| My wife and I have been residents of Kitsap County eleven years and are members of Group Health Cooperative (through the Washington Teachers Association). We moved my parents (82 and 88 years old) from Santa Rosa, Calif., to Silverdale where we could better care for their needs. Kaiser Northern California had informed me my parents could be enrolled in GHC, to which their medical records would then be expeditiously transferred. It was Kaiser’s relationship of reciprocity with GHC and their assurance to my parents that their healthcare needs could be transferred to GHC that prompted my parents to move here near us.
Settling my parents in Silverdale the end of May this year, I contacted GHC Customer Service only to find Kaiser’s information was completely erroneous and that GHC was closed to new applicants. My father has congestive heart failure and requires a number of expensive prescription drugs, and, as you know, medigap policies H-J, with prescription drug benefits, are unavailable in Washington State.
In lengthy phone conversations with both Kaiser and GHC Customer Service, I subsequently learned that GHC would be opening for new membership on July 1, 2000. I was then instructed by GHC and Kaiser to do the following: have my parents submit letters of membership termination to Kaiser, applications to GHC, and get on the GHC waiting list — with the assured opening date of July 1 (Kaiser has a 90 day termination policy that allowed my parents to begin a 90 temporary membership in GHC, Silverdale beginning June 1, and ending September 1).
When I contacted GHC after July 1 they informed me the opening date was now September 1. When I inquired at the end of August, they informed me membership would likely open up after January 1, 2001, effectively leaving my parents without adequate health care which included prescription drug benefits. On September 15 the response I got from both Kaiser and GHC was that we should not have sent in the letters of policy termination to Kaiser! The misinformation I’ve received from GHC, as well as Kaiser, is inexcusable! In my years of volunteer work with refugee relief and DSHS I’ve never encountered such poor management and policy confusion.
I felt I should inform the State Insurance Commissioner’s office of these events for your present investigations of GHC and the state of health care in Washington. (Note: your website is helpful, clear, easily navigable and very informative; best regards to your webmaster!)
K David Kragen
Bainbridge Island. |
