How can I get health insurance that “works”??

I have lived in Ecuador for 14 years. I don’t know how to get health insurance to “work”. I am with what I think is a reputable company (BB). I recently had to have minor surgery.

I used the doctor and the surgeon that BB recommended. I jumped through all of the hoops, did all of the paperwork. Got pre-approval for a little over $500.

Guess what? I was reimbursed less than $60! Should I switch insurance companies? Am I missing something? All help appreciated!

Ellen

City: Cuenca

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Donna Schmidt

Yes it is very confusing and discouraging. I fell and had to go to the emergency room for stitches on my face. On paper work emergencies arecovered. We did not have insurance cards at the time to prove that we were coverd so we paid out of pocket. Now the... Read more 0 0

Cathleen Brethauer

That has been my experience exactly! 0 0

Ellen Dalleave

To explain more: That's who I am dealing with. Everything was preapproved, using the Doctor and Hospital that Blue Box directed us to use. We were pre-approved for the surgery to be reimbursed for up to $505. For some reason I don't understand, we were told that even though we... Read more 0 0

Cathleen Brethauer

Sounds like exactly what happened to a friend of mine with the same company. She was on the phone with the agent who told her to pay and then said "sorry"! 0 0

Don Johnson

That’s because all insurance is a scam in Ecuador. Anyone who says different doesn’t know what they are talking about….. 0 0

Gary Sisk

Went through all this and now have IESS 0 0

Marcus Aurelius

What are you waiting to get paid for? If you went to do they recommended, and assuming that your surgery was “precertified” prior to the procedure (the providers and facility were in-network, and your procedure described was “pre-approved”, you should have paid up front for anything that you owed under... Read more 0 0

Ellen Dalleave

So I was pre-approved for that Doctor and that hospital, but for some unknown reason, I had to pay 100% in order to leave the hospital and hope to be reimbursed. Then the Broker told me that since I paid they can't do much. So I guess I should have... 1 0

Soledad Riquetti

To be honest I am so disappointed with Sweaden, Humana , Confiamed and BMI , I help a few expats dealing with insurance and it is a nightmare Submitting all the paperwork and in the end the money they get back is so little , I think it is better... Read more 1 0

Ellen Dalleave

I agree!! But is it still a law here that permanent residents have to have medical insurance? 0 0

Ryan James

I checked into this with the facilitator we used in Quito for our permanent residency visa. He said that it is no longer the law. I went to IESS to get my password and our accountant cancelled our insurance. We had a few of the companies that Soledad mentioned above... 0 0