A Discount Insurance Program & Card

Actual insurance is not provided by these plans but rather, they offer significantly different benefits. Many consumers, however, are fooled into thinking they are purchasing insurance at a low price, and are surprised to learn the so-called discount insurance card plan may cost them more in the long run.

"Promoters of so-called discount medical card scams often target small business owners and self-employed individuals," Feeley said in his letter to the BBBs and Chambers. "Because of the recent proliferation of this very problem—the marketing of what is known as 'so-called discount insurance card plans,' which look very much like health insurance at great rates—I am contacting you with information I hope you will use to better inform your constituents."

Some differences between health insurance and a so-called insurance card plan include:

• So-called medical card plans are generally much cheaper and may be marketed on telephone poles or in elevators, on signs beside the road, in spam emails or over the fax machine.

• Limited number of doctors, facilities and other health care providers are provided by this so-called card.

• Your doctor or facility not accepting the so-called discount cards, will make you have to pay the full cost for services out of your own pocket.

• Unlike health insurance, which can cover most or all of the bill for approved services (after deductibles, coinsurance and/or co-payments have been paid), a so-called discount insurance card plan provides only a discount off of the health care provider's full fee.

• Responsibility is on you for paying the majority of that fee at the time of your visit. so-called discount insurance card plans generally do not process medical claims or issue reimbursement to health care providers.

• Providing valuable benefits for some, so-called discount insurance card plans aren't for everyone. You should consider carefully before signing up with one, warns Feeley, and you should also be on the look out for "red flags" that could signal a fraudulent plan.

"Red flags" that should cause you to question the so-called discount insurance card include:

• Questionable advertising practices, such as blast faxes or spam emails.

• Exaggerated claims of huge savings on health care products and services.

• Refusal to provide you with a list of health care providers that accept the so-called discount insurance card until after you have purchased the plan.

• High-pressure marketing tactics, urging that "you must act now" or "this is a one-time offer."

• Advising that you drop your existing health insurance.

Beware of salespeople and advertisements that use words like "co-payments, premiums and health plans" to deceive consumers into thinking that a so-called discount insurance card is insurance.

Avoid salespeople or so-called discount insurance card companies that insist on debit or credit card information, and who may pressure you to make a quick decision. Feeley advised consumers to ask the salesperson or company if the product is an health insurance plan or a just offer discounts.

Health insurance premiums increases causes many Oklahomians are searching for more affordable health insurances. This has led to a substantial increase in so-called discount insurance card plans being marketed in the state.

"Buyers beware!" says Feeley. "Because so-called medical cards are not real insurance, fewer consumer protections exist for purchasers of those products. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

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