed UHC does not own the Marketplace company using the UHC name, they sell their product to someone else under their name. They couldn't help me and only gave me the same phone numbers that they publish on their website for the marketplace accounts. Well, isn't that a surprise! Another dead end for the consumer! So good riddance UHC, I'll take my business elsewhere to a company who administers their clients in the USA!

I've never experienced anything like this in my life. Thank goodness I'm switching back to Anthem next year. Stay away from UHC. Even a doctor's office said they're the most difficult insurance company to deal with. There was even a time when my medication was on backorder at one pharmacy, so I went to CVS because they had it in stock just to find out they dropped CVS a few days earlier... also mid year. Then after more than an hour on the phone, the rep could only find 1 pharmacy in a 20 mile radius, which was the one that was out of stock. He finally said to just go to Target and see if it works. It did, but why did it take an extra hour for that??? LOTS of wasted time and frustration.

Several weeks later they retracted and then billed us for 16,000.00 (sixteen thousand dollars) without indicated that this was because for first time without telling us they considered UHC secondary to Medicare B which we did not take on employers advice and on their history of coverage as well as their knowing we did not have B as we told them. So if you think preauthorization is helpful and your medical team gives you estimate and signed preauthorization and you sign and UHC signs, they will not honor it. They have in this case committed fraud in leading us to believe this surgery was paid, and would be, and that we were covered and authorized signed exact amounts out of pocket and now are forcing us to pay for shoulder surgery - we could have done after we got another insurance that honored their claims I.e., Group health etc.

I consider UHC to be not only a dishonorable insurance company, but one that will have no problem forcing back in time claims that were paid to be forced on client after the fact, after authorization, after office has confirmed they will pay and after surgery. There is no willingness to honor any statements or claims. WE do have attorney and we will appeal and the cost is on us, and buyer has to accept all harm done to them. Even our surgeons and anesthesiologists claimed this was unethical, wrong, and beyond what is the standard practice of any insurance. In fact anesthesiologist offered if appeal is not happening they will work with us to help. Not so with UHC that got us in this situation as we had many choices.

Do not sign up for any UHC if you want to trust in any way your insurance company. They have been dishonest and we are family that has had and honored many insurances over our careers that are multiple and have worked in many states. We are well versed in right and wrong and have had Aetna, Blue Cross and I can testify, they all honored their word.

Even if you don't like Hilary Clinton on other grounds, at least she is talking about expanding MEDICARE or offering us another public option. Health care INDUSTRY gets 1 out of 4 health care dollars - for administration! WHAT A WASTE. Try their websites -- I have NEVER been able to have access to my own documents, no matter how many calls to customer service website overseas to fix this. I am a healthy athletic person and UHC charges $550 a month for my insurance -- I have NO health problems! That is perfectly obscene, and someone needs to look at their accounting if they are claiming their profits aren't big enough. I think it is an industry blackmail at work - pure greed -- or completely inefficient.

I became so frustrated that I was physically distraught, crying, while trying to speak with a representative. I would like to interject that I started working right out of high school, still only 17 years old. At the age of 23, I opened a dance studio which became successful. As the economy went up and down, so did my business. I never gave up, working other jobs to supplement my income. I took care of my elderly parents and still do take care of my mentally ill brother. This has led me to low income and Obama Care.

Now at the age of 64 being treated like I don't matter and haven't earned anything in life. I am forced to have this healthcare that doesn't support any doctors. If I don't sign up for it, I will be fined. Before this, I went to the doctor only when necessary and paid out of pocket. Now that's not allowed and there is nothing else. A representative at UHC told me to ask the doctor if they will accept the insurance as I am a former patient. I said I didn't think they would and she said "you'd be surprised, especially if you went there before".

I called the doctor and they told me if they did that it is considered fraud. No one at UHC seems to know what they are talking about and they are wasting our valuable time sending people who are already not feeling well on a wild goose chase. Meanwhile, people who have better plans go to the doctor several times a week raping the system. This is not caused by the patients, but rather by evil greedy doctors who have elderly patients use their office as a social gathering place while they sit in the waiting room. The doctors see them over and over for the same reason with no solution. I am now left with a health problem that has no answer and no doctor that will accept my insurance. United Healthcare should not be allowed to operate.

The major Whammo, however, was me accidentally discovering that my primary care provider (PCP) had been changed without my knowledge or consent on 9/1/16. I had just been in the hospital and was needing to follow up with my PCP on 9/5/16. I waited. If I had seen my PCP, there would not have been coverage!!! Oh, it could have happened so easily! My discovery took place on 9/6/16, and when I looked at UHC online, sure enough my doctor had disappeared from the list of providers covered. Even the whole facility my doctor works out of was missing.

I tried to work with UHC representatives. Their answer was "I don't know why this happened because I can't get a clear answer from OUR people -- I'll have to take this to my supervisor." Well, I decided enough was enough. I filed a complaint with the Insurance Commissioner. They have until November 2, 2016 to provide an adequate answer.

I don't understand how they can denied treatment for something that is a medical condition. I called Clinical Services for an explanation and a representative called Jenny... All she had to say was "I cannot understand what you are saying" in a very rude manner. Not only they denied my pre-approval, they also did not provide me an explanation, AND I had to deal with someone with no education on the phone that provided no information or help whatsoever. I asked for a letter with the explanation and now waiting to see if I can find a low cost attorney to represent me.

I was taking ** to help with the nerve pain along with ** (now, not covered) and **. I had just been referred to a neurologist when we were forced to change to United Health Care. All of a sudden, I couldn't refill my ** prescription even though I had been on it for awhile. They had to fill out this pre-authorization that was a hassle, which was still denied. The neurologist had to spend time gathering and sending all my past records, MRIs, and other tests for an appeal. They finally approved it but they would only approve 300 mg max per day when my doctor had prescribed 400 mg per day. This process took over a week, and was a major hassle for my neurologist. I had to get sample packs from the doctor's office so I wouldn't have horrible withdrawals. When I started looking at UHC's lists of all medications, I couldn't believe how many medications were listed with the words "Plan/Benefit Exclusion" next them.

Many of the best doctors are not in their network either, nor do they cover as many procedures. This is supposed to be a PPO...their best plan. It is the worst PPO I've ever had. My neurologist said I needed to see a neurosurgeon for possible surgery. I picked one of the leading neurosurgeons in our area only to find out that he and his whole group were not in network. In fact, a lot of the best neurosurgeons in our area weren't in network. Now I understand why. Good doctors won't waste time in dealing with United Health Care because of the money, time, and effort that it costs them and their practice. If you are considering an insurance to buy and you have a choice, run as far away from United Health Care as possible. If you don't believe me, ask your doctor's offices their experiences in dealing with United Health Care. I believe they will back me up. I hope this helps in your search for good health insurance.

However, when I went to the pharmacy, they told me that they checked with insurance and I had to pay full price. I believe the pharmacy has no way to place the purchase of the medicine as preventive on their system. I called back UHC and they indicated that the medical procedure was covered but I had to pay for the medicine. I do not understand how is possible that the medicine prescribed by the doctor and required to prepare you for the colonoscopy procedure cannot be covered when the end result of the procedure depends on the bowel prep medicine you need to start having the day before.

Also, UHC has a clause in their policy that indicate that if the doctor requires the medicine for this procedure, I should call them to have it covered at no cost to me. However, when I called UHC about this issue, they still declined to pay. Is this the type of preventive care we need although we are paying for a health insurance? How can they cover the procedure but not the medicine that is required for the procedure? Shouldn't be all covered? This is not ** or any type of medicine for after the procedure. UHC needs to be aware that there is a reason doctors prescribe different type of medicine depending on patient risk, preexisting conditions, etc. Be Aware.

The HE reps blamed UHC ("it’s UHC's content we post") and UHC blamed the HE. It was nothing short of a circle jerk...sorry, more PC...a catch 22. After spending over a dozen hours and weeks on trying to get that rectified, we were told they were going to fix the problem and not subject us to the Open Enrollment a year away. So they supposedly make the change effective 01Jun16. What a joy. Success. Right? We only wish... The nightmare was only beginning. I went to the doctor (finally) on June 10th and have been paying for it ever since....

What has resulted since is more dozens of hours in failed attempts to sort it all out and to this day, 12Oct16, I still don't have it resolved and can't get the supervisor who promised me to call me back, to call back. While in the Charter program for some 30 days or so, we successfully assigned our PCP (previous family physicians – or so we think and have been told we did). This bit of significance becomes an issue later.

15Aug16: After receiving medical invoices from the June visits, indicating that “Your insurance company denied payment for the following reason: Coverage not in effect for date(s) of service,” I called UHC and spoke with rep Clark ** who advised that it "appears (my) costs should be covered" and he could not understand why they weren't being covered. Though he did then see and say we didn't have assigned PCPs??? I replied that we once had them assigned in the Charter program and after being placed on the Navigate program, we did so AGAIN during a tele call with a UCH rep AND online. FRUSTRATING!!!

We spent quite a bit of time on the phone and he supposedly took the time to reassign our PCPs - once again.which still apparently didn’t take...read on. While pleasant, it was clear he was not going to figure much more out. So he submitted the medical provider invoices for a "2nd Review," giving me an appropriate reference number, adding that I will hear back in 30 days or less. To date, we STILL have not received a response.

22Aug16: My wife receives a call (or notice in mail) indicating that no payment was received for our plan. Our credit card company replaced our card due to some data breach somewhere so we were able to quickly resolve by providing a new card – the significance of this will be evident later…read on. When speaking with UHC rep Joy **, to resolve this matter, my wife *again* had our PCPs assigned during that call as she was told by Joy that either no PCPs had been assigned or they were doctors we were unfamiliar with???

