It is very bad that we have only one option other than those administered by UHC.

UHC knows they do not have to compete for our business. UHC knows they've lobbied and gotten exemptions to regulation, which makes them immune to our attempts to get help from the Agencies which should ensure this is a fair exchange between consenting parties.

UHC does not just suck. They're unaccountable and know from their position of monopoly power that you're impotent to do anything about their malfeasance.

Under law, you should be able to get a copy of your policy and review it. With UHC, they will claim their contract is with Delta, not you. Therefore they do not have to respond to you. That leaves you dealing with a department at Delta which mostly does not exist after bankruptcy. Further, I'd guess you put your career at some jeopardy when you finally find someone over there to talk to (who is also powerless to challenge UHC) and get angry.

In our case, UHC's coverage was worse than having none at all. Our kid's bill was 400% higher because of the in network contract UHC has with our local hospital. UHC could not explain why their contracted rate was so high. Further for one procedure the "out of network reasonable and customary cost" was $374. "In Network" that same "reasonable and customary cost" was a little over $1,800.

UHC refused to let me see any of the contracts. I refused to pay the higher version of "reasonable and customary." Eventually the CFO of the Hospital was fired and his replacement proudly posted on his Facebook page the news of his promotion and his election as President of his Neighborhood Association. With that information I informed him that I would have a process server deliver my lawsuit to him at his neighborhood's Christmas Party.

We should not have to resort to jerk moves like that to avoid getting ripped off, but since we don't have the ability to lobby congress, a guy's got to be creative to ensure fairness.

Since the Pats let him get there unimpeded, I'm pretty sure he was just as surprised and why he wasn't able to stop. Did you see the Pats behind him coming at him. If he had stopped and squatted there like it looked like he was going to do...I'm pretty sure the Pats were coming to push him in for the score.

BB, I believe you are right. The Com Air strike was a Wake Up call to Mgt. It just about shut down all the feed into CVG, and CVG has never recovered, trafic wise. I'm sure it will be the next base to be eliminated.

Up until the Com Air strike, they and ASA were about the only DCC's we had. Since that strike, DL has divided that flying up into what, about 12 other DCC's? So a 'work stoppage' by any one of them will have just about zero effect on the overall flying. They will be replaced by one of the remaining 11 DCC's, no doubt.

Hadn't thought of that. Yes, that Hail Mary was almost caught -- could've gone either way.

Timbo,

Unless something has changed, ER is "covered." The problem is (as you pointed out) it is covered with the money you co-insure.

Worse, it is covered per a top secret (not kidding*) contract between UHC and your provider. You can not see it and you can not know what they have agreed for YOU to pay. It might be a million bucks and the hospital will expect YOU to pay it, even though you likely did not even know of its existence.

As I explained in an earlier post, UHC agreed to pay a little greater than 400% above what I would have paid as a cash customer (or what they would have considered reasonable for out of network). UHC had no explanation for the grossly inflated amount other than "it probably is a mistake, but it is in the contract ... We will investigate it, but you still must pay the contracted amount."

This is a real exposure for Delta pilots. We don't know what's in UHC's contracts. An error could bankrupt you. It is absolutely unacceptable that the only truly safe option for a UHC customer is to sham divorce their wife and kids, bankrupt them and get them on Medicaid.

If this ever comes up again, I think my strategy will be to deny the existence of UHC coverage, get the copy of the bill from the Hospital, try to adjust it if necessary, then make the decision whether to submit it to UHC. You really can't trust those folks and once you throw your UHC card on the counter, you're out of the loop. You simply have to pay what they decide you owe.

Any attorneys on this board want to chime in on how they deal with this?

*(1) While researching the idea of a lawsuit against the Hospital and UHC seeking an injunction I learned a smiliar action in local State Court had gotten appealed on the discovery request for a copy of the contract. The Plaintiff was about $40,000 into jet waging the fight to see what UHC and the hospital had agreed the unwitting third party had agreed to pay.

Wow, I'm glad that I have military Tricare after hearing these other healthcare stories. $2,000 deductible on an emergency room visit?!

I used a ER late last year. It was in network, but I still ended up paying over 1000 bucks for the experience. No diagnosis, just that I was not going to die tonight. :eek:

So yes, I health care leaves something to be desired.

Is there a better option through Delta for health care for the family? The gold plan doesn't sound very golden.

You still living up there? Hampton (and Hampton Beach in the summer) was were I grew up, but I did fly a C150 from Hampton down to Plum Island many times! I played a lot of hockey in that indoor rink in Newburyport too, and coached my little brother's team there as well. A good buddy of mine (retired DL guy) keeps his power boat at a marina in Newburyport, so in the summer I'll drop by to help him empty his refridgerator.

My Dad had season tickets to the Boston Patriots back in the 1970's, when they played at Harvard Stadium and they lost to...everyone! So I'm always amazed if they even make the playoffs! :rolleyes:

Years ago, she was seen in Park City at some gym and she was with Dennis Rodman.. I have never been able to look at her the same since.. The worm hit that? ewwwwwwww