Affiliated Workers Association [AWA] review: red flag 52

When you purchase something that has "zero-deductible", you are purchasing a supplemental or fixed benefit health insurance plan... they are meant to help with actual major medical health insurance with a deductible so that the entire cost is not coming out of your pocket until the deductible is met. I have had insurance through the AWA for quite some time now and have a major medical policy AND a fixed benefit plan- they work exactly as their website and information says it will.
The agent I spoke with explained these things to me very well. If you have a problem, call the AWA's customer service reps, because I have spoken to them multiple times before as well- they will connect you with an in house agent that will help sort out your issues if customer service can't do it.

Yes I'm putting a complaint about one of ours workers who comes in sells like weed who's smoking clicking in everyday and that told me that she used someone pee to do her drug testes her name is JAZMINE ROBINSON she's a forklift driver here at Shaw

your all wrong this insurance covers everything it say s it will your not using your plan correctly or using compass which is an advocate service and as far as pre exixsting im saving a ton of money going down to the negotiated rates of multiplan ppo network exactly as my agent discussed and i dont have a certificate of creditable coverage and the plan still works for me you all need to wake up and use your plan correctly as far as speaking to customer service they al3ways answer if i need them and they help me all the time wonderful people maybe your the one being negative and a jerk b4 you even call think about that i love my plan ...

I too have this rinky-dink insurance. THIS IS TRULY A SCAM. I signed up with AWA in December, 2013 and everyone that posted a comment are correct. This insurance is not worth the money. They should be reported to the better business bureau.

My health advisors sign me up CIGNA HEALTH INSURANCE SHE TOLD ME MYMAMGRAM PAID IN FULL NO MONEY OUT POCKET. I PAI D 359.10 A M0NTH HEALTH INSURANCE . THIS SUPPOSED BE PRNENTABLE EXAM THE INSURANCE PAID ALL OF NO WAITEING PERIOD . MY INSURANCE SAY THERE IS 6 MONTH WAITETING .I AM NOT HAPPY INURSANCE BI BROKKER AT ALL SHE WORK FOR US HEALH A DAVOISORS COLO I WIILL NOT RECOMMENDED THIS PERSON
I THINK NEED LOOK INTO US HEALTH ADVISORS OF COLO I THINK THEY KIND FAUD GOING ON

I have had this SO called insurance since 8/2012. It doesn't cover anything, and beware of the so-called provider listing. I needed an x-ray, MRI and EMG; according to the provider listing both facilities were participating, however, once all testing was done to the tune of nearly $8000 - guess what? They are NOT participating providers, when I argued w/AWA and sent them a fax showing their own provider list (printed 1 day before the testing) they said it was my responsibility to check w/provider. I then sent them a fax showing the 2 providers were still listed (3 months after they denied payment to them), they said it didn't matter, the 2 facilities were NOT providers. STAY AWAY FROM AWA, I just cancelled mine in December (they do NOT offer plans that meet the new ACA rules. RUN FAST - VERY FAST.

I signed up with AWA on December, 2012. I left a group policy for the small business I own, that I was paying way too much for, with a high deductible. I basically paid for all my medical out of pocket in addition to paying the high premiums. I tried to get an individual plan for myself, and was turned down due to pre-existing conditions (minor). I contacted AWA myself, knowing that it was not insurance. I needed something to cover doctor visits until the 2014 rules went into effect concerning pre-existing conditions. I have used my doctor visits, and received a refund check for the balance not used on those visits on 2 occasions. I have used the consult a doctor on several different occasions and always received a prompt response and meds called in to the pharmacy when needed. My pharmacy was covered under discount programs through either their association or discounts offered through individual pharmacies. I did not use any of the hospital or lab benefits, and am very thankful that I did not have any major medical expenses this past year. I will be covered under the Affordable Care Act in 2014. This plan was a life saver for me in 2013. Went into the program with eyes wide open and lots of research. Health Insurance it was not, but health cost coverage as a temporary fix.

