A Question For Anyone Out There That Has Health Insurance From B.Cross/B.Shield Of Illinois.....

[global1]

I just got a rate increase. I won't go into details except I'm self-employed and am paying over $14,000/year. I was told by one of BC/BS customer service people that they can provide me with quotes that could lower my rate - but if I choose to change plans - I have to start the process all over again and fill out all the forms to see if I'm qualified. Why? They have all my info now on file. I filled those out when I bought my current policy from them and they have my running health history since then. Why can't they say that they have a plan that can save me money. Here are the details. If you want to make a switch we'll make it happen? My suspicions are that if I do try and change that they will disqualify me on some technicality and I'll be without health insurance altogether.

My question: Has anyone here made a change of health care insurance plans with BC/BS of Illinois and did it go alright or did they give you trouble?

Any help will be appreciated.

[Scuba]

1. The offer should have come with KY Jelly, but probably didn't. n/t

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. Dealing with insurance companies always requires bending over. They're demonic. nt

[antigop]

2. Sounds like a question for Wendell Potter

Have a health care question for Wendell? Email him at wpotteriwatchnews.orgorg.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wendell-potter/things-to-consider-if-you_b_970443.html

[MineralMan]

4. Not with the Illinois company, but I went through that with the

Minnesota company. They didn't give me the lower cost policy, but I had checked in advance, and the agreement was that I could continue with my current policy, which is what I did. Be sure you see that in writing if you plan to make that experiment. Make sure that if they turn you down on the lower-cost option you can continue with the policy that is in force. In writing. Then give it a go. Odds are they'll say no to the new plan. Self-employed people have a very hard way to go. I had been insured through a group plan through my alumni association in California, but when I moved to Minnesota, I was forced to switch to a portability plan here that was more expensive. They wouldn't even discuss a cheaper plan. They have the self-employed by the short hairs.

Now, I'm on Medicare with a Blue Cross supplement, which they were quite happy to offer at a low price. Nothing has changed. I'm still healthy and don't actually have any medical problems. What changed? Bizarro.