24th
August
2005
(*note added 2007 – this blog entry was posted in Aug ‘05, and has taken on a life of it’s own. It’s amazing how many people are wary of Mega) -
Today, someone emailed me and asked me this -
Obviously I noticed your posting on megainsurance.
Would you please tell me your experiences? I am in a financial hole, and am scheduled to attend their training real soon. I really appreciate your help!!
Thanks again,
Jeff
Here’s my answer -
(*at that time – Based on the fact that I had sold Mega policies in Oregon)
Well Jeff, here’s the scoop. Playing the odds for most people, the insurance is not really that bad. BUT, just knowing theres the tiniest possibility that someone you sold to, (or worse yet, someone you know & love), actually does develop diabetes, or needs an organ transplant, or develops any cancer, or anything really bad, and you won’t sleep at night unless you stick your head in the sand.
On Mega Life and Health, there’s no “maximum out of pocket”. That’s the key ingredient missing. 80/20 on a $75k hospital stay, after your $5,000 deductible can set you back 20 grand or more! And if it’s a quarter million or more incident? forget it, you’re bankrupt.
Take a Mega health policy to your current (or any) competent agent and ask them what’s wrong with it. If only I had done that first! You know, I actually asked for one over and over, and never did get one to look at until my own came in the mail. By that point, I was selling it and making money, so who cared?
To have saved some families a few bucks a month, but knowing it could cost them $55,000 on a $90,000 hospital bill is horrible. The only consolation was that once people found out how it worked, they left. I’m so glad none of them kept it very long…
None of my customers ever called me like that, but I saw two good sales people get devastated by calls like that and leave in two months, right after I was the “Rookie of the year” in my district. As soon as I learned what we were really selling, I just quit producing. Then I was dead weight for a few weeks and finally left.
Those that are successful actually believe the product is as good as anything else out there, and that all insurance has limits. Well, that’s true, and playing the odds, this insurance is not that bad. 90% of all hospital bills are still under $50k . That’s not a chance I was willing to take.
The thing is, I think they just don’t know what they’re really selling and they don’t know the competition. They only know what they’re told, because none of them was in the insurance business before.
It wasn’t until I went to a general agency for 4 months that I saw how REALLY full of other holes Mega was. Plus, I had been made to look stupid. ..That was the final straw.
I had to stand there while a customer called their insurance company and proved me wrong, calling me a liar. I was told many times that “Fortis doesn’t cover you for injury on the job if you’re self employed” and that was a big selling point for business owners. I always mentioned that sentence in my sales pitch because people were shocked.
Today, I’m with Fortis for coverage that’s tons better, 6 million limit, and has a $2500 per incident 100% accident rider, and a maximum out of pocket of $8000 in any calendar year! That’s even for a heart transplant! It’s amazing what you learn selling insurance…
At Mega, when a client got hammered, the bosses would just say “Well Scott, all insurance has limits. The facts and coverage are laid out for the customer to read, and they could have canceled before she had a stroke and lost their home…”
Well that’s true, and that’s why it’s a legal business, but that doesn’t make it right.
Here’s a long list of the crap that Mega has pulled and why so many people hate them. Decide for yourself.
I really hated the insurance business anyway.
* Update 2007 -
To be clear, I have not been a Mega agent since 2003. I’m an internet marketer, and I I do make a couple of bucks if you get a quote for your zip code at Ehealthinsurance
Other stuff I've written:
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Scott says:
Todd, when I worked for Mega, they did not allow their agents to sell competing products, like you seem to be doing here with Benicard, GTL Life insurance, and Drug Card America…
http://www.affordablehealthandlife.net
But maybe their employment policies AND their insurance policies have changed, and I should be more open minded…
I also apologize for doubting your authenticity.
mcmike1108 says:
Scott, I too sold for MEGA and finished in the top 10 of my class and was selling a ton of insurance. One day I sat down and really read the policy and discoverd how little it actually covered. I became sick to my stomach knowing that I had sold this policy to people who trusted in me. I still pray to God everynight that my customers either dont’t ever have to use the insurance or that they have gotten rid of it. People please ask questions and really know what you’re getting into.
Scott says:
After I left the insurance business, I actually phoned many of my customers and recommended departure, pointing out the holes I’d found. At least I slept better after that…
When I left Mega, they wanted to collect nearly $13,000 in “unearned advances” from me, and then offered to settle on just over $4000.
It definitely hurt me to pay, but it gave me peace of mind and avoided a collection battle.
