I spent a little time last year on the issue of Mega Life and Health. There’s only one term for this company, and what’s really frightening is that it’s a major player in AHIP. If AHIP is ever going to get itself out of the self-serving position it’s in and transition to being an organization of responsible private health plans that can have a reasonable conversation about the positive role health plans can play , the plans who could live in a future of community rating need to leave, or jettison the scumbags like Mega.
What’s the activity I’m so upset about?
Mega Life and Health sells health insurance door to door to poor to middle and low income working people. They claim that they are selling a product which their customers understand. But the point their customers clearly do not understand is that the insurance has severe limits on what it pays, especially what it pays per day in cases of expensive care. So if a policyholder gets sick and needs hospital care, Mega only pays out a fraction of what the hospital charges, leaving the poor sucker patient on the hook for the rest. Last year the California Supreme Court ruled that this con, like all the best cons, is legal. And this type of policy continues to be sold (more or less legally) in most states.
Over at Colorado Health Insurance Insider
I found this tale of woe of an electrician earning $40,000 a year with
no benefits who joined Mega’s front organization the National
Association for the Self-Employed after being sold a bill of goods
by a commissioned sales rep. His son had cancer and ran up bills of
$500,000 of which Mega paid out $45,000. It’s not completely clear
from the story at which point Mega cut them off, but if the story from
the couple who sued in the California Supreme Court is an indication,
what probably happened is that the policy had a maximum per diem
payment of less than 10% of what was actually billed. And now
bankruptcy and poverty awaits.
Mega has already dealt with class action suits because it’s been selling policies through a front organization that many states find illegal. More importantly it has been selling these policies using a network of barely-trained door to door agents. For example as reported in the Mobile Register (AL) several former employees show that the company had no ethics and hid what it was doing from its customers.
None of the three former Mega agents — Chaney, Aplin and Parrish
— had insurance sales experience before joining the company. Each said
they left the company after they learned more about other health
insurance policies. "The training was how to close a deal. It wasn’t
about the nuts and bolts of insurance," 33-year-old Aplin said. Chaney,
29, said he worked for Mega about four months before he saw another
insurance company’s policy and began to believe he was selling
incomplete coverage. Salespeople "don’t even talk about the insurance,"
he said. "You talk about the NASE and then you get them and you go. "I
didn’t know that the insurance was linked to the NASE," Chaney said.
Parrish said the experience has been hard for her personally. "I wish I
would have had sense enough or the insight enough to have researched it
before I got into it," said Parrish, who said she checked with the
Better Business Bureau and Alabama Department of Insurance but did not
detect any warning signs. <SNIP> In the beginning, she said, she
thought it strange that she would be sent to pursue potential clients
in areas an hour’s drive from home while other agents were assigned to
Dothan. She said she found it odd that her paychecks came from her
district manager’s personal account rather than from the company.
Parrish said she also wondered why her questions at staff meetings
seemed to her to go unanswered and why agents were not supposed to
leave promotional materials in the homes of people who did not buy a
policy. Mega agents she knew were not supposed to use insurance terms,
but to sell the benefits of NASE membership and its preferred
providers, she said. Now she believes, they were "giving those people
false security."
Does anyone believe that these sales people clearly
communicated the exact nature of the policies they were selling, and
exactly how much it would cover of a share of a severe illness? And
yet, this is the type of activity that both the Shaddeg bill and the
push towards unregulated individual insurance — promoted by the Bush
Administration and many others on the free-marketeer right — will
encourage. We also know that it’s similar to the activity that many
managed care plans are using selling Medicare Advantage plans (or at
least were until thy voluntarily agreed to desist earlier this year).
I’ve also been told by someone who knows a little more
about Mega that some 30% of revenue goes to the commissioned sales
agents and that the medical loss ratios for the insurance plan is below
30%! Even Arnold Schwarzenegger thinks that MLRs shouldn’t drop below
85%!
So what if anything can be done about this? Mega Life and
Health is now not only the poster child for all that’s wrong with
health insurance–it’s squarely in the mainstream. Why
do I say that?
Well it’s time to connect the dots.
Take a look at the governing body of AHIP, the health plans’ trade association. William J. Dewed, the
Chairman, President & CEO of Health Markets, which owns Mega Life
and Health, is on the board. HealthMarkets is right there next to
people like Mark Ganz from Regence, Scott Armstrong from Group Health
Cooperative of Puget Sound, Charles Baker from Harvard Pilgrim, not to
mention CEOs of several other big non-profit Blues and George Halverson
from Kaiser. And of course Angela Braly and Jeannine Rivet,
representatives of what we hope might be new guards at Well point and
United, are there too.
Now several people may be ready to say "a pox on all
their houses" and believe that no good at all can come from private
insurance companies. But many of those health plans are supporting, in
name at least, reform efforts in which companies like Mega Life and
Health would be barred from selling these type of policy. Furthermore,
it’s in the best interest of those larger organizations to have a
serious conversation about the practical help that health plans can
bring to a reformed health care market. Many of those organizations
have decent proposals and something to offer. Mega clearly does not.