08Sep16: When attempting to get my daughters medication refilled, pharmacy personnel indicated that our "medical coverage had lapsed due to non-payment."??? Uh…we have credit card statement proof that all that payments have been consistently made. So this warranted another call to UHC and my wife spoke with UHC rep. Monique, who indicated our payment coverage was "up to date" but their system was faulty in some way. Okay, it happens… We ended up paying full price for the medication and not bothering with UHC regarding the same. Way too much hassle but then one has to ask exactly what it is we are paying for???

19Sep16: Received Explanation of Benefits (EOB) notice that certain Dates of Service (DOS) were not covered due to non-payment. Called and spoke with UHC rep Tami who advised "we are having technical issues due to changes in optimizing the system," "you are covered and have not lapsed (due to non-payment)," and "this is definitely a UHC issue." She added that we would receive an email notification or call back with an update and gave us a reference ticket number, for what it’s worth. To date, no update of any sort has been received accordingly.

26Sep16: I call and speak with UHC rep Tyrone **, insisting to speak with a supervisor (considering the history and the many, dozens of hours spent on the phone trying to fix THEIR errors). Tyrone exhibited a pleasant attitude and was wanting to help, virtually insisting that I explain why I wanted to speak with a supervisor. I tried to concisely explain and he dearly wanted to assign PCPs again (yep, you guessed it, again, doctors we have never heard of were somehow automatically applied despite all previous efforts).

I repeatedly insisted on speaking with a supervisor. Where did that get me…he hung up on me after one hour on the phone… I later learned it was apparently because it hit closing hour on the east coast. So I immediately called back and spoke with a LaShawnda who said she could not help me, advising I needed to speak with someone in the Navigate Department, transferring me to Erika. Erika tried to summon a supervisor to no avail but assured me her supervisor would call me back the following morning. That following morning I received a call back from Erika advising her supervisor was in training all week, would not be calling me, and that I should call the 800 number back and try to reach another supervisor (essentially starting the process all over again). Kind of her to call me back, but really…?!?!?

27Sep16: My first call with a Cory ** gets me nowhere, of course, and he transfers me to Tyrell ** in the Navigate Department. Once again, I insist on speaking with a supervisor. I get a hold of Supervisor Vernon ** who was very personable and pleasant, listened to my issues in total, and vowed to resolve them. The gist of the issue…finally revealed…was that when UHC went to correct their error and place us on the correct Navigate plan, not only did our PCPs not transfer but they dropped me, the primary member, as an insured in our four member plan, which we’ve been paying since May!?!?

He admitted he could see that my entire family of 4 were covered in my prior employer plan (up until the layoff), and again in the Charter plan. Yet when they transferred us to the Navigate plan, for some unknown or explained reason they dropped me – keeping my wife and two children covered??? He appeared to make honest attempts to address this while I remained on the phone (I was happy to wait, thinking I had someone who c/would assist) but in the end he said it was going to take the coordination of a number of different groups and more time, possibly in upwards of a week. So he gives me his direct line, days & hours he works, and says he will call me back.

Thinking I thought I had someone who was consciously willing to take an interest in seeing this through, I was happy to wait. 04Oct16: I called and left a voice message for Vernon ** considering I’ve heard nothing by phone or email. 05Oct16: I called and left a voice message for Vernon ** considering I’ve heard nothing by phone or email.

12Oct16: I called and attempted to leave a voice message for Vernon **, considering I’ve heard nothing by phone or email, but his voice mail was full. So at this point, I attempt to seek another supervisor to start the process all over again (needless to say I’m at my wits end and EXTREMELY frustrated in the process. Numb…Angry…) when UHC rep Grey ** tells me their "ISET" computer system is down so neither he nor any supervisor will be able to look up my account and assist, and he tells me to call back in a couple of hours. This didn’t go over well with me and I again insisted on speaking with a supervisor. So he passes me off to Assistant Supervisor Ajay who was able to confirm that Vernon ** still works for the company but is not available.

I seem to recall at this point that Vernon ** told me he is in North Carolina so I then begin assuming that he’s dealing with the hurricane related flooding. Maybe? I hope not but want to give him the benefit of doubt. But then the above protracted experience has me seething and wondering why a company the size of UHC would not have sufficient resources and back-up to take over work loads of such affected employees - assuming that is his situation.

One way or another, I am / we are simply at our wits end and have had enough. I have to speak out and tell someone. With any luck, someone who will actually care enough to assist us in getting this resolved. We’ve been paying premiums all this time and I apparently have no coverage. Sure, my family has coverage, but the UHC system is so fouled up that they can’t seem to tell that when the time comes – when they receive provider statements with DOS???

I asked for ** since it's the one thing I know worked. I got off of it in the past due to side effects but now the side effects are worth it. UHC denied the claim stating there are less expensive alternatives. So I tried the lesser, **. IT DOES NOT WORK. I have also tried others such as **, **. So my provider told me they should be able to get it approved. Went to my provider and they said it was on UHC to approve it.

So after going round and round between UHC, Walgreens and my provider for OVER A MONTH, I called UHC. Keep in mind, I have damn near lost my job, I am in horrific pain, am behind on bills due to lost time. Sue was the unfortunate soul to take my call. I explained that I know it's not her fault. She then asked my address, told me it's not what they have on record. I explained to Sue that they have sent the rejection letters to this address.

I am way more composed here than I was on the phone. Once I told her that I tried the other drugs and that I had been to my doctor's office just today and that the balls in their court she put me on hold to speak with their Prior Authorization Department. They have one of those!!! She came back on and told me that not that it would but it COULD take up to NINE DAYS to approve it!

I stated that that wasn't good enough! I at least pay them to have better answers than that and I wanted SOMEONE on the phone that could give me better results! We pay entirely too much for such ** answers! She then began repeating the same thing over and over. At that point I told her to enjoy her paycheck and hung up. This is the kind of service you get when you pay exorbitant amounts of money to UHC.

She informed me that United Health Care/Optum's policy is to fax over on company letterhead our contact info/Administrator info-name, telephone number, email, address, signature of Administrator. Then why you wish to be unenrolled in this way of payment. I have NEVER with any other insurance company had to do this. I am able to call the number, tell them I do not wish to be enrolled and they take care of the rest. Why does Optum/United Health Care make the provider do all the work, when it's their action/policy they implemented?? Well, I have tried to contact someone to speak to and NO ONE has been able to get me to a supervisor who deals with the virtual payment process or issues. I will not recommend United Health Care/Optum to anyone ever. The worst service I have ever had in dealing with insurance.

First of all the PCM had nothing to do with the original authorization/referral in the first place and should not have anything to do with it when all I wanted was more units added to the original referral that was put in by the orthopedic doctor because I was not completely where I need to be with therapy and need some more help. The first person I talked to said that if the referral wasn't expired that all I needed was to have the facility ask for the units along with a note saying I am just about there but not quite there yet. So the therapist does and UHC Military West puts it in as POS.

After calling three times no one seems to know what to say or do and cannot answer my questions. The one question was if the orthopedic doctor put in the referral in the first place and it was approved why does the PCM have to do it when all I need is more units to finish out my therapy. No one can answer that. All I get is the same stupid answer the PCM has to put in the request. Also the PCM is the one who referred me to the orthopedic in the first place because the problem I have. I really dislike having to deal with government insurance but have no choice. Please get your crap straight and make sure that everyone knows what they are doing because like I said I never get the same answer twice even if I call within the same hour. I mean no one gives the same answer, which is really frustrating because they tell you one thing and do the totally opposite.

The same day I got a bill also for a MRI my neurologist ordered because I have a history of mini strokes. The bill was for $3400! United Health said that won't cover it because my neurologist scheduled it at the wrong hospital. If I had known I could have drove 10 minutes down the road and had it covered at another hospital... I have called and yelled at multiple people but no one cares. I have no idea how to fight these! I'm beyond frustrated!

Finally, I told Dr. ** that I had had enough of this terrible medical insurance company - United Heathcare! In the Fall of 2015, I told Dr. ** that I was changing at the beginning of 2016 to an Aetna PPO plan and asked her if she was a participating member with Aetna. She said she was, but advised me to double check with the front office staff to make sure. I did so and they clarified that she was a participating member of that particular plan and I would be able to keep her as my primary physician. I joined AETNA in 2016. The nightmare begins: Dr. ** works at a United Healthcare/Healthcare Partners Office and the office staff/billing department within her office refuses to file claims to Aetna using Dr. **'s correct Tax I.D. number with Aetna. Therefore, filing claims is useless because they get denied when her incompetent billing department staff REFUSES to submit the claims ACCURATELY.

In February 9, 2016, I had my first yearly "physical" (Wellness Report) through Aetna with Dr. **. Upon arrival at her office, I used my Aetna Insurance Card for the first time. No co-pay was required for the Wellness Physical and none was asked for. In mid April I called for an appointment but could not get in to see her and had to see a Physician Assistant. It was LATE in May before I received a bill from Dr. **'s office. The bill was for both visits saying that AETNA had denied the claim and I had to pay immediately.

I called the office and asked the office Lead what was going on and she claimed that Dr. ** was a United Healthcare / Healthcare Partners doctor only and she was not a participating member with Aetna. I called Aetna and found out that Dr. ** definitely WAS still a participating doctor and had an Aetna Tax I.D. number. The claim her office had submitted contained Dr. **'s United Healthcare Tax I.D. number listed on it and, of course therefore it was denied.

