My mental health was fine until I called eHealth

If you watch TV, this time of year you are bombarded with commercials asking you (if you are eligible) to change your supplemental Medicare insurance.

I am satisfied with what I have for supplemental and drug coverage, but because I liked the commercials aired by eHealth, I decided to give them a try. 

Mostly I liked their narrator, a very attractive woman with a pleasant voice. I also liked the “testimonials” from “customers” who said they saved hundreds of dollars, mostly on their supplemental coverage.

Naturally, I took these claims with a grain of salt, but as a former editor of mine was fond of saying, “Check it out.” 

I did at the phone number given on the endless commercials — 800-964-5568.

I mean, if they can afford the endless commercials, they must be legit.

No, they are not, in my experience, despite good reviews on TrustPilot, which is generally reliable.

Like the others, eHealth is a health insurance advisor, which is paid a commission by whatever insurance company you sign with.

After a screener took my basic information, I was switched over to a “licensed sales agent” named Shaun, who took a few added details, and asked me if I wanted added hospital coverage. No, I said. “I have had a few surgeries and Medicare paid all the bills.” I just wanted the supplemental.

Sean hung up on me.

WTF? Sean had my phone number, but he did not call back. It was no accident.

I called the 800 number and asked to speak to a supervisor. The screener asked why — I did not hear her name — and explained Sean had cut me off and I wanted to report him.

Then she cut me off.

Service with a 😊

At this point, I wanted to withdraw the authorization I had given them on a recorded line allowing them to check my records with CVS. I called a different number.

There I got Justin, who said he was in sales, but would try to get me the correct number to cancel. After five minutes, he said he could not get that from “leadership,” but did turn me over to Andrew, a “member advocate.”

Andrew said he’d see what he could do, put me on hold for five minutes until the line went dead. So did my patience.

My prescription? Avoid eHealth. It eSucks.