Mich. communities sue Blue Cross over fees

[The Straight Story]

Mich. communities sue Blue Cross over fees


DETROIT, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- A group of Michigan communities say Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan overcharged them by tacking on $40 million in hidden fees.

While 12 local governments have joined a lawsuit against the insurer, attorney William Horton told Sunday's Detroit News that than 1,000 government bodies may have unknowingly paid the fees since 1994, the year that Blue Cross changed its billing practices.

Horton contends Blue Cross 15 years ago started intentionally hiding tacked-on administrative fees.

Blue Cross spokeswoman Helen Stojic told the newspaper the fees were not hidden and have allowed the governments to realize a savings, saying, "The disputed fees were specifically referenced in each of these groups' contracts."

But Horton reportedly disputed that, saying the contract language is so complex only Blue Cross officials could understand it.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2009/11/01/Mich-communities-sue-Blue-Cross-over-fees/UPI-88821257113650/

[avaistheone1]

1. That is all part of the private greedy health care insurance "legacy".

[fasttense]

2. It's the new way to write contracts

From credit cards to mortgages, contracts have turned in to complex and disjointed, unreadable legalese. Even our legislature has gotten in on the con by writing legislation so convoluted you can read anything into it or ignore it if you are a corporation.

Just another way to con the middle class out of their money. See, we all thought the gubermint wouldn't allow thieves to con you right out of everything. It turns out, after the Republicons (with the help of some nasty Dems) removed almost ALL consumer protections, our gubermints don't give a rat's a** if you get con into signing something that gives away all your money. It's what is called "free" trade or American capitalism.