AETNA was so helpful and supportive in their efforts to get this claim paid. They immediately got me in contact with a Grievance Specialist and he spent hours on the telephone with Dr. **'s Billing Office. He explained over and over to several different people who declared they were in charge, that they needed to use the correct Tax I.D. number that Dr. ** had with Aetna (and even told them exactly what the Tax I.D. number was to put on the claim) to get the claim paid. Meanwhile, UHC/Healthcare Partners Office continued to badger me with calls and letters telling me I had to pay this bill or it was going to Collections!!! I refused.

I spent time filing a Grievance with Aetna and even more time filling out papers to file an Appeal. I lost time from work due to high blood pressure and migraine headaches worrying about the actions of United Healthcare/Healthcare Partners office. My husband and I have a five star credit rating and I couldn't believe this was happening. I lost over $300 in pay from work trying to deal with this throughout the vast three months. Of course, the Appeal went through as rapidly as possible and Aetna wrote a check to Dr. ** (outside of the usual way to get a claim paid and because that was the only way we were going to be able to resolve this nightmare at Dr. **'s incompetent billing office).

My biggest disappointment came when I wrote a confidential letter to Dr. ** personally to alert her to actions were going on within her office, and how her patients were being harassed. I asked her to contact me. There has not even been one call, text message, or note from her after over two years of being her patient. Today, I'm still receiving bills from her UHC office regarding the so called $10.00 co pay they feel I should pay from my February 9th, 2016 visit for a Wellness Physical. I send the bills back to the billing department with notations that this is not a valid charge along with a copy of my contract with Aetna. United Healthcare does not care about people. They only care about $$$. They are not out to help anyone but their bottom line regardless of who and how it hurts. I've read literally thousands of letters online from so many people that have been hurt due to this company. Their actions are illegal.

I've talked to reps, supervisors, and a so called manager. They are like complete robots. They have absolutely no empathy or sympathy for the human race (their customers). They have my money, it's out of my bank, I received the email, and I'm still waiting for someone to push a button to update my payment on my account. They also tell me it will take 24 to 48 "business hours". So, essentially I could die if this was medicine that was life or death. These insurance companies have to be held to some type of standard. People are being taken advantage of because we only have so many options on the healthcare marketplace and people in states like NC cannot get private insurance because of this crap. My pharmacist said that the last person that had this problem with the same exact health plan that I have had to wait 3 weeks to get their medication.

Talked with a supervisor on 10/4. She tells me, "Yes you have 2 payments made and cleared however the information you have received is not correct. It will take 48 to 72 hours." I know we are not quite a 72 hours but policy is still not active, called again today after on hold for 63 minutes to speak to a supervisor and just got one. I had asked all along on every phone call if my daughter got a new policy, new card and number. Everyone said "no she will use her current card." New supervisor says "she can't use it because we have to issue a new policy and that will take 24 hours." I explained to her I have asked everyone I have spoke to if that is required and they told me no.

On hold right now for her to update to new policy. Told her if it is not active tomorrow I wanted a direct number to call a supervisor at and they cannot do that. If I could give this company a negative 5 stars I would. Someone needs to regulate this, working people cannot be on hold for an hour and call back many times. I am filing a complaint with local insurance board. I deal with a lot of bad as a business owner. This is one of the worst cases of customer service ever. Definitely will be considering other carriers on renewal time.

I recently received my claim statement and was shocked to find out they are paying almost none of it because the facility I went is not in their network. Here however is the problem when I looked it up apparently NO facilities in California are in their network, at least none I could find when searching within 100 miles of OC where I was and also Los Angeles. So apparently it's just too bad for me that I happened to be away from home and in area where no facility I went to would have been in network.

What a fraud this is. We cannot control when and where something happens to us. I should have had the peace of mind that I have insurance but that has been stolen from me along with my monthly premium payments they have gladly taken for 2 years. I would have been no worse off being uninsured and that really is not fair and this is why people are so upset with the state of health care and insurance in our country. I feel totally robbed by this company and come Jan 1st I will be moving on to another provider.

These call I now consider harassment as if we don't comply, maybe we will lose coverage? So, we will be going elsewhere for our insurance coverage. I have no experience with other MediCare Insurance coverage and this might be "Normal" but it surely is unprofessional, disorganized and harassing and wasting my time nerves and money. Let's see what a letter to the President and the Board will do?

On or about May 31, 2016 the exchange program ceased covering any part of my premium, and I was responsible for the entire premium, $586.87. I managed to pay it each and every month with my family's assistance, however in August, I had mechanical problems with my car and needed to pay for expensive repairs. I contacted UHC, explained that I would need to pay my Sept premium a bit late, it was always due on the 1st of each month. I spoke with a representative named Mark and he assured me that as long as my premium was paid on or before Sept 10, 2016, I would not have a lapse in my coverage or any problem. I wrote his name down as well as the date and time of the call.

On Sept 7th, I called and paid the premium and it said the amount I owed was $547.64. Sometimes I would be told the amount due was over $580, sometimes it would say I owed $560. I feel I should have questioned this, as it was less than the amount I had paid previously, but it was after hours, I was having to pay using their automated system so I accepted the amount as there was no one to ask and as I was already paying my premium a few days late I just wanted to get the payment in to them. I wrote down the confirmation number, my payment was accepted, and I assumed all was fine based on information they had given me. My brother was kind enough to let me pay the premium on his credit card, and I remember just being relieved that it was a bit cheaper since he was paying it for me.

On September 12 I needed to see my physician. I received several prescriptions, one being very expensive and very necessary as it prevents falls from nerve damage I have and taking it and suddenly stopping it could cause seizures and various medical problems. I checked the computer that morning prior to seeing my Dr. and under enrollment and eligibility beside my name it showed me as an active covered member.

I went to the pharmacy and despite all this, my coverage had terminated. I called them several times. I had notes and dates of my previous phone calls and I referred to those and explained how very important this medication was to my health. This was on Monday, Sept 12, 2016. I explained I would be completely out of my medication by Wednesday, Sept 14th. They explained it could take up to five days to review but promised to send a note to the dept that made decisions regarding reinstating coverage to a member. The terminology they used for this was they would send an "escalated" ticket to that particular department for review.

I called several times a day, I emailed them many times. They did answer my emails, a generic type answer basically just stating it was being reviewed for reinstatement. I asked them to perhaps call me with updates as well since I was spending a great deal of time on the phone as well as the computer sending numerous emails. I never received one phone call from them, all calls were generated by me.

I barely slept, certainly didn't eat, and this consumed me with a huge amount of stress as I didn't know what I would do if I lost my insurance coverage. I would call and receive a different answer, depending on who happened to answer my calls. I was told the coverage lapsed due to the payment being late, despite the reassurance I had received from "Mark" that this would not happen as long as I paid the premium on or before the 10th. I was told it was because I didn't pay enough, and that the payment should have been $569.02. I reminded them that I simply paid the amount the automated system said I owed. Their answer was always conflicting, however they were all well trained to end the call by saying "well it is being reviewed". That same response was repeated by everyone.

On September 16, I finally received an email stating the coverage had terminated, the credit card was to be reimbursed and there was nothing I could do. I am still appealing their decision and even plan to contact the NC Insurance commissioner. All this could have been avoided if they had just given me correct information. I am now in the process of trying to find another insurance that fits my needs and my budget and it is not an easy task. Meanwhile, I am unable to afford any of my medications. I know it is dangerous to not have them but I simply cannot afford them and I cannot put any more burden on my family, I am very blessed that they are willing to help me to the extent that they do.

I am not suggesting anyone at UHC deliberately lied to me. I simply think they never received proper training as to what to tell a member and often are in such a rush, I do think they basically tell you what they THINK, not what they know but what they THINK, due to high call volume and being rushed. I don't know what happened to integrity in the work force, I know it still very much exists, but I don't feel it exists at UHC in the customer service department. What is wrong with the answer "I don't know but I'll find out?" and getting the correct information especially when you are dealing with someone's health and well being? I honestly feel that had they simply taken the extra few minutes to get the CORRECT answer this entire nightmare could have been avoided.

I am not contacting the Insurance Commissioner to be vengeful (well maybe a little) but really I don't want this to happen to anyone else. Finding yourself without insurance coverage due to someone being negligent does make you angry. I fully intend to contact the Better Business Bureau as well. So any of you out there that are shopping for an insurance carrier, my advise is to steer clear of United Health Care. Their customer service is terrible. Their information is incorrect. To them, you are simply an ID number.

In other words, when it involved my health, they were ** but when it involved the possibility they might lose a client and $750 per visit, they were suddenly concerned. So he hung up and called the insurance company for a list of all providers in my area. If they call me back, I'll tell them how I really feel about their level of service!

I called the surgery of Debra ** & was told by the assistant there that one of the tests was for anaemia which is not usually prescribed as part of the annual check up, so indeed the issue began with Debra ** who should have either not prescribed these tests at all, or prescribed them separately from the annual checkup. Had she have done so then UHC would have paid the service provider. It's all down to the medical coding. I filed a complaint with UHC, Debra ** & service provider in copy. I received a letter to say IF my request qualified as a complaint they would inform me in 30 days. I guess if they disagree then they do not communicate at all because 45 days later I've heard nothing from them.

Debra **'s office accept no responsibility & have gone all wishy washy on the tests that do not qualify as part of annual check. The service provider have sent a final notice & it is beyond me why UHC & Debra ** can't sort this out between themselves as it is an obvious error & all boils down to the coding. As a consumer I'm put between a rock & a hard place. My next course of action, after this consumer complaint is a letter to my employer concerning UHC & engagement of a lawyer. Ridiculous situation that UHC could deal better with, communicate better on & be more understanding towards the duped consumer.

