♦ REFRESH to rotate MAAMAW'S CLICKY NOTES thru this space..... Timely Tips, Best of the Boards & More ♦
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMS!  Research all business opportunities thoroughly, and never blow off other people's bad experiences.  Ask around (and listen!).  The Scams101 Message Board is a good place to start.  What's that?  You've found a Biz Op and you're wondering if it's endorsed by FIB?...  Not unless it's listed in MaaMaw's Magnificent Toolbox.






[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

FIB - Scams 101

Re: American Health Benefits

Posted By: Tanya
Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009, at 3:02 p.m.(pst)

In Response To: Re: American Health Benefits (Kenn Kowalsky)

>> >> Is anyone familiar with American Health Benefits? They are a
>> company
>> >> that offers a discount program for medical, dental, &
>> vision care. Not
>> >> an insurance plan. I've talked to a couple of reps, visited
>> their website
>> >> and googled their name/scam. All I really found other than
>> what info the
>> >> company gives out is a BBB Reliability Report from the Dallas
>> branch. They
>> >> are a member with a satisfactory record, but I'm still not
>> sure if it
>> >> would be a good alternative or supplement to traditional
>> health insurance
>> >> or even if they deliver what they promise. Being
>> self-employed and buying
>> >> our own health insurance has become very difficult to afford.
>> Our plan
>> >> does not cover well care, pays only 1 medically necessary
>> office visit per
>> >> year for us and 2/year for each kid (we have 3), has a 3K
>> deductible and
>> >> then pays only 80% after deductible is met, co-pays for
>> prescriptions, and
>> >> still costs nearly 700/mth. We are rarely sick and have no
>> chronic
>> >> illnesses, but putting out all that money per month makes it
>> difficult to
>> >> also afford well care and routine screenings (i.e. mammogram,
>> routine
>> >> exams, required physicals for the kids for school and sports,
>> etc.). On
>> >> the other hand, if something serious happened like an
>> accident or severe
>> >> sports injury and we had no insurance, we could face
>> financial ruin. Any
>> >> info or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

>> Tanya,

>> As someone who has been involved with a company similar to American
>> Health Benefits that sells a type of discount medical benefit cards, I can
>> honestly tell you that and there aren't many instances where these types
>> of plans make financial sense. If you had a lot of pre-existing conditions
>> and could not get health insurance and were forced to pay for all your
>> healthcare out-of-pocket, then I would say this type of medical discount
>> plan would help you. Another instance when it makes sense to get such a
>> plan is if you used it in conjunction with a HSA (Health Savings Account).
>> But other than these two instances, you are simply not going to save that
>> much money each month to justify the monthly price tag of $40-$90.

>> The only advice I can give you is to call a local insurance agent and
>> see if they can get you a good deal on health insurance

Thanks for your advice. I had decided against AHB already. Still looking. Have a few preexisting conditions. Prices are ridiculous. Looking for JOB with health insurance benefit. My basic opinion is that most (if not all insurance is a ripoff) Our doctors give 30-40% discount if we pay the bill at time of service. Much cheaper than paying for insurance. Biggest fear is if something chronic or catastrophic would occur. Hoping for the best. We are all fairly healthy right now.

Messages In This Thread

[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

FIB - Scams 101 is maintained by Lesley Fountain with WebBBS 5.12.







NOTICE TO SCUMBEEZLES
(you know who you are... you scream "Foul!" when the truth comes out)
        PLEASE READ THIS LEGAL NOTICE CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU FILE A LAWSUIT OR EVEN WASTE TIME THINKING ABOUT IT.  It has been done before, but never successfully.  In fact, the last dodobird who tried it ended up being ordered to pay more than $77,000 in attorney fees ($65,000+ to my attorneys and $12,000+ to my co-defendant's legal advisor).
        If your attorney is worth his salt, he's going to tell you that the expense of filing a lawsuit you can't win is a whole lot worse than any "damages" resulting from messages posted on this insignificant little chunk of cyberspace.
        NEWS FLASH:  I didn't just climb down off that ol' turnip truck yesterday.  I'm well aware that expressing a negative opinion, relating one's personal experience, and restating provable facts are all legal in this country and do not constitute libel, slander, or defamation -- so you don't want to play games with me, and you sure don't want to start something you aren't prepared to finish.  I don't take threats lightly, and I don't accept bribes (or did you call it a "mutually-beneficial arrangement"?).  I'll turn you in faster than you can yell, "ARREST ME, I'M SCUM!!" 
        Do yourself a favor and turn your legal team loose in greener pastures.
        Although we may, from time to time, monitor or review discussions, postings and the like on the Friends In Business (Scams 101) Message Board, we are under no obligation to do so.  We are not responsible or liable for any claim arising from the content of any such discussions or postings or for any error, defamation, libel, slander, omission, falsehood, obscenity, pornography, profanity, danger, or inaccuracy contained in any information contained within such locations on the Site.
        You are prohibited from posting or transmitting any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory, pornographic, or profane materials or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law.  You are likewise prohibited from posting any false claims against any company or individual.  We will fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requesting or directing us to disclose the identity of anyone posting any such information or materials.
        By posting messages and/or content on the Friends In Business (Scams 101) Message Board, you give permission for Lesley Fountain/Friends In Business/Shoestring Success Publications to display, distribute and use the posting and content for publication, advertising, promotion, excerption or example. You grant Lesley Fountain/Friends In Business/Shoestring Success Publications complete, perpetual, but non-exclusive rights to use, archive, reproduce, adapt, modify, distribute, sub-license, repurpose, rework, compile, or offer for sale or resale the messages, postings or content appearing on this site in whole or in part, throughout the world and universe, on a royalty-free basis without remuneration.  If you cannot accept or agree with the terms of service for this website and discussion board, you are advised not to post on this board.
        In closing, I would like to remind you once again that it is still legal, in this great country of ours, to express a PERSONAL OPINION, as long as it is presented as opinion and not as fact.
        And finally, all you scammers out there will do well to remember that TRUTH IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE against charges of libel, defamation, and slander... so if you're operating just a hop, skip, and jump ahead of the law, you might want to think twice before doing anything stupid... (AND SHAME ON YOU!!).