So step one in cleaning up their act would be for those
insurers to either jettison their scumbag colleagues from AHIP, or to
leave themselves.
Step two is not AHIP’s to make. It is though equally important.
Who owns Health markets? Like many companies it’s owned
by "private equity". But in this case these are not just any private equity companies. The three owners are a) the biggest and
now publicly traded private equity firm, Blackstone Partners, b) the
most prestigious and most profitable investment bank, Goldman Sachs,
and c) a unit of giant European investment bank Credit Suisse. While
the owners and employees of these august organizations are making their
mega-millions, it’s about time that they paid some attention to what
their "investment" is doing to the people it’s supposedly serving.
These connections need to be made.
We’re not talking fraudsters on the margins, we are
talking about them being aided and abetted by the privileged sitting
inside the gilded palace. And if those investment organizations can’t
bring themselves to change Health Markets out of shame, then perhaps
some Democratic congressmen can help them.
This is a case where for their own good, these organizations should do the right thing.
Categories: Uncategorized
Just a little more FYI
Article: MEGA Ordered To Refund $4.6M in Premiums and Pay Record $1M Fine
MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company has been ordered to refund $4.6 million in overpaid health insurance premiums to Maine consumers – plus an additional $1 million in civil penalties for four years of calculating those premiums using flawed methods.
More trouble for MEGA Life
MEGA Life’s latest troubles originate in Maine where the Maine Bureau of Insurance and the state’s Attorney General announced that they have fined MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company $1 million in civil penalties and have ordered the company to reimburse policyholders $4.6 million in overpaid premiums, plus interest. The $1 million fine represents $250,000 per year for each year from 2004 to 2007.
According to a press release from the state of Maine (www.maine.gov/), MEGA Life has 30 days to notify Maine’s Bureau of Insurance about how and when it will make those payments. It is estimated that over 9,800 policies are affected by action. Consumers can contact Maine’s Bureau of Insurance at 1-800-300-5000 or contact them at 34 State House Station in Augusta, Maine 04333.
MEGA ignored Maine law
Maine’s Attorney General, Steve Rowe, was quoted as saying, “Based on the evidence, MEGA Life’s rates were determined to be excessive under Maine law. Instead of bringing their rates down as required by law, MEGA Life continued to charge inflated rates. This practice resulted in Maine policyholders being over charged for years. This settlement will return the overcharge plus interest to the policyholder.”
MEGA’s practices not limited to Maine
The company’s practices aren’t limited to Maine and encompass other insurance practices as well. MEGA Life, along with its parent and sister companies, HealthMarkets, Mid-West National Life and Chesapeake Life insurance companies, recently scored very low on a multi-state insurance examination by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 35 states and the District of Columbia and will likely face large fines based on many areas of deficiencies.
The multi-state investigation into the company’s practices recently showed that their operations were deficient in five major areas including:
Handling of policyholder complaints and grievances
Oversight, communication, monitoring and training of agents
Processing and handling of claims made by policyholders
Adherence to a compliance plan
Disclosure of relationships with membership associations and affiliated companies to consumers and policyholders
Source: Washington State Insurance Commissioner (www.insurance.wa.gov/)
If MEGA Life has not acted in good faith and dealt with you fairly, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in bad faith insurance practices to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and strictly confidential. To contact a qualified attorney, please click here.
So you’re actually going to sit here and tell us all, that they only have 4 complaints in Georgia. Try reading this, and thet get back to me. I suppose I’m making up all of this.
“States getting involved
Consumers have been complaining about Mega’s sales practices and false promises for years. So many complaints have been filed that many state’s Attorney Generals are getting involved. Since 2002, Mega has been fined by seven states and is being investigated by 36 other states who are working together to find out more. While the results of the multi-state investigation won’t be known for some time, some states, such as Massachusetts, are not waiting. The Massachusetts Attorney General recently filed a lawsuit against the company alleging deception and unfair practices.”
I suppose this isn’t happening either.
“Everything is generally NOT covered
Even though some insurance sales representatives make outlandish promises, most policyholders don’t realize that everything is not covered until it’s too late. Mega Life Insurance Company has been accused of just that. Their sales agents have been accused of aggressive sales tactics and misleading consumers on what their policies actually cover. In case after case, consumers have complained that claims for even the most basic of services, such as doctor visits, lab tests and prescriptions have been denied by the company – even though sales representatives told them otherwise. Mega, and its sister company, Mid-West National, do business with their parent company, HealthMarkets.
Are you seriously going to tell people on here that your great state has only 4 complaints? But for some strange reason they are part of the National state to state investigation. GOD WHAT ARE THE FREAKING ODDS OF THAT. Provide all of us the link proving your great theory please.
