Blue Shield of California

Blue Shield is the absolute worst company I have ever dealt with. We signed up with them December 1 2015. They took until Jan 20^th, 2016 to get us our cards and ID numbers.
Here’s the worst part. It’s now March 2^nd and I have done about 20 hours battle over 5 weeks with them trying to get a medication approved for my multiple sclerosis. They have made me jump through so many hoops and made up so many stories and excuses to not give me my medication that I was prescribed on January 25^th, over 5 weeks ago. They’ve made the process so incredibly frustrating, and meanwhile my symptoms are getting so much worse. Their inability to help me is causing me life-​long health and disability problems. They still to this day maintain that they’ve never received a fax from my doctor with the info they need to authorize my medication, but somehow they’ve declined my request multiple times for made up reasons that have no basis in validity like saying they are my secondary insurance and I have Blue Cross HMO as my Primary. I’ve never had Blue Cross HMO in my life! Who is still using the excuse that the fax never came through? It’s 2016.
Lambasting this company is an understatement. Blue Shield is literally the worst company I have ever dealt with. I’m not exaggerating.

Ive been with BSoC for many years now and they are getting more greedy and less competent every time I deal with them. The customer service bounces you around, hangs up regularly, re-​asks the same questions over and over and often times has an attitude!
We pay WAY too much for health insurance in California and its getting nothing but worse. Companies like this seem to capitalize on our misfortune by undercutting the competition just enough to get your business. then the coverage is SUBpar along with the service.
SAVE YOURSELF THE TROUBLE. Take it from a 10 year BSoC customer!
Im currently calling back for the 4^th time (due to hang ups) to find out why my dental work wasnt covered.
Update — They tried to charge me, get this. over $ 1000 due to an error on their part. My provider contacted them directly in an effort to avoid this (It happens a lot) but BSoC ignored both my and my providers attempts and just charged me anyways. Thanks!

The absolute WORST company out there. They’re out for your money (shocking). Getting an agent that actually speaks English is a long shot, and the chances of you getting hung up are inevitable. I have walked in circles with them getting absolutely nowhere. They’re unorganized and inconsistent with the information they provide. Blue Shield, you’re the devil. Glad I don’t have to deal with your BS anymore.

I bought a basic PPO in July last year (2014). The literature and BS representative told me generic drugs were not subject to annual deductible. In August I got a letter stating they made a «mistake» and generic drugs were subject to deductible. No explanation just tough luck. Did this happen to anyone else? Would love to hear about it. Thanks

Make sure that your dentist is in network — or you may get a huge bill from the Dentist for the amount not covered by Blue Shield.
When I first enrolled in Covered CA, I called my dentist to make sure that they take BS, which they do.
They must be in the BS network AND a contracted provider.
The Blue Shield website states that the plan benefit covers at 100% for cleaning and exam, however it really only covers 33%.
Make sure you complete your due diligence before you select the dentist — or you may receive an unexpected bill.

No empathy no guilt for how they treat customers. The worst service. They need to clear out all the incompetent employees and start fresh. Blue Shield CEO take a look at your company its going under!
Thanks California coverage you have better service and really trying to help, get rid of Blue shield to be part of your list they are the worst!

I have been signed up with Blue Shield since February through The ACA. Prior to that, Blue Shield had declined coverage citing one of the reasons as «pregnant or about to become pregnant» (I was 55 and divorced at the time). Apart from refilling some monthly prescriptions I have not used my plan once. When I first signed up, I gave them my credit card number with instructions to charge the premium automatically each month. A couple of months later I received a cancelation letter for nonpayment of premiums. Apparently they no longer took credit cards as payment. Thanks for letting me know. Fast forward. Gave them all my bank account details so they could take my premium automatically from that source. They told me that was set up. Next month, cancelation letter. Fixed that. Mid October came around. Called to make sure the automatic withdrawal had been made. The recorded voice said my next payment was not due till November 1. Mid November received cancellation letter. Said it would take 7 business days to reinstate. Apologized explaining that their automated information did not always jive with the information on their database. Have been trying since then to reinstate. Have spoken with Jack, Sandra, Greg and Darrill to name a few. They won’t divulge their last names lest they be held accountable. Each one of them has promised to fix it and to call back. Nothing. Today, yet again, they agreed to reinstate and for the sixth time asked for my bank account information which they must already have on their records. Here’s the catch, in order to reinstate I will have to pay them both November and December’s premiums. I have been without insurance for over a month now due to their incompetence. I am leaving for England in four days until after the beginning of the year. So they want me to pay them $ 1280 for what will effectively be 4 days coverage in order for me to continue to enjoy the privilege of their continued service. Meanwhile their CEO is raking in an annual salary of $ 4.6 million per year from, among other sources, the $ 6500 I have already paid this year for absolutely nothing except a few outrageously overpriced meds that are keeping the pharmaceutical company execs’ salaries in line with those of the health insurance execs. And the universal healthcare naysayers claim a government run system would be inefficient? This is corporate immorality and extortion at its worst. Take my advice. Run from Blue Shield as fast as you can. I was previously with Aetna until they left California and never had any of this trouble.
Apparently Unilocal won’t let you assign zero stars. This is what Blue Shield deserves and what I would have rated them given a choice.

My first doctors visit, they send me a bill for the full amount. If I wanted to pay the full amount, why have insurance?
When I called to ask about it, the woman dismissed me, and said I had to pay it because I hadn’t met my deductible. Only after I pushed did she look at my benefits and say they made a mistake.

Use caution with Blue Shield. If you have Covered CA, the in the network selection for east san diego county really stinks! The problem is you find this out too late due to lack of disclosure and you are stuck until next open enrollment.
Ever since Obamacare rolled out, their customer service line has had long hold times and their knowledge base seems to be lacking like they are pretending to be running a business. Beware.

I just hate Blue Shield of California. They keep raising their premium, regardless if you get sick a lot of not. I need to find another insurance company for my family. Anybody has any suggestion/​recommendation?