Over eighty days have passed since I published a diary on our huge savings under the ACA at this link http://www.dailykos.com/.... The only bad news is we still have not received our insurance cards and packet from the private sector insurer Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield. I always hear Republican groups complaining that the government can do nothing right and it is the private sector who we need to rely upon if we want things to go smoothly
The enrollment through NY State of Health website went smoothly and everything went through without a hitch. About six weeks passed and no premium bill or welcome packet with insurance cards so I called the Exchange and they confirmed my enrollment complete and everything was forwarded onto the insurance carrier.
Find out what happened after the jump
So. I call the insurance carrier and after two hours on hold I get a live voice. She explained that indeed they had my application for some time but they did not receive my payment. I said, how can I make a payment without a bill or packet with all the info. The company rep went on to explain they were waiting for applicants to call them and make payments first so I made the payments over the phone and received email confirmations of payments received and as soon as processed I would receive cards and packet. I was also informed we are covered regardless as of 1/1/14.
Two more weeks pass now at 1/10/14, still no packet and still no payments applied to my credit card. I call back the carrier again after an hour long wait the live voice confirms that we are in their system but they received so many new policy holders under the Exchange that they did not start processing the payment till 1/2/14 and when they get around to processing mine than cards and packet will be mailed out. But, she concluded, don't worry your covered.
I just find it so ironic that with all the right wing put down of the inefficiencies of big govt. run programs that the government run part was the only thing that went smoothly and that it is the private sector insurance carrier, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield that can't get it right.