My primary care is running after me because I am not covered anymore. UnitedHealthcare I spoke is she said I got to call for Marketplace. Here you go again with marketplace when simple things they can't change. All I ask is help me out of my bill. It's really a small amount. If they can help since I am paying money for them over a year ago continually. They can't help. All you heard is "Sorry" which is meaningless. All I feel with UnitedHealthcare is untrustworthy, thieves, and bad feeling for them. I hope this company will not be able to survive anymore and I hope people will wakes up and leave this insurance company before they leave you with illness. My suggestion is don't even try to be part of them. So scary.

Hospital tried to escalate with UHC and were told not possible. They had to cancel surgery and send me home until insurance approves or I had to pay over $11,000.00 immediately with no payment plan and dispute it on my own. There was no way to come up with money. Daughter had to take me to nearest food provider for chicken soup and pain killers. This is the most inhuman thing I could think of and even the Colorado Insurance Commission Office said there is nothing they can do since it's a self-directed insurance and UHC is a claim processor. I have horrifying pain and nowhere to turn.

And, if you are unfortunate enough to have a mental health claim, you are told that another company handles these for UHC, which in turn has its own unaffiliated call center(s). Get ready for more denials when the mental health claim is accidentally-on-purpose sent to the medical division and then, in the shuffle, your information Is lost, and it's up to you to prove the treatment was officially approved by UHC in the first place.

I may be assuming too much, but it seems to me that this is all quite purposeful. The premiums are high, and United Healthcare continually denies legitimate claims. We pay roughly $800 a month for our coverage, and the Federal Government adds another $400 to that. UHC then pays out $100 for medicines and basic doctor visits. It's a pretty good return on their end. Meanwhile, we must deal with tremendous amounts of added stress during a time of crisis. At this point, and after innumerable phone calls, I don't believe that my family's bills will ever be paid. The Healthcare Exchange -- which was supposed to serve the public -- is looking more and more like a back-door bailout of the insurance companies. Exasperated, tired of fighting, and tired of being had.

If you have to use this POS company DO NOT give them your phone number or use the phone at all. Only communicate through the Federal Mail system so that you do not give away your information and that everything is documented. Beware of OPTUMRX! Instead of sending the name brand medicines you are paying for they will send you piles of "sample boxes" for you to pick through and claim that meets the needs of your prescription. The St. Louis based employees are nasty to deal with and they are rude and argumentative. That's what you get when you hire cheap uneducated and unskilled labor from the bad side of town. Stay far away from United Healthcare!

I explained they will not see my son anymore and I was told that's not their concern. They would not look into this, they would not talk to member services, they would not call the PT, they would not give me any paperwork or any help. I have called twice. The first time I could not understand the person very well. I was told I would be called back after they reviewed the account as they saw there was an issue. When I called the second time is when the above happened. They have stated they will no longer provide individual health plans next year. I have to wonder if this is why they will not pay any of my claims. They also are denying medications. Worst customer service and benefits. Do not pay as the plan states.

Also... He was prescribed medication, we go across the street to CVS to have it filled, they tell me they can't take my insurance, but the CVS 14 miles away will accept it. I am totally disgusted and no recourse. Ashamed of what our health care system has become! Call today to see where I can take my son to get the required HPV vaccination. They tell me they do not cover the required vaccination.

They lied. UHC covered less this year – so far – than they did under the HMO plan. Plus, they convinced that for only $20 a month more they would provide dental that matched the MetLife plan I had in 2015. Wrong – they had lied. They have cover exactly nothing out of over $3,000 in dental bills I have had this year. UHC blatantly lied to me 2 years in a row. If I had a choice, I would choose any other insurer. Since I don't, I will go without supplemental insurance in 2017. AARP did not look out for me. Shame on me for believing a money making operation looks out for anything other than their profits and their executives' salaries.

I contacted United Healthcare, a person from UH, Dexter ** blamed the provider for submitting incorrect code in the claim (although the provider submitted the same code sin the claim for 10 years) and he stated he has arranged an outreach to the provider to inform them to submit the corrected claim with the appropriate procedure code and the diagnosis code in order to process the claim as preventive. One month later, the provider sent me another bill with a note "your insurance has determined that the remaining balance is your responsibility". Now, I cannot trust the people working from UH and I'm in the process for appealing to their upper management.

I had the procedure and to my amazement it worked great. Virtually no pain other than post-procedure discomfort. My pain management schedule the permanent a week later. Several days prior I called UHC to see that it had been approved. CS said one of the two had been and the final approval was with the Medical Director - that there shouldn't be any problems getting it approved. The afternoon before the procedure my doctor's office called to say that UHC wasn't going to approve the procedure and that I should call and find out why. They also said that they've never had a patient that was approved for trial that wasn't approved for the implant.

I called CS at UHC and got the runaround. When I asked why for the trial and not the permanent implant they said I didn't meet three "criteria's". When asked what they were nobody could tell me what they were. If I didn't meet three "criteria's" then why did they put me through the pain and expense of the trial. I feel as though UHC really screwed me over by "baiting" me with the positive results of the trial and denying me the permanent implant. There are several others where I work that have had similar negative experiences with UHC. I wouldn't recommend UHC to my worst enemy. They're just terrible.

I was very sick for about a year straight. I was in the hospital multiple times, changing medications and getting different tests done. My last hospital stay was in February for five days, four nights. I had multiple tests run and UHC denied the whole thing. They said it wasn't "medically necessary" for me to stay. Even though when I called and had a fit about it the lady I spoke with got very defensive and told me "she isn't a doctor." OKAY so how are you telling me I'm not sick enough to be in the hospital for FIVE days?

I was put on a new medication, which was a nightmare to get covered, then they had to up my dose after the hospital stay because it was clearly not working. It took about a month for them to "approve" the upped dose. This was after they told me and my doctor that I didn't give the first dose long enough. Even though I had just spent five days in the hospital so it was quite clear it wasn't working at ALL. I ended up having an allergic reaction to this medication and had to be switched to an infusion.

I'm 23 years old and I had to go once a month to a cancer center, get hooked up to machines and sit there for 5-6 hours getting the infusion done. I was a nervous wreck all the time, I hated it. I am too young to be this sick and it kills me. I was going to the cancer center at the hospital I've been going to for years. I'm finally comfortable with the situation. The nurses there are amazing and they have gone above and beyond to make me feel comfortable in such a bad situation.

Well now I'm getting told by UHC that it is too expensive for me to go there and I need to find something new. OKAY so why am I even paying for an insurance that won't cover my medications, hospital stays and now my infusions? If it was too expensive, why did they even let me start there, get used to going there and take it all away and tell me no? I called UHC and they told me AGAIN it's not "medically necessary" for me to go there when there are cheaper options. I'm glad my health doesn't matter at all and it all comes down to a dollar sign. God forbid something go wrong and I'm not in a well-equipped facility, I die. But again, maybe that's the end goal for UHC.

In addition to this problem, two eyeglass companies will not service United Health Care clients and have sent me packing unless I want to pay out of pocket. The real problem is systemic and has to with the lock that drug companies and their many subsidiaries have on the consumer. I want to choose my own drug provider and I want mail order because it is more convenient for us rural folk. Further proof of the lock drug companies on the hapless consumer through congress is the policy or law or whatever that prevents medicare from negotiating the price for drugs. My mantra is "What the heck is going on here?"

If this is their intentional handling of insured people and they are consistently avoiding providing the coverage that people have paid for, shouldn't something be done to make them provide the coverage that they have collected premiums for? Shouldn't the insurance carriers using them as the administrator of their plans be accountable for UHC's lack of performance? How many people are out there who have had our same experience?

I have postpartum depression. I am afraid to even go to the doctor because the insurance company is NOT covering my bills. I cried, yes cried while I was on the phone with the Marketplace. The last time while I was speaking with a supervisor, and he advised me to apply for Medicaid, which I did, and now the insurance company is asking for refunds from all doctors and hospitals since February.

Every time I call the insurance company, they promise to fix it and say they "understand" and they will "resolve" the issues. I am at my wit's end. Who can afford to pay $1000 per month for health insurance that is not even covering their bills, and get billed over $40,000.00 in medical bills on top of it. I have never been so disappointed in my life. I should be focused on getting help for my postpartum, and focusing on my new baby, not FIGHTING with an insurance company that only cares about screwing over their customers.

When I called, that number, it was a same person, I talked with, who asked if the member service explained my benefits. They had not done so she did and wasn't even affiliated with UHC. I went to a seminar and brought up the fact they the toll free number told me I wasn't covered when I was. The response. "We are a new outfit, trying to get the kinks out and are trying to hire the right people." What a horrible mistake this was, changing to United Health. The reason, was my low income, and the come on was that there would be no deductible. Do not use this company. You will spend futile hours trying to get plain and simple answers.

They called me saying I could consider putting my dad on hospice. I'm telling them something is not right with my father, his behavior and was not normal. To me there was a big change from a month ago. My father was walking without a walker before he was put in physical therapy after a hospital stay and now they weren't allowing him to walk or go to the bathroom not even assist him. I even told them he seems out of it but they didn't care. I had to discharge him, take him to the emergency. That's how I found out he was being sedated. He had to stay in the hospital for a week after his discharge. He also got a bedsores and their so called case managers didn't see that either. They didn't care about my concerns. Their reason for them checking on their members to see what they can do to save them money. Like put him in a nursing home cheaper for them and they still get their monthly payment.

