Wacky health insurance costs
Example of letter sent out by America's health
insurance companies to their customers.
Some 28 million Americans are currently estimated to be without the coverage.
In early 2018 I became one of the uninsured for the first time in my adult life. It was disconcerting to say the least. But I knew something about the subject as a daily newspaper journalist who had reported on current health issues.
I also am very healthy, overall, so considered not paying for the pricey insurance. Family members and friends strenuously objected to this idea so I signed up.
My insurance agent is a nice gentleman who lives in Davenport, but I gotta tell you, the health insurance industry is a wacky business indeed.
To begin with, the cost of the policy is a moving target. This is a no-frills policy (there are 30 pages in the handbook that lists what is NOT covered) and it's only available in three-month increments. That means the agent and I meet four times a year to renew the policy and start fresh each time.
My agent gives me one figure to pay; the company counters with another number. When questioned by me, a company spokesperson said insurance agents only "estimate" the cost, while the company sets the rate.
Here is part of a recent letter: "Dear Ms. Baker: Your monthly payment is $276.33. Your application was submitted with an authorized amount of $284.13. We need to collect an additional $12.20 to pay your account to Sept. 6, 2019."
Say what? If it costs $276.33 and I paid $284.13, I think the company owes me some money, but that's just not how it works.
I do try to follow the rules but health insurance policies and practices are nonsensical to the average person. In the meantime this 61-year-old exercises faithfully and counts the years and months until Medicare kicks in.
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