Assurant Health

There was an article in the Chicago Tribune regarding a young lady who got a policy on her own and then got sick and had all sorts of problems. I read the article and I sent the writer of the paper this reply;


Dear Jon, first let me introduce myself to you. My name is Margie Mack and I am a health insurance agent that works for Health Care Solution Team out of Lombard, Illinois. I have also worked with Assurant Health for over 8 years (as well as other carriers). I read that article today and I have to say I felt for Romy. I understand the frustration of having no coverage and or obtaining it but finding it unaffordable or not being what I thought I had purchased.

As I read this article I found myself wondering who the agent was that had helped her obtain this "short-term" policy that she got. Then reading farther down I see that she was a former administrator for an insurance broker and did the policy herself. It seems to me that she must have realized that she was getting a plan that was for the "what ifs" and that it was short-term policy and was suppose to do just what she thought, and that was to protect her in the event that something like this happened. I have seen this before with all companies where a client gets a plan, thinks that they are safe, or does it on their own without the complete knowledge of the plan and then something happens and they feel like they are getting shafted.

She made a statement in this article that she chose a $2500 deductible as well as a $2500 co-insurance plan leaving her $5000 out of pocket in the event that something happened to her. So, then again she did know her plan. Being in the industry and helping all my clients as I do, I see where in some cases if something like this happens then there is a slow process of getting claims paid because the company has to do their due diligence and make sure that the client didn't have the history of the illness that the claims are for. If they did have a history of an illness and they tell us that in their application then it will be covered or have a CSD (condition specific deductible) attached, but if they said nothing...well then the insurance company is correct in not paying because that would be a false application on the clients part.

You also mentioned that Problem Solvers had to contact the hospital where she had been treated because they were taking their time in getting the records to the insurance company. That happens quite a bit and once again if a person has an agent working for them then we get involved and make sure that all the steps are being completed. It took me 8 months one time to get a woman approved and she has been my client for over 5 years! So now this young lady is back on that $1300 a month Cobra plan, what a shame. Having been there,done that routine, there are always ways to find good and affordable coverage if the agent that you are working with is honest and has the education that they need to explain the plans correctly. This is where I see so many problems. It is not the "insurance company." That company explains the plan and the details and the benefits and the pitfalls in black and white and if an agent doesn't explain it or a person obtains a plan without the proper knowledge then everyone usually suffers.

With Assurant Health they have a benefit that a client can attach to pay their deductible and coinsurance in full in the event that they become hurt or critically ill, per person, per occurrence. I have this on almost all of my clients plans and in fact I had one client here today working with me as we process his claim because he got hurt at home and had to have surgery. I can go on and on but as far as I see it Assurant Health is fair. This company does what it promises. They work with us, the insurance agents one on one, and if there is anyway possible to help the client, cover the client or offer alternative to the client they will do it. I see so much of the anguish of health insurance everyday that I have to be positive when working with people because having no insurance myself, it is a long and lonely road. Please feel free to contact me if you every want to talk about this or if you ever need any help in what you do. Have a good day.