Ever since I have had them as a provider I have had so many problems. My father has dementia but is still a very strong man that's why things didn't add up to me. I have now moved my father to a new facility for physical therapy after his bad experience. Now UnitedHealthcare is telling me they're not going to pay for anymore of his physical therapy after his copay of $5900.00 out of pocket. Because now he can get 100% on the 15th of this month. Ever since I have changed my father to this health insurance I've been fight to keep him out of a skilled nursing home. (I'm starting to think they are somehow playing a part in all these facilities to try to make him a 2 person asst.) A skilled nursing home does nothing more than an asst living. I don't care what they say. I've seen it too many times caring for my father and I go 2 to 3x a day to check on him at different times that's how I started to see how horrible most skilled nursing homes are.

And yes I have got lots of medical opinions. He is fine for asst living but now with all the moves he will be need a memory care. Asst Living home with all the changes they did affect my father. And just so you know i have found out it's better to just stay with original Medicare. Every health provider accepts it. Only thing a HMO does is offer eye, dental and hearing. Call and check for yourself. And so you know as well United pays ARRP to use their logo. ARRP has nothing to do with UnitedHealth Care. Hope this information is helpful. And it very important for someone to have power of attorney because if not you're at risk of losing your rights in an event that you're not able to make decisions for yourself. That has saved me and my father. Hope this information was helpful.

They are impossible to deal with, and after speaking with several reps, I was getting a different reason each time. I have wasted so much time with back and forth with them. When a patient needs help, the last thing they need is extra stress with their insurance - that is why we pay a monthly fee! They make it very difficult for their members, and I am considering changing providers, even though this is a group plan offered by my employer.

When I called the first time, a rep reviewed my claims and agreed with me that UHC should have recalculated my charges and modified the payment on the lesser charge. The UHC rep sent the claim for review, and I now have a letter stating that they processed the claim correctly the first time. When I called yesterday and talked to a rep, I told her that I would like to escalate this claim to a higher level of review because whoever reviewed it the first time, apparently does not understand multiple procedure discount. I was told that there was no one else that I could speak with and that all she could do was send it back to the same people in the same department to review. I asked for names, credentials and the name of the "review" department, but she would not give me any information.

I called again today to ask another question about a different claim that had two procedures on it. This time I spoke to "John" and asked him to give me line item details on each procedure. This man outright lied to me and said that he can only tell me how much was billed and how much UHC paid. I already have that information on my EOB. I wanted to know if they discounted the 2nd procedure at 50% and this John person just kept lying and telling me that he was a claims adjuster and that the claim was processed correctly. I told him that I actually agreed with him on the 2nd claim, and that I just wanted to verify that the discount was applied correctly. He repeatedly refused to answer my question.

I again asked for names, credentials, and department name of the "reviewers" and he would not tell me anything. We have UHC through my husband's employer and we will be reevaluating our health insurance election when open enrollment comes up. I have reported this situation to my husband's employer. I will stay on this situation until it is resolved, even if it involves the Insurance Commissioner in my state.

All you get with United Health Care is the same failed policy over and over again. They will not fix it and refuse to fix it. Someone will die if they don't, but they just don't care. The hospital can't get anything done. My doctor can't get anything done, and I can't get anything done, even their own representative can't get anything done. It's a failed policy made to fail, has failed, will fail. I have told all in charge all the way to the top but they just don't care. Need to change name to United Don't Care.

Humana is dropping individual plans too but told their customers they are stopping immediately and their customers have to scramble for plans now. As for me, I will have to wait until open enrollment begins November 1st. Even if I don't enroll in an ACA plan, apparently I can't even shop for any plan at all for next year until then. It makes me wonder how the Humana people are getting plans for this year! It sound like options for people seeking individual plans have limited options. BTW, I am not sure what the future is for people who get UnitedHealthcare through employer's group plan…

At that point I told him I understood that I am not responsible for the cost of the office visit and repeated for the third time that I wanted to know what "comprehensive hx," "comprehensive exam," and "Med Decision High Complex" meant. He told me he did not know and no one at United Health Care would know! So he could not switch me to a manager or another department since no one working at United Health Care knows what language is put in their letters.

No one knows EXACTLY why a claim was denied. No one knows why or why not an insurance company should pay a doctor's office - especially when the doctor is treating a chronically ill person since childhood. When I told him (Jan-juy) that I was not satisfied with the call because my question(s) were not answered, he asked if I wanted to file a complaint and I told him I was supposed to fill out a survey, which would be the same thing. He then put me hold instead of switching me over to the phone survey.

P.S. I wanted to know their terminology for the denial because I wanted to file an appeal with them. How am I supposed to file an appeal without knowing what the criteria for the denial was to begin with? Of course, some may say that is the reason United Health Care will not tell me what the three (3) key components actually mean.

This is not the kind of experience you like when you need assistance with your healthcare. What if someone was just inquiring about your company and did not have insurance with you. Does that mean they cannot get any answers. I had to give my entire history before they would even speak to me. Shame on you United Healthcare for hiring individuals such as this. Glad you will be leaving Florida in December. If only the President could hear our complaints and how you treat us. Read on United. Too many of us are unhappy. Perhaps that is why you are leaving the state! Enough said!

The first time, I had made a 2nd payment to my account before going to the pharmacy when I realized my first payment didn't post, but I ended up paying full cost. I was later reimbursed by the pharmacy. In December, I realized I had a partial payment due when I received an invoice from UHC in the mail. Immediately, I paid it online. But I had filled some prescriptions for my prescriptions which had $5 and $10 copays and later realized the full cost (approx. $170) was debited from my bank account (I had my bank card on file with the pharmacy -- not a good idea, I learned the hard way).

After seeing my bank statement in January and finally tracing the mystery charge to the pharmacy, I tried to get reimbursement but the pharmacy said it was too late and I needed to get reimbursed by the insurance company. I have filed claims reimbursement forms with Optum 3 times, explaining that I paid full price for covered drugs. Each time, I receive a letter denying my request for reimbursement. So, I keep calling United Health Care. Usually, a representative with UHC speaks with someone from Optum (once, I spoke to someone who identified herself as an Optum employee) and then am assured a check for the full amount is being sent out the following week or that it is being processed. So far, I have been reimbursed $1.64.

Although all of the representatives I've spoken with at UHC and Optum have been pleasant, all have foreign accents. The last person was hesitant to address my issue and then was in a hurry to get off the phone. Apparently, "Customer Service" for UHC and Optum has been outsourced to a foreign country and the representatives are woefully undertrained. They are simply told to lie to customers and put them off indefinitely. I have been going through this process for 5 months.

I would have complained to UHC, however THERE IS NO ONE WHO WILL SPEAK WITH ME!!! I just get transferred and then disconnected!!! The ONLY way I have been able to speak with someone about my complaint has been to call the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Medicare Advantage complaint department. That took 5 days but someone finally called me back. If you are having this same trouble, call Medicare and complain! Because no one at United Healthcare will answer the phone.

They wanted me to take a cheaper alternative that I failed on 2 years ago. The doctor filed the appeal and included the information that I already failed on that medication. Denied. The doctor got a message back that I, the patient, don't exist in their system. When I call to figure out where UHC fell down, I keep getting the runaround. All the while, I am without a medication that has serious withdrawal ramifications. Suddenly, some dingbats in an office are now doctors and decide what my medical treatment will be. I will fight UHC all the way, and I am looking for a lawyer as I write this. UHC is the WORST healthcare provider out there.

It's a struggle getting my medicine too! Every month they have to contact my doctor for a preauthorization. I've been on this medication for over a year! It's not a narcotic or anything along those lines. It's a antidepressant so in order to get my medication on time, I have to contact the pharmacy a week ahead of time; I even went through withdrawal from the medication because of the ** they made my doctor's office go through. My doctor even told me to my face that my insurance sucks.

Also as I mentioned earlier, they keep taking all my money, but it's not applied to my account. They just keep telling me that I haven't met my premium and I need to pay right then and there if I need something. So where the hell is my money going?! Those are just a few highlights. I could go on and on about this company. Just plan on taking a whole day to talk to these people. Even though more than likely you won't get anywhere. DON'T USE UHC!!!

At first my providers had contracted with them so I switched from my COBRA plan over to them but the doctors were just discovering that they were being reimbursed at a very low rate. Long story short, I had to go back and pay for all my received services although I paid my $300 monthly premiums simultaneously. I work in the public health sector as an educator and in policy/advocacy work. For many years I could not purchase insurance due to my pre-existing conditions. I nearly died from a diseased gallbladder until I traded my 3 part times jobs for one company.

By the time my benefits had kicked in the surgeon stated that he had never seen anything like it over his 32 year career. My children had pre-existing conditions as well and when they finally were accepted, I was charged a premium rate plus a half due to these benign health conditions! It was $981 a month for the two of them until the Affordable Healthcare Act prohibited the pre-existing condition clause for children on October 1, 2010, then it was dropped to $619 a month. My surgery cost me $8,500 out of pocket because my company only offered a high deductible plan with a 30% co-insurance until my out of pocket maximum was met.

Shame on these insurance companies for finding all the loopholes to side-step the new laws as they are implemented. They decided to jip the healthcare providers and punish the patients so that their insane profits did not take a hit. It is so frustrating that the ACA had to be negotiated down then had to be passed "as is" due to the opposition. Healthcare is a right not a privilege! My heart aches for all of you. These CEOs are heartless! Thankfully they finally took Blue Shields non-profit status away last year after they discovered the board members salaries and the surplus of funds that were stocked. It is absolutely insane!!!

