MedPlan

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Medical Discount Plans • Massachusetts Cracks Down On Medical Discount Plans • Consumers Say Medical 'Benefit' Pitch Misleading • Illinois Consumers Bought into Health Plan They Thought Was Medical Insurance • Health Discount Card Plan Makes Fraudulent Claims, Illinois Charges • Court Order Closes Medplan • States Sue Peoples Benefit Services --- Consumer Complaints • Consumer Health Benefits • MedPlan --- • More about Health Insurance ...

Turns out this is not an actual insurance or health plan at all. The Federal Trade Commission charges that MedPlan was really a cross-border scam perpetrated by Canadians against American consumers, many of them elderly. (story) Rhode Island officials had earlier sued MedPlan alleging violations of the state's Deceptive Trade Practices Act and California consumer advocates are warning seniors to beware of programs. (story)

Derek of Houston writes (7/31/02):
I received a call that they were offering health insurance at a discounted cost of $349 and I asked them if I could receive some information on the insurance. They then proceded to ask me for my checking account information. I had asked them if the money was going to be removed from my account right away or if it would be removed if I decided to purchase the insurance and from what I understood they were not going to take it out of my account.

But in the long run they ended up taking the money out of my checking account and when I found this out I called them and they said that I could get a refund if I canceled within the first 30 days. So I did and that was on March 8th, 2002 and today's date is July 31st, 2002 and I still have not received my refund. I have called them many times and each time they kept telling me that I would receive my refund by the end of July. I just called them today and they said that their systems were down and that I would probably have to wait another week. I have been very patient so far, but this is getting ridiculous.

Grace of East Greenwich RI (7/29/02):
My mother recieved a phone call from MedPlan about discount health insurance, the woman convinced her that this was the plan for her and she gave them our joint checking account number and a voided check number. After getting off the phone my mother starting thinking and got scared about it. She called me at work and asked me to call them back and see what I thought. I called them back the same day and asked them to cancel the transaction they said they would, no problem. Well they didn't cancel and they took $350.00 from our account. That was on January 29, 2002 to this day I'm still calling them trying to get her money back with no success.

My mother is 79 and my father is 84. They are not wealthy people and really can't afford to waste $350.00, My mother keeps saying it was a lesson well learned.

Timica of Mount Rainier MD (7/24/02):
These people called me about their discount services. At the time I was not working so I did not have the $349 to give them, but the plan sounded good, so the lady that I spoke with agreed to call me back in 2 months to see if I had the money and if I still wanted to try the plan. Well 2 months later, my checking account was debited $349 without her calling back or even sending me any information.

As soon as I found this out from my bank, I immediately called MedPlan and cancelled the service. This was on May 1st, 2002. Here it is now the end of July 2002 and I am still waiting on my refund. When I cancelled it the representative told me it would take 30 business days. A month went by and I never recieved it so I called back and asked what the hold up was. Then they told me it would take up to 45 business days. So another month went by and I never received my refund. When I called back for the 3rd time, they said it usually takes 90 business days. They won't let me speak with any supervisors or even an accounts payable department. I'm beginning to wonder if the company is even real.

Rebecca of Woodstock VA (7/22/02):
I was contacted by a telemarketer that told me they would send me free information. I received the information and looked it over, but did not notice the mentioning of $349. My fiance and I went to the bank to withdraw money and noticed there was a $349 shortage of money. I then went home and looked at the information package. I contacted them to cancel and was told it would take 30 days to get my money back. This was March 5, 2002. I called back again and was told 60 days. Then was told 90 days. Then was told 4 1\2 months.

The operators have been rude, they have hung up on me and my fiance and when I have asked to talk to the manager, he is never there. I have heard the recording confirming my order and I can tell that it was tampered with. The money was from my income tax return. We almost got evicted and we have a baby under a year old. It also was going to catch up on bills and help to get my driver's license back. It caused a hardship on us because I hadn't been back to work for long and we were trying to get caught up.

Desiree of Norwich NY writes (4/1/02):
I received a phone call from one of their representatives telling me about their discounts on medical, dental and eye exams -- all I had to do was look over the booklet of information and if I liked it I could accept it and pay $349 for the year or call them and pay nothing.

Without them even sending me the booklet they charged my credit card the $349. I've tried calling to cancel the subscription but they never answer the phone. I've been charged by my bank $40. in returned checks but they still continue to try to charge me. I continue daily to call them with no result. I was told that I would not be charged unless I agreed to subscribe.

I'm being charged fees from my bank that I cannot afford. How do I stop this?

Desiree should send a certified, return-receipt-requested letter to the company, instructing them to stop charging her and to refund all previous payments. If that doesn't work, she should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Unfortunately, she may have to close her existing bank account and open a new one to avoid further unauthorized debits.

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