Health insurance "Homeland Health Care"

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Moore on September 24, 2009 at 4:03pm

Kevin, make sure you have a direct conversation with the new insurance company. Try to confirm with absolute certainty that your factor and other meds will be covered.
Start with that first...then approach your state program options...keep us all posted.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Moualim on September 25, 2009 at 8:47pm

Hi Kevin

If you would like call our advocate in Washington Committee of Ten Thousand 800-488-2688.
Dave Cavenaugh.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by samuell price on January 23, 2010 at 11:55pm

Hi Kevin. I checked on the Homeland HealthCare and found it is not a true insurance company. They do not even tote that as their business. They are in fact only a health care administration company. Even their own website says so.
"Homeland HealthCare is a national third-party administrator whose services and support, to both it's brokers and their customers..."
They are actually a middle man in the insurance game. They buy from insurance brokers what they feel will cover the needs of their "customers". That of course would be you and those you work with.
I personally would warn my managers at work about this company. They are using the Homeland Security idea to promote health care coverage. This means they have no true moral core to their business. A company that uses such a ploy to get business is not one to be trusted. They are attempting to use the fear of people to make them feel secure in using them. Besides, you will actually find that you are dealing with 4 insurance companies and not just 1. Don't be surprised if one of the true insurance companies that underwrites them wants more info from you or sends you separate bills.
I am not sure what state you live in, but in Texas, there is a state health insurance pool. It is covered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. You can always choose to stay with company insurance until you have done your research and found an alternative source of factor coverage.
Look for state insurance pools and contact the factor companies directly. Most have programs to provide factor to patients that can not keep or get coverage their selves.
Do not feel bad if you have to quite work one day and live on the system. I had a great job with GE and then I had some serious health issues occur. I lost my job and nearly my life. I ended up on Social Security Disability. I was on it from 2000 until 2009. For the first little bit I felt terrible knowing I could not support my self. Then it hit me. I now had the chance to go back to school and get my education. So, I applied for scholarships and grants and went to college. From 2002 until 2007 I was going to school, starting a family and my health was improving. Sometimes living off the system is more beneficial to you and others. I had medicare and that covered my meds and doctors. I now work for the US Army as a civilian biologist and have great insurance. Now I am giving back to the system that gave me so much.
Those with hemophilia, HIV and/or hepititis will always depend on the system until the human race stops being greedy and willingly starts to help each other. Use the system to help you and those around you. Don't let someone ever tell you your worthless because you need to use the system.
Be cautious of this new "insurance" company. Ask questions. Don't be afraid. I was and that nearly cost me my life. You are paying them to provide a service and they expect you to cower from them. How else do you thing big companies make money on insurance. People become afraid to ask and thus get ran over. The insurance I had with GE said one thing for three years and did another. Get every thing in writing from someone that matters. Make the boss of the health cars system give you in writing a letter stating everything is covered. Make a list of what you know needs to be covered and have that as part of the letter. Once it is in writing you can have a leg to stand on if they ever attempt to change your coverage. Make copies of that letter and put them away.
Also, learn the laws related to insurance companies and what they can/can not do. Some states require insurance companies to give a certain level of coverage or prevent them from not covering you.
So get to know the laws where you live. Go live on the system as a last result. Fight f0r your rights. You may want to do a cost comparison between the current insurance company and the one you are switching to. Do this for you and the whole company. You will find that the cost will not change much. Companies like this will often cover those with hemophilia, but at a much higher cost to everyone. They may work on a sliding scale also. The more expensive you are to them the higher the premium you and the company pays. Get all of that in writing and in a presentation to your bosses. IF this is true then they may feel justified in not changing due to the extra costs in the long run. Check with co-workers. You are probably like the rest of use and have many co-workers with other severe health needs. Get their concerns on paper and present them to the head guys. Also work into the presentation the number of workers that will be paying more out of pocket due to a sliding scale. That means unhappy employees with less productivity and falling profit margins. That usually hits a sore spot with managers and a board of directors. Don't let them intimidate you. You are as human as they are and deserve to be treated as such.
I am similar in my health needs and understand. I have hemophilia, reactive arthritis, hepatitis and about to have a knee replaced and I am only34. Good luck.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by E. Wayne Cone on January 25, 2010 at 10:01am

Hey Kevin,
I know it's been a while since you posted this question, so I won't go into detail as you may have solved your dilemma by now. I too was/am in the same boat as you, just older:). I have always worked for big companies that had good insurance. I also am in middle of the Hep C treatments, and had my hip replaced. If you still want to talk about your situation, please shoot me an email/message. I am happy to share my journey of dealing with the joys of insurance:). Take care and God Bless!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by kevin on January 25, 2010 at 12:19pm

Update: I ended up purchasing my own insurance plan thru highmark. This is what I was on before with my employer and so I could get on with pre existing conditions. I was in contact with The Delaware Valley Chapter of Hemophiliacs and they recommended Patient Services Incorporated to help with my premium. I applied and was accepted so they are now paying 100% of my premium. I have a $3,000 co-payment but I am now getting my factor thru Hemophilia Health Services and they may help me pay that. It is a challenge to work a fulltime job and keep on top of all this stuff but it pays to make the phone calls

▶ Reply to This