Covered California website sucks

[SHRED]

We are trying to do early enrollment since we are already members.
We want to keep our current plan but have income changes for 2015.

There is no clear way to do this. When we try to input 2015 income it mixes it up with 2014 income.

No way to talk with anyone because they are too busy so we are waiting for online chat.

Keep in mind this is early enrollment. What happens when the deluge comes during open enrollment?

It's a darn shame they couldn't get any database web developers worth a shit.

...

[truedelphi]

1. Our solution for all of this is to pay the damn penalty.

Of course, we have lost most things of value due to a med bankruptcy, so I don't advise this for most people.

And as far as I am concerned, insurance = legalized racketeering.

Period.

When they start penalizing with jail time the insurers for the fraudulent behaviors they utilize while taking our mandated payments, I will be more interested in praising "California Covered" or "Obama's ACA."

[SHRED]

2. We were traveling this summer

I had medical work done in Montana. When we called Blue Shield the person asked us what country is Montana? I kid you not.

[Cleita]

3. Wonder if they are outsourcing their call center to

another country? I read that some overseas companies are trying to train their employees to speak American style English. Such a person may have no idea what Montana is. I mean would you know the names of states or provinces in foreign countries? If so, that brings up a whole other issue about giving what should be American jobs to foreign countries.

[antiquie]

4. This is why I still have no insurance.

Last year they demanded I submit my 2013 tax return to PROVE my 2014 income would be 30% lower. I sibmitted tax returns, Social Security statements and a letter of explanation. I submitted an appeal. I had plenty of case numbers and incident numbers from bots but when I would call either the automated system would say no such number or that the current wait time was one hour but then the system would hang up on me after a ten minute wait.

Yesterday, my Medicare card came in the mail with an effective date of March 1st. I am excited that in three and a half months I will have access to medical care for the first time in eight years.

[Cleita]

5. Medicare is the best insurance out there.

I just wish we could get 100% coverage instead of having to buy Medi-gap or, even worse, Medicare Advantage to close the gap.

[SoapBox]

9. The best thing ever is my Mom's Advantage plan

here in Los Angeles. Best deal ever...easy...works like an HMO...she stays in the doctor's group...been in the same group going on 5 years.

There are actually so many insurance companies and plans in LA county, that it keeps the price way down.

She pays no additional monthly premium...no co pay to doctors or specialists...zero copay on Tier 1 drugs, almost none on Tier 2...the highest is for one Tier 3 product (an eye drop...but her wonderful ophthalmologist gives us some " samples" to get though the end of the year, now that she's in the Donut Hole).

The BIG problem is that the country is still carved up by the fucking insurance companies...sister and BIL, have shit coverage and options in Central Michigan.

Single Payer...Medicare for all.

[daredtowork]

6. I just heard a rumor that Alameda Alliance is folding in December

That's my "insurance" that handles Medi-Cal for me. I just went through a month of unbelievable hairball bureaucracy with them (their phone wait time is literally an hour) because I was dropped from Medi-Cal for a month, and the ramifications extended to all HMO databases. I can't imagine what it means if they actually go under.

Because I'm on Medi-Cal, will I be forced to move to the remaining "insurance provider" (Blue Cross)? Will my current medical providers be in that group? Will I have to start over with new medical providers and a new medical system elsewhere? Will I have to go through a lot of bureaucracy all over again? What about the specialists? Good grief.

Has anyone else heard this rumor or have a better grasp on its ramifications?

[antiquie]

7. Closure of Alliance CompleteCare does NOT affect your Medi-Cal benefits

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Alliance CompleteCare will not be offered in 2015

Alliance CompleteCare (HMO SNP) will not be offered in 2015. This means your coverage through Alliance CompleteCare will end December 31, 2014. You need to make some decisions about your Medicare coverage. The closure of Alliance CompleteCare does NOT affect your Medi-Cal benefits. Alliance Medi-Cal is a separate program that is not changing with the closure of Alliance CompleteCare. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-877-585-7526, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., seven days a week. TTY users should call CRS TTY: 711/1-800-735-2929.

[daredtowork]

8. oh thank goodness

The amount of bureaucratic BS I've been through in the last month is not even funny. I don't think I could cope with another shoe dropping!

In related news, Alameda Alliance is dropping/changing their relationship with contractors. The burden of that might get shifted on to the patient. Beacon will be discontinued after serving to add 5 layers of complication/misdirection for people seeking counseling. But do those patients all have to find new counselors now?

[flamingdem]

10. I called the number on my reenrollment letter and found them to be helpful

This is Anthem. Not sure about others but they are trained to answer lots of ACA questions.

However... my rates went up by $90. I called to complain, but all in all it's so much better coverage than before I will stay with Anthem, though I think they're abusing us again.