Agent called and called and called...each time leaving a message to call him back. Today, finally, I picked up, and he said that they were "brokers of insurance" and could get me the best deal for my area. After asking zip code and our ages, he quickly came up with a great product...I do not recall him ever saying "insurance". As a retired Dentist, I was immediately suspicious of the amazing offering he described, but really hoped I was wrong. He told me he enjoyed talking to someone who understood insurance so well, and I was clearly very smart. What a fast talker! And, as I had him go over several scenarios of payouts, he conveniently, perhaps, never talked about surgeries or expensive hospital stays. Seemed to avoid it by describing simple office visits over and over...including drug costs. Ironically, I started to feel a little sick listening to his slick answers. I told him I would do some research, and talk to my wife. That did not seem to put him off. He was very insistent that I ask him all the questions NOW! Of course, had I given him my "refundable credit card charge" he would pocket a minimum of $99. What a racket!

WOW I WAS SO EXCITED AFTER SPEAKING WITH THIS LADY NAME CATHERINE PALMER ONLY A FEW SHORT MOMENTS AGO...I CALLED MY HUSBAND BECAUSE I COULDNT BELIEVE MY EARS...NO CO-PAY FOR MY FIRST 5 VISITS...AND AFTER THAT NO MORE THAN 10-20 EACH VISIT REGARDLESS WITH SPECIALIST OR NOT...AND THEY WOULD PAY FOR MY WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY AS LONG AS MY DR WROTE IT UP AS MEDICALLY NECCESSARY...OMG...I CANT BELIEVE IT...SOI CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE SAID BABY ALL I CAN SAY IS THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST SAID AND DO YOUR RESEARCH...HE SAYS I DONT WANT TO DISCOURAGE YOU BCZ U THINK YOU HAVE FINALLY FOUND THE ANSWER SO JUST DO YOUR RESEARCH...WELL SHE SAYS PAY $379 FOR YOU AND SPOUSE WITH $99 NON REF APP FEE...THEN MY SENSES KICKED IN AND I FOUND THIS...OH LORD JESUS ITS A FIRE...AINT NO BODY GOT TIME FOR THIS... WE WORK TO HARD FOR THIS...SO FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES...BCZ YOU SAVED ME FROM A REALLY BAD SITUATION...THANK GOD I WAS LISTENING TO HIS WARNING...TRISH

I have been shopping for Health Insurance for several months, unlike most of these other people I have no preexisting conditions, no medications and in good health. I am just self employed and tired of paying high cost insurance rates that I never use. I was contacted by an agent selling AWA insurance and having talked to many agents and asking lots of questions have become somewhat educated on plans being offered and their coverage. I was sold on the low cost of $200 per month including vision and dental with no deductable. AWA did sound to good to be true to me as well. However, the agent did explain clearly the prescription benefits and their 12 month policy on preexisting conditions. My concern is if and when I have a major medical occurrence what will they actually pay? What will be my out of pocket ? I do have a catastrophic illness and accident policy from another carrier but I am still concerned about getting stuck with major hospital bills should something happen to me. Does anyone have experience with a major hospital visit?

I am in the process of switching to AWA and they did say that coverage for pre-existing conditions would not start for 12 months UNLESS I provided them with a certificate from my current provided that I have coverage. As far as the prescription benefits go, I was told my "co-pay" would be $10 for generics and I believe $25 for some name brand. The agent then went it to great detail to let me know the formula for what I would pay for the high-end name brand.

If you have diabetes, you are considered "uninsurable" by the major insurance companies so don't waste your time there. In October, ObamaCare will change those rules and coverage by the Majors will be available to everyone.

Has ANYONE had a good experience with AWA?

I spoke to AWA today. I have talked to several insurance agents lately and this agent made out like we had spoke before, which I don't remember doing so. I was wanting BCBS insurance and she made out like that was the insurance she was selling, but under a group workers plan. It just didn't sound right so I asked for her website. I looked at the website and it didn't look like BCBS insurance to me so googled the company and find nothing but complaints, not one thing positive. I hope they lose my number. Someone really should shut them down, sounds like fraud, but what do I know.

I spoke to Michael over the phone. I am a nurse with a history of breast cancer and I asked specific questions about coverage. What I was told over the phone and what is discribed on the benefit coverage literature are two different things. Do not fall for this! I hate to be taken for a fool, but that is all this is.

