Nase Complaints

We get calls constantly from clients wondering about the validity of these companies. We'd like to just provide you additional information before you consider applying for this coverage. Nobody should have a problem with consumers shopping around should they? The message here is to compare before you buy. Give me a call and I'll be able to answer questions for you.

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Click on the above link for quotes from not just one, but up to a dozen different companies. You'll have the chance to enter information to get rates no matter what state you live in.

Let's be clear, I'm not telling you to not consider, get quotes or even apply for the NASE plan, by all means take a look and compare it. Just be clear on what the benefits are so you can make an accurate comparison. A question to ask (and see in writing) is what is the maximum out-of-pocket expense should you end up in the hospital with $100,000 or $250,000 worth of medical bills. Meaning after you shell out $3,000, for example, for your deductible how much will you pay beyond that? How much will the company pay? Make sure you're clear on that. Sure the odds ARE lower that you'd have a bill that size, but if you could cover those bills for the same or less money why wouldn't you? So, COMPARE to find out before you apply. Most companies clearly state in their literature how exactly the plan works so make sure you get a brochure and when you ultimately get a plan make the plan matches the brochure.

I'm now making available a copy of the NASE/Mega Life "Health Choice Advantage Benefit Plan" (click to download) brochure just so you can compare. This was provided to me by a client whom I was able to obtain a major medical plan (instead of just a "Hospital/Medical Surgical Expense Plan") for a lower premium and full across the board coverage. You'll notice the "X's" in the brochure and those are the benefits this client had picked. To be fair NASE does also offer a PPO plan (see update below as of 2/2008) and if one of their agents would like to provide that brochure I'd be happy to put it up here (also this plan may not be available in your state and could change, yada, yada...just use it as a reference). And insurance companies price their plans differently in different zip codes and for different ages. So, sometimes one company may be more competitive for one person whereas another company is more competitive for another.

I get calls now from agents saying, "well that's the old plan" and "I only sell the new PPO." That plan is better, but it's still sold by the same agents and insurance company and it's still just not competitively priced. Click Here and you can download a sample quote of that new plan. Even still I was able to quote a plan from a reputable company with better benefits and about 20% cheaper using the same ages and zip code.

February 2008 -- UPDATE on the "new PPO" plan (click here to download NASE/MEGA CareOne exerpts from their brochure). Ok, I finally got my hands on the "CATASTROPHIC" Expense PPO plan. Above when I was looking at the plan and comparing it to the competition I had no idea that the deductible was PER INCIDENT. This means if you end up in the hospital this month due to pneumonia and next month due to a separate illness or injury you're responsible for the DEDUCTIBLE AND Out Of Pocket Maximum AGAIN. You can end up in the course of a year paying the deductible THREE TIMES! Comprehensive plans usually aggregate all of your bills from all of your illnesses and injuries -- I'd certainly pay more to do the math that way, so why not pay less for it? And, sure they have riders to help with accidents and the deductible is reduced for accidents, but look at the example costs below...

A NASE agent showed a (now) client of mine a plan that if she did go through the deductible and out of pocket limit three times it would cost her $19,500 over the year AND this plan would have cost her $280 per month (A 35 year old). Sure that was less than her COBRA plan, but it didn't come close to the plans from multiple companies I showed her with a total risk of less than $3000 per year (including deductible and coinsurance,out-of-pocket maximums, etc...) for about $100/month (from $91-$131/month to be exact). Again, feel free to take a look at their plan, just make sure you shop around.

Oh, and the plan we went with included matenity coverage. The NASE agent told her that if she got pregnant they'd "arrange it so she got dropped from the policy so she'd qualify for the state coverage." In Maryland we have a state plan that covers the uninsurable (assuming you have NO coverage). I was floored by this advice. (this is exactly what my client told me)

Shopping Pointers

Here are major points to consider when buying insurance and what to look for when looking into ANY company in general:

-- Question a company that has agents that must come see you in person. Ask them to mail, fax or e-mail you a quote for you to review on your own first. It is best to have someone help you make the final decision, but do it on your terms and don't just consider the offerings from one company. A broker can help sort out your options from many carriers and there is no fee to do business with a broker. They get paid by the company you do business with. Brokers that have been in the business a long time are likely more aware of many different company's offerings and can help you sort those out for free.

