Shelton's Health Net sc**ws seniors

by: Sue

Wed Dec 06, 2006 at 06:39:44 AM EST

"What they are doing is remarkably unethical. Unconscionable," said Dr. Robert Folman, an oncologist with Oncology Associates of Bridgeport. "This change in benefits creates a crisis in cancer care for the Medicare patients who depend on Health Net's Smart Choice plan. Some patients are telling us 'I'm not going for chemo. Forget about it.'

"They're already so stressed out," Folman said, "This cavalier change by Health Net is the straw that breaks the camel's back."

Did Health Net provide this information in a timely manner?

Health Net's notification to Medicare subscribers arrived three days past the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Service's Dec. 1 deadline.

Health Net's response?

Marian Cutler, vice president of Health Net, promised the managed-care company would comment about its chemotherapy co-payment decision Tuesday, but failed to do so.

An insert in Connecticut Post's paper today advertises their new Health Net Medicare plan, and they are having lots of seminars. Would you believe that if you call 1-800-320-8523, ext. 6208, you can reserve a seat at a seminar and receive a FREE movie ticket?

(Unless, of course, you're robbing a bank to pay for your chemo).