Merri and I each have an “orphaned” health insurance account, as well as accounts that kinda-sorta work. We know exactly how the first accounts became orphaned: During setup, SSN was listed as optional, so we opted to leave it out initially. Turns out that up until a month ago (perhaps still), there was no way to add SSN later. We got orphaned because the Fed site let us select BCBS and regarded the setup as successful, but BCBS *requires* SSN, so Fed think we’re set up and BCBS had no way of accepting our original applications.

Do you think the Feds actually understand this specific problem? Don’t bet on it.

At the time, in addition to not being able to add SSN to an existing account, there was no way to delete an account (that has changed). We were forced to create new accounts from scratch, filling in the SSN more than once as we went.

Now, we both have indications that the second accounts have been established. I have yet to receive a card or bill. Mer had to take a check by hand to BCBS, and later they said they never received it. She still can’t schedule automatic payments online. I’m not even trying. Fortunately, BCBS has “magnanimously” moved the payment due dates. I hope they informed the Feds that SSN isn’t optional for them.

Make sure you REALLY have an account with proof of payment and an account number. peace, mjh

Some find health insurers have no record of them | ABQJournal Online

But orphaned files — when the insurer has no record of enrollment — are particularly concerning because the companies have no automated way to identify the presumed policyholder. They say they have to manually compare the lists of enrollees the government sends them with their own records because the government never built an automated system that would do the work much faster.

“It’s an ongoing concern,” said Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for the industry trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans. “Health plans can’t process enrollments they haven’t received from the exchange.”

Julie Bataille, communications director for the federal health care rollout, disputes the industry’s view.

“We have fixed the issues that we knew were a problem, and we are now seeing nearly zero errors in the work moving forward,” she said.

Some find health insurers have no record of them | ABQJournal Online

So, we’ll inject these antibiotic multipacks into soldiers (and ultimately everyone in the military, then everyone in government service). We’ll piss out the unused antibiotics, where they will accumulate in the environment having what consequences, exactly? We don’t know and we’ll only find out the hard way. But someone will get rich reinjecting these monthly/annually and some poor visionary will get an award. Science marches on over fields of endless destruction.

In fact, the antibiotics would remain imprisoned in the protocells unless bacteria get into the body.

“They’re engineered to activate if there is bacteria; otherwise, they will just be excreted from the body,” Carnes said.

via DOD wants ‘protocell’ to protect soldiers | ABQJournal Online.

… but I’m a blogger. You may know today is the deadline for obtaining health insurance through Healthcare. gov and its local tentacles. I’ll spare you most of the details but here are a few observations:

Comparing available plans works fairly well. What’s unclear is why one provider (say, BlueCross) has more than one Silver plan (Community vs Advantage; Pres has Bronze A, B, C, and D). On close inspection, it appears one pays more for Advantage without any increase in benefits. Can that be true?

One can go directly to an insurer, bypassing the central sites. Blue Cross does not list the cheaper “Community” plans on their website, therefore you pay more to go directly to BCBS. WTF?

Insurance is still ridiculously complex: deductibles, co-pay vs co-insurance, out-of-pocket, in or out of network, HMO vs PPO (really? still?).

All of this I blame on the Insurance Industry. But, now on to healthcare.gov.

Can you imagine if you got “we’re too busy” or “page not found” on Amazon? NEVER.

In setting up an account, you are told SSN is optional. SSN is NOT optional. For example, a friend skipped SSN and was “successful” in buying coverage from BCBS. But BCBS uses SSN for records. She’s still having trouble getting them to acknowledge payment, though eventually she got a card from them.

You CANNOT enter your SSN after the setup of an account. I left out SSN, got all the way to the end, got “confirmation” of insurance with a note that I had to verify my citizenship. At that point, there is no option to enter an SSN. There is an option to upload one’s passport but no indication of acceptable format — it just hangs for me.

I saw one opportunity to Pay Now for my first premium. When I selected that button, my browser blocked the pop-up. When I told my browser to allow popups from healthcare.gov, it reloaded the page and the button was gone.

I have documentation indicating that my initial application was successful but that I need to prove I’m a citizen and make a payment, neither of which I can do. So, do I have insurance?

My friend, Pat Lyford, sent me this link. You should watch this video — it is mind-blowing.

Voodoo Unicycles: Highland Tour from Beard Askew Productions on Vimeo.