International Association Of Benefits IAB ripoff Pre-Existing Condition costing $20,000 as a Result of IAB Dallas Texas
On April 19, 2004, I, purchased insurance, or so I thought. Because I'm in college and no longer under my parents' insurance plan, I thought it would be wise to have an insurance policy that would cover me if I were to have an emergency or any general sickness that the local campus doctor was not qualified to treat. I thought I found insurance through a company call International Association of Benefits (IAB), which is sold by the company Health Lead Systems Inc (located at 7980 Mansfield Hwy, Kennedale, TX 76060; (817) 478-0270).
In buying the insurance, I returned the call of an associate named Debra, who had contacted me, claiming that I qualified for a great insurance plan that her company sells. Because I had been burned about a month ago trying to buy insurance, I was extremely skeptical, asking her many questions about benefits and the company that she represents.
Nervous about making the purchase, I asked representative, Debra, several time whether or not this was a bona fide insurance company. She repeatedly told me, yes and continued reading the candy-coated benefits. She also gave a personal testimony about IAB that I now find difficult to believe since I have dealt with the company first hand.
I found out that the insurance that I purchased was not actually insurance, but a benefit savings plan, after having emergency surgery at the Huntsville Memorial Hospital on April 29, 2004. One of the financial representatives of the hospital visited me as I was being discharged from the hospital the day after the surgery, informing me that the insurance cards that I provided were not a form of insurance, so the hospital called the company and they responded saying they were only a benefit savings plan.
Infuriated by this news because the representative (Debra) assured me time and time again that this was, indeed, insurance, I decided to take action. After I had recuperated from the surgery I underwent, I called IAB to cancel my policy and voice a complaint concerning their operations.
They would not refund my money because they said that they have no control over the representatives who sell the insurance and because the time period that I had to cancel had already expired on April 29, 2004. (I should not physically achieve this on April 29th because I had the emergency surgery on that date and I was incoherent because of the anesthesia and pain medication. I explained this to the IAB representative and she told me that nothing could be done.)
I then decided to revert back to the company who sold the insurance to me, Health Lead Systems Inc, and they too, were of no valuable assistance. I spoke to a male named David on May 3, 2004, who told me that someone would be getting back with me the following day concerning the fraud and they have yet to contact me to this day.
In the middle of May, I spoke with the legal advisor for Sam Houston State University, and he told me that this was definitely a combination of telemarketing fraud by Health Lead Systems Inc and Deceptive trade practices by IAB. He told me that I would have difficulty proving my case concerning telephone fraud because the conversation was not recorded. While all this was happening, I was ill and I needed surgery to correct the problem, but had no way to finance it. I have had to pay off three emergency room visits due to the fact that I could not have the corrective surgery, totaling about $6,000-7,000.
My health got to a point that I needed to see a specialist and I needed to have the surgery. On September 30, 2004, Dr. Mangal and Dr. Franklin performed the surgery at the Woman's Hospital of Texas. The doctors performed a laporotomy, removing a golf ball size cyst from a ligament connected to my uterus and my diseased appendix. The endometriosis I had at the time was evaporated.
It is now November 11, 2004, and I have incurred over $18,000 in debt from the surgery, with all the charges on my parents' credit cards. Because I didn't have any valid insurance at the onset of the problem, I have been forced to pay for everything in full and upfront because it is pre-existing and no company will cover this. I bought a policy on August 15, 2004 to further ensure that another disaster like this would not happen to me.
This situation has caused extreme financial burden on my parents as well as for me. I now have to make $400 payments to my parents every month to pay for the costs of the surgery on their credit cards. If I would not have been a victim of fraud, I would have had the opportunity to search for valid insurance and all of this stress and financial burden would not be a part of my life. I don't know if this is possible, but I would like either Health Lead Systems Inc or IAB to be responsible for repaying all the bills concerning this specific health matter.
I am a 21-year-old college student and I am supporting myself financially (with the $17,000 help from my parents so that I could have the surgery). My parents only agreed to put the charges on their credit cards if I would pay them the minimum balances due on the credit cards monthly. Now, I am in a bind because the cost of the surgery was a blow to my budget and my monthly income is barely enough to live off of. This semester of college is taken care of, but I'm wondering how I'm going to afford the spring semester because of my extreme financial burden.
I have a feeling that I am not the only one who has been suckered into buying this service from Health Lead Systems Inc. I not only want to fight this for me, but for all the other low income individuals out there like me searching for suitable health care. I feel like companies should not be able to sell this service over the phone because there is no physical proof of what you are buying into.
Megan
Huntsville, Texas
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Glenn Kastner
Conifer,Colorado,
United States of America
IAB, Is this really a legitimate company?
#6Consumer Comment
Tue, January 12, 2010
I wanted to clear up some of the misconceptions about IAB / International Association of Benefits. Looking at some of the complaints, I've seen some people who were unclear about what IAB really offers. I've been a member of IAB (and an associate) since 2002 and I LOVE the program. I have personally helped hundreds of individuals, families, and businesses get the benefits they normally couldn't get due to existing conditions, costs, underwriting, and dozens of other reasons.
IAB is committed to making a positive influence in the lives of families and individuals by providing affordable access to a variety of benefits which include savings on insured and non-medical services that in most cases are available only to large groups and companies. By educating our members on these benefits it is our goal to enhance their lifestyle.
IAB has relationships with licensed insurance companies that have issued a group insurance policy to the association. This allows IAB to make certain limited insured benefits available to our members. IAB has memberships plans which offer automatic enrollment in these group policies (medical, hospital, dental, accident) without the need for underwriting or qualifying, no long term contracts, no need for physical exams or a personal medical history, and regardless of previous or current health conditions. Also, as a member there are benefits included in your membership such as identity theft, legal, and dozens of other benefits that provide you with security, safety, and peace of mind.
If you have ANY questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me for detailed information about IAB. If you understand what IAB offers, you too will be a member for multiple years.
Glenn Kastner www.iabmemberships.com
Mark
Hayes,Virginia,
U.S.A.
IAB Not To Blame
#6UPDATE Employee
Thu, February 09, 2006
I have been an Independant Representative for IAB for about 6 months (not an employee) just as your rep (Debra) . I cannot say how things worked prior to my joining, but I can be pretty assured the blame should be on the rep.
We are explicitly instructed that we are to tell all potential prospects that we do not sell insurance, that we are an association of benefits and we sell a membership. IAB stands for 'International Association of Benefits'... should be self explanatory. We provide members with benefits, both insured & uninsured.
When you joined, you should have received a members manual that had all the details.
I agree that something should come of this, & maybe that rep has been terminated, but I don't see IAB the one to be blamed. The rep appears to have represented the company in a fraudulent manner. I say appears because I've only been in for 6 months, so I can't speak for anything prior to that time.
I see nothing negative in IAB. We help those that have no insurance or are under-insured. The insured portions are covered by a blanket policy on the whole association by real insurance companies, but IAB is just the association.
I hope this helps any future prospects for membership or associates, this company is on the up & up.
Mark
Hayes,Virginia,
U.S.A.
IAB Not To Blame
#6UPDATE Employee
Thu, February 09, 2006
I have been an Independant Representative for IAB for about 6 months (not an employee) just as your rep (Debra) . I cannot say how things worked prior to my joining, but I can be pretty assured the blame should be on the rep.
We are explicitly instructed that we are to tell all potential prospects that we do not sell insurance, that we are an association of benefits and we sell a membership. IAB stands for 'International Association of Benefits'... should be self explanatory. We provide members with benefits, both insured & uninsured.
When you joined, you should have received a members manual that had all the details.
I agree that something should come of this, & maybe that rep has been terminated, but I don't see IAB the one to be blamed. The rep appears to have represented the company in a fraudulent manner. I say appears because I've only been in for 6 months, so I can't speak for anything prior to that time.
I see nothing negative in IAB. We help those that have no insurance or are under-insured. The insured portions are covered by a blanket policy on the whole association by real insurance companies, but IAB is just the association.
I hope this helps any future prospects for membership or associates, this company is on the up & up.
Mark
Hayes,Virginia,
U.S.A.
IAB Not To Blame
#6UPDATE Employee
Thu, February 09, 2006
I have been an Independant Representative for IAB for about 6 months (not an employee) just as your rep (Debra) . I cannot say how things worked prior to my joining, but I can be pretty assured the blame should be on the rep.
We are explicitly instructed that we are to tell all potential prospects that we do not sell insurance, that we are an association of benefits and we sell a membership. IAB stands for 'International Association of Benefits'... should be self explanatory. We provide members with benefits, both insured & uninsured.
When you joined, you should have received a members manual that had all the details.
I agree that something should come of this, & maybe that rep has been terminated, but I don't see IAB the one to be blamed. The rep appears to have represented the company in a fraudulent manner. I say appears because I've only been in for 6 months, so I can't speak for anything prior to that time.
I see nothing negative in IAB. We help those that have no insurance or are under-insured. The insured portions are covered by a blanket policy on the whole association by real insurance companies, but IAB is just the association.
I hope this helps any future prospects for membership or associates, this company is on the up & up.
Mark
Hayes,Virginia,
U.S.A.
IAB Not To Blame
#6UPDATE Employee
Thu, February 09, 2006
I have been an Independant Representative for IAB for about 6 months (not an employee) just as your rep (Debra) . I cannot say how things worked prior to my joining, but I can be pretty assured the blame should be on the rep.
We are explicitly instructed that we are to tell all potential prospects that we do not sell insurance, that we are an association of benefits and we sell a membership. IAB stands for 'International Association of Benefits'... should be self explanatory. We provide members with benefits, both insured & uninsured.
When you joined, you should have received a members manual that had all the details.
I agree that something should come of this, & maybe that rep has been terminated, but I don't see IAB the one to be blamed. The rep appears to have represented the company in a fraudulent manner. I say appears because I've only been in for 6 months, so I can't speak for anything prior to that time.
I see nothing negative in IAB. We help those that have no insurance or are under-insured. The insured portions are covered by a blanket policy on the whole association by real insurance companies, but IAB is just the association.
I hope this helps any future prospects for membership or associates, this company is on the up & up.