United Healthcare You have GOT to be kidding me! Atlanta Georgia

I hope you are feeling better.  I would suggest taking time to know your benefits.  Most people think "I'm covered" but don't take the time to know what their DEDUCTIBLE is, what their CO-PAYS are or any OUT OF POCKET or COINSURANCE expenses.  Also, take the time now to know what hospitals, offices and physicians are IN NETWORK so when an emergency happens you can say TAKE ME THERE.  You almost have to be an expert at health insurance to make sure you save the most amount of money possible.  I would suggest calmly calling your insurance company and asking them it they can have your claim adjusted because you were in no condition to determine who was IN or OUT of network.  You might get a one time courtsy adjustment.  Hope all is well and hope you are feeling better.

UHC is WONDERFUL; you just have to communicate with them!

My husband and I got married last July. He didn't health insurance because he worked for a small company, and the cost was prohibitive. So I wanted to put him on mine, which would have cost an additional $60 every 2 weeks, and he thought that was too much money.

When you get married, you have only 30 days to add your spouse, or else wait for open enrollment. Well, on the morning of the 29th day--no, I'm not making this up--my cat (ok, he's a really big cat) had too much catnip; was going for the catnip sock my husband had made for him, and accidentally bit my husband--hard. He washed it out with alcohol and thought nothing more about it, except he was pretty sore.

By the next morning, he had severe cellulitis, was immediately admitted to the hospital, and--long story short--UNITED HEALTH CARE ALLOWED ME TO PUT HIM ON MY INSURANCE!!! ON THE 30TH DAY FOLLOWING MY MARRIAGE!!!

He was actually in the hospital for 5 days. The hospital bill alone was over $11,000; and there were a lot of doctors' bills on top of that, which UHC cheerfully covered.

We also were out of network and there was a charge, but once I explained my husband was in an emergency situation and had no control over which doctors the hospital assigned to him, UHC adjusted everything.

Unfortunately the company I work for keeps expanding and now we are in several states, so we had to allow UHC to expire, and now we have Aetna. I'm not knocking Aetna, all I'm saying is, call them. Go through the phone tree. TALK to them. They really are a wonderful company. And no, nobody paid me to write this!

I have had UHC with several employers, and the coverage was always great under my policies. I had trouble finding any providers that were NOT participating. I know they were fast to pay the bills too--they had a 10 day claim processing goal.

I had a gall bladder removed, and it only cost me the $10 office visit copay from my surgeon visit. Also had carpal tunnel release on both hands and it did not cost me anything.

I guess it just depends on your policy. Read the policy thoroughly, as most have emergency care clauses allowing Out-of-network in an emergency.

jnow what your getting for er services, which are different than normal ones. I love my care and went to the er and NO problem. I've had 45 surgeries, at least 15 major surgeries, over 100k a piece with NO problems. Read what you have first, each poilicy is different! I love UHC! By the way, thats is not alot to have left to pay. You want to have what I go thru? Then you migh actual have something to complain about.However I tend to be grateful. I am alive, could be dead, so I thank God very day I am alive. Try it, cheers one up.

Wow...I'll bet UHC has never been threatened before. Your threat against them means nothing.....nor do they fear your temper. Stop being dramatic and file an appeal that this was done under emergency conditions. NO Insurance company is gonna pay ALL the charges....regardless of you having a bad temper and threatening them....not a chance and it doesnt make them a bad company.

Still have United - never had a problem
I always check the website for in and out of network physicians and hospitals
Sorry you had such a bad experience - Please check all you EOBS (explanation of benefits) that you get in the mail - If you do not agree with them then file a claim and contact a United Healthcare rep via phone (not email)
And no I do not work for them
My Mother is an Insurance Rep for a Doctor and she has always said that United pays their claims on time
Be lucky you did not have Cigna - used to have them and they were the worst!
Good luck to you

The "appeals" process is a waste of time. I did it not once but THREE Times on a single claim when I was forced to see a physician that they said was out of network because their in network provider REFUSED to see me and the one did have to go to UHC had not finished his enrollment paperwork and it was sitting on someone's desk for months.

Despite three appeals and a complaint to the Georgia Insurance Commissioner (which is also a HUGE waste of time) UHC LIED to the insurance commissioner and said they couldn't reach me for the final appeal hearing (they actually left me a message saying it is on this day and time and we will notify you of the results NOT that I could or was expected to participate) and that they weren't paying as I did not get pre-authorization to go out of network. Nevermind that my plan documents specifically say that isn't required. Then the story changed to I didn't request "gap coverage" to cover the gap between in and out of network with the in network provider refused care.

United Health Care is one of the WORST insurance companies on the planet and I thank GOD daily I am no longer covered by them!

I will follow the appeal process. What gets me is this was EMERGENCY surgery. Does UHC REALLY expect me to ask if a doctor is in my network when they are wheeling me in to get sliced? Seriously...it shouldn't matter of the Dr wasn't IN my freakin network. I did NOT have a choice. So while you may have had a great experience so far, enjoy it while it lasts.

I am not going to stand for this. I had NO choice in who worked on me before my appendix burst. This is not only bad business, they have really tweaked the wrong person. It is a crock and I will make them pay for all the services rendered. See as the Prysby system in Allen in IN their network, it makes no sense one surgeon is not as they did take my card and co-pay. So their little explaination holds squat at this point. 'Specially since they had no problem paying for a 6k emergency room visit in June. I am Gaelic, I am angry and that is not a good mix.

I am not going to stand for this. I had NO choice in who worked on me before my appendix burst. This is not only bad business, they have really tweaked the wrong person. It is a crock and I will make them pay for all the services rendered. See as the Prysby system in Allen in IN their network, it makes no sense one surgeon is not as they did take my card and co-pay. So their little explaination holds squat at this point. 'Specially since they had no problem paying for a 6k emergency room visit in June. I am Gaelic, I am angry and that is not a good mix.

I am not going to stand for this. I had NO choice in who worked on me before my appendix burst. This is not only bad business, they have really tweaked the wrong person. It is a crock and I will make them pay for all the services rendered. See as the Prysby system in Allen in IN their network, it makes no sense one surgeon is not as they did take my card and co-pay. So their little explaination holds squat at this point. 'Specially since they had no problem paying for a 6k emergency room visit in June. I am Gaelic, I am angry and that is not a good mix.

I am not going to stand for this. I had NO choice in who worked on me before my appendix burst. This is not only bad business, they have really tweaked the wrong person. It is a crock and I will make them pay for all the services rendered. See as the Prysby system in Allen in IN their network, it makes no sense one surgeon is not as they did take my card and co-pay. So their little explaination holds squat at this point. 'Specially since they had no problem paying for a 6k emergency room visit in June. I am Gaelic, I am angry and that is not a good mix.

over 6 years never had a problem
I have an EPO coverage policy
Read you coverage policy - If you are not satisfied then contact your HR Department

An appendectomy doesn't cost $2900.

It's more like 10K in-network, and 20K out of network. So the doctor who worked on you who is out of network probably sent a bill to UHC for 20K. But my guess is that UHC will just pay him the 70% of the 10K that they would pay their in-network doctor less any deductibles. It's possible he'll be paid about 6K by UHC, and he's entitled to the probable balance of 14K which will be paid by you.

This isn't just UHC, it's every PPO. If you go outside of network, you are responsible for anything beyond the reasonable and customary.


This happened to me once with BC/BS, but fortunately it was only a $500 bill.