Here’s some more information for you’re ignorant ass. But I suppose this never happened either.
Article: Major Insurance Investigation Leaves MEGA Life Facing Hefty Fines
MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company, along with its parent and sister companies, HealthMarkets, Mid-West National Life and Chesapeake Life insurance companies, recently scored very low on a multi-state insurance examination by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 35 states and the District of Columbia. Regulators say that the companies will likely face large fines based on many areas of deficiencies.
The investigation
The much anticipated results of the multi-state investigation, which began in 2005, show that the companies’ operations were deficient in five major areas. According to a press release from Washington State’s Insurance Commissioner (www.insurance.wa.gov/), those five areas included:
Oversight, communication, monitoring and training of agents
Processing and handling of claims made by policyholders
Disclosure of relationships with membership associations and affiliated companies to consumers and policyholders
Handling of policyholder complaints and grievances
Adherence to a compliance plan
Although many of the states involved in the investigation have already fined MEGA Life and its parent and sister companies separately, regulators concluded that the companies’ actions and complaint histories had not significantly improved when the multi-state investigation had begun. Regulators say that hefty fines are likely to be imposed against the insurers and that they will make that announcement shortly.
Continuous deficiencies
While there were four insurance companies involved in this investigation, MEGA Life has made continuous headlines over the past few years for allegedly deceiving policyholders about the type of insurance it offers. MEGA generally sells low cost, low benefit policies to the self-employed through the National Association for the Self-Employed and Americans for Financial Security, which require policyholders to join these associations for a fee.
However, MEGA agents often represented themselves as brokers – meaning that policyholders thought that the agents would be obtaining quotes from various companies and presenting them with the best plan available. Little did they know – the plans that MEGA agents always presented were only from those two associations.
Continuous turmoil
MEGA Life has been sued by individuals for bad faith insurance practices over and over again. The company has also been reprimanded and/or fined by several state insurance departments including Delaware and Massachusetts and has been given the lowest rating by the Better Business Bureau.
Mega Life was purchased by The Blackstone Group in 2006 and has reported changing some of the practices for which they’ve been fined. While that is a positive aspect, consumers who purchased insurance from MEGA or its parent or sister companies – and then had valid claims denied – are entitled to receive those benefits. If you are one of those consumers, contact an attorney who understands insurance matters and whose practice focuses in that area of law. To contact a qualified attorney for a free, no obligation consultation, please click here.
Sorry, I got the quote wrong about Assurant, it is actually, “The policies of these companies are atrocious. If only you had to deal with the folks selling them….”.
Why doesn’t everyone type Assurant in the search window or go to https://thehealthcareblog.com/the_health_care_blog/2007/01/health_plans_do.html
and see what others say about Assurant.
One blog actually states, wait until you have to deal with the people of Assurant, and it was not in a positive manner. But wait, Kevin sell Assurant, so that blog must be nothing but LIES, LIES, LIES, from all “noobies” who aren’t financial planners. I’m gonna have fun on the new Assurant blog!
You haven’t proved anything either. Becoming a financial planner and getting established are two different things. You have this knack for accusing people of dodging issues and so forth, but yet you do the same. Answer me this, do your Assurant plans pay the way you explain it to customers, and the way they understand it 100% of the time? You started your little bitch blog about Mega, called a bunch of people noobies and other dumb names, yet your company has been investigated by numerous states, cancelled peoples policies, even though you know so much you actually said it was against state law, so I guess your company is a law breaker, huh. Also, they have been investigated for denial of claims. It just sounds like you represent a company you claim to have left with HealthMarkets. I think it is so stupid we are actually arguing about insurance companies though. Did you call the GA Ins. Commissioner’s Office to dispute my claim that Mega has only 1 complaint is 2006 and 3 in 2007. The number, again, is 404-656-2056. You don’t bring that up anymore because it doesn’t help your argument. Your only defense is to say that I lie, Lie, LIE. Call me out on it big boy. But I know you won’t. You’re defense is so weak it is a joke. You rip on Mega for the same shit Assurant does. It was so funny when you stated “I see you went right after Assurant. SHOCKER. I love how you and all the other kool-aiders go after other companies, but you always fail to realize just how investigated your company is. God that’s funny. Look in the mirror for once would ya?” Problem is you won’t look in the mirror at your state investigated, negative out look, cancel people’s policies, insurance company, Assurant. People, I present to you , the King of Pot Calling the Kettle Black. Go ahead and accuse me of being drunk, on Kool-Aid or whatever dumb thing you want to say. I try to state that all insurance companies have issues, and I have proof that yours does also, but you try to act like a little kid, which you probably are based on your Finanical Planner statement, and point the finger somewhere else. I think an outside person, who doesn’t know HealthMarkets or Assurant, would easily see you for the “noobie” who “drinks the kool-aid” (god, are you really that lame?) you are. Have a great life there buddy. Keep selling the lies you try to push here at this dumb blog.
