Unfortunately, some medical discount cards have been found to be fraudulent products that do not provide the consumers who have paid the fees to use them with any discounted health care benefits.
Discount plans are frequently marketed to consumers regardless of their health insurance status, misleading consumers. Some of these plans falsely claim to provide health insurance coverage when they actually provide no financial protection in the event of a serious health care situation.
Financial protection is promised but not offered in many cases if a catastrophic health event occurs. Some plans use the terminology that is commonly associated with health insurance products in their solicitations, which may give consumers the false impression that they are purchasing real health insurance.
Charging excessive fees for the use of their services, some medical discount cards cost more than the beenfits that are provided. In some cases, an individual might be able to purchase true health insurance coverage for a comparable price.
Individuals encouraged to drop existing health insurance coverage in favor of discount cards or programs may jeopardize their future insurability.
The experts at AAHU opposes to any type of medical discount programs that purports to give consumers a reduced rate for health care services when in fact it does not. AAHU believes that state consumer protection authorities should take aggressive action against any entity or individual that offers or sells faulty discount plans.
Belief that any discount cards that actually provides health care consumers with lower rates on products or services should be clearly marketed as such, per the AAHU.
State consumer protection authorities should take action against any entity or individual who offers or sells a product that deliberately claims to be a discount health insurance card when it is not.
Plans should not falsely using the term “insurance”, we believe that such plans should not use any health insurance terminology in product promotions to avoid giving consumers a false impression.
Consumers should Use caution when purchasing discount cards and take steps to ensure that the products they are purchasing are both legitimate and a sound value in AAHU's view. Furthermore, we believe that all licensed health insurance producers that assist with the sale of the health care discount card products have the obligation to:
● Merchants should Educate their clients about such health care card products, Explain that they are not the same as health care insurance coverage, and ensure that any health care discount card they sell provides both value to the consumer and is the product that best fits their client's individual situation and needs.
Legitimate health care cards may not be the purchasing option for many even though they give valuable discounts, it is AAHU's view that every individual's health and financial situation is different.
A discount card might provide reduced rates and is clearly marketed as a health care discount card program, as opposed to a health insurance product, but it can be a legitimate health care purchasing option.
Examples of consumers that might benefit from a health care discount program include individuals with high-deductible health care insurance coverage, individuals with consumer-directed health care plans, and individuals who would like to utilize medical care services but are unable to afford a traditional health care insurance plan.
AAHU believes individuals have the right to choose the health care delivery products that best suit their personal situations. Health care insurance professionals that assist with such transactions should provide advice that ensures that each consumer buys the product that best meets his or her needs.
No one solution exists for providing access to healthcare that will perfectly meet every single American's needs.
We welcome you with open arms to real health insurance that will accept you for who you are.
Health Care Discount Cards for nice folks 