A couple of weeks later they claim to have it straightened out and yes, the member ID number and group number that we originally were issued is the correct one. Disregard the one given by phone to the pharmacist trying to get validation. Yearly checkup - won't pay for bloodwork even though the policy clearly states that it would. ENDLESS phone calls, no one knows what is going on. This denial of bloodwork claim payment is still being disputed.

I make UHC monthly payments online at their billing exchange website. Go to make my next month payment for June this morning and, you guessed it, it says account terminated. AGAIN call UHC, give them all pertinent info. Ask them if I can make my payment by phone as I wanted to be sure it was reflected as paid. Rep. says no. He doesn't want to do this. It will just make it more confusing for them while they are trying to straighten things out?? This is beyond absurd. So what's gonna happen if I go to the hospital and need immediate lifesaving treatment? Are they going to claim I don't have coverage even though I know that I have always made my payments on time and am current? I would NEVER NEVER recommend this insurance company to anyone. Poor to nonexistent customer service. Constant reasons to deny paying on claims submitted. A sham and a ripoff.

My problem with UHC is that doctors are listed as in network on UHC website and are given to you when you call UHC as in network doctors, but when you try to see the doctors, they are not contracted with UHC. I spent hours trying to find a PCP who really would accept the insurance. He now needs to refer me to a specialist and I can't find one. I have talked to numerous people in the UHC customer service department who all promise to find a doctor and get back to me, including a supervisor, but they never do. When I called back and asked for the supervisor by name, they said they would get him, but left me on hold for 40 minutes. Now when I call, they hang up on me (you have to enter your insurance id and birth date on the phone tree, so they probably know it's me).

For the record, I have called and called and been left on hold for eternities, but I have never been rude or said anything but patiently asking over and over for a specialist, so there is no reason to avoid my calls. I was told by an employee who works for my son's former pediatrician (we can't go there now because they don't take UHC insurance, despite being listed on the UHC website as taking it) that UHC listed tons of doctors on their website as in network who had never signed contracts with them. One of the people I talked to at UHC said that the doctors were contracted, but refused to see patients because UHC kept the amounts they paid the doctor very low. Incidentally, many of the doctors do take United Healthcare's Choice plan which is not offered on healthcare.gov, but through employers.

I recently read in the Arizona Republic newspaper that United Healthcare will not offer plans on healthcare.gov next year because they lost a lot of money on these plans. I also had a protracted 2-month battle to get UHC to cover my autistic son's medications. It took two appeals and a request for an external review to get him his prescriptions.

As a healthcare company, United Health Care works in the capacity of fiduciary to its clients, yet this is clearly not the case as this for profit monster pays their ceo a whopping $66m a year salary! They continue to take advantage of those who don't know to speak out against misconduct and injustice! Join me and let your voice be heard! Seeking a CIVIL liberties attorney willing to work pro-bono to build a class action suit in Colorado and perhaps nationally vs united healthcare for breach of contract and failure to render services paid for. This could be a pivotal case given the political climate, and I believe I am not the only one to experience such an injustice! Please email: **, and tell us your story. Lawyers interested in representing this case please put "injunction" in subject line.

I first paid the monthly premium in December 2015 to begin coverage for the 2016 year on a Bronze HSA plan and set up for payments to be auto drafted from my account. February rolled around and I notice that they overcharged me $51.96. I called and inquired about the overcharge and they stated that is the premium, for the plan I have. (It was not). Somehow they changed the plan that I signed up for and had me on a new more expensive plan that I did not choose.

I tried to change it back to the correct plan but they directed me to the marketplace (also a complete joke). The marketplace stated that either they or United Health Care made a mistake (neither company would shoulder the blame for the error) but the market place asked UHC to change the policy back to the correct policy. I thought everything was resolved, then I was overcharged another 51.96 for February. I called in and escalated to a supervisor to try and get something done, they apologized and said that I would have 103.92 refunded to my acct, and not to worry the confusion had been resolved. I checked on Aprils payment and it went back down to the proper amount owed so I assumed as it is a big poorly run company it might just take a while...

Now May rolls around, still debiting payments from my acct like clockwork, but I receive a notice in the mail about the other more expensive "Silver" plan that I never should have had which says, "We did not receive payment in time for the plan listed below. Your coverage and any dependent coverage ended on 2/29/2016". As this was supposed to be canceled and I shouldn't be receiving a notice like this I decided to take time out of my day to make sure everything was okay. That's when I found out that although UHC has been taking money out of my account since the beginning of the year every month that they dropped my coverage (THE CORRECT COVERAGE) last month due to non payment claiming that I owe them more money.

I am in the process of trying to get someone who is halfway intelligent with authority to do something to rectify the situation but unfortunately I am getting nowhere... I will keep trying and maybe have to get a lawyer involved but long story short BUYER BEWARE. Do not choose United Health Care, run in the other direction. I would say it is a miracle that they are even in business but improperly/overcharging their customers is one way to stay in business... P.S. I still haven't received the $103.92 they overcharged me from 3 months ago.

Here is my case: I held 2 out of state office visits and 1 out of state imaging visit (MRI) all were considered in network, with referral numbers presented by my local physician, and, included full assurance by the out of state doctors office that everything was covered, before I consumed any service. I returned back in-state and received an MDIPA claim report for several thousand dollars stating a denial of each of 3 out of state events. I began over 3 weeks ago calling MDIPA, setting up the problem to be resolved and letting them do their job.

Today was my 5th and 6th attempts where my patience ended for a number of reasons: a) MDIPA agents had limited to no knowledge of activities performed by other agents up to that point in time; b) MDIPA agents could not state the problem they were attempting to resolve; c) MDIPA agents were calling incorrect doctors offices, getting false information, and not questioning it and worse, resolving in their notes that my doctors out-of-state appointments never occurred, regardless of my receipts from visits and imaging orders offered to the contrary; d) MDIPA agents were completely inept at using the internet for basic searches to identify and locate doctors, their offices, so as to obtain correct phone numbers to resolve the problem; e) MDIPA agents had little to no idea what activities to resolve the problem that former agents had engaged in and/or resolved.

f) It is apparently the responsibility of the customer holding the policy to take personal time from their work day that has to be repaid, so as to perform MDIPA agents activities on behalf of MDIPA. Shouldn't that imply MDIPA should be paying me? g) Is it apparently the responsibility for customers to engage MDIPA agents in a uni-directional conversation given that MDIPA agents have never returned calls or seem to find it important to contact customers, etc.

One thing is clear - Something in MDIPA is COMPLETELY INEPT AND BROKEN. It is also CLEAR that they do not care to provide industry best practice (if any) for customers, yet, have no issues collecting high premium charges for services not rendered. As a seasoned IT-Data Center and Systems Engineering Professional, it is CLEAR that either MDIPAs training, or supporting IT services, or both are BROKEN and that their business offices are either DISENGAGED or UNCONCERNED with customer service and support.

I'm a very intelligent person. I get what I want. I find answers quickly. I'm not a pushover and I ask the right questions. Just think about people with less resources, less confidence? It doesn't end there. Just this past week, I tried to fill a prescription but United Health Care was showing up as my primary insurance at the pharmacy. After 8 hours of phone calls, the Marketplace, United Health Care and I got a on a conference call, wherein the Marketplace asked UHC why they thought I was currently enrolled when I hadn't made a payment in over 15 months. UHC was unable to answer the question. I spent 8 hours trying to get my medication. Again, I'm intelligent enough to get to to the bottom of things quickly. 8 hours. The people who run this company are criminals. They steal money from people like me. Don't let them steal yours.

Before she placed me on hold, I asked her to repeat her name and she stated to me (KEN). So I repeated the name of (KEN) and spelled it out as I repeated the letters! She placed me on hold and never return. I ended up disconnecting the call and had to call back to speak to another representative. I have recorded the entire conversation with this representative (KEN) and if by any chance someone want to use this recording, please contact me so I can assist them with their matter!

For some reason, they can't find my checks. We have changed the date and the address now, but still they lose my checks, and tell my doctors I have been terminated, due to lack of payment. This seems to happen every time I go to the doctor. Last year they told me, outright, to go to another provider as they thought I could find individual coverage somewhere else less expensive. I pay close to 630.00 a month... Last yr they overcharged me and then wanted to credit my account for close to 700.00. It took months to receive my money back.

The stress and seriousness seems to not be an issue when you speak to a rep. Sometimes, they don't even have your file on their computer, or tell you, you have called the wrong 800 number, even though it is the one on their letterhead. How come the gov't allows this to go on? What can I do to file a complaint against them? I need assistance.

Going forward... 2016... was going to switch to Blue Cross, but my doctor was not covered under the plan so I was stuck with United Health Care as my only option. I decided to pay United Health Care directly each month for my premium payments. Well, March, I go to the doctor and have my mammo. Get letter and call that my health insurance was cancelled due to non payment again. They refused to pay the claim. 3 letters were sent out like this to my doctors as well as I was unable to get my prescription as they said I have no coverage, it had been cancelled.

I call United Health Care and... What do I learn??? Accidentally, Jan, Feb and Mar insurance payments were not posted to my account and the account was closed. As they researched, they found my payments but could not understand why it was not posting to my account. (I keep all of my confirmation codes when I pay now) and so they said they would start my plan over again. I had to re-enroll. They moved my payments over and said they would go ahead and pay the claims based on their error. They promised me it was all fixed. Went to doctor for annual physical, doctor informs me he is no longer my primary care so they will not pay insurance. He has been my primary for several years. Have to call again. Whoops they did not set him up on my account and assigned a random doctor when they re-enrolled me. Again, said it all fixed now and everything is working fine.