Bruce says:
I sold for Mega for just over a year and couldn’t do it to people once I realized that I wasn’t selling what I thought I was. I too are being chased by the credit dogs for payment of “advances” How did you get them to settle for less?
Scott says:
Actually, it was them who offerred me the settlement. Immediately upon my resignation, I got a letter where they said I owed them a little over $12,000, and claimed they would take me to collections if I didn’t pay.
It then offered to settle for $4000 something if I paid within 30 days, which I did, wanting to avoid collections.
If I were you, I’d make the collections people an offer t omatch the 30 cents on the dollar. Can’t hurt to try!
S Jamal says:
We had a NASE agent visit us last week. After reading all the comments i am surprised why he was showing us the MAMSI Life and Health provider’s directory as a list of all the doctors who accept their “Group Policy”? I am just so glad i cam accross your blog and have found several other links to confirm that NASE offerings and benefits are nothing but a scam.
Scott says:
I wouldn’t say it’s really a scam. Some of the NASE membership benefits are really very good.
The health insurance is not the worst available either, although once you dig int othe details, you find that it’s really not what it’s cracked up to be, and there are other alternatives that offer more protection and less risk.
Lori-Ann says:
I emailed the representative who was selling me MEGA insurance to ask him what he knows about them having max out of pocket. He said that the premiere PPO covers $1,000,000 and $7,000 max out of pocket. I was wondering how long ago you worked there and if maybe things had changed.
Thanks
Scott says:
It was 2002, and it was only in Oregon, so yes, it’s possible that it’s changed. In fact, agents have posted here saying that is the case. so…rather than take the agen’t word for it, I’d phone Mega and verify that you have a worst case scenario OOP max of $7k (including?) your plan deductible. And ask if that is for an individual, or your whole family…
Amy says:
Lori-Ann, I was a Mega Agent in the state of Florida from March until July of this year so I am a little more up to speed. The policies may vary slightly from state to state, but from what I have gathered through research I have done, the stop loss from state to state is the same–there isn’t one.
When that agent told you there is a max of $7000 out of pocket, that is very deceptive. If you have the $2500 deductible that is true PER CONFINEMENT PERIOD. What that person failed to explain to you is the fact that they do not have annual deductibles like most insurance companies, it is per period of confinement. So if you go in for a heart attack tomorrow, your paying your deductible plus $4500 and if they find a brain tumor in November, you are paying again. BE CAREFUL and be aware of what you are buying.
I quit Mega in July because I realized how terrible the products are. I am now a non-captive, independent agent. I have no allegiance for one company over another, although I can honestly say I would never sell someone a Mega or Mid-west policy even if I could. There are much better products out there for you. If you want my full story go to this link. I’ve posted a couple times about my experience with Mega.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff131154.htm
I hope this helped. Scott, thanks for the great forum.
Scott says:
Amy, I read your story at Ripoff Report…
Congratulations on keeping your integrity. There’s always a way to justify a sale, but the bottom line is that you have to live with yourself.
I still keep up my interest in Mega because I have two friends (at least they used to be friends!) that are a district manager and a top salesperson.
Shea says:
Its truly amazing to me how Mega Life/Midwest agents across the country can log on here, read the terrible stories that there own fellow agents
are responsible for and justify in their minds that what they are selling and being told to say to people is okay!!
They are blinded by the $$.
Mega Life/ Mid West Life and Health are greedy souless companies.
One of the same. Outragous premiums, deny all claims.
Pres, VP’s, executives get fat and rich
with rediculous salaries, bonuses, and stock options, all the while the little agents and employess do the dirty work their instructed to do. All for the golden carrot there never going to get.
Can you say ENRON!
All mega life and midwest agents lie about the coverage they selling because its substandard compared to what the “real insurance companies” offer.
They are trained to lie and mislead by their managers. It all starts at the top.
I worked for them for 9 years, I was a manager.
I have lived the lie. not any more. life is too short.
Lita says:
After 6 months TRYING to sell Mega I finally got out because I realized that most people can’t afford the “best” that Mega has to offer. I always told the truth about the more affordable plan terms and therefore was unable to make many sales.
Mega requires that “uninsurables” sign up with the Health Choice plan and be officially declined coverage before they become eligible to enroll in the “state mandated” program. With so many people not making it through the underwriting process, I was left with quite a large back-end debt.
Does anyone have any advice on how I can negotiate with Mega? Mega will gladly eat up all of my residuals on good business written indefinitely but will only pay out residuals against my account balance for 12 months. Now they are demanding payment in full. Any suggestions?
