Insurance for all - Limited Benefit Insurance

Guaranteed insurance plans help people who can't afford medical insurance get access to affordable medical care. It's a good idea, but such plans are often misleading. Investigator Julie Brantwood of the South Miami-Dade Exponent is always watching out for possible fraud. She tells us about one guaranteed plan that patients say took their money and ran.

Filling the insurance gap, Florida Medical Network was up and running, patients and providers say it filled a medical insurance gap and gave hundreds of locals access to medical care. It was great while it lasted. Florida Medical Care Network in Miami recently closed there doors.

Hundreds of South Floridians who recently found their insurance plan had closed up shop. Their provider, Florida Dental, could no longer offer them the affordable dental care they'd contracted for, but the Hernandez's were still being billed by the defunct plan.

"After everything was closed down, we were still getting ripped off. Our account, our credit card, was being looted for the monthly fees.

The phone number is disconnectedand the e-mail address doesn't exist anymore. Even the web site was taken offline. Some patients had already paid and given their money to this company which has now suddenly disappeared.

Smile Dental got concerned and involved when they could no longer verify eligibility for their 73 Florida Medical Care Network patients. "We care a lot about our patients and I think that it's our responsibility to notify them and let them know when there's anything suspicious going on."

Florida Medical Care Network head honcho Robert Norstous has been involved in suspicious business practices before. Two years ago, this now-vacant storefront was home to Discount RX. It was a drug importation business we exposed after customers complained they were misled about where their medication was coming from.

A patient received medication from India and was really shocked. If she would have said to me, this medication is coming from India, is that okay? I would have said, no way! Norstous' explained, "We're an order processing center. We provide a service. So, we really can't guarantee."

Better protection from the state of Florida is needed.

Help is finally on the way.

The state insurance division has had no authority to help consumers. Florida Medical Care Network isn't a true insurance plan, On October 1st, a new law takes effect that will regulate discount medical plans, and help the Davis' with the next step in their medical care.

Interesting events have happened since we started asking questions about what happened to Florida Medical Care Network. Though Robert Norstous never returns calls, his attorney says the company is still serving existing customers, though not soliciting new business.

They have to register with the state insurance division as of Saturday and comply with numerous provisions of the new law if they are indeed up and running again. We've confirmed they have not, and will be referred for investigation come Monday.

Some guaranteed insurance plans, are not real insurance even though they are frequently confused with medical insurance. Sometimes, plans use marketing ploys and insurance terms to lead consumers into believing they are purchasing an insurance policy. Make sure the policy you purchase is 100% HIPAA compliant and adheres to government regulations.

Consumers who purchase guaranteed policies (provided the plans are legitimate) receive discounts for certain medical care services, but are still responsible for all medical bills.

“Medical consumers must keep in mind that medical discount plans are not insurance. Because of this confusion, regulation of these entities is crucial. Although there are legitimate plans, there are too many plans taking advantage of Florida’s consumers who are desperate to find assistance with their medical care costs", Julie Brantwood says.

Cautioning that consumers should understand how medical discount plans work, Brantwood added, "Consumers are also advised to ensure that their medical care providers will accept the discount card. They should also review the plan materials carefully to be certain the benefits are worth the cost."

Too good to be true? It just may be. Things that look too good to be true often are just that. With the cost of medical insurance so high, some illegitimate discount medical plans are trying to lure you by promising you the world, for cheap. Don't be fooled. Check before you write a check!

Certain plans can have pitfalls. Companies selling insurance may not guarantee advertised services. Some discount medical plan provider lists may not be current.

Make sure providers honor the plan. Some polcies may not be guaranteed as advertised. Hidden fees, such as administrative fees for each use of the plan, may reduce or effectively erase the advertised discount.

Ensure benefits available exceed the cost of membership in the guaranteed health plan.

Be aware that certain consumer protections afforded to buyers of health insurance are not provided to people buying Discount Medical Plans. For example, members are not covered by the State Guaranty Fund Law that protects consumers in the event an insurance company fails.

Managed care plans require insurance companies to guarantee access to medical care providers, a guarantee not given to buyers of these plans.

Things To Do Before Purchasing A Guaranteed benefit Medical Plan

1. Read all promotional material carefully. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

2. Understand the benefits being offered by the Plan.

3. Savings should exceed membership costs.

4. Understand which providers contract with the insurance and determine that they are in convenient locations for your use.

5. Ask what happens if you move or if you need services while you are traveling

6. Know what you are buying before you sign any forms. Do not give out bank or credit card information until you decide to make a purchase.

7. Ask if the Discount Medical Plan has contracts in effect with all the medical care providers it has identified.

8. Verify with the medical care providers you plan to use that they are participating in the Discount Medical Plan.

9. Inquire about payment rules. With some companies the consumer is required to pay for discounted services at the time of service and sometimes in cash.

10. Seniors should be especially cautious when considering one of these guaranteed Plans. Most providers may not honor advertised discounts below scheduled Medicare rates.

11. Be wary of discount medical plans offering “long-term care” options. These plans are not a substitute for long-term care insurance.

12. Ask about additional costs, such as administrative fees, that may be associated with the Guaranteed Medical Plan.

13. Ask about the Plan’s cancellation and refund policies.

14. Always keep the telephone number and address for the medical plan, along with copies of all documents that you have submitted to the Plan.

A gargantuan number of people have had mediocre experiences in the past with medical discount card schemes.

We welcome you with arms wide open to real health insurance that will accept you for who you are.

Visit Guaranteed Issue Health Insurance Leads for solutions to your medical problems.