I too was duped into buying AWA after I retired and no longer had BCBS. I have pre-exiting conditions, so major companies won't touch you, your on your own. Like everyone else in this query, I was really taken for a ride. I have found out that nothing that is told you by the slick saleman is true. The starting date is a month away from when you sign up, the RX's are $220(in my case) for a generic drug I use to pay $40 for, your only allowed 5 visits a year with your doctor(I have eye problems and see my doctor twice a month). Every time I write a letter of complaint to them, I get some slick answer. The last complaint I sent them about the RX price, they have not returned my email. That has been over a week ago.
So people, be aware. Don't buy from AWA! I am now looking for another company that will take pre-exiiting conditions and not ripe me off.
Taken for a ride too.

i too got ripped off by this coverage, they bare faced to me about it all, then when i stopped the payments i called them and after about 30 min of her telling me they never told me this and that, i said you will not get another dime out of me, i hung up on her she was still screaming at me, no money back either, a 600.00 doller lesson learned, what a rip off !

Okay, now I get it...

This *was* working for me for a while, then in May of 2012 they failed to process a claim properly. I have the EOB (Explanation Of Benefits) which provides a name of a woman I don't know along with her policy info as the Subscriber, my wife's information as the patient - for my Prostate Cancer checkup visit.

Time to go to the Insurance Commissioner...

Now, at least, I know I'm not crazy...

DO NOT USE MARTIN N ASSOCIATES FOR AWA INSURANCE THEY LIE TO YOU ABOUT THE COVERAGE THAN YOU GET THE INSURANCE AND IT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT THEY SAY I TAPED THE LADY WHEN SHE TOLD ME ABOUT THE COVERAGE THEY CHARE YOU 99 DOLLAR NON REFUNABLE DEPOSIT WHICH I WILL NOT PAY .PLEASE DO NOT USE THEM

I am a diabetic that was covered under my husband's group plan at his employment. In 2010, he got MRSA and lost his left hand. His employer decided that a one handed maintenance man was a liability and terminated his employment. He was able to go to the VA as he is a disable veteran and I went on COBRA for 18 months.
At the end of that time, I went on the insurance at my employer's with a slight savings on the premium and higher co-pays. In May of 2012, we were notified that the premiums were going to increase by 50% a month. I started looking, again, for individual coverage.
I had paid in a total of $1144 when I checked the coverage for a routine visit to my PCP for my diabetes. The insurance will pay $50 of the $120 office visit. Then I needed to go get lab work done, the benefits paper says will pay $25.00 per test up to, I think was $200 per year. I don't know if that means that they will pay $25 for each of the four tests my doctor had run or $25 per lab visit.
On Saturday, I got a letter in the mail asking for more info about a claim. I called them and was told that since I had diabetes when I signed up there is no coverage for 12 months. I had already cancelled the policy and was not very nice to the girl on the phone. When I told her that I had given all the info on my application, she told me she did not have access to the application info and pre-existing was not covered for 12 months.
Had I just put that $209 a month in my savings account, I would have had the money to pay the doctor visit and lab without a problem, now I have to come up with the money and start saving for my December round of doctor and labs.
DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS! IT IS A RIPOFF!

OMB i have been looking for insurance for about 3 months and can't find a thing, today when I was suffering the net for quotes from BCBS, ANETA ETC, I also received a call from a sales rep with AWA I feel so stupid cause I also gave them my bank account # now I have to go and see if I can cancel payment and close out my bank account... so where do we turn to know, Obama... how do we stop insurance fraud.. this is so frustrating

I did something today that I am so ashamed of because I know better. I received a call about insurance that seemed to have the coverage I needed at a price I could afford. Right now I have a major medical policy with $1000 deductible including prescriptions. I have had to go off all my medicine and I can't afford to go to the doctor because I don't have any money left after paying the premium. So I not only went with this company (AWA), I was dumb enought to give them my checking account number. I called back within two hours to cancel but, guess what, all I get is an answering machine and I bet no one will call me back. How do I cancel this and protect my checking account, and also protect my credit when they try to take the money out and find that I have closed the account? Do I have any course to protect myself from this mistake?