I’m sorry, but were you drunk when you typed your last post? I can’t even follow it.
If I understand the first part correctly, according to you becoming a financial planner is an easy title to get. Really? Easy? That’s news to me. From what I have been told, it’s one of the tougher industries to actually get established in. But hey, you obviously are much more informed than I am.
Secondly, I didn’t know everything in 1 week. Obviously that’s a little tough to do in any industry. Why is it, I have to keep asking you to quit making false claims and accusations. Does UGA have that sort of sales practice built into your DNA? Lie Lie Lie. If you would pay attention to my posts, you would notice that I was there for 1 year and 3 months. The last 3 months are when I was starting to see that UGA/MEGA/HealthMarkets etc. were not what they claimed.
Just for your information, this blog started out as a calling out, about MEGA health insurance. You ask me to talk about other insurance companies on here to play fair. Why would I do that, when this blog is solely about MEGA? Sorry for sticking to the topic, and informing the public about MEGA’s faults. Seriously, are you going to be the one to tell the public about product faults involving MEGA? I highly doubt it. You’re to busy making up stuff in your presentations to do something like that. So that’s where I thought I would come into play, and I could be helpful. Yet time and time again, ignorant noobies, such as yourself, all come on here and say the same thing. MEGA is misunderstood; you hate them because you couldn’t make it there, blah, blah, blah. Until anyone of you actually proves anything I’m saying wrong, than shut the hell up. Then on top of that, you have the audacity to tell me I’m the one who’s brainwashed. You tell me to play fair. But yet it’s you who is on here, telling made up stories about things you can’t even prove ever happened. Is that what you call fair? PEOPLE NEED FACTS. Get that through you thick skull. Christ, you might as well be a politician the way you dodge and dance around things.
Congrats on being a financial planner, it’s a very easy title to get that makes other think you went to school for it and then you are more qualified to sell insurance than others. So you had never sold insurance before, went to, I guess, UGA and went through training and got appointed. You knew everything after training and one week selling the product? Maybe you should just go straight to the CFP instead. It just shows me how brainwashed you really are. You think you sell a product with no holes and pays exactly the way the CUSTOMER, not you, thinks it is going to pay 100% of the time. I do wish you luck and hope you stay motivated. I don’t think you are a bad guy. My whole point is that no one will talk about or try to rebuff the fact all insurance plans have hole in them, have state examination at one time or another, state fines, complaints, ect.. Just play fair, complain about all not just the one that didn’t work out for you because you look very biased(and ignorant) if you don’t.
So if i have you’re rant straight, My FACTS are not valid because you think I haven’t been in the field long enough? That makes sense. I’m sorry for trying to be a master at my profession, and actually know what I’m talking about when I’m in front of people. If I had you fooled in thinking that I have been in the business for longer than what I have, than I must be a pretty educated individual, and someone who soaks up a lot of information. That way, when customers have questions about things, I don’t have to bull shit them and make up stories to try and pitch a product. My bad. I guess now that I switched over to become a financial planner, I guess I could approach that profession and half ass it, and “ACT” like I know what I’m talking about. Who knew that being educated could be something that you could get ripped on about. My question to you is prove anything on here that I said is wrong. GO AHEAD. I will be waiting for that.
I like how you’re trying to make it sound that I hate MEGA beacuse I was terminated as you put. Ummm lets think about this for a second. I walked into my district managers office, and asked him a bunch of questions about the products. He then gets irritated with me, because I have conerns about holes in the products, and he can’t give me a straight answer on any of it. You following me ECB or am I going to fast for you. I then tell him that I no longer wish to represent MEGA, or UGA. Now, about 7 weeks go by, and I get a letter from MEGA stating that my contract is cancelled, because of lack of production. NO kidding. Considering that I haven’t been part of the orginization for 7 weeks. So any agent that has left there, that’s what it says when you look up their names on an commissioner website. It’s got nothing to do with the reason as to why I’m bashing the product. The product, and you will someday realize it, is a joke.
I see you went right after Assurant. SHOCKER. I love how you and all the other kool-aiders go after other companies, but you always fail to realize just how investigated your company is. God that’s funny. Look in the mirror for once would ya?
It’s funny that all ex-mega agents think that current agents think they have the “best gig” in town. Whatever company you sell, if you don’t have confidence in your product, it will show to the customer. I never claimed Mega was the best insurance plan. But in the year and a half I have been selling Mega, I have as of today, yet to have a complaint. It will probably happen one day but it hasn’t happened yet. And I have quite a few people on the books. And I did some research on what Kevin had such a problem with, the 20% assistant surgeon and 50% anestheia. Those two usually bill according to what the insurance company pays because they want to get paid as soon as possible.(Do you think an “assistant surgeon” is going to be able to charge anywhere close to the actual “surgeon”? Please!) Is it always, no, but almost all the time. I found this out from a medical billing department, not HealthMarkets. I will state one more time, I didn’t come here to defend HealthMarkets (remember, I am not captive and I would guess more than half our office here in GA isn’t captive) but for everyone who reads these posts know that all insurance companies have (one, some or all) state investigations, fines, bad press, complaints, bad bbb ratings, ect… All insurance plans have “loop holes” that allow the company to not pay all they promised whether it is “up to 20%” or “Reasonable, as determined by BlueCross” or Assurant had “questionably denied claims and canceled policies,” it’s all out there. Just make sure you bash everyone because when you only bash one company and you were actually let go by that company, it makes it seem you have hard feelings against them. Because you are complaining about them when your companies you now represent do the same things.
