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WEA BLUE ANGLE/ BOOMERS Health Premium Increase with 11 DAYS NOTICE!!!


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Chillin,

It almost seems as if WEA is offered by many.  I came across the following link on the an expats blog

(Yucatan Living) in which they spoke of insurance...  which led me to 

http://www.expatglobalmedical.net/expat-medical-insurance/

which offered up this comparison

https://www.weadirect.com/signature/forms/Signature%20-%20Product%20Comparison.pdf

then also led to this page, which gave instant quotes:

https://www.weadirect.com/signature/get-quote-prod1

Is this the same WEA that they speak of? If so it is interesting how low the quotes are.

Is this also WEA and is it just as easy for Bellon to offer it?  And if he did, would the others 

still be trapped to stay with a less professional and caring service.

 

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Would be nice if Bellon could offer group from Best Doctors for those traveling on occasion to the USA.  I would drop Blue Angel in a heartbeat if I could switch to Bellon.  Perhaps someone with a relationship with him could point him to this thread. 

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9 minutes ago, PORTIMOM said:

Chillin,

It almost seems as if WEA is offered by many.  I came across the following link on the an expats blog

(Yucatan Living) in which they spoke of insurance...  which led me to 

https://www.weadirect.com/signature/forms/Signature%20-%20Product%20Comparison.pdf

then this page which gave instant quotes:

https://www.weadirect.com/signature/get-quote-prod1

Is this the same WEA that they speak of? If so it is interesting how low the quotes are.

Is this also WEA and is it just as easy for Bellon to offer it?  And if he did, would the others 

still be trapped to stay with a less professional and caring service.

 

If you look at the premium amounts for the most expensive coverage, which is 90% until your deduct has been paid, you will see how outrageous they are compared to what we pay in a group situation.  ( be sure to compare oranges with limes rather than apples at the WEA site) If someone could get a group going or join an existing group other than Boomers, I would switch in a heartbeat--if the coverage and premiums were similar.  Forming a group was what Ava did several years ago and she worked hard to find insurances for the group.  Too bad she is associated with Valerie, who has a MBA but no people skills.

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4 minutes ago, Yo1 said:

 

If you look at the premium amounts for the most expensive coverage, which is 90% until your deduct has been paid, you will see how outrageous they are compared to what we pay in a group situation.  ( be sure to compare oranges with limes rather than apples at the WEA site) If someone could get a group going or join an existing group other than Boomers, I would switch in a heartbeat--if the coverage and premiums were similar.  Forming a group was what Ava did several years ago and she worked hard to find insurances for the group.  Too bad she is associated with Valerie, who has a MBA but no people skills.

I understand... on the quotes (don't forget I am using my age of 58 so it is low) ... but the question is... is this the same WEA? If so it can be obtained to be sold by other agencies.

 

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Yes, it's the same company but the policies are quite different because they are individual policies rather than group policies and rates.  Individual rates are what you get from any local agent regardless of insurance company.  That's why it was wonderful when Ava put together a group that would qualify for group rates.

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BMH will provide details, if necessary (they were caught up in this mess). There was a group policy put together by the LCS, and the agent was enjoying a lot of sign ups and nice commissions. Some head office person reviewed this policy and probably fell off their chair when they noticed to average age of the group policy holders. The company immediately canceled the group policy, and offered all the policyholders individual coverage. This was more money, and many LