Question:
Does anyone know of any other help in Wisconsin when the Ins. Co. says NO?

   — Dawn D. (posted on June 4, 2001)

June 7, 2001
A few months ago Wisconsin BC/BS offered short-term insurance online. Below is the article. Is it possible to pay for short-term insurance that covers the surgery? kristy coralville ********************************************************************* May 3, 2001, Thursday Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin Offers Temporary Insurance Online DATELINE: MILWAUKEE, May 3, 2001 BODY: People in need of short-term medical insurance don't always have the time to search for it using traditional methods. Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin now offers temporary insurance online to individuals and their families. The TempPlan, which offers short-term major medical coverage, can be purchased online at bluecrosswisconsin.com. Individuals between the ages of 18 - 65 and their families are eligible to apply for temporary coverage lasting between 30 to 180 days. With four deductible levels and two coinsurance options to choose from, anyone can easily find a plan to meet their needs. "Short-Term medical insurance is designed for people who have a temporary need for medical coverage, so this plan is ideal for recent college graduates, individuals who are between jobs, or individuals who are recently retired and not yet eligible for Medicare," Cathy Harvey, Cobalt Corporation's Senior Vice President of Marketing, said. "By providing this plan online, we have taken the convenience of a temporary plan to the next level." Bluecrosswisconsin.com's three-step online application process is quick and convenient - the whole process can be completed in approximately 15 minutes. First, an individual must complete an online questionnaire to determine the length and details of the coverage requested, including number of dependents. The individual immediately receives a preliminary quote and can then proceed to the application stage. Once the online application is completed it is sent to the Internet Team for review and within 48 business hours, the applicant will receive an e-mail notification that the application has been approved or denied. Written confirmation also will be mailed to the applicant. The Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin Internet Team, which includes sales, customer service and underwriting professionals, is solely responsible for administering Internet-generated sales and customer service. If someone has questions about the online sales or customer service process, team members are available via e-mail or phone. Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin, a subsidiary of Cobalt Corporation, has been selling insurance online to individuals since February 2001. The customized application for individual online sales was designed by ChannelPoint, Inc., based in Westminster, Colo. The firm worked with the Blue Cross & Blue Shield Internet Team to develop and test the software. In addition, the site is equipped with security features to prevent the unauthorized release of, or access to, personal information that may be submitted via the Internet. As an added security precaution, the first payment for an individual plan purchased online must be made via credit card. This allows Blue Cross & Blue Shield to verify that the address listed on the application for coverage matches the address on file with the credit card company. Like all Blue Cross members, TempPlan customers can take advantage of the online customer service element of the bluecrosswisconsin.com site. The secure customer service module is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and allows members to view their personal claims status, deductible and out-of-pocket amounts, hospital inpatient and outpatient authorization status. They can also request a new ID card and access benefit booklets. Enrollees have the option of calling and speaking directly to a customer service representative during normal business hours for assistance with all of the services available online. Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin is the state's largest health insurer. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Blue Cross offers a flexible product portfolio with a broad range of options for small, medium and large groups, as well as individual plans for people who don't have access to group coverage. The Blue Cross Internet address is www.bluecrosswisconsin.com CONTACT: Cobalt Corporation Bill Zaferos, 414/226-5431 URL: http://www.businesswire.com
   — [Anonymous]