Ex-Megaagent-thanks for your input, take care.
My state does not have the CareOne Select Plan so I never saw a brochure. As far as the contract, don’t assume no one reads it or understands it because I did. As for working hard, good for you. I’ve always worked very hard in full time jobs – Mega wasn’t a hard job – it just made me feel guilty because so many customers ended up very unhappy with their coverage – so before you assume you’re the only one who works hard and understands their contract, you’re not. You’re not any different than any other agent who thinks they have the best gig in town because they don’t know any better.
I wish you luck, I’ve said what I want to say and this is it. I am putting HealthMarkets, Mega, UGA, NASE, Cornerstone, MidWest behind me forever. My guess is they won’t be around much longer anyway.
If you remember the CareOne Select Brochure, it does state Major Medical Plan. You have to add the riders to make it a major medical plan, but they are. We don’t have the Care Choice here in GA yet but it’s coming and what is slated for GA is supposed to have more benefits that the CareOne series. There is a 15 state investigation. Check it out at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com. That’s what I am talking about, it happens to all insurance companies. It’s a lame excuse but it’s true. HealthMarkets was under that 30 state investigation because of deceptive sales practices by unethical agents. They were not informing the customer that membership into AFAS or NASE was optional where it is applicable. Or agents were leaving off necessary riders to make the sale. That, my friend, is shitty and those people need to lose their license. I’ve looked up Assurant’s plans and there are things that are better than Mega’s and there are things that are worse. But if you structure Assurant’s plans to somewhat I have with Mega, I’ll have to pay way more with Assurant and those quotes for me were preferred and I have high blood pressure and cholestrol, so you know my rates wll go up 30% to 40%. I’m glad to be able to converse with someone who is a little more mature. I will agree with you both though, if you leave HealthMarkets and you were somewhat successful, then you owe them money. But I knew this before I signed the contract. I think I was one of the few who took this contract to my step mother, who is a retired lawyer, to look it over. I just banked on that I would be successful and it would take care of itself with hard work. And for Assurant, google Assurant complaints and see what you get. And Assurant’s outlook with AM Best is negative as well.
ECB – I don’t represent any insurance company anymore. I do question the validity of you stating that Mega plans are major medical. I would check that out – even the new Care Choice is not a true major med. You might want to clarify that – I apologize if I’m incorrect, I’m pretty sure they are classified as indemnity plans or catastrophic expense plans.
If HealthMarkets is taking steps in the right direction, good for them, they should have done that long ago – as far as Blackstone, I still feel like they are either going to sell the company or watch it crumble – that’s just my opinion – I have no facts to back that up.
One more thing…..15 states investigating Assurant? I don’t know if that’s true or not and I’m not defending any insurance company, but what about Mega being investigated by 30 + states in the multi-state investigation? What about Mega having to pay hefty fines in Maine in addition to refunding people for over-charging their premiums? If the company is really on the up and up like they claim, I don’t see how they could be under this much scrutiny.
By the way, here’s the link to the BBB – I think it has been posted earlier, but here it is again.
http://www.fortworth.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=81050002
It seems like different people had totally different experiences when it comes to UGA/Cornerstone. The plans are considered major medical plan though. I think what most people don’t realize is that whatever insurance company you have, you still have to pay more than deductible and coinsurance maximum, most of the time. My AllState agent had BlueCross with a $5,000 deductible and $2,000 stop loss and he still had $32,000 out of pocket for complications of pregnancy. I know most will say BS but I don’t have a way to prove it but that’s what he told me. Usual and Customary was designed to basically keep insurance companies from being ripped off (that’s actually kind of funny). My aunt, and this was years ago, had BlueCross plan and she actually had to pay for her anesthesia for her hysterectamy. I can see how some HealthMarkets people might seem brainwashed but it seems the same to me from ex-agents. I would be surprised if Kevin was not recruited by Bill Stone. I think that is his name. This guy constantly emails Cornerstone agents trying to get them to sell Assurant plans. Why would you try to recruit agents from a company that supposedly brainwashes their agents? I don’t think Blackstone is wanting the company to crumble. Why would they spend millions on the new Medicare Advantage Plans? Or why would they hire the BlueCross chief underwriter away from BlueCross of GA to run their underwriting department? Why are they rolling out new plans here in Georgia in the next few months? If anything, I would say they are making steps in all the right directions. Let me ask you this-with the plans you sell now, do you guarantee in writing that the deductible and coinsurance maximum is the absolute most they will ever pay for an injury or illness? If you don’t say yes, then your plans don’t have the true stop loss you refer to with Mega and if you say yes, then what companies do you represent so I can look into get appointed with them.
