Received Health Insurance Survey.....I'm suspicious

[H.G.P.]

Recieved a letter from health insurance carrier today. Excerpt first paragraph:

"The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)....requires...to conduct a health assessment survey for all new Medicare enrollees in a timely manner."


Top of next paragraph..."Please be assured this information will only be used to help us connect you to the health services you may need."....

On back of letter .......Some "Sample questions" to be answered by phone:

1. How you rate your health?

2. In hospital previous 12 months? Yes or No

3. Take more than six meds per day? Please say yes or no.

4. Do you need anyone to help you with daily activities like bathing, using the bathroom, or walking?

some other questions...jump down to 6.

6. Are you using any medical equipment or supplies at home?

7. have you fallen down more than once in the past 12 months? Yes or No

9. At this time, are you receiving medical treatment for any of the following conditions? Breathing? Diabetes? Heart or Circulation? High Blood Pressure? Kidney Problems? Cancer? Stroke?

Then toward the bottom.."Please have the following information about your primary care physician ready"......


First off never had to answer such a survey, and I don't think we're "new" Medicare" enrollees here?

Thoughts on this? Anyone else being asked these questions? Sounds to me like either govt. intrusion or an attempt to get money ? Also seems like the beginning of meddling into at home personal affairs to me. Maybe profiling too. Thoughts anyone?

(I might add that on the taking more than 6 meds per day question no.3, they are asking to include OTC meds, herbal and vitamins in the total also)

[mossguy]

Marketing "Scam" meant to look like a government requirement.

Best,
Tom

[H.G.P.]

Originally Posted by mossguy

Marketing "Scam" meant to look like a government requirement.

Best,
Tom

But the letter and envelope have the official logo of the insurance carrier and states it's a requirement under "Advantage" plans.

[Tobra]

Drop it in the shredder, you never got it, savvy?

[Gogar]

Ignore it.

[Normy]

Shred it. There is a word for that- "mam", meaning mail spam.

N

[widgeon13]

HIPPA, they can't ask those questions!

[s_morrison57]

Same crap happened to me, be careful, I refused to do a blood test an physcial at my home by an unlicienced medical pro??? I'm sure she could practice in China, just not in Canada. I told them I go to my Doc. for that and they said they don't trust my Doc. I didn't get the extended coverage from the company and a couple of months later I started working for the same company as a private consultant and I figured I would get some private insurance on my own, its Canada so everything is free or almost except dental,optomitry, perscriptions, chiro, but I wanted that coverage. The next insurance company refused to insure me cause the first group had branded me as uninsurable and they passed all that info to their competitors, I went through the roof, called the first people and threatened legal action against them, to cut it short they corrected their FU and I was able to get the coverage I wanted, just be careful cause all insurance companies talk and to get branded non-compliant by one means they all could/will treat you the same way. I hate insurence companies , they aren't there to help you they are there to look for someone to blame so they can get away with not paying. Just be carful cause the friendly Alstate guy is not your friend, the more people thy screw the more money they make. IMO they can all go to H
Rant over, sorry for the spelling, I missed that day at school

[red-beard]

Center for Medicare and Medicad Services...



It is an OBVIOUS scam

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by s_morrison57

I hate insurence companies , they aren't there to help you they are there to look for someone to blame so they can get away with not paying. Just be carful cause the friendly Alstate guy is not your friend, the more people thy screw the more money they make. IMO they can all go to H
Rant over, sorry for the spelling, I missed that day at school

Don't get me started on insurance companies.
I'm an employer in the US. My company and my employees have been abused by insurance companies for 20 years. Doesn't look like it's going to end any time soon.

[Rikao4]

forward to Opie or Nazee

Rika

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by H.G.P.

Recieved a letter from health insurance carrier today. Excerpt first paragraph:

"The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)....requires...to conduct a health assessment survey for all new Medicare enrollees in a timely manner."


Top of next paragraph..."Please be assured this information will only be used to help us connect you to the health services you may need."....

On back of letter .......Some "Sample questions" to be answered by phone:

1. How you rate your health?

2. In hospital previous 12 months? Yes or No

3. Take more than six meds per day? Please say yes or no.

4. Do you need anyone to help you with daily activities like bathing, using the bathroom, or walking?

some other questions...jump down to 6.

6. Are you using any medical equipment or supplies at home?

7. have you fallen down more than once in the past 12 months? Yes or No

9. At this time, are you receiving medical treatment for any of the following conditions? Breathing? Diabetes? Heart or Circulation? High Blood Pressure? Kidney Problems? Cancer? Stroke?

Then toward the bottom.."Please have the following information about your primary care physician ready"......


First off never had to answer such a survey, and I don't think we're "new" Medicare" enrollees here?

Thoughts on this? Anyone else being asked these questions? Sounds to me like either govt. intrusion or an attempt to get money ? Also seems like the beginning of meddling into at home personal affairs to me. Maybe profiling too. Thoughts anyone?

(I might add that on the taking more than 6 meds per day question no.3, they are asking to include OTC meds, herbal and vitamins in the total also)

when I get weird inquiries like this. I call my contact in the organization directly (not any numbers provided in the letter) and ask "what's up?" If this is legit, then they will be glad to confirm it to you.

If they do confirm the survey is legit, and you think they are asking questions that are not appropriate or you think they should have answers to already, ask them why they are asking stuff they already know.

If you do not want to answer, just don't. What can they do?