aetna... the new communism

i am sitting in front of my computer and crying. is that pathetic? i don't even care. i won't let my kids use the word hate, but i hate aetna. i have been on the phone for 45 minutes with automated systems and people who all know about the same... nothing. and when i was lucky enough to get a live person, english was clearly their second language, and who understands a word they're saying? this has been a continual battle since we moved in july. noe needs three services for her hearing impairment: speech, testing, and hardware (ear molds, etc.). all three are covered under her plan, yet all three are continually denied. my children are covered under their father's insurance plan, which i am denied access to because i am not on it. and he is apparently too busy to look into it.

every time i have to take her in, which is weekly, i have to call and battle this company. and everytime i say to them, "i am not hanging up until you tell me exactly what it is i need to do." so they tell me, and i do it, and the same thing happens... i go to the speech and hearing clinic, i go to the pediatrician's office, and we resubmit all of the files and charts and info. and then i wait. and the services are denied. some of them i have to pay for, and then submit for reimbursement. and my reimbursement is denied. i am on a first name basis with the billing assistants at both clinics, and every time i call or come in, they say, "oh you poor thing..."

today, i finally got up to the ultimate hierarchy of evil, bitchy administrative assistants. and do you know what she had the audacity to tell me? "this is really not your issue to discuss. have your pediatrician call and we'll do a peer to peer review." i told her she was the rudest person i had encountered and that if it wasn't my issue, then why is my name all over the damn bills.

classic logo. what it should say is, "we want you to know that we are the rudest, shoddiest insurance company EVER, and we will say you have coverage and services, but we don't really mean it. plus, we hire foreign laborers and pay them less than minimum wage, and good luck talking to them when you call."

i think i need therapy after this latest round. although i'll accept pity as well, and find it satisfactorily comforting until i can otherwise channel my rage.