Actually, my district always told me that the complaints with the bureau of insurance in the state I’m in were very low and that’s what we should tell our customers when we were questioned about the bad press to call the DOI to check the company out. What bothered me is the amount of negative information online and the Better Business Bureau has a lot of complaints about HealthMarkets, Inc. and all its subsidiaries. So the DOI in GA doesn’t have a lot of complaints, what about The Better Business Bureau? Nationwide, Mega has a lot of complaints – more than most insurance companies. I feel bad looking back at all of my appointments with customers, telling them how great Mega was, defending all the bad press. Not to mention when my customers would have problems with claims, underwriting, billing, customer service, etc., I would try and step in and help and I’d get a different answer from every person I spoke with at the Insurance Center.
Maybe you will have a great career with UGA/Cornerstone or whoever you’re with, but since I’ve left there (very recently), I feel so much better. I regret the day I walked into UGA two years ago and got so excited about the “opportunity” only to find out that I was not “Helping other people everyday,” but really “hurting other people everyday.” By the way, I sold primarily CarOne Plus plan and I always explained the details of the plan, right down to the coinsurance maximum not being a true out of pocket maximum – the plan not being a major medical, etc. I was not one of the agents out there selling crap, and playing it off as full coverage.
You seem very happy and that’s great, but I can’t help but take Kevin’s side because he’s been there and done that and knows exactly how it feels to finally wake up! I am sorry I wasted so much time in that evil organization.
By the way, when I was getting ready to leave, I emailed Kevin and then spoke with him personally – he was very helpful and actually gave me good tips on how to leave. He may seem angry, but I can totally relate because I am too – I hate to see people continuing to get hurt by this company – my gut feeling is Blackstone is positioning itself to watch the company crumble – just my personal opinion.
I’m not worth it, I know. I know Mega cancels your appointment if you don’t produce. Why give leads to someone who isn’t producing. My whole point to all this nonsense is that Kevin has been bashing Mega and acting like he’s been in the business for years and is the know all of insurance. He sells health insurance through Assurant and stated that Assurant is a great company and they won’t drop you when you get sick. That may not be the case, look at what I found at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
In an investigation into Milwaukee-based Assurant — a health insurer specializing in individual policies — CBS News found that the company has a history of “questionably denied claims and canceled policies,” according to “Evening News.” More than 500 consumer complaints have been filed against the company nationwide, and at least 15 states have investigated its practices.
He dogs Mega for this same behavior. And he obviously doesn’t know his companies that much because they can drop people, otherwise why the 15 state investigation? I actually agree with you exmegaagent, it dumb to have a pissing match because its like a fat kid making fun of another fat kid for being fat. All insurance companies do things they shouldn’t do, fact of life. Mega is no different, Assurant no different and any company you represent, no different. But a total of 4 complaints with Mega in the state of Georgia in the last two years doesn’t sound too bad though.
ECB – I don’t want to get into a pissing contest with you because quite frankly, you’re not worth it. I just wanted to clarify one thing – anyone who does not produce with Mega for eight weeks is subject to automatic cancellation due to lack of production. Many agents, who finally see what this company is about will stop producing because they’re ready to leave. After eight weeks, the company cancels your contract due to lack of performance. It does not mean the agent couldn’t produce as you often hear when people leave, it’s more often because the agent does not want anything to do with selling that crap anymore. I know this because when I decided to leave, I simply quit turning in business. After the seventh week, I got an e-mail from the company saying my contract will be terminated after eight weeks if no applications are turned in. BIG DEAL!!! That’s what I wanted!!!
Then, what happens is the districts can point fingers at the agents who leave and say things like “oh, they were let go because they couldn’t produce.”
Kevin, I have to admit that you actually had me believing you had been in the insurance field a long time. Actually you have been in the field a year and one month longer than me. Your Wisconsin appointments are as follows:
Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company-04/11/2007
Life Investors Insurance Company of America-06/28/2007
Mega Life and Health Insurance Company-01/06/2006
Time Insurance Company-04/13/2007
You actually lost your appointment from Mega due to “Inadequate Production”. No wonder you hate Mega, they pulled your appointment with them away from you. Sounds like a jilted lover or something. And wow, you’ve been experienced so long with your other companies, just barely a year with 2 and not even a year with 1 of them. You never even made it far enough to become appointed with any other HealthMarkets companies because you couldn’t produce. Go on and retort by saying your conscience got in the way. That’s a good cop out. Fact of the matter, you are really no more experienced that most that have replied here and we both are considered new to the insurance field. I have uncovered the truth as to why you hate Mega. Your not alone if it makes you feel even better, many people don’t succeed in this business with any company because it’s not easy. No more personal attacks, you are probably an ok person. I just know the reasoning behind your anger. No more need for me to message anymore, so you won’t be hearing from me again, (sure you’re all happy) I just knew something else fueled this anger. Everyone-have a great weekend. And I will be the bigger man and not bring up the bad press on your companies, because we both know it there.
