NCE Unified Health One Unified Health SCAM - This plan represented as insurance but is really a Discount Plan Boca Raton, Florida

20th of Feb, 2013 by User727542

I was shopping insurance plans in January and was contacted by a sales person pitching NCE Unified Health. I wish I had seen the posts here prior to signing up. This plan is nothing but a SCAM!!! The rates all seemed to be very good, unlimited doctor visits for $50/visit, full diagnostic coverage, blood and lab work, etc. No deductibles and first dollar coverage. I asked what the co-pays were and was given a long winded answer that made it sound like this was an 80/20 plan. Coverage for myself and 2 dependents would be $430/mo with an enrollment fee of $99. What a terrific rate! They were able to offer this great rate because there was an open enrollment going on with NCE (National Congress of Employers). Additionally, for an additional $29.95/mo I could get a "prescription rider" that would cover up to 80% off on name brand drugs and generics for $5-$10. I asked about pre-existing conditions and told this was not an issue. I would be covered. I asked specifically if this was a discount plan and was told it was not. I was told I would need to answer several questions in order to accept their coverage that would be recorded (for my protection) and when asked if I understood this to be a limited (discount) plan that they were only referring to the prescription coverage. I also had 10 days to cancel with a full refund. I signed up for coverage on Jan 17 and received a welcoming e-mail along with my member ID information and a sample schedule of benefits. After reading through the coverages it became clear that this was actually a discount plan. It actually says in the welcoming e-mail "that the insurance is not basic health insurance or major medical coverage, and is not designated as a substitute for basic health
insurance or major medical coverage." Doctor visits limited to 5 visits and the plan will only pay $50/visit. Limits of $50 per day on pathology and radiology with only 2 days covered per year. Surgery and hospital benefits limited as well. The prescription rider turned out to be nothing more than a discount card similar to what you can get for $20 at Walgreens and didn't even provide a substantial discount on my medications. I called Unified Health on Jan 24 and told them I wished to cancel in accordance with the cancellation provisions. I was transferred to Daniel Gootner who is the agent at this office and told him I wished to cancel. He said that would not be a problem, that I could expect a confirmation e-mail and I could expect a refund in 7-14 days. I called them again on Feb 8 after not hearing anything. I spoke to a person named Earl who said I need to complete a Termination Request Form and e-mail or fax it back to them. This was sent back on Feb 8 but as of today, Feb 21, I have not received a confirmation or refund to my credit card. Today I reported this to my credit card provider and asked them to pursue recovery. I also had to cancel my card so that it could not be charged again by Unified Health. I can't believe that this group is able to continue to operate. They do not provide truthful information and actually mislead you to believe they are selling something they really are not. I hope this posting may help others to not fall for this same SCAM.

Track this Report 1 Comment | Post a Comment

Comments

3927 days ago by K_brancheau

Apparently I got sucked in with the same promises. I didn't really understand the Membership Agreement as I recall them telling me that the hearing, dental and vision services were a discount program so when I read this in the Membership Agreement I didn't think a whole lot about it.

I went to the chiropractor and after they checked with my "insurance plan" he stated that I had no chiropractic coverage. I thought that was strange as I was told that there was coverage with a copay. Hmmm... I then figured I better do a little more research into this so called plan and found several posts similar to this one.

I also went to the "Patient Portal" and low and behold my group number is not valid.

I am sure you can all imagine my disappointment. I am mailing my cancellation request tomorrow overnight with a return receipt so I have verification that they received it. I also will notify my credit card to pursue the company and be reporting them to the BBB.

If I can do anything to help anyone in the future to avoid this scam please let me know.
Karen Brancheau