I recently signed up with the AWA and read these comments after enrolling. I admit, this site is intimidating. I think I lucked out and got a good agent that was honest about the plan and was forthcoming with how to best use the plan. I ended up filing a claim after visiting the ER for an emergency appendectomy surgery, and I made sure that the PPO discount was applied as well as the dollar amounts that they pay. After I got the invoice, I called the Karis group with the bill. They had me send it in and got it reduced even more. I've been told I'm "uninsurable" because of my pre existing conditions and was grateful to at least have some kind of insurance, and am actually happy with the results. My out of pocket was less than I thought it'd be, and I'm actually glad I purchased the insurance. I would recommend it to those in need.

I, m sorry to say that i, m in the same boat as everyone else is.As an aging senior I needed to get insurance for my wife, I have the VA myself.We don, t use doctors unless we, are sick and thank god we, re not sick much.It, s been over 30 years sense my wife has been to a doctor.This is the starting of trouble.At a physical they found a lump on my wifes breast and it ended up being cancer.Well thanks to AWA/whatever other names they go by it is now costing us 11, 000.00 a treatment.It, s the love of my life for 42 years and i will pay.But some how I will make them pay. Madmac

Same deal with myself. I have a condition & self employed and can not get insurance. they contacted me and gave me the whole gimmick and I signed up. I just got my packet and its nothing what was presented to me. In fact it was a rather poor for the cost of it. I canceled but still out $99.00 price of a good deal right.

I was called by a woman from Martin and Assoc (ins brokers) and told that NBLA (my health ins at the time) was being taken over by the goverment and that her company was assigned by the government to help their clients find new insurance. NBLA had promised to never raise my rates and in a 2 year period did so 2 times. After one year they stopped paying for my husband's medications. They also kept cutting what benefits they would cover. Because of this I believed the woman from Martin and Assoc. and agreed to sign up with the insurance she was presenting to me, AWA (Homeland). She also told me that all I had to do was write a letter of cancelation to NBLA and email it to her and all charges from them would stop immediately. I questioned this since they were supposedly being put out of business by the government. She said it was just a formality. When I got my credit card statement I had 2 charges from NBLA and one from AWA. I called the agent and she told me that NBLA commited fraud and since there was no way to get a hold of them I should call my credit card and file a fraud claim. Fortunately for me I got someone at the credit card company who was willing to go above and beyond. He looked up NBLA and got them on the phone. We were informed that they are not being taken over by the government, they did not receive any cancellation from me, & that the only way to cancel with them was to fill out their cancellation form. They emailed it to me and told me as long as they received it by the next billing date my card would not be charged again. They will not refund the 2 charges on my June statement. After that call my credit card looked up AWA and called them. They apologized for the agent and promised me they do not do business this way and would take this tactic up with Martin and Assoc. Of course I will never know if they in deed do this or not. This also told me that I still had my 30 days to reveiw everything. If I choose not to go with them they will return the premium but not the enrollment fee which I understood from the begining. I'm not sure about AWA and I know NBLA did not keep their promises but the party at fault in all of this was the insurance agent at Martin and Assoc. The scariest thing is that according to Obama Care in a year or so we will all be reguired to have health insurance. It won't matter if we save money to cover our medical expenses as one commentor suggests; we will have to have medical insurance. With all these agents out their lying like this how many more people will be taken advantage of trying to uphold what the government requires. If you ask me instead of making us get medical insurance the government should be regulating the insurance industry and everything connected to it instead of setting us all up to be the fatted calf for these companies.

We signed up for AWA in April and had it thru June. It covered $50 off our doctor visits no problem and 100% blood work thru LabCorp. We had to change only because it did not cover any of my son's insulin for his Type 1 Diabetes. So it wasn't all bad for us.

When I read posts like these and talk to potential clients who have been taken advantage of, it kinda makes me upset. Here is the thing to really understand about health insurance, if you have one of the big pre-existings, diabetes, RA, heart attack, stroke, you are not likely to get coverage anywhere except through your state pool or through on of these defined benefit plans. Some cancers are ok after waiting periods. I've gotten people covered who have had heart attacks, though not very often. If your "agent" won't send you a written quote or you can't find out details of a plan on a company's web site, back away. Spending a day to think things through will likely save you some frustration and money. Any legit agent will gladly let you look over what they have. The other thing I tell folks is if they only have one company to choose from then you are not getting the benefit of any comparisons. If your only tool is a hammer...

Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment here. Based upon your comments, I've just declined this insurance for myself. They made it sound so good that I decided to do some checking on line for reviews. Thanks goodness I found this site because I just knew there was something wrong. This is the kind of "insurance...or lack of" that can really lead to someone's death. I say that because if you think you have insurance and then find out when you need it, that your really don't, you might NOT be able to get treatment and it could lead to your or your loved ones death. It's shameful that they can get away with misleading people but I guess that why we must all do our due diligence for something as important as health insurance. Good luck to everyone.

Thanks to all your comments here I declined this insurance. I was just about to accept it and then I remember my new policy about buying anything on line..."Check for Reviews BEFORE buying anything". Thanks goodness I did so. It sounded way too good to be true and as some of you know, it is. Thank you for taking the time to comment and keep others from making this mistake. They are fast and smooth talkers! Run.

Good luck with it! These kinds of things just make me sick. We have enough problems with employment and just trying to stay afloat without these snakes lying in the grass waiting to bite us. If we have so much "Consumer Protection" then why is it these people still exist and are still screwing people daily? Worst decision I have made lately. Avoid these people like the plague!

By the way, the very next morning, I made a stop at my bank. AWA pushed my date so far up into July so I had time to act. The bank unlinked my card to my account. When they go to get my funds out, they won't be able to! :) Definetly calling the attorney general on this one.

I lost my job and had to sign up for some health insurance. I spoke with these folks and was delighted by the price and that pre-existing conditions wasn't a problem. What's covered in the packet you get is not the same as wes explained over the phone. Well, the reason pre-existing conditions it isn't a problem is that they won't pay when they get the claims. I paid for two months, then got a job and group Insurance. Now I am getting calls that I need to submit all this information to prove the Doctors visits had NOTHING to do with pre-existing conditions. If so, they don't pay. This is exactly NOT what I was told on the front end. Bottom line, they held the claims until I left and now won't pay. They had no problem keeping my 2 months payments though. Beware before you sign up. Don't assume your claims are being paid. If I had it to do over I NEVER would have gotten this insurance (or whatever they call it). Even if you're desperate, this is not the answer.

Guilty as charged! Cancelling/ ripping some *88 tomorrow. CLASS ACTION SUIT ANYONE? STRAIGHT UP FRAUD! Sounds to me like they are intentionally deceitful. Or just not telling the whole truth (DISHONEST), leaving information out (DECEITFUL). I have the same complaints as you all! Wish I had seen this first! I'm digging up info on this and I'm not liking what I see at all! I asked over and over if it was Insurance not Benefits. yes, it's insurance... Now I see. He had me search my doctor to see if he was covered, it came up, so I was happy! I have a pre-ex condition so I won't change drs. He told me they would cover my pre-ex after 12 months. Tonight...I find NO/ NONE/0/ZIP doctors in my area on the search now! How did they rig that!? Yes, had all my info too. Even called me by my maiden name, which was a while ago. But I had been searching for health insurance, so I thought it was legit call stemming from that. I recently got accepted by a government plan but awa was cheaper, of course. MANY RED FLAGS! Gotta listen to that intuition! First person I talked to said I would be under Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Second person said US Health care or group but couldn't explain the change. They did call from a local number!? Calls are supposed to monitored and recorded. They better hope so, I see so many contradictions in our conversation now! I NEVER shoud have agreed and don't know what I was thinking! I have all my info from the real government plan now, card and all. $129 for FALSLY ADVERTISED crap that covers nothing? Or $178 for a much more reasonable amount of coverage for the price and pre-existing conditions are approved. I know my plan has not been paid for yet, but I'm stopping by the bank tomorrow if awa refuses to give me my money back. I WAS MISLED AND THE OTHER PARTY KNEW IT. Ugh...I knew something like this would happen! But thank you all so much for sharing your experience! :)

My husband has had this insurance for 3 months now. He has not used it yet but he does have pre existing conditions such as diabetes etc. Should I be worried? Should we cancel this insurance? The representatives are very rude and do not seem to want to help you at all.

