Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island

Expensive and useless just like most insurance companies. At first I was excited when I found out my employer was going to offer BCBS I figured I was going to get the best insurance company on my side. Instead I get no help at all, I’m currently looking to find my third doctor a decision not to be taken lightly but BCBS website is useless. I feel completely on my own and abandoned. Sure they have a searchable list of doctors and specialists but minimal information is given. It would be nice if there was more info on the doctors such as where they did their residency and maybe an attempt to obtain some reviews, I would for even a current photo of said Dr. I might as well print the list, hang it on the wall, get drunk and throw some darts and see what I get. Maybe i just invented the next Price Is Right game I can see the elderly really enjoying it. Or maybe a twist on Jeopardy… you give them large quantities or your money every year for nothing… What is my health insurance company Alex?

Great customer service reps. I kept receiving a $ 500.00 bill from 2012 in which the provider neglected to get the prior pre-​authorization. Numerous calls to the provider proved pointless so I called my insurance company for help. They assured me they would take care of the problem and after many attempts with the provider, a rep. called me this week and told me that it was all set! Thank You BS/​BS!!!

I have recently ended my relationship with BCBS of Rhode Island because they are a very frustrating organization. I believe they use every underhanded tactic possible to NOT pay a bill. We live out of state and use mostly non-​participating doctors. I believe when I paid the bill and submitted a claim they would try to frustrate me into just dropping the claim and saving the money for themselves. Every time we submitted a claim, my wife and I would joke about what tactic they would use first. They would routinely use «we never received that claim» first. Toward the end, they would «never receiver» every claim. After we would fax the claim to a named person to re-​submit it, they would «loss the claim». (That really spun my wife up because they admitted losing confidential medical information.) Next they would reject the claim because it was covered by our «other» insurance plan, even though we had no other plan. Many times we would receive a letter saying they can’t pay us because they do not have tax information FOR THE DOCTOR, even if I paid the claim out of my pocket. I would have to call the claim number, wait for 20 minutes for an representative, tell them the problem, they would put me on hold for another 10 minutes and then tell me they would fix it. Then they would «loss the claim» again I would start all over. 2 years ago my company increased the deductible to save money. That started the «you have not reached the deductible», even after I had documented that I had reached it. I had to submit the deductible documentation with every claim. My claims would be many pages. I would have to track every claim because of their delaying tactics. I never had a claim satisfied that I did not have to call, write, or complain over the last 5 years (all my existing records). At one time I had a claim pending for over 2 years. 2 Years.
The only way I was able to get reimbursed was to keep DETAILED records and call, call, call.
Look at recent news stories about BCBS of RI if you want another example about the management of this company. They have laid-​off 300 employees since 2007 out of a workforce of 1000. 30% of their workforce. But they purchased and moved into new a $ 114 million headquarters in 2009. The grandiose building is the seventh-​tallest building in the state. At 325,000 square feet, that’s 325 square feet per employee. Nice. Paid for using a $ 25 million state tax break. Nice.

The nicest customer service people I’ve ever spoken to in my whole life.
They are so nice and patient and understanding. And they all have these soothing voices that make you feel trust and confidence.
I’ve never been able to stump them with any question.
They hire good people. 5 stars for that.
And BCBSRI has been taking great care of the insurance costs of my mom through her surgery and cancer treatment.
Keep up the great work. Stay on top!