Aetna, CIGNA Place 1st, 2nd On Handling Claims

Aetna took the No. 1 spot and CIGNA placed second on how well they handle claims submitted by physicians in the third annual rankings by athenahealth Inc., a firm that provides Internet-based services to doctor ...

[WTH]

Doesn't surprise me that HN doesn't have enough info. from their customers, since providers can't stand dealing with the company. The ranking does not surprise me either...the company is a joke and is gradually declining.

[News Watcher II]

CIGNA is the WORST! They deny medical equipment for diabetics who need this to keep their health in good control. They are so cheap they don't want to give a $6,000.00 piece of medical equipment that will keep the patient out of the hospital. This payment is made every four years or should be. They also deny equipment and the patient is made to wear outdated equipment that no longer does any good.

I want to know what I am paying premiums for? I HATE CIGNA.
It is time someone brings them to court and sues them for denying good medical coverage.

[I Agree]

News Watcher II wrote:

CIGNA is the WORST! They deny medical equipment for diabetics who need this to keep their health in good control. They are so cheap they don't want to give a $6,000.00 piece of medical equipment that will keep the patient out of the hospital. This payment is made every four years or should be. They also deny equipment and the patient is made to wear outdated equipment that no longer does any good.
I want to know what I am paying premiums for? I HATE CIGNA.
It is time someone brings them to court and sues them for denying good medical coverage.

I hate them too.

[Attila the Hun]

The bottom line is this folks: For all the tax dollars we send both to Washington DC and Hartford we should be getting socialized health care. Remember, this is still the No. 1 economy on Earth (for about 10 more years then China will be number 1) yet of the G7 economies only America does not offer healthcare to its citizens. I am hardly a socialist or a communist either. Just stating simple truths. All you get in American for your tax dollars these days are the following:

1. New Prison construction
2. Foreign aid payments that are never repaid
3. Drug rehab programs

Outstanding... NOT

[carmelle sanders]

Along with taht promptness, Aetna should also let the media know that it is allowing fraudulent claims to slip through the cracks, and its representatives are blatantly stating that Aetna will not investigate cases of fraud on paid claims, as was said to me: "I mean, what do you expect mam, you're accusing a licensed dentist of fraud, Aetna will not do anything in this case. The claim is already paid"

I contacted Aetna about a dentist charging me for services that he did not perform, and was told that they will investigate and get back to me in three weeks. Well, six weeks past and nothing. So I called again, and this time was placed on hold for about 5 minutes. When the representative, Bill, came back on the line, I was told to contact the office myself because Aetna will not do anything, since these charges were reported by a licensed dentist.
No kidding, who else should have reported the charges? An unlicensed dentist?
He said verbatum:
"I mean, what do you expect mam, you're accusing a licensed dentist of fraud, Aetna will not do anything in this case. The claim is already paid"

I pay an insurance premium every month to Aetna, as do millions of people. I went to this dentist, and he does a normal, routine cleaning. and refer both my husband and I to an Orthodontist for braces. Okay, we're grateful to him, and thank him for cleaning our teeth.

We go to the Ortho, and we're told that we both need Scaling, also known as Deep Cleaning. This is the first time, both my husband and I hear of this. After the cleaning, we can get on with braces. He starts treatment before me, and gets his cleaning. The claim is sent to Aetna, and rejected because the previous dentist had already charged for this service.

to be sure that I'm not being unfair, I double checked with the Orthodontics office to see if there are variations of this procedure. No, certain instruments must be used in order to reach the gum where the problem exists. Okay, I then go to wikipedia, my own personal encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth_scaling
Guess what, the service was not perform by the dentist.

I contact Aetna, and of course the rest you know from beginning excerpt.

How does Aetna make its revenue. By charging us exuberant monthly fees, and paying a dentist $288, on a claim of $960. Of course, this does not excuse what this dentist did, but Aetna is mostly to blame because the discount price it pays to dentist for services rendered is pitiful.

Of course my husband has already paid $1800 out of pocket for cleaning that should have been paid by Aetna. Meanwhile, we are out of that $1800, the dentist does not get reprimanded for fraud, & Aetna is laughing all the way to the bank!

[JoeLarson]

Cigna has sent me a letter that they will no longer be doing business in New York State as of 1/1/09.

[J - the OC]

Cigna keeps paying "in-network" providers actually found on their "find a doctor" search as out-of-network rates. This is the sixth time this year that I've had to have this battle with CIGNA on this topic.
Maybe they process quickly, but not accurately!
J-

[Thomas is MA]

JoeLarson wrote:

Cigna has sent me a letter that they will no longer be doing business in New York State as of 1/1/09.

Be happy CIGNA does not practice in NY. They are the worst insurance "provider" I have ever had. They always deny prescriptions which are for drugs which are not the lowest cost generic. Doctors have to appeal up to 3 times or more in order to win a claim. CIGNA wastes time and resources.
They are the worst.

[Ebony Chaplin]

Don't believe Cigna! It's time for the Public Option now. Let's support President Obama.
<> Let's remember that Cigna was responsible for the death of Nataline Sarkisyan who died awaiting for her liver transplant.<>

[soannoyed]

Cigna has denied my claim five times and every time they give me a different reason!! Each time the reason is even more rediculous! I wish they would just review their claims before making a decision. I plan on talking to an attorney. Are their any other options besides the appeal process?