Scott says:
Just call them and try to settle. I got them to take 30 cents on the dollar… Explain your situation, and ask politely ifsomething can be worked out.
keep us posted!
Amy says:
Shea, You must have a very compelling story. It is brave of you to finally leave after 9 years. I wish you would share some details. What was the final straw for you?
Paul says:
Let’s get to the truth of the matter. All health insurance companies are created equal. They all have armies of claims adjusters paid to find loopholes and reasons not to have to pay claims. It is ridiculous to make statements that MEGA does not pay any claims. If that were the case how do they stay licensed in 40+ states for the last 25 years? It all comes down to the integrity of the agent and the memory of the customer. I have seen agents lie through their teeth to get the customer to buy. It is not limited to any one company. However, I can see how it would be in a “broker’s” best interest to say disparaging things about MEGA since they can not sell the products. And if they are ex-MEGA agents they probably said terrible things about the companies that they sell for today. I am a MEGA customer and I care too much about my family to go with a company that won’t pay its claims or raise rates exponentially from one year to the next. I sleep very well at night because my customers know exactly what they have purchased. Whether it is one of our limited indemnity plans or one of our catastrophic plans that do have maximum out of pockets comparable to other plans in the market. To all you brokers out there I say, stick to selling on the strength of your product instead of trying to beat down a company that has been paying claims and meeting the needs of its customers for over 25 years while still keeping the same company name.
Scott says:
Heard about the katest lawsuit against Mega?
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=40664
Carole Dumas says:
Is there a current class action law suit against Mega Life Health Insurance. They have devastated me finacially with the medical bills that they would not cover or put their low caps “not mentioned by sales person” on all of what they do pay. I found that their 80 – 20 policy turned out to be I paid the 80% they sometimes paid the 20%.
Scott says:
I’m not aware of any, but then I’m not in that industry at all any more and hgaven’t been for some time.
I know there WERE in Alabama –
http://www.selfemployedweb.com/mega-al.htm
and something in mississippi and California
http://www.selfemployedweb.com/nase-2.htm
and here’s Texas and Oklahoma this year (2006
http://tinyurl.com/yj94uh
I’d recommend contacting an attorney near you, since I believe these are individual state matters…
Again, I’m NOT an insurance agent any longer, nor am I an attorney.
I’m just a former employee of Mega that had a guilty conscience for selling their product for several months.
I merely made this blog post on a whim after someone sent me an email from a very old bulletin board post they saw, and I’m simply stunned at the number of people that have commented here.
Sam says:
The forum mentioned above was hacked. They have moved to http://www.insurance-forums.net and there is an extensive discussion there about Mega, and some of their shoddy practices, complete with bills that they refused to pay.
jessica says:
I have been reading some of the above comments and see that they mostly are from Oregon. I am from South Carolina and am looking for new insurance and have run accross the MEGA ins. Do you know if it is any different in this state or is is pretty much the same all over??? I really need some help finding affordable insurance for a small company and my family. I know that is probably impossible…
Scott says:
Jessica, I can’t speak for health insurance in any state, but I would encourage you to check with your state insurance regulators –
https://www.doi.sc.gov
Has anyone got Mega experience in SC that can help her out?
chris says:
Well, this is all very interesting reading and as and ex-agent for mega life and health i completly understand and that is the reason I had to make a change. But my reason for this message is about the repayment of advances, last month i recieved a letter requesting that i pay advances of $5500 over a period of time or a smaller lump sum now. Well i was told by a current agent to not worry about it that my back end would clear the debt. Now a few days ago i recieved a letter once again saying that i did not take the lump sum payment that now i had to pay the $5500 asap. I need some advice and guidance as to how to handle this situation with my former company.
Scott says:
Well Chris, you’re likely out of luck. The reason that your back end never cleared was because so many people roll off of it so fast.
I’m not sure what to tell you… I owed 13k and settled for 30 cents on the dollar, but that was at my initial departure, when I took them up on their offer. Perhaps they’ll still go for a settlement if you contact them.
At least you have a clear conscience about what you do for a living… congrats on that.
Amy says:
Chris, I also settled my account for pennies on the dollar. Call them up. The letter that they sent me said I would owed them over $2000 if my business didn’t stay on the books–which I knew wasn’t going to happen because I already had clients that were calling me up to cancel. They offered me to settle it immediately for $790. When I called them to get clarification, I was amazed that the person I spoke to said I could actually settle it for $300. DONE. I paid them off and washed my hands of MEGA forever. Call them and find out if they will still give you a smaller settlement.