I called United Health Care again. Asked to escalate to a manager to make a complaint. Was told, "sorry you must write your complaint and send it in to us. Can't talk to anyone on the phone. By the way, we are showing your insurance has been paid, but just not posting correctly to your account." So tired of this company. Please if you have had similar experiences, complain, write letters, tell everyone. This has to stop. They simply don't care about you!!! I wish someone would investigate this company.

But because of United Health Care lip service, I was told I couldn't and I was told I could and I was told I couldn't five calls later. One of the employees even told me that I needed to speak appropriately. I did not use any foul language, a bit irritated, but that maybe due to the fact that it's been two days and a lot of lip service without anything being ironed out. Today's hours on the phone and yes I mean hours. Something's finally been done so I've been told. Not quite buying it until I talk to my doctor, the one I've never gone to!

The problem is clear. They provide lots of lip service, lots of "yes ma'am we're doing our best" when it is apparently not what's going on. Bottom line: if my doctor can fix the problem, they make it go away and I would be safe to drive again. Don't you think it would cost them less than sending me to an emergency room?

If I were corporate I rethink this. They're not doing their investors any favors. They read a script. They don't understand the problem because they don't listen! I would change this if I got better treatment but so far like I said it's been an absolute nightmare. I'm telling everybody within earshot about my experience. I was literally put on hold for over 30 minutes at a time. My time is not valuable to this company, therefore, I am not. One really wonderful employee had taken care of this call the next day to set up an appointment and it wasn't in their systems. Nobody knew what I was talking about so you might think they would communicate but they don't.

handled. I agree but not handled. It becomes a problem.

United Health Care is inefficient in every way possible at this moment in my life. I have a suggestion: if signing up for health care do not go with United, back away from the desk and run. These people do not treat you well. They are not concerned about your well-being. I have the horrible feeling that collecting your money is their first goal and seeing you in a pine box might be their second. I am not kidding. It was a scary experience!!!

The woman I was speaking to informed me that UHC would NOT accept a copy of the will, and that if I wanted to cancel her account and stop their billing, I'd need to go to court and get either a "Letter of Testamentary" or a "Letter of Administration". My husband and I don't have the money to see an attorney or to pay for one of these documents. Because of this, UHC won't even close her account! My mom is deceased, and yet UHC wants to keep her account OPEN! These people are unbelievable! I can't stand UHC and I've already warned everyone I know not to do business with them. If you're a senior and you use this unconscionable company, your heirs are going to have nothing but trouble when you pass away! Do them a huge favor and get different health insurance. I can't believe AARP even sponsors this company!

I called UHC dental department and made an emergency appeal over the phone. Denied for the same reason. I asked for the name(s) and location of the incompetent responsible parties who denied treatment to file a complaint with their local board of dentistry, but UHC refused to provide that information. My only option is to go to a dangerous city where I would not go under any circumstances and appeal in some court or write a letter to some stupid clueless government entity, which will not resolve my problem.

At the same time another old implant crown broke. Same story - food impaction, losing gum and bone. According to UHC I have once in a lifetime benefit and the implant crown can be replaced. Provider requests treatment, UHC denies, reason unknown/not listed. Provider negotiated a very low fee $$$$$ with UHC and does not want to appeal.

I have chronic back pain. Until last year my primary doctor could request MRI. Not anymore. Now I need to get x-ray, then physical therapy. I had zero improvement after therapy, I refuse x-ray, it will not show anything. What's the point of having medical coverage if this business constantly denies procedures. Meanwhile I still get frequent gum infection, guzzle peridex, losing bone and will eventually lose my implants due to food impaction. I'm going to drop this idiotic United Somethingcare and don't want any coverage at all, thanks to their idiotic dentists that deny treatment. I do not recommend U B.S. C.

Anyway, the insurance co with me on the phone called a dr and the girl said they take the ins. "And new patients, we welcome you..." she said. The insurance person just disappeared and I made my appt and gave my info to the office girl. A week later I called to see if I can get my husband with high blood pressure an appointment when I have mine. "Oh sure no problem and be sure to get the Dr. Name on card", that's all the doctor's offices care about that card and paperwork. Paperwork pertaining to insurance not your medical stuff of course. I called ins co. They said no problem but they are not in network so they can be updated by having them call the credential line or an online submission. So me as the patient have to get this done = again.

So doctor office was lost and confused and didn't know what to do so I actually gave her the credentials number that I got from UHC, which as a patient shouldn't even have! 2 days before the appt. Dr office twit calls and says "I didn't hear from insurance company so you can come in but it won't be covered." I told her "don't worry I spoke to a supervisor that handled it all, even the card are on the way." I called ins co, no Jessica as a supervisor even exists. I get different supportive supervisor that says Jessica said that dr and credentials are fine and "your all set cards are on the way too." They assured my appointments a go since I told them be sure because my husband and I are zipping there during his work day.

Well I got there and the cow behind the desk took my card and gave me info to fill out then was like, "o when did you make your appointment", so I told her "you know darn well it's been weeks and please don't do this circle talk to me again because by the way I am the patient and I actually been very very sick lately." She says really wise to who was standing next to her, in their cake clutch of 5, she's not gonna let me talk. I asked what she needs me to do now (for this part time job I gained), so she said "o well I didn't hear from insurance company and that's their job to update from here." So I wasted my time again. Called ins co. and they say there's no Jessica ** again and that doc hasn't been in network since last year because it's up to the Dr office to do that. Same story different day! No call back with a provider all day though they said they were calling back in an hour.

I call - they say a whole different doctor that 2 weeks ago wasn't in network, supposedly also... "that's the Dr on your cards assigned to you as of today." This is a bunch of circle jerks. They are getting paid to amuse themselves with these games instead of doing their jobs. They got paid for the aggravation, I just get more headaches. I don't feel any of the doctors even care how their office staff handles things. If they put down the cake and gossip and weren't afraid to do something, it would help. Healthcare, yea sure!!??

Updated on 04/19/2016: Since the last post I was given a primary care Dr. that United called and had me on the phone at same time again to make appointments for my husband and myself. So I made his appointment and held off on mine because I didn't like the reviews on the place. He was to see the Dr. but when I called to confirm it I was told he was seeing a Patricia. Anyway he waited for over an hour in what sounded like a zoo when he called me from there saying they are even taking walk-ins but telling him nothing except they don't have a room for him. Turns out I called there when he got home and the Dr's wife is the receptionist and told me Patricia didn't get into work yet!

Another wasted trip, time and money from work again. I find another Dr. finally that's in network and not too far. Great, I call UHC, let them know I found a Dr. definitely in network for primary care Dr. She tells me, "Yea, you can't change your husband's Dr. and there shows actually no relation and consent for you on his insurance that the girl this morning yesterday and the other 600 reps over the past five years weren't supposed to let me handle his insurance!" So they look to find a problem obviously because that authorization form was signed from day one, five years ago and I never ever had a problem calling on his behalf. The reps actually laugh in my ear and do the "I'm sorry for your trouble" script. Watch out for this company and AARP who I learned is affiliated with them. I think the reps laugh because they know they are getting paid for this aggravation that they think is funny and they do not have this insurance themselves. Health "care"??!

Today they said I never paid the premium. I said I gave info. They don't have it. They said they sent all the insurance information to my address. I said "Did you send it to (address)?" They said "That's not what we have." I said "That is my address." The girl argued with me. I asked if they had my address from last year, before I moved. "That was not it." I asked what they had. They said they couldn't tell me. I told them I never got any info. They said they sent it. I said "Not to me. You didn't!"

I was told to go to the affordable healthcare site and change my address. I said the aca had my correct address and could I change it now. I was told no, I HAD to do it on the affordable site. I would not be allowed to access their site and they could not change my address unless that site sent them the info. I cannot pay them online with no access. She refused my payment since my address is incorrect. I can't find out where they sent my info. I am ready to just give up on them and I haven't even gotten to the point of a doctor yet! This has been a nightmare!

The most infuriating thing is that because of the ACA imposed upon us by the dictator in chief & Pelosi, I cannot change plans even though I am disgusted with this plan. This is how the ruling party treats the minions, like slaves that have no brain to think for ourselves or demand good service or we will switch to another provider or at least a better plan. If I am unhappy with my home or auto insurance, I am free to shop at will. If I am incredibly unhappy with my healthcare plan, I am NOT free to shop until the next 'open period'. What a rip off the ACA is - to the participants and the American taxpayer who has to pay for this crock of mess.

Well due to their mistake we weren't able to use our insurance for the whole month of Jan. because they lost our payment. I asked for a credit or refund for those days that we lost because they lost our payment. I was 1st told they couldn't do that over the phone and I had to email. Then I was told they can move our effective date to Feb 1st and waive our Feb. payment. I initially said yes but after talking to my husband he said no because we would get a tax penalty if we didn't have insurance for a full 12 months. So I called to say "no move it back to Jan 1st". At that time I was told they didn't know what I was talking about and that isn't something they can even do and don't know who told me that and they have no record of anyone telling me that.

So I call and email several more times trying to get a credit for the days I wasn't able to use our insurance because they lost our money for a whole month. Now it is March so I log onto my account at UHC and I am being billed for over $1,000 (my premium is only $229.78 a month). I am being charged for 2 of the exact same plans! 1 effective date of Jan 1st 2016, and 1 effective date Feb. 1st 2016. I call and cancel the Feb. plan. They say they don't know how that even happened legally etc. It is now April 6th 2016 and I am still calling trying to get something taken care of. I am not even asking for a refund just a credit to my current bill for the days I lost. I am currently on the phone as I am typing this. It has been 49 minutes... mostly me being on hold and guess what they just offered me? To move my effective date to Feb 1st, 2016. I DO NOT RECOMMEND paying any money early to this company, because they might lose it for a whole month.

