Gotta Vent!!

[Gary]

So, last Wednesday night two of my vehicles were victims of Pack Rat injuries. Got a hold of my ins. co. (starts with a G) and was told that an adjuster MUST see the damage PRIOR to having the vehicle(s) worked on. Reasonable request, however, I live in a rural area of Ks plus I already arranged towing to a dealership for my car. Car is fixed; #4 and #6 injector wires were chewed up and a vacuum line chewed into. Since I had the work done prior to adjuster seeing the damage I paid for the repair. Now to my pickup; as I mentioned, I live in rural SE Ks, the adjuster assigned to my claim is out of TEXAS!! I'm not about to wait for that adjuster to "arrange" to view my pickup because it's my primary service vehicle. I called the Ins. Co. this morning to "vent" to them and well the resolution is that they will email the adjuster and get his response on Monday. Color me a very unhappy policy holder.
On a brighter note, I got an insurance quote from another company that is the exact same coverage for a couple of hundred bucks less per policy year. Guess who is changing ins. co's after this mess is settled?

 

[Charles Graff]

Pack rats nibbles, are a very minor nick, as we slide down the razor blade of life. You have much worse coming, so conserve your vent gas and rant power for more needful times. Just some unsolicited counsel from a very sick old geezer.

 

[smokeywolf]

While not saying your insurance company issues aren't worth a rant, think I must agree with Charles. You'll have to deal with much worse at some future moment in your life.

Anthem Blue Cross is refusing to pay for the 90 day rental of a cardiologist prescribed externally worn defibrillator for my wife because their gynecologist consultant says it's "investigative" technology.
That will be a $10,000 bill to me.

 

[Gary]

Pack rats nibbles, are a very minor nick, as we slide down the razor blade of life. You have much worse coming, so conserve your vent gas and rant power for more needful times. Just some unsolicited counsel from a very sick old geezer.

Well Charles, you're probably right, however at age 75 I've run through most of that scenario. See, I have a wife with very advanced Parkinson disease and if you know what I'm dealing with you know I'm already on a "one day at a time" schedule. Yes, the adjuster being two states away from my problem is a systemic "large corp" solution to a self created problem IMO. Ins. Co. knows I'll get it fixed on my dime because it HAS to be done.
It's strange though since the Ins. Co. assigned two different adjusters, one for the car and one for the truck; one adjuster in state and the second two states away. It's like a well lubed bureaucracy in business practice. Still I'm going to solve the problem myself and cancel the insurance AFTER this is finished. Then to stir the pot a little, I'm going to file a complaint with the state Ins. Commissioner's office. I know it won't do any good in a regulatory since, but I'll at least feel I struck a blow for the little guy(myself). Once filed, I'll feel better and that's the end of it in my books.

 

[smokeywolf]

Gary, sure sorry about your wife's health issues.
In my original draft of my post I mentioned that maybe the insurance company jerking you around was not the only problem, but "the straw that broke the camel's back". I cut that out because I thought I was being too wordy. Maybe should have left it in?

 

[Gary]

Not a problem, I know you understand.

 

[Rick]

Anthem Blue Cross is refusing to pay for the 90 day rental of a cardiologist prescribed externally worn defibrillator for my wife because their gynecologist consultant says it's "investigative" technology.
That will be a $10,000 bill to me.

Eeek. Have you discussed alternatives with the doc? Seems rather odd that Blue Cross would consult a gynecologist for what is clearly a cardiology issue. Well odd not surprising. That's the first refusal I've heard of from Blue Cross and we have the same insurance. Something to keep in mind though I've not needed such a device. Yet anyways.

When I retired and applied for SSA I tried for a medical on diabetes grounds. SSA sent me off to a cardiologist for an exam and SSA denied my medical claim based on no heart issues.

 

[smokeywolf]

There are no other alternatives. Anthem won't pay for an implanted pacemaker/defibrillator until the patient has been evaluated by a cardiologist 90 days after the initial cardiac event or evaluation. Could it be that Anthem is hoping the life insurance will have to pay the next claim?

Why would Anthem hire a gynecologist to assess cardiac cases? They undoubtedly work cheaper.
Anthem is notorious for denying the defibrillator vest. You can hire a lawyer and fight them, but if you don't win your case, instead of $10,000, you also have to cover thousands in attorney fees. Anthem allows up to 4 appeals; 90% end in rejection.

 

[Winelover]

I shop around, every few years, for a new carrier for auto/home insurance. Just to keep them honest. I also use a broker. They have access to more insurance companies. I always found those that have most TV commercials, are the highest. Especially, those that start with G or P.

 

[RKJ]

I talked to the "G" folks back in the 90's about switching insurance, they asked the typical questions and then asked if I had a radar detector. I had one that hadn't seen light of day in about 2 years and told them that but they denied me. I understand why but have never looked at them for anything since.

 

[Rick]

I price checked several of the insurance companies a few years back. The "G" company had been doing heavy TV advertising that you will save $450 by switching to them. With about 7 quotes in hand not only was the "G" company the highest they were right about $450 higher than the second highest.

 

[Gary]

Not only are they higher, they do everything to avoid paying a claim. In fairness most are somewhat like that, but I signed up with a local "broker" and the quote he came up with was about $550 less than what I've been paying. Oddly enough it was with the P company.
No more Pack Rats caught last night, I'm going to continue to set the traps every night for a while as a safe guard.

 

[Rick]

Just me but I wouldn't have insurance from that soros owned "P" company if it were free.

 

[Gary]

I didn't know about the Soros connection; I'll talk with the broker tomorrow; thanks for the heads up!

 

[Gary]

As an aside; what ins. co. would folks recommend?

 

[Rick]

I didn't know about the Soros connection; I'll talk with the broker tomorrow; thanks for the heads up!

I don't know the percentage but he is a major shareholder. Just think of the name of the company . . . A coincidence?

 

[462]

One need look no further than the modern political meaning of the "P" company's name. Not the meaning of Teddy Roosevelt's day.

 

[fiver]

I was with P for 28 years.
when I got to comparing companies I got a better rate with more coverage elsewhere.
when I didn't renew they never sent a letter or anything questioning why.
you'd think after that much time with no other transactions than me sending them money they'd be pretty darn happy to retain me as a customer.

 

[smokeywolf]

My choices are somewhat limited. Many ins. companies won't insure our house because we're rural to the point that there are no fire hydrants near or at least near enough to us. We're currently with an outfit that has the word 'Farm' in the name.

 

[Rick]

There's only two that I know of. Was it the insurance company I recommended or that really high dollar one?