Laura says:
Thanks to all who have posted on this site, and to Scott for your perspective on MegaLife. My husband is self-employed and joined up with NASE (and therefore MegaLife), believing it would be more secure for our family. Unfortunately this has been an expensive mistake. Early on I got poor information from a MegaLife rep about maternity benefits, (reassuring me that prenatal care/birth was 100% covered after our deductible). Turns out that we will have to pay all lab work/testing/ultrasounds, which is looking to be 1500-2K alone. Then, in addition to our 2K dollar deductible, MegaLife is now telling me that our INFANT, (upon admission to the world, I guess) will also have to pay a 2K deductible. And since we’ll have to pay 20% of the cost of the birth, plus everything else which MegaLife has assigned a max to (example: they’ll pay 500 per night for hospital stay, and I fear it’s going to be a lot higher than that) this so-called “100% covered” birth is going to be a lot more expensive than we thought, like maybe 8-12K. Any advice out there for how I might challenge some of this stuff, or am I out of luck? I still can’t find anything in the MegaLife “benefits” that indicates a newborn also has a deductible…I’m also looking for new insurance as soon as the baby’s born (in Oregon) so I’m open to good recommendations there. Thanks a lot.
Scott says:
If I remember correctly, there’s no separate deductible for the infant for the initial birth. hospital stay etc. However, yes, ultimately, the baby becomes another family member, and has their own deductible, increasing your rates too.
Yes, I’m afraid you’re probably out of luck and out of pocket a few thousand, but you should definitely call the agent that sold you the policy, assuming they are still employed by Mega. If your claim is that you were told one thing, that turned out to be another then ultimately you should contact the Oregon Insurance department.
Laura, since you’re stuck on Mega, look into the “Association 105″ NASE benefit. This (used to) allows a self employed family to write off 100% of the cost of the health care, premiums, hospital stays, deductibles etc.
After the baby is born healthy etc. then you can look at other Oregon health insurance options.
For healthy non-smokers, you likely won’t find anything better than Assurant (Formerly Fortis). That’s how it was when I was a licensed agent years ago, and I’ll bet it’s still the same.
To this day, my family uses a Fortis/Assurant Medical Savings Account plan for our insurance…
Laura says:
Thanks a lot for the feedback, Scott. We’ll slog through Mega and then investigate new options once the baby’s here. Appreciate your insights.
Lori West says:
Scott and all included in this blog…
I do agree with you that the old plans that most agents have been selling with mega are very limited policies.
Honestly it is the fault of the agent for not disclosing to the client the limits. I am working for the company in Florida.
They have changed around the company tremendously lately. We now have plans (they are not the cheapest) but an agent can feel comfortable leaving the brochure with a client.
There is a maximum out of pocket. From my experience in Florida this is the best individual policy out there in the area for the price.
We still do have those not so wonderful policies with many holes in them. I believe these policies are really meant for people that can’t afford much.
Things had to change within the company, and I can honestly say I am very pleased with the changes. The company has let go many agents that were hiding, lying and deceiving clients.
I do think you will see great changes in the response from clients with these new plans. If anyone in the South Florida area would like for me to explain the plans, options and limits of these new policies please send me an email lk765@aol.com.
These new plans are no longer the limited plans of the past. They are true catastrophic plans, and I believe that is what most of us want and need.
Scott thanks for having this web site. It is very informative and helpful for clients.
Insurance is a very tricky and scary thing. As always, it is always best to have the most information to make an informed decision.
Thank you,
Lori West Palm Beach Florida
John says:
Scott – the data you are referancing is out of date – do all a favor and sit down with an agent and do a fine tooth comb on the PPO plans, which have been out for years. There are clear limits to expenses.
My previous plan left a family member holding large bills, because the critical care provider that they were flown to did not accept it as payment in full.
I’m sure you’d want to steer people to the best plan for them, so current data would help all.
Scott says:
Yes John, the post is old. You can see the date of August 2005 at the top.
So you claim Mega is no longer out to deceive people? Great, a couple of other agents have commented the same thing, and I’m glad to hear it.
However, I’d also recommend reading the comment on this post http://www.pdxtc.com/wpblog/archives/31
from Erin on Feb 1 2007… last week.
>>>begin Erin>>>
I am currently reviewing a PPO policy issued by Mega that excludes lab work and diagnostic testing unless performed during a hospitalization.
