Question:
Has anyone else had their coverage canceled?

I applied for private insurance in August & started coverage on 9/1. In October my doctor sent a letter requesting pre-authorization for surgery. After two months & countless phone calls, I just got a letter from my insurance company stating that they were canceling my policy completely. They claim that I lied on my application about my medical history. They say that I never mentioned my joint pain or my GERD. I looked at my application & I was never asked about these things. The closest question about joint pain was about arthritis, which I do not have. Also, they were given permission to look at my medical records which would have shown these problems. What do I do now? Do I have any hope with this insurance company at all? And now that I've been to doctors specifically about this surgery, will I be able to get insurance anywhere else? By the way, my insurance provider is (was) BC/BS of WI.    — M G. (posted on December 6, 2002)

December 6, 2002
I would contact your Department of Insurance in your state and ask them about this. Sounds like insurance is trying to get out of paying.
   — Jeana S.

December 6, 2002
Call your State Insurance Board like the previous poster said, file a complaint, they will send you the necessary paper and the board have to answer you in 30 days. A few years ago I filed a complaint with my insurance company, BS/BC for not paying for my daughter emergency room visit. The New York State Insurance division wrote them a letter and they paid for the visit promptly. Fight them all the way....Good Luck.
   — Rebe W.

December 6, 2002
Yes, like the others said, go right to the top. As an example, a couple of months ago, I filed a complaint with the NJ Dept. of Banking & Insurance against my insurance company for never getting the same answer out of any 2 Reps or Supervisors when I call, including having to pay for a dexascan (bone density scan) because they claimed it went towards my deductible, when it's supposed to be a covered procedure. Got a message a couple of weeks ago from the hospital where I had it done that they were paid and I'm getting reimbursed. YES!!! The State is at work! Don't let your health insurance company make you sick. Make them miserable instead!
   — Leslie F.

December 6, 2002
The previous replies are correct...contact your states Dept of Insurance...also another one that scares the insurance company is the Dept of Corporation (DOC) I've worked for health insurance companies and nothing will scare them more than those 2 agencies! Be BOLD! Call up the insurance company and ask THEM for the information to those 2 agencies and tell them you want to file a complaint. By law, they have to disclose this information to you. Trust me, they will red flag your file and treat you with kid gloves! Best of luck and keep fighting...you know what they say about the squeeky wheel!
   — Robin J.