“As you look through all the positive reviews, I suggest you compare style and content. To me, they seem remarkably similar, as if written by some intern/insider to push the score up. Instead, consider the 20% 1-star reviews, most of which relate to refusing to pay legitimate claims. This has been my experience.
I have had health insurance for 40+ years and Now Health is the most unprofessional, disingenuous company I have dealt with. I experienced them as a border-line sham operation. They were quick to collect the premium but tried to find any excuse no matter how contrived to deny a genuine claim
Here is what I went through:
I went to my optician for a regular exam. She discovered cataracts and referred me to surgery
I spent a month repeatedly asking for pre-authorization and receiving non-responsive answers along the lines of “we cover cataracts .. but, it depends”
Finally, on the day of the surgery, via both a phone call and an email, they confirmed they would cover the surgery
When I submitted the claim, complete with the optician report stating cataracts and a claim form signed by the surgeon stating cataracts, NowHealth denied the claim saying that the reason for the surgery was not cataracts but vision correction.
I obtained a letter from the surgeon reaffirming that the reason for the surgery was cataracts. Once the letter was sent to NowHealth, they pivoted asking for info on onset of condition, diagnosis, treatment plan (all of which is included in the optician report) as well as what previous treatment took place (there was none). NowHealth also claimed they didn’t have the payment receipt, although they did. I experienced this as a thinly veiled attempt to deny the claim on the basis of a preexisting condition.
When it was pointed out to them that they already had all the info requested in the optician report, they still demanded a letter from the optician restating that info. I escalated to their CEO and NowHealth claims reviewers backed off that request.
They then applied an in-patient claim (high deductible) to an out-patient procedure (low deductible). When disputed, they reclassified it as a day-patient claim (same high deductible). Their definition of "day-patient" includes any procedure requiring “medically supervised recovery.” Although I explained that the procedure was a simple, non-anesthetic, half-hour procedure after which I went home immediately, they insisted on yet another letter from the surgeon to now confirm these details.
Finally, nearly two months later and after much jumping through hoops, they ran out of excuses and settled the claim.
I view this continuing three ring circus as a thinly veiled attempt to deny coverage. As a retired person, I had the time and fortitude to jump through the various hoops. I wonder how many others would have simply given up, which I suspect was Now Health’s expectation. My insurance broker, who was heavily involved in the entire process, cannot believe how uncooperative and unprofessional Now Health has been.
There is a recurring theme in the reviews on Now Health that it is a company that will try anything possible to deny coverage. This certainly was my experience. They may entice you with attractive premiums, but they will fight your claim to the bitter end.
If you’d like your insurance claims to be settled in a manner comparable to bargaining for a carpet in a Middle Eastern bazaar, Now Health is the way to go. Sensible people should avoid them at all costs.”
