Connecticut Better Business Bureau Issues Alert About Health Care Company

April 23, 2008 - PRLog -- Wallingford, CT - Better Business Bureau of Connecticut is cautioning consumers about AHCO Direct, LLC, doing business under Affordable Healthcare Options (AHCO), and its “Maternity Card.”

People looking for inexpensive insurance to cover obstetric, gynecological and delivery costs have paid almost $700 dollars, only to find their AHCO is not accepted by doctors and hospitals.
BBB has received 143 similar complaints from consumers nationwide who say they were told by AHCO representatives there are facilities and providers in their areas, however the victims are finding they are unable to use the card. Two complaints have been filed by Connecticut consumers.

Their stories are much like that of Elna Reinach in Texas, a mother-to-be who was uninsured, and turned to Affordable Healthcare Options to find an inexpensive way to have her baby.
The “Maternity Card,” issued by AHCO seemed to be what she was looking for.  

Reinach says the company promised her lower negotiated rates on all of her medical bills, so she signed-up.
When she called healthcare providers, however, none accepted the card, and she was forced to make arrangements as a cash patient. Elna Reinach says, in other words, she got nothing for her $699.

In November, 2005, BBB contacted AHCO to try and eliminate causes for the pattern of complaints.  The company failed to correct the underlying reasons for the complaints.

The Texas Attorney General has charged AHCO, the “Maternity Card” and two of its executives with selling fraudulent discount health card plans to pregnant women who lack insurance, and is seeking an injunction to stop the company from continuing unacceptable marketplace practices.

According to court documents, two executives of AHCO Direct, LLC, preyed on uninsured pregnant women’s fears about prenatal care and delivery costs by selling them a health discount card that promised to cover up to 60 percent of maternity-related costs.  Complaints to the Texas Attorney General’s office and BBB say AHCO charged high fees but provided no health care discounts or benefits.

Consumers also complain that the defendants and their company discouraged uninsured women from contacting the hospital where they intended to deliver prior to their delivery dates, thereby preventing them from receiving any legitimate discounts the hospital may have offered to uninsured people who pre-pay the delivery costs.  

The Texas Attorney General is seeking customer refunds and civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Your Better Business Bureau urges consumers to visit our website, www.bbb.org, search for a company’s Reliability Report and see what other consumers’ experiences have been with a goods or service provider.

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Founded in 1912, BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior.  BBB offers objective advice and a wide range of education on topics affecting marketplace trust.  BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses.  Today, 128 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than three million local and national businesses and charities.

Website: ct.bbb.org