-- Question a company that has a confusing web site. Also ask the person that calls whether they are licensed for insurance and whether the plan is an insurance plan. There are some plans that are only discount plans, including plans that we sell, but they are sold as if they are insurance. So you need to be very careful and smart too...meaning if someone says you can cover your whole family for $150/month..it's probably NOT insurance. (***this point does have NOTHING to do with the NASE plan, but it's an important shopping tip for other plans found on the web***).

-- Be wary of companies that use multiple deductibles for different medical services making it confusing to compare their plan to other plans. So, make sure you compare the hospitalization & surgical deductible -- as the big items are what you really need insurance for. Don't let an agent try to gloss over those higher deductibles and dwell on an office visit copay for $10 or $20. Because insurance is designed to protect big losses and a doctor's office visit does not change your standard of living, but having to shell out $3,000 for an operation certainly might. Again, there's nothing wrong with knowing how your policy works before you get it. Is it a true major medical plan? Or, are you buying a hospitalization plan that costs as much (or more) than a major medical plan with a couple of outpatient riders thrown in? Is the deductible a comprehensive annual deductible or is it a per incident deductible?

-- Look at the OUTPATIENT BENEFITS...and this includes some of the plans you'll see in our quote engine (ask and I'll let you know which ones). Outpatient services can be VERY VERY expensive and should not be taken lightly if they are eliminated or reduced. Can you say "Chemotherapy...." can you spell "MRI"...."CAT scan".....ca-ching...ca-ching...ca-ching....

-- If an agent represents only one company, it's hard to say that they'll give you unbiased advice if there's another company that's better -- that is the "square peg" must fit "round hole" or they go home empty handed. So, if they only represent one company, find yourself a broker that can show you most of the others so you can compare all that may be available. I have often run into brokers that sell other plans now that used to sell NASE, but I have never (not saying they don't exist, but I've never) run into a NASE agent who used to have the ability to sell other plans. Most of the time this is their first job in the insurance industry (my opinion and impression).

-- Finally, if a company makes you join an association to get their insurance, that in and of itself is not a bad thing. There are many companies that do this. However, this, in my opinion, does not make the plan a "group" plan. If it did, the coverage would not be medically underwritten for someone leaving another group plan. They would be covered under the HIPAA laws. Trying to convince someone that they're getting into a "group" and that a certain "buying power" of large numbers has anything to do with getting quality health care is a quite questionable tactic. Plus MOST insurance companies charge $2 or $3 a month to create the association.

So take a look around our site and you'll see we're very well equipped to serve the self-employed and other individuals and families that buy their own health insurance. Finally, even more affordable MAJOR MEDICAL health insurance is here....

And as a note to agents who may be offended in some way of what I put here please re-read it again before you decide to send me an e-mail or leave me a message after hours. I have put nothing derogatory. The message is simply for the consumer to compare what's offered to them. I get so confused why an agent would not want a consumer to compare before buying --- that is after all why they put labels on food in the grocery store.

MidWest National Life - Health Insurance
This is a plan you'll likely not see as much depending on where you live. I've only run into one time so far. Midwest National is also owned by Health Markets (formerly UICI & Mega Life's parent company) and you'll notice that the plans are all but identical. Even the application looks the same. The one time I encountered it I was able to get the client an $800 annual deductible with caps up to $1,000,000 for less money than the $2,500 per incident deductible they applied for with caps around $50,000. Again, just compare because there may be a better plan for you as there was for this couple. (download Midwest Hospital Surgical brochure).