Wal-Mart insurance plan failed my husband
“Wal-Mart as you know is self-insured. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the clearinghouse for claims, but Wal-Mart is still in control. As far as I am concerned, Wal-Mart failed him miserably with their so called catastrophic health plans - not to mention the nice little transplant team they have singing their praises and slapping each other on the back. When my husband was sent to the Baylor Liver Center since “all his organs were failing” and needed immediate medical attention, somehow this wonderful “transplant team” decided we needed to go to Mayo clinic in Florida rather than a closer facility for an evaluation. Apparently, the large blood vessels in my husband’s esophagus and stomach needed to have pressure relive off him or he would die.
Finally, we got a letter approving this procedure at the Mayo clinic and we drove 1,400 miles there and 1,400 miles back, instead of a closer facility in Houston, which is only 100 miles away. Then when I figured we needed to go back to Mayo and called the “transplant team for Wal-Mart” only to be told he could go at his own expense as they only allowed a certain number of trips? Subsequently, since we did not have the right doctors here and Houston did, we figured we would take the hit as we were informed if we went to Houston his medical bills would only be paid at 60% rather than the 100% if at Mayo. I BLAME Wal-Mart’s run around and threats of financial ruin with the death of my husband. He was very ill and it was very hard to get him to Mayo clinic in Florida. Seems these people change the rules as fast as that smiley face drops the prices on their cheap crap.
Now they don’t want to pay life insurance to me because I tried to get the life insurance converted long before his leave of absence was over and his district manager told me I had 90 days - therefore as far as I am concerned, they killed my husband with all their red tape and changes to fit their needs. We paid our premiums and feel they owe big time on this one and he was considered management. I can imagine how bad it is for the regular worker. As far as the COBRA benefits, I still have them and I still have to go through Wal-Mart or one of their shadow companies for elections, payments, etc. I just found out yesterday they have a bonus check and vacation check, which together totals over $8,000, that we never got and the only reason I found out is they sent me a W-2. These checks were issued in March and June 2008. Somebody in power or with power needs to get this fixed. I will fight them to the ground, as I know they are wrong they think they are right as usual. But messing with a man’s life goes above and beyond evil.”
- LK