The exclusions are not clearly listed in the policy. The policy does not say “excluding CAT scan, x-rays, lab work…â€
Instead it has language that is buried in the Exclusion and Limitation section that says “charges for which benefits are not specifically provided for in this Certificate†are not covered.
>>>End Erin>>>
Tn my ears as a consumer, that sounds sort of important, doesn’t it?
* Re: Any blog post you ever read *
Erin, unfortunately, does not tell readers the state she’s in, so people can research this for themselves and determine her legitimacy. So, she might actually be a competitor of Mega that’s lying.
That’s part of the age we live in. Anyone can say anything, but you the reader have to decide what and who to believe. The same thing goes for CNN and Fox.
*My thoughts as an informed consumer on health insurance*
The internet is a wonderful thing. You can get an insurance quote from nearly every company in your area and every company will show many price ranges. No agent will ever even call you unless you choose to allow it.
Choose something there, review the whole contract before signing anything, and pay special attention to the exclusions and limitations, and the maximum out of pocket in a year. Demand to read the policy you get before signing anything, otherwise you have no right to complain.
Finally, for the umpteenth time, I’m an Internet marketer that tried selling insurance for Mega for nearly a year. I have not sold or even recommended any particular insurance since 2003, but I do make a couple of bucks when you get an instant quote for your zip code at Ehealthinsurance.
CJ says:
Dear Sir:
There are some very important facts you need to add to your website; almost all of the older Mega plans are no longer available or almost completely fazed out.
There are now three plans and in training we are trained to explain the Value plan has no cap on coinsurance while the other (standard & premium plans) do have caps on coinsurance. Obviously for the family trying to just get insurance coverage – the value plan may be their only choice because of cost – but I have been trained to make sure they understand the plan in detail.
Also too, I suppose you should note that the recent happenings with Goldman Sachs / The Blackstone Group / DLJ Direct – these suggest the parent company Health Markets (who now owns Mega) are backed by pretty serious money and are committed to maintaining and strengthening the integrity of the new product offerings form Mega. I suggest you visit their website and stop sharing negative information without current facts. Thank you.
from:
Fan of your website!
Scott says:
Well CJ, i’m afraid it’s not my job to tell people that Mega’s not a ripoff anymore… it’s yours.
I wrote this in 2005, and Mega agents and clients alike are free to post here and say what they want.
Sounds like you’ve attempted to set the record straight, and I’m sure some people will want to check it out.
Hey CJ – Did you ever get to see a Mega policy during training when you’re combing line by line through the competitor policies?
I thought so… I didn’t either, despite asking three separate times.
Fred McClaren says:
The best thing to do is to call the company directly and ask them how much you would be liable for on a $100,000 claim.
An agent may not truly understand the policy benefits … or in some cases be willing to lie … in order make a sale.
Also, be sure your agent writes down ALL your pertinent health information. Don’t believe them if they say a past health problem is unimportant or doesn’t need to be listed on the application.
Tim says:
I used to be Mega agent… my thing is to everyone stay away from Mega!!!!!!!!!!
Anne says:
Why doesn’t anyone acknowledge there are insurance agents that care and have been able to help people get covered when they couldn’t any other way? I know for a fact some true stories that no one seems to talk about. The young woman with three children that passed away THREE DAYS after her policy was effective, and they paid every penny of her benefit, and they paid for the children for a year, AND they gave her an Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit.
What about the five claims that I know of personally that Mega paid even more than what the policy says they are responsible for?
AND, no one talks about other companies, like Assurant and even Blue Cross when their coverage is less than what it says it is.
A friend said they were covered for testing 50% for his sons thousands of dollars of tests. They say in their policy, and agents represent their policy as covering 50%. What they don’t let you know, and I am sure it is in the fine print, is that it is 50% of what they think the procedure is worth! So, out of a series of 6 tests, $800 each, Blue cross covered 50% of $300, not the $800. Just because a company like Blue Cross or any other company has a household name doesn’t mean that is the right plan for a certain individual.
No matter what company they represent, the agents need to be trained. People need to read what they are getting. Mega Agents go through training and testing on a regular basis to assure that the product is represented. I know we have helped hundreds of thousands get benefits that would go without insurance otherwise, and indirectly raise the cost of health care for everyone in this country! That is why it is important that they work with a person, not buy on-line, and not buy over the phone. They should see things in writing in front of them.
Anne says:
To Lita in August of 2006:
FYI: There is no way that MEGA could require a person to apply for coverage knowing they would be declined, just so they will qualify for state medical assistance. If MEGA had that kind of power over the state assistance programs, the government agencies would be totally different. Do you really think state governments would give them that power?