Was told I cannot change it to a specialist, has to be PCP. So now I guess I have to go see some random doctor I don't know to get prior authorization for some of my medications. Which makes no sense, because in the end the health insurance is basically paying for a random doctor when I have my own. I can't wait 'til next open enrollment so I can cancel! I am in the health care field, and I make sure I tell everyone about my problems with United Health.

This company will go down, just a matter of time. I have never ever in my entire life had this many problems trying to get an insurance company to pay for anything let alone a drug to quit smoking so it doesn't cost our healthcare system more money. I think I now have high blood pressure after 30 calls to them in 5 months and multiple conversations with supervisors and still have gotten nowhere. I will not be paying for this out of pocket given this drug is covered under my plan and THEY WILL NOT BE DICTATING MY HEALTHCARE. First experience with this company in my life as I've always had Blue Cross and they have lost a customer and I will be going up the chain with my dissatisfaction with this company.

I walked with my walker and mother-in-law (who drove from Florida to take me and try to get treatment for my ongoing debilitating back issues.) After getting x-rays, the doctor finally came in and informed me he could not treat me because it's their policy not to treat pain management patients. I told him I just need a primary to refer me for further evaluation because I did not wish to continue up to take medication and I wasn't asking for medication, but to be re-evaluated by specialists. It didn't matter, they would neither treat me nor refer me. I had to call the insurance company for another doctor. Spoke to insurance company again, going through the automated push 1... carousel. Finally got someone, explained situation, and he said he would find me a doctor or get an exception so I could go to Georgia. While on hold, guess what? I was disconnected.

I called back again, phone carousel, could not speak to previous person even though I had his name. She said they can't do that. Great. So for about the 19th time, I'm telling my story and I gave her my number in case we were disconnected and yes, we were. Called me back at 5:00 at which time all doctors' offices were closed. She told me they don't make exceptions so the other representative was incorrect for telling me this. Called them the next day and they finally found a doctor and I verified by three way call that they would see and treat me. Great! This is March 10 and appointments won't be until the 23rd. So asked where the nearest Urgent Care was that our plan covered... Almost 90 miles away.

Now I'm sitting in the car Friday in the parking lot in Carrollton, GA while my mother in law goes in and gets me groceries. I'm hurting so bad I cannot operate an electric scooter. She ask me if I had enough pain medication, and I said yes, I had more than enough to kill myself! So she puts me on hold, comes back and says she's going to transfer me to a help specialist and I said "great, thank you so much", and guess what, I get transferred back to the original phone carousel!!! When I finally got a person, I lost it! Needless to say the temper I had controlled all these weeks just exploded!

They put someone with an admitted bag of pills who has mentioned killing herself on hold for 23 minutes (yes I forgot that part) and then sends me back to the original phone recording. I asked him his name so I could leave it on my suicide note and he gave it to me! This is all the absolute truth. This is why my mother in law drove up here, to see me fall apart at the hands of United Healthcare.

So run, don't walk as fast as you can. They are so polite on the phone until I realized after all these calls that it was all scripted. So what am I going to do? See the doctor this Thursday, and if I'm not shown proper care and respect, I'll be packing my bags and moving back to Georgia and then they can help me to transfer my health care to Georgia. It will mean leaving my husband and my house of 15 years, but I really don't know what else to do. After caring for patients for over 35 years, I am left by the very system I put my life into.

On March 11, 2016, United Healthcare took back money they had already paid to my pediatrician for one office visit on 8/6/2015 and one well baby visit on 8/17/15 (both well after her Kaiser coverage ended) in a total amount of 1365.00. I have attempted to resolve this issue numerous times with United Health Care and they have not only refused payment of valid claims to my pediatrician, they have refused claims under the same false statement (that myself or my daughter has other primary insurance) for several other medical treatments that are clearly covered by our plan. They have refused payment for these treatments even after I contacted them about this error and (supposedly) reached resolution. Now they have rescinded previously paid funds that are CLEARLY owed by them to my pediatrician, leaving me with the bill.

While speaking with the supervisor at United Health Care, she revealed to me that United contacted Kaiser on 3/16/16 to confirm that my daughter did have coverage with Kaiser on the start date of my United policy (7/6/15) and used that information to deny claims on 8/6/15 and 8/17/15. United also called my husband on 3/16/15 to ask him if my daughter and I have Kaiser insurance and he said no.

I would like United to tell me why a United employee contacted Kaiser to research their responsibility for claims made on 8/6/15 and 8/17/15 but never actually asked Kaiser if we were insured through them on these dates. I am concerned that these actions are a systemic issue that is potentially designed to delay payment on legitimate claims and would like to receive comment from United.

I made an appointment with Dr. ** and upon arriving, I was told by the receptionist that I should make sure I have been assigned a primary care physician and that Dr. ** was in the network, because many patients are seeing their claims denied. I called back Member Services back and the agent told me that I was not assigned to Dr. ** and that he was not even in the network. She emailed me a list of providers and his name was listed.

I called Member Services again and was assured that Dr. ** was in the network and that I had been assigned to him. It appears that many of the employees of United Health Care are not familiar with their jobs and how to do them. And, the information provided to patients and providers re: coverage does not clarify the requirements to get a claim paid, and that this is not an isolated case.

If you are a physician’s office and you request authorization, be prepared to fight in order to get that authorization. Once you get it, be prepared to have to send in all notes from whatever was done. Expect delays and expect them to pay only a portion so that maybe in about 9 months you might get paid from all of it with about a 20% lower payment than that of even Medicare. UnitedHealthcare is in the provider world is this. Requires 4 times the work, and gets 2 times less the pay out from any other insurance. Nobody should be allowed to do what they have done and continue to do. They really should be shut down as a company.

I called the insurance company in tears to get this surgery done, as I was in pain, and I was told she would do everything possible to get it taken care of. I also stupidly disclosed that we would be changing insurance companies in a couple weeks and I didn't know what the coverage would be and I had already met my out-of-pocket annual maximum - a perfect reason for them to delay approval to not have to cover. Imagine my surprise to get a call at almost 8:30 pm (well after closing time) to tell me it was all taken care of, I could have my surgery the next morning. Surgery was done, bills were paid, no problems.

A few months later the anesthesiologist was billing me, saying my insurance didn't pay them - I looked at the EOB's, which said I owed them $0 due to network discounts, so I called and told the provider this. They said "OK, no problem". A few months later (after my coverage ended) I got a call from the anesthesiologist again saying I owe, and that they are not in network with my insurance. I called UMR and they got on 3-way call with me and the provider and told them they are in network. The anesthesiologist office said "I don't care - we are billing it".

True to their word they sent me to a collection agency. I told them what happened (Note this was almost a year later, long after coverage was terminated with this plan). I called UMR and they send documentation to the provider showing their in-network status with a copy of the contract. The collection agency continued to call and I continued to explain to them and they told me to call the provider, which I did, and they said they would look into it, which they didn't.

Fast forward to today, March 2016, 15 months after my procedure and the termination of my UMR plan - the collection agency said I need to send EOB's to show I don't owe the balance by the end of the day or my credit is going to take the hit. I called UMR with no ID, no active plan, and no benefit to them whatsoever and spoke with Natalie, a super-sweet woman who looked up all EOB's for anesthesia (as they did not bill under their business name, but under a provider whose name the provider couldn't tell me), and she faxed the EOB immediately and waited on the phone to make sure I got it.

I faxed it to the collection agency; game over - I win. UMR reps were always understanding, helpful, accommodating and expedient. I know they say people are more likely to leave a bad review than a good one, but I believe this company definitely deserves credit for the assistance they provided me, and continue to provide long after my coverage was ended. I would recommend them to anyone looking for good customer service.

It's been almost 6 weeks, and we've received no check, no credit, no confirmation of one coming. Thirdly, and this is the most harmful fraud of all is that even though I verified my wife's prescription medications in December before signing up with them, and even though their two Apps (myUHC and OptumRx) showed her medications as being covered for her plan after putting her ID card registration in, which I have pictures of, they have denied coverage, and since my wife just ran out 5 days ago, her psychological health is in jeopardy.

These are medications that she's been on for 15 years and were covered by Golden Rule and Cigna, but UHC has fraudulently denied them, blaming no prior authorization from her psychiatrist, them blaming OptumRx, who in turn blames UHC. My wife's psychiatrist has filed an appeal, but according to her, UHC will drag this out for months, and they are the worst healthcare company to deal with. If this were a cancer or diabetes drug, she'd be dead! As it is, I may have to have her committed. So, I will take this to the insurance board of Texas, the Texas attorney general's office, the BBB, and all internet complaint sites.

None of their customer service specialists have been able to reinstate my coverage despite claiming they have initiated reinstatement many times. There was a 5-day waiting period that is long passed. I can't get another healthcare plan because open enrollments are all done. We are totally screwed. We will pay, no problem! We should not have to give UHC direct access to our bank accounts to do so! This is criminal.

By this time I am extremely frustrated. The lack of consideration for the health care professionals is inexcusable. I call my dr's office and they have no idea why the form is incorrect. I call United back again. Prior authorization refused to fax or email the correct form to my doctor. I found a very helpful United customer service rep that escalated and found someone to help. United Healthcare behaves as though this is my job, my career to make sure the correct forms are being used. They act as though the healthcare professionals have nothing better to do than to create ways of wasting their precious time.

Every time I see one of their commercials I think why are spending money there instead of improving their system? They could care less about any of us and clearly there is a group that is gaining from what the members are losing. My hope is that there will be continued investigations into their poor, unprofessional treatment of the members.