I hate bureaucracy.....

[poltr1]

....especially the bureaucracy generated by the healthcare industry. It's like a bureaucracy factory.

Earlier this year, I signed up for health insurance coverage through my current employer. This coverage started on June 1. I saw my doctor for a prescription refill later that month.

Last month, I received a letter from my healthcare provider, asking for more information so they could make a determination on a pre-existing condition. So I sent them a copy of my insurance card from my previous provider (I was on my ex-wife's plan until 6/1/07, the first day of the month after our divorce was final, and the day my new benefits kicked in). Apparently that wasn't good enough. They're looking for more specific information.

To top it off, I received another "love note" from them yesterday, telling me that if I don't give this information to them in 15 days from the date of the letter, they could deny my coverage on the grounds of "pre-existing condition".

The letter was dated August 15. It was postmarked August 21. I received it yesterday (August 27). That does not give me sufficient time to respond.

These are the times I want to go after the Gordian knot of bureaucracy and red tape with a chainsaw.

But I know the more rational approach is to call them up and clarify exactly what they're asking for. (Oh, and they'll probably want my Social so they can find me in their system. Refer to previous rant.)

Now, where did I put my 27B/6 form?

[Updated 15:50 EDT] I called them up and they're looking for a "HIPAA Certificate" from my previous insurer. Why they can't say this in the letter I don't know. But I called the previous provider, explained my situation, and they'll send me the letter I'm looking for, which I should get in 15 days.

Comments

[zorya-thinks.livejournal.com]

I have been less than impressed with our Blue Cross PPO plan. The plan allows us to carry Kris on the insurance while he is in college until age 23 or until he graduates from college, whichever comes first. Otherwise he would have lost his coverage when he turned 18. He is 21 now, and for the last three years we have filled out and signed the document required to verify that he is a full time college student. And every year they have dropped him off the insurance until we get denials for his health care expenses until Tom calls them up and reminds them that we certified that he is in college and eligible for coverage.

My biggest hassle has been getting the PPO to pay for minor GYN surgery I had at the end of April. St Elizabeth Place still hasn't been paid and I had to contact our Health Care Advocate to try to get Blue Cross to get off the dime and process the claim. It's just one more thing during a very hectic summer to stress us out.

Sigh.