I am not sure where you got that idea, but obviously, you don’t have the intelligence to figure that out. If someone does not have coverage, and meets the prerequisites for the government plans, whether income based subsidized private held plans, or actual state assistance, they can get coverage, although in most cases there is a great waiting line for the subsidized plans.
Kevin says:
Now that I have read a number of posts and arguments on here, I guess it is my turn to crack back a little bit. Currently I am a licensed health and life insurance agent in Wisconsin and also happen to sell for the NASE & Mega, and have been doing so for over a year now.
My first comment would be to those of you that have tried working for us and were not successful. This business of selling life and health insurance isn’t for everyone. So get over it. Just because you failed at selling a certain product doesn’t make it a bad one. So don’t sit here and make claims about a product that you don’t understand at all. My advice to you is do what I did. While your out in the field go over people’s current policies with them, and show them the difference between theirs and ours. Pros and cons. I have no problem what-so-ever about walking away from a sale if someone is better off with the current plan they have. That way you both will have a better understanding of what is out there. But to sit there and say, oohhh MEGA sucks, don’t buy them. When it pretty much comes down to the fact that you couldn’t sell ketchup to a hot dog.
Second, I see that Scott’s first post was in August of 2005 which might I remind you, those products are no longer sold here in Wisconsin to my knowledge. And I will agree with you that our old products did have some holes in the policy’s, and if they were not built correctly, they could cause some major financial strain on the consumer.
The one thing I will say that I dislike the most while representing this group is “The Moneyâ€. It seems that a lot of agents get fixated on that aspect of this business, and will do anything to score a sale. They will strip a policy down to its bare bones so they can look good when it comes to business turn in time, and not even think about what could happen to the customer. I know in our meetings we have, I feel as if our managers are contradicting themselves by first talking about how much money were making, and then try and tell us that were doing it all for the customer. My guess would be, that we’re not doing it all for the customer for this reason right here. I would bet that if we could cut say, a few thousand dollars off of these ridiculous bonus checks that some people get, we could offer a much more, sound plan to the consumer.
Also Scott, and I’m not 100% sure on this, but for you to still leave a post up on what our plans “Use†to offer, I’m not real sure how legal that is. I know in WI, we can’t make claims on insurance we’re not authorized to sell. And FYI, there is now $4000 dollar co-insurance max and quite a few other things that have changed since 2005 for the better.
Now another post in here that I found quite interesting is the one claiming how most insurance companies cover you on the job. If I were a consumer or an agent who believes that, I have a bridge to sell you. please read the following e-mail from the WI commissioner of insurance that I have.
—–Original Message—–
From: Kevin
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 5:50 PM
To: information@oci.state.wi.us
Subject: Self-Employed workers comp. question
I have a question regarding insurance coverage for people who are self-employed by themselves, and that their spouse is the one providing insurance coverage through her job for the family.
The question I have is, is it mandatory for a family insurance plan that is provided by a spouse’s place of employment, to provide “on the job” coverage for someone who is self-employed and with no employee’s.
For example, if my wife carries insurance, and me “the husband” is covered under that policy, does that policy have to provide coverage for me on the job, if I am self-employed with no employee’s? Or is it the insurance companies decision whether or not that is part of the policy rules and regulations?
Good afternoon:
Most policies that provide health insurance coverage have an exclusion in them that says they will not provide coverage for any injuries that are a work related injury. I recommend that you check with the insurer to make certain that you are covered. If you are not, then you will need to get a policy that will cover you if you suffer a work injury.
Annette Byrnes
Complaints Supervisor
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
(608) 266-9893
Annette.Byrnes@Wisconsin.gov
Now if you read carefully, you will se that I had asked about family plans through and employer, and she went ahead and said that “most policies†in the state have that exclusion. So people please get your facts straight before you start your rants.