I have AWA too. We were informed by them that pre-existing conditions is covered and there is no waiting period. I am a diabetic and low and behold I get a call from the claim representative telling me my claim will be denied because they won't cover my diabetes until after 12 months. They should have mention this when we first talked to the representative. Do not get this insurance it's not worth the money. We were paying $399 monthly for myself, husband, and two sons. Like someone mention above go with a reputable company like Aetna, Cigna, or United Healthcare to name a few. Do your research.

I have talked with at least 10 different brokers about health insurance and every time I check on the validity of their claims. I haven't found a one that pays what they say they will pay. I have several preexisting illnesses and was turned down by BCBS, so now it is impossible to secure a well known company for coverage. Are there any reputable companies, brokers, agents that can help me and not rip me off? I have one month to secure something before my cobra runs out. HELP!

My letter to AWA today...

Hello,
I am a new AWA member. My policy became effective on 05/15/2012. The
information that was explained to me on the phone (policy & benefit
descriptions) are not the same as what is reflected in my Insured AWA
Benefits. I attempted to look on the sites that were described in the
packet but very very little help on the site. My benefits described on
the phone were much higher then what my policy actually covers. I went
very in depth about me being a diabetic and discussed in depth my
desires in an insurance policy. Needless to say, I am not happy. We
discussed in depth the vision plan benefits and the dental benefits as
well and I cannot locate any benefits pertaining to this via your
website. I request that I receive an email with a detailed out line
explaining any and all benefits that may be related to dental and
vision benefits as well as any additional benefits that may not have
been listed in what I received in the mail. I do not know if I just
received the incorrect policy information in the mail but I hope this
is the case. I really hope that I was not provided false information
so I would provide payment for a policy that was not clearly or
falsely explained... Awaiting response.
Your Customer,

XXXX XXXXXXXXXX

so glad I found this site! I was contacted today by a representative named Jay, I still don't know where he got my information from, he even had my address and email address. He convinced me that he could sign my and my husband up for a plan that would cost us $409 for the two of us per month. He also said part of my maternity costs would be covered (I'm 7 months pregnant). Sounds too good to be true but I talked to him anyway. Then he asked for my credit card or debit and a red flag went up for me. I made an excuse that I needed to use my husbands credit card and he wasnt with me at the moment, that I was out of the house. So he is calling tomorrow and I'm going to ignore the call now. I wanted some time to do research on it first and I'm glad I did! Sounded too good to be true and obviously was.
thanks everyone for your honesty

I was contacted by agent from Freedom/Homeland Insurance Company selling medical insurance. This insurance was through AWA and sounded great. I was told by the agent selling this insurance that I would pay $10.00 –$ 15.00 for the first 6 doctor visits, and $20.00 after as many times as needed. When I received the insurance policy, it was only a $250.00 a year maximum for doctor visits. I asked two different individuals if there was a maximum on this insurance a year and was told, “No.” In addition, I was informed that for RX I would pay $10.00 for generic and $24.00 for non-generic. Again this is misleading, the policy states that you pay 50% or $10.00 for generic, whichever is more and 50% or $24.00 for non-generics, whichever is more. I cancelled this insurance within one day of receiving the information packet. They stated that they would give me a refund, but of course they do not return $98.00, which is a non-refundable sign-up fee. I was mis-leaded and ripped off. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. I should have looked up this web site before I signed up for this insurance.

I was contacted by a young man the other day about AWA insurance. He told me that I was approved and could be covered. It all sounded to good to be true so I asked him to e-mail me some more information and I like most of you I never received it. So I looked it up myself. It all sounded good until I found this site. I'm so glad that I did my homework and didn't take out this insurance. I myself sell insurance but my company does not sell general health insurance we deal with Med-sup, dental, life and annuity. If anyone wants to know the creditability of a company go to Weiss and look their ratting up.

I called two days after I gave them my debit card number and fortunately they credited all but $98 back to my account. I guess that's the cost of being stupid. When I got off the phone I just knew it was the wrong thing to do and I stewed about it. Thanks so much for all your comments. I had a feeling I was getting ripped off. I'm going to stay with COBRA. Whew!