Oxford Health Care is Screwing Me

I am currently in perfect health.

I have no pre-existing conditions.

I have never had a major health problem, or hardly a minor one for that matter.

My only current health issue is reflux.

Probably from tension.

So I take Aciphex once a day.

That seems to do the trick.

I also pay for my own private health insurance.

I have been doing this for years and for years I have been with Oxford which is a subsidiary of United Health Care.

Last week, I received a letter from Oxford informing me that starting in January my health care premiums would go up 12.5%.

There was no reason given for this. Just an announcement.

I currently pay $1,600 a month for health insurance.

This is just for me.

My wife, a UK citizen, is covered by a British policy.

So the $1600 a month is just to cover me. Every month. And now it is going to go up by 12.5%.

Then, this morning, I got a letter from Oxford a subsidiary of United Health Care.

The letter said:

Our records show you may have filled a prescription for Aciphex

Clearly these guys are on the ball.

I have had a monthly prescription for Aciphex for about four years. It works. It’s the only thing that works. If I don’t take the Acipehx, I am up all night with reflux. If I take one aciphex a day, I am good all night.

Beginning in January, 2011, Aciphex is moving to Tier 3 on your Prescription Drug List…

The folks from Oxford a subsidiary of United Health Care are no longer going to pay for my prescription for Aciphex.

Instead, they suggest:

Prevacid, Prilosec and Zegerid are available over-the-counter. Although your pharmacy benefit does not cover over the counter products…

Get the message?

We are now going to charge you $1800 a month for your health insurance, every month, but we are not going to pay for the one drug that you take.

So, Oxford a subsidiary of United Health Care, I have to ask

What exactly am I paying $1800 a month for?

PS. Any other ‘health insurance providers’ I and my checkbook are open for business,

Make me an offer.

ps. United Health Care CEO Daniel Rosenthal paid himself $102 million last year. That’s MY money you’re paying yourself with Danny!

(and you wonder why I have indigestion? You’re the cause!)



Michael Rosenblum

For more than 35 years, Michael Rosenblum has been on the cutting edge of the digital video journalism revolution. During this time, he has lead a drive for video literacy, and the complete rethinking of how television is made and controlled. His work has included: The complete transitioning of The BBC's national network (UK) to a VJ-driven model, starting in 2002. The complete conversion of The Voice of America, the United State's Government's broadcasting agency, (and the largest broadcaster in the world), from short wave radio to television broadcasting and webcasting using the VJ paradigm (1998-present). The construction of NYT Television, a New York Times Company, and the largest producer of non-fiction television in the US. Rosenblum was both the founder and President of NYT TV, (all based on this paradigm (1996-1998). The President and Founder of Video News International, a global VJ-driven newsgathering company, with more than 100 journalists around the world. (1993-1996). Other clients include Spectrum News, Verizon and CBS News.