Last, I think we can all collectivly agree that health insurance for the most part sucks all over. Now, there are some good plans our there, and in order to get them you need to be quite healthy and pay an even better premium. Now are Mega’s the best, absolutly not, but we do offer prett solid plans,”if” sold correctly, and from what I am reading and finding out, “NOT FROM MEGA MIND YOU”, is that are products are going to be getting even stronger.
mike says:
Mega life and Death sucks I AM WARNING YOU IF YOU HAVE A POLICY WITH THEM GET OUT NOW!!!!!! do not wait until it is to late, my wife was recently stricken with cancer, there policy will not cover a major medical event, there maximum benefits are adjusted for medical costs in the 1960s. we didnt get the chemotherapy rider which is a joke in its self because it would only cover 1000.00 max per session, well let me tell you its about 20000.00 per session. more over, the maximum life time amount and the aggregate amount are deceptive at the least. We are filling a complaint with our state insurance commission on the deceptive manner in which the policy was sold at the coverage it offers. Mega death and it’s constituents are getting rich at sick and dying peoples expense. I would love to either start or join a class action suit against these CLOWNS to expose them for who they are. Do your homework, there is far better coverage for same or less do not make the mistake I made. I will be watching for following responses for contact info.
Gail says:
Lets face it there are some horror stories for all insurance companys and it’s unfortunate that the consumer has suffered because of poor practices. In most states there is insurance complaint information as well as rating agencies across the nation, it is my recommendation that all prospective clients do some research before purchasing coverage. However, Mega’s plans are some of the best on the market today. I can only attest to the new plans that are available now (2007) I have no knowledge of what was offered in the past, but, I say to all of you naysayers to take a look at the new Mega products then update this site to tell the current story.
Luke Close says:
I worked there for 3 months (in late 2006) with no insurance back ground. I could not believe they had me selling insurance 3 days into training. I had no idea what I was doing. They recruit as many people as possible (whom pay $250.00 to UICI) run them through 3 days of training then start calling old, old leads. What a scam. No wonder they get a bad rap. Honest people like me want to start a new career and get no training. How could I possibly give someone looking for insurance correct information. Out of the 30 people in my training class, maybe 3 made it a month like I did. Once I realized what was going on I left. I guess the insurance is much better then 2005 but you have to fine an agent who understands it. I also they make you neighborhood look like crap with all the pole signs.
Kevin Cleary says:
In response to LUKE.
Luke if your interested, I would like you to respond to my e-mail (kevincleary@charter.net) to see if you are still in the insurance business, and would like to do it the “proper way”.
What I mean by that is, actually put the clients needs before padding your wallet like they do at MEGA and UGA. I use to be an agent with them for a little over 1 year, and let me tell you. Now that I am on the outside looking in, WOW what scam that compnay is.
Talk about a legal “mafia” if you will. It is the shadiest group I have ever seen. Everything in that orginization stems from money. All the rah rah meetings, even the district meetings, or the 1 on 1 meetings. They would always tell us. “You could sell this to make more money and get higher bonus checks.” What a joke.
Health care is at an all time high, and you want me to sell more crap they will never use. My boss got 2 bonus checks a year, in the amount of $21,000. Let me remind you that, that is 2 of the 16 or so bonuses he gets a year. And the other 14 bonus checks are quite large also.
Like I said, its like the mob with kick backs up to the top, but minus the “wacking”. LOL. Also if any of you are reading this, and are still interested in running your own business, but providing good products to our consumers, let me know and I can help you out. The insurance business can be a great business, if it’s done the right way.
Don’t bother e-mailing me, if you are just in this to make money. If you are, get out of the insurance business all together. If you are honest with yourself, and more importantly with your clients, you are going to be doing quite well for yourself anyway.
TJ says:
I am very curious about everything I have read. I started working for Mega a few months back. I am reading alot of negative hype, however, our office has only had 1 complaint in 3 years. I am getting a lot of satisfied customers refering other customers. Yes, I am wondering if I made the right choice and I do want to sincerely help others not cause a train wreck for them. Advice is appreciated if it will allow me to help people out.
