Hello. In December 2024 I enrolled in health insurance with United Health care through my employer during open enrollment. Benefits were to begin 1/1/2025 and my premium was to be $54.44. I noticed on my recent paycheck that my premium had more than doubled. I never received notice of this premium increase and only realized it had happened because my paycheck was smaller. I called them and they said the increase was because they "recalculated my information and saw an adjustment was needed." I demanded they cancel my plan, as I had not agreed to this premium. They said I wasn't allowed to cancel until the next open enrollment period with my employer in December 2025. They said they would open an appeal on my behalf and created a ticket, but I’m doubtful it’s going to make a difference, they will likely just reiterate what they already said and not allow me any recourse. Are they allowed to do this? Do I have any options in this situation or do I just have to accept that they can charge me whatever they like throughout the course of the year? I was not aware rates could change mid-policy like this. I am 48 and healthy. I have a nearly $10,000 deductible, and don’t go to the doctor for anything outside of my yearly checkup because I cannot afford to pay for anything out of pocket. I’ve also stopped taking prescribed medication because I don’t want to pay for that out of pocket either, and I can get by without it. It’s crazy to me they’re allowed to do this. Apologies in advance if I have posted in the wrong place.

UPDATE: I called this morning and apparently the post authorization did get approved without my knowing and without updating in my online portal. It's still showing online that I owe the full amount but the employee I spoke with said to ignore those charges and wait for a bill in the corrected amount of $333.87 which is much more palatable. Major thank you for everyone's input!! It was late and I was getting very anxious about it, I seriously appreciate everyone's comments. Hopefully there won't be any more mishaps and I know better moving forward to make sure preauth gets sent. Recently I had a colonoscopy at the suggestion/request of a gastroenterologist for issues I've been having. This was my first time having any kind of outpatient procedure and my first time dealing with marketplace health insurance (United Healthcare) on my own. I did not know that prior authorization was a requirement for this procedure. Prior to scheduling the procedure I spoke with UHC about coverage and was told I'd only be charged the copay because it was in network. After the procedure I found out the medical office and hospital failed to request authorization and did the procedure anyway, now I'm being charged $5,000+ for the colonoscopy because of it. I didn't know I needed authorization and moreover it was the medical facility's responsibility to get that, and NOT perform the procedure unless it was granted. Am I mistaken? Has this happened to anyone else? What are my options? I've already called the medical facility to submit a post-authorization appeal but it seems to be denied as well. I'm at a loss and feel entirely screwed over, would love some advice!

Over halfway through pregnancy. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas on Monday stopped the majority of my local hospitals from being in network. Was told to fill out a continuation of care and I would be fine. I’ve called BCBS customer service and have received either non-answers, or have been told that since I’m pregnant, the only thing they will cover is my OB’s costs. That means: labwork would be out of network, my hospital/facility fee would be out of network, my child’s care would be out of network once they are born. My OB only delivers at the out of network hospital system. I’ve been trying really hard to find someone that is in network in my area to take me as a new patient due to being so far along. Any insight?

I’m so frustrated, I have a shih tzu 13 years old who doesn’t have any major problems, other than a collapse trachea and anxiety. But nationwide made my payment $300/month. How am I going to afford this?!

I have a 9 y/o Bengal male who had a bout of diagnosed stress colitis three days after I took him from his long-term family and before he was covered. Now, he has diagnosed pancreatitis, which is a totally different thing, of course. However, apparently because they have similar symptoms, the stress colitis is being treated as a "pre-existing condition" for the pancreatitis by Spot. This is ludicrous, and my vet agrees. I'm going to challenge it. Does anyone have any tips about the challenge and/or the paperwork I have to submit? Has anyone successfully challenged Spot or another pet insurance? If the challenge doesn't go through, then I'm canceling Spot and just going to pay whatever I have to pay instead of giving them money each month. If they can say something is pre-existing simply because two diagnoses share symptoms, then I don't trust that I'll ever see any reimbursement of costs at all. What if my cat gets diagnosed stomach cancer, which can cause symptoms similar to stress colitis and pancreatitis? Does that mean then they won't cover it? Seems like they at least have that prerogative to do so. Thanks in advance for your help!

I need advice on how to negotiate a bill that I received from my insurance. I had a neck and upper shoulder pain for more than a week and I went to a specialist. He did some routine range of motion checks and just advised to avoid the gym and use a heat pack. Now I see I've got a bill where Aetna was billed $1155 for the office visit and my bill is $375.76 which is around 30%. This seems like a very high charge for a 10 minute routine appointment. Is there any way I can either ask for a reduction on what Aetna was billed or what they charged me? The latter seems less likely since I haven't hit my deductible yet Edit: This is NY state and the appointment was at NYU Langone

This has happened twice now where I have received my EOB in the mail, panic because it says I owe several hundred dollars still, and then when I check my billing with my dentist it says that insurance has covered everything and I don't owe anything other than what I paid the day of my visit. If the office isn't billing me anything extra, then I'm fine right? Is my dentist just good at negotiating with Delta Dental?

Right after the hurricane, my car insurance with Nationwide went up to $220/mo (was $150). They told me it was the best rate they could get for me...yeah right! With a late fee of $30, I have been paying $250/mo! I just went with progressive and am back down to $150/mo with good coverage...200 deductible, car rental, roadside, etc. Nationwide was a total rip off.

Do agents typically approach you? I was approached by a woman with a tablet telling me about insurance plans and claiming she was from ACA. She asked me if I wanted to apply to see if I were eligible and told me that I could cancel at any tome should I enroll in it. Turns out I was eligible for a basic plan that I pay 0 dollars for. So I am a bit skeptical about the whole thing. I have a screenshot about a confirmation on an onboard app. It has a Premier Secure number to cancel. I’m 90% my dumbass got scammed or something. I’ve done an enrollment with a Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance in a similar manner but I canceled that one because the mandatory doctor was an hour away.

About two months ago, I took in a stray cat. On his second vet visit, I brought him in because I suspected conjunctivitis-his eye looked irritated. The vet also mentioned the possibility of entropion but said I’d need an eye specialist to know for sure. I followed up with a veterinary ophthalmologist, and they diagnosed him with eyelid agenesis, not entropion. It required a $4,000 surgery, which I went through with to give him a better quality of life. Unfortunately, Pets Best denied my claim saying The eye issue was mentioned at an earlier appointment, so they’re calling it a pre-existing condition, even though the actual diagnosis changed significantly. Has anyone had any success appealing a claim like this? Is there a way to argue that it’s a completely different condition? Or does the fact that “something was wrong with his eye” early on automatically void any coverage?