Monday, July 7, 2014

What the?

I got home Thursday afternoon, ready to start the holidays. Checked the mail and found a bill for nearly a thousand dollars from the hospital...for surgery the hh had a year ago. What the? Before I called the hospital I decided to call the insurance company to see just what was going on. I had the dubious honor of talking to a machine for somewhere between five and ten minutes. After getting all the applicable data, 'she' started on the numbers. You know the ones. If you want.....press one. If you want ..... press two. We got all the way up to seven before we got to claims. Finally, a real voice on the other end of the phone. After establishing who I was, I get to put the hh on giving the customer service rep permission to talk to me. (Let's have a brief moment of silence for anyone who has blood pressure issues and has to talk to an insurance company.) Now, I'm able to explain why I'm calling. She looks up his information and her response: "We've been a bit behind processing some of our claims. Although, I see this is a year old. I'll mark it urgent and move it forward." 
Really? So here we sit with a thousand dollar bill that the hospital wants paid immediately, that our insurance hasn't even processed yet. Ya got to love insurance companies don't ya? And yes I am being facetious. What about you? Do you have an insurance story? 
And now for a positive to offset my negative, I'm starting an online self-editing class today. I'll let you know how it goes.

17 comments:

Shelley Munro said...

Wow, that's terrible, Sandra. Insurance has been difficult in New Zealand, and since the Christchurch earthquake everyone's insurance has jumped in price. If you have to claim, you end up spending your life on the phone, trying to push your claim through. Not fun :(

CJ Kennedy said...

That's the pits. Hope they resolve the problem toot sweet.

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear about this, Sandra. I absolutely cringe when I get bills from the insurance when I originally thought they had been covered. This happened to me in October when I went in for some tests and received a bill for 800 bucks. Evidently, my doctor forgot to mention the place he referred me to wasn't covered by the insurance. Sooo, it wasn't the insurance's fault, BUT, it was indeed, an unexpected hole in my pocket.
Wouldn't it be grand if everything was covered all of the time?=) Good luck with the editing class and Happy Monday! I start teaching a Creative Writing class next Monday so very excited!!

Sandra Cox said...

Thank you, Blue. That sums it up nicely.

Sandra Cox said...

I'm sorry about the quake, Shelley. Did you have any problems from it? You deal with a disaster then keep dealing with it.

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, CJ:)

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Gina. Bummer about the $800:( I feel your pain. Congrats on the creative writing class. That's exciting!

Annalisa Crawford said...

Hope it all gets sorted quickly!

Stacy McKitrick said...

Insurance companies are such hypocrits, aren't they? They expect YOU to pay your premiums on time, don't they?

I'd be checking on them every week to make sure it got paid. You don't need the creditors to come after you.

Pat Hatt said...

Wow that is moronic, who do they have working there? Yogi Bear?

Julia Barrett said...

Oh Sandra, I don't know what to say... Insanity.

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Annalisa.

Sandra Cox said...

Hi Stacy, they are a law unto themselves that's for sure. Have a good evening, Stacy.

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Pat. That put a smile back on my face.

Sandra Cox said...

Hi Julia dear, yeah pretty much. Take care.

The Happy Whisk said...

Yikes, is all I got.

But hey, good luck and fun to you on your new class.

Cheers and boogie boogie.

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Happy.