Maybe you should change your name from ECB to OCD. I have already told everyone on this blog who I represent. Take a good hard look at some of the earlier posts. I realize that comprehending things are a tough chore for you, but maybe you should read a little deeper into things before you start making “MORE” false accusations about someone or something.
My two main carriers that I use are Assurant (AKA TIME INSURANCE) and GTL. My life products are sold through Life Investors, a division of AEGON. There ya go hard on, start digging, because I know that’s what you need to do.
Why shouldn’t I file a complaint about you? You’re a freaking noob who knows only what your district manager tells you to know, and says false things to try and put your product above the others. Just look at your first three posts. Lie, after lie, after lie, and you don’t even justify them after I pointed them out.
I use to try and sell people that same line of bullshit that you’re trying to get away with. It’s how UGA teaches you to sell. Only let the client know so much, or else you will just confuse them. And make sure you throw in stories about poor little girls and other families. Have you told anyone about Doug and Dana Christensen? There’s a great story to tell. Are you seriously that stupid, that you don’t realize I was in your shoes for over a year? Blinded by the fact that money controls that entire origination, and is the only motive to keep selling. The products are a joke, and the only way to keep you going is to start every Rah Rah meeting by handing out money. You claim you know more than me, than prove it. All you have done is throw in conjecture, conspiracy, and lies. Maybe you should be a politician instead. What I do know, is someday the light will come on. Then all that knowledge you “THOUGHT” you had about MEGA, will finally fall through the cracks, and you will see that I am not the fraud you claim I am. Plus I would like to know how I am a fraud. The only company I am ripping on is your group. And I’m not doing that to sell more policies. I’m doing it to let the consumers know what a fucking joke your group is. I can sell my products over the phone or in person. When I take the time to explain every detail of a MEGA policy, and show them the gaps, its game over.
Here’s a little more information for you. I have talked to two attorneys in the past year. Both are experts in insurance fraud, claims misrepresentation, etc. and both said, and I quote,” YOU CAN’T SELL A POLICY FROM MEGA, WITHOUT MISREPRESENTING THE INFORMATION. OTHER WISE IF THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF ALL OF THE GAPS, THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT IT.” Pretty hard to argue with that.
But you keep on keeping on, and keep thinking that you know more about this than people that have been in the field A LOT, longer than you have. I’m sure the only person who actually feels you have won this round is you. Keep patting yourself on the back for a self proclaimed victory.
p.s. quit e-mailing ya stalker
Why won’t Kevin level the playing field and fess up to who he represents? People who read this blog, ask yourself this- Why won’t Kevin confess. I can answer. He stated that he was afraid i would dig up all kinds of stuff on his companies. So he just admitted he represents companies that have terrible past histories. This blog will make everyone dumber for having read Kevin’s BS. I award you all no points and may god have mercy on your soul. W-1 L-0. Actually, I have respect for Kevin because he feels for his companies like I do mine. Whether we agree or not (can you guess if we do) I wish no will ill on Kevin and hope he feels in his heart that he is doing his customers the best he can, just as I do. Kevin, much love brother, but you lost this round. There is always next time!
Wow, Kevin is so smart… wait not really. He is looking at my permanante license. I had my temp since Feb. 2007. So really I have been selling for almost a year and half. Isn’t it sad how I know more than Kevin after only 1.5 years. And he helped prove I am not captive! Thanks Kevin. And you don’t have to be appointed with Chesapeake or Mid-West or United American to sell Mega, the company you have a hard on for. Get a little more educated and then talk to me. Who do you represent? People, does this not tell you something? Someone talks shit about certain companies but won’t disclose their companies or how long they have been in the insurance business. I have hid nothing. Who do you trust, someone who has no problem laying it all out there or someone who hides behind a name? Oh, I better calm down, he might file a complaint.HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Wow, false claims. OK Mr. King of Falsr Claims that can’t back anything up any more than me. Still no answer to who Kevin represents. I have no problem sharing with whom ever reads this who I represent. Why is Kevin so scared to share his info? He’s not going to fall into my trap….of truth.So why won’t he say who he represents, I can answer that, because then I can expose him for the fraud he is. “I’ll talk all kinds of shit about other companies and when someone calls me out,…..I’ll threaten them with a complaint from the ins. commissioner.” You all know the truth, just read Kevin’s dodging of anything that can be used against him. You probably represent companies that are like you, dodging claims and making excuses. There is no luck that’s gonna help you.
CHESAPEAKE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ACTIVE 10/02/2007
MEGA LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY ACTIVE 09/24/2007
MID-WEST NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF TENNESSEE ACTIVE 09/28/2007
UNITED AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY ACTIVE 10/05/2007
UNITED HEALTHCARE INSURANCE COMPANY ACTIVE 12/31/2007
UNITED HEALTHCARE OF GEORGIA, INC. ACTIVE 12/31/2007
All of these companies you have to be registered with when you work for UGA or cornerstone. That’s what makes you captive. What a fraud, HUH? And I see you have been selling for only 6 months. What a shocker. That really explains everthing. Get an education, and then come talk to me.
I didn’t type “needs to change”. I typed “needs to be fixed”. Get it straight. Two totally different things. When HealthMarkets acquired UICI, they DID change things, basically everything. As long as you hide behind your blanket of security by not telling everyone who you represent, keep blasting other companies. I will keep on replacing the policies you pedel. But like I stated before, whether you represent one company or another, as long as you are 100% upfront with your clients, I hope all of you, you included Kevin, make a fortune.
That’s your comeback. I must have gotten beat up a lot in school? What are you a child?
Why do I need to have them answer the questions I’m asking you to answer? My guess is you can’t. All you do is come on here, talk shit, and leave. Congrats douche. You are the typical MEGA sales person. LIE LIE LIE, and you have no proof to support anything. You come back with one of the dumbest things I’ve heard of to try and insult me. Maybe I will call that number tomorrow. That way I can file a complaint against you for making false claims. People like you should not be in this business. So if you get a strange letter from the commissh, that would from me.
I know, you’re trying to bait me in. Nice technique, but it’s quit obivous I’m dealing with someone with limited intelligence. Let’s see, I tell you who I sell for, and then you look up every possible thing you can to try and smear the products. I realize your childish, and are trying to conquer the world by selling MEGA, but the fact is your company can’t compete, and it’s only a matter of time before you’re exposed for what you are. And that voice you hear laughing in the background will be me. Have a good night and good luck, you’re going to need it.
Elvis, where are you? Have you left the building?
The GA Ins. Comm. website sucks. Call them and ask about Mega. 404-656-2056. I used to be insured under a 500 deductible ppo plan with BlueCross. I got doctor bills for shit they wouldn’t cover even though I was only supposed to have a $20 co pay. I have yet, in almost two years, to get a doctor bill with Mega. The Preventative Plus Rider is incredible and even covers things like colonoscopies and emergency room visits. Hate all you want but I know the Mega plans as good as anyone and I will put them up against any individual health insurance plan. Your shot Kev’
All you HealthMarkets haters, Kevin has been proved a fraud. I am licensed with other companies besides HealthMarkets companies (as well as many in our office) and it can be proven. Email me and I will give you my license number so you can see for yourself.
So what companies to you represent? Come on big boy, scared?
Just call the 404-656-2056 number. They will answer all your questions for you. In 2006, one complaint and in 2007, three complaints. Check for yourself tomorrow.
I forgot to answer your question. Yes, the koolaid is great. I actually feel bad for you. Your comments make it seem like you were beat up alot in school. You should of been a cop instead.
After I did some investigating, I looked up MEGA Life and Health on the Georgia Commissioners webpage. I’m curious about something. When I look up Human, Blue Cross, Assurant, they have an H next to their name. The H means that they are allowed to sell health insurance in Goergia. When I look up MEGA, all there is, is an L. The L means that they only sell Life insurance. What am I missing here.
Also, find me a link for the complaints page in Georgia. I want to see the only “4 Complaints” claim. Can you do that for me, or are you going to continue to try and blow smoke?
You really are an idiot. Lower margin is not the same as marginal. Wow, you can’t understand the difference. Lower margin means they make less money on certain health insurance plans because why…they pay much more.
Insurance companies can and do drop people based upon their health here in Georgia. I even came upon a 10 person group who BlueCross dropped because one person got sick and their loss ratio dropped too low. I don’t feel the need to try to prove it because it’s true. What companies do you represent? Are you too afraid to say because you know I can tear them apart like you try to do to Mega. And I am not captive. Email me and I will email you back with my license number and you can go to the GA Ins. Commissioner’s website and check for yourself or are you too afraid that all your followers will see that you are a moron?
About “your” plans. Do they have stop losses out of network? Do they guarantee that a deductible and coinsurance max. is all you pay? (If you say yes, then you really need to find some other blog to bullshit.) You didn’t address much of anything that I either stated ot better yet, quoted.
You say bad press against HealthMarkets is still going on because look at all the exagents who made comments. So what! Wow, because an “exemployee” said something bad about a company doesn’t do shit for me. The proof is in the pudding. Call the GA Ins. Commissioner’s Office at 404-656-2056 and ask them about complaints (or lack of) and state fines(none) against Mega and then compare them against “your” phantom companies. You’re not even going to “read” my other posts right now,