Darlene in Georgia says:
I am a former MidWest/Mega agent in Georgia, now selling Assurant. I left Mega because I was so ashamed of what I was selling and couldn’t face my friends and neighbors whom I had sold it to. I was new to the industry when I first joined MidWest, who later merged sales forces with Mega. As a natural sales person, I did well with the products but it was tough. The smart consumer would not buy and those that did, eventually cancelled as soon as they used it one time. Several months in to my employment, I began to see how horrible the product was and like the writer of this page, I too just quit selling and went without any income for several months. I didn’t know what I was going to do but if it meant that I was going to starve to death, I still wouldn’t have sold another MEGA policy. Luckily after 2 months of no income, someone shared Assurant with me. I was impressed but spent a good week trying to find holes in the coverage. I couldn’t find any so I decided to start selling it. I cannot tell you the number of times that I come across a MEGA policy owner who is furious with what they had been sold by another agent and are looking to switch. I put them in Assurant. I have not met a MEGA policy owner yet who has been happy. Today I met with a man who had been on MEGA for 4 years now and had not used it until last month. I sat with disbelief as he pulled one hospital bill after another out of a pile and the corresponding EOB from MEGA and it wasn’t good. MEGA found an excuse to exclude almost everything related to his ER visit and subsequent followup visits and testing. The man was furious to say the least and I felt so thankful that I was not the MEGA agent who had done this to this man. The sad thing is, that this man came to MEGA healthy with no pre-existing conditions but has developed a few issues over the past few years. He put in an application today with Assurant but he may be denied. How sad would that be if he was sold a crappy policy and could now be stuck in it because of pre-existing. Sadly enough, he has figured out that even if Assurant places several waivers on him to exclude treatments for these pre-existing conditions, it will still provide better coverage than his current Mega Plan. I, as a former MEGA agent, with a conscience, make it my duty now to seek out MEGA and MidWest insurers and get them off it as soon as possible before they are financially ruined. I tell people that while I would hope that they would purchase an Assurant policy from me because I truly believe it is one of the best products on the market, I will have done my job if they cancel their MEGA policy and move to a true Major Medical plan that protects them financially, as insurance is suppose to do. For anyone who is reading this and considering purchasing a MEGA policy, take warning. As someone mentioned above, most MEGA agents are new to the business and don’t know any better. Take the MEGA policy (or booklet) to an experience agent who has access to real major medical plans and ask him/her to compare any of them to MEGA and provide you with feedback. I promise you that you won’t buy the MEGA policy.
Adrianne says:
MEGA.
What’s getting me is what I’m reading in the “Prescription Drug Rider Exclutions and Limitations”…”we will no provide any benefits for: Contraceptives, oral or other, whether medication or device, regardless of inteded use.”! ha! freakin’ crazy christians i bet (and i’m catholic) “any medication, legend or not, which is consumed or administered at the place where it is dispensed.”…sounds like chemo to me.
WTF!
Nancy says:
My husband and I are desperately trying to find insurance to bridge the gap to Medicare. We live in Jackson County, Oregon, and most policies in Oregon are set at Portland rates, which are lower. We currently have a union plan that is nearly bankrupting us and covers maybe 50% of the costs disallowing most of the charges above 50% of the cost. Thus we pay both nearly $1,000 a month in premium and out of pocket a lot more for those services not covered at the cost at which they are billed.
My husband has preexisting conditions that neeed to be covered and I am overweight. What can we do for 4 more years? We cannot continue as is. We were so desperate I nearly signed up with NASE (we joined once before and canceled within 3 days because I realized it was 20% with no cap). The wording in their literature now makes it seem that has changed. We are not going to talk with them at this point. We have considered the Oregon emergency insurance but others have told us not to do that. Is anyone here able to offer advice for our particular concerns? Thank you!
Karin Flavetta says:
I am an ex agent for the NASE and MEGA. I had to stop selling the insurance when I lost faith in the product. I am now being chased by them to pay back the money that I made because my so called account has not cleared. I would appreciate anyone who can tell me what to do. I feel that I was mis lead regarding what the actual contract states and I was told to initial and sign the contract very quickly and not to worry about what it says. I know that I should have read it but I didnt and now collections is coming after me to pay them back around $5K. Is there anything that I can do?
Scott says:
I bit the bullet, and they paid the fee they requested, however, they settled on $.30 on the dollar.
As I’m sure they will tell you, your failure to read the contract you signed does not relieve you of the responsibility of paying for your advances.
Frankly, paying them the money to get out was not a hard decision, even though I could not afford it at the time, because my conscience and ethics demanded that I get out of Mega entirely.
David says:
I just had a meeting with some Mega/NASE agents, and am considering replacing my current group policy (limited with some horribly low benefit maximums) with Mega. Is there any requirement to actually be self-employed to join NASE? I was told no by the agents, but it seems odd to me anyone could join the National Association for the SELF-EMPLOYED. The plan we discussed did seem to have some significant improvements over what is described on this site in the postings from a couple of years ago. We definitely discussed stop losses, and OOP maximums, but it concerned me when the agent was reluctant to leave me the information packet. I did get a copy to take, but only after making it clear that I would never purchase without time to pore over it privately, and get other opinions on it.
Scott, thanks for your efforts.
Scott says:
Since it’s been several years since I worked for Mega, I cannot say, but at the time, there was no legal requirement for anyone to actually BE self-employed, in order to join the NASE.
However, I seem to remember that there WAS discussion of this rule potentially being put in place by the state of Oregon.