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Association For Lifestyle Reform (ALR) Lied about benefits, Company denies responsibility for deceitful enrollment practices, cannot reach a customer service agent or get a return call Ontario Canada
Received a fax promising "Affordable healthcare" and advertising $10 doctor visits, dental, vision and hearing, no annual deductible or rate increase, chiropractic care, hospital/ER benefits, accident/injury benefits, 100% surgical benefits. Advertised as $199/month for single care + $125.00 "enrollment fee".
My co-worker and I called the number listed on the fax THREE times and spoke to three different representatives before enrolling: Mike, Bryan, and George. We asked for a summary of benefits, asked several very specific questions about coverage. Working in healthcare, we are familiar with most insurance companies and the policies offered so knew the questions to ask regarding benefits. The answers we were given did NOT match when the booklet finally arrived.
Also, within a month of purchasing the policy, I was sick and had to go to my doctor. They had never heard of this insurance company, therefore my provider was NOT enrolled in the network. The nurses spent a half hour+ on the phone and were not able to reach a representative. I ended up paying for this doctor's visit out of my own pocket in the end.
We specifically asked about "what kind" of policy this was and wanted DETAILS on the benefits, and we did not learn until the enrollment package arrived that this was a "limited indemnity" plan and that we could be held responsible for any charges incurred after the "limits" of the plan had been reached.
It is VERY limited coverage. For example: the "wellness benefit" is "$50 per visit" and "up to $150 per year max" -- this would be the annual visit to the OBGYN or a regular physical checkup, which in most cases the cost DOES exceed $50 per visit with fees and appropriate medical tests (and why most people have insurance to help offset the cost). The patient would be responsible to make up the total cost of the doctor's visit after the $50 visit benefit had been paid by this company. So if your visit costs $200 total (not an unreasonable estimate for an annual exam with necessary tests) then you would be paying $150 out of your own pocket.
We consider it extremely dishonest that this information was not revealed to us at the time of enrollment. If the company is legitimate and offers services "as advertised" then they should be more than willing to explain clearly all the details and terms to the prospective customer and allow the consumer to make a WELL EDUCATED decision. This company is misleading and circulates dishonest advertising in terms of the outlined benefits just to get people enrolled.
The billing process was also not explained clearly, and they required a check draft for auto withdrawl for the first payment. I was told that we would receive a paper bill for the next month, and when that never arrived we discovered that the next month's payment was also automatically withdrawn from our account. This method of payment was not authorized at all, and if the company says that it was, they were being dishonest with me. I clearly did not have enough information to authorize this transaction.
It was extremely hard to reach a customer service rep with ALR. They claimed that the company that enrolled us was "a third party" and denied any responsibility for the misquoted benefits and misinformation. We were given another phone number for a "special investigation unit" to report misconduct. Nobody answered when we called the number. It just rang and rang. How are we supposed to believe that a special division of this company will accurately investigate the company's own misleading practices?!
DO NOT PURCHASE INSURANCE WITH THIS COMPANY!!!!! They will say anything (including LIE about benefits) to get you to enroll. Sadly, it is basically a scam.