Customer Review - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York

Dont bet the farm on BCBS

My mother had Blue Cross / Blue Shield for most of her life. Anyway, after became her representative payee for Social Security, she was hospitalized twice within two weeks (discharged to early the first time) and BCBS absolutely refused to pay her hospital bills. They claimed that she was no longer a resident of New York because her SS check was being sent to New Hampshire and, therefore, she lived in NH and they did not have to pay her bills. They must have thought that she was rushed by ambulance to the emergency room in NY all the way from New Hampshire - a five hour drive.

I spent months trying to prove that she still resided in NY and always had. I had SS write a letter to BCBS explaining the situation, had senator Clinton contact them, and I even had Medicare involved. Believe it or not, BCBS even had they own representative visit her in her home in NY but BCBS still refused to pay her bills categorically stating that she didn't reside in NY and, therefore, was not eligible. And, get this, Medicare refused to force them to pay her bills; apparently, Medicare didn't want to rock the boat and in the end, keeping BCBS happy trumped what was right and fair and I was forced to find other insurance for my mother.

Bottom line, I wouldn't recommend BCBS to anyone. They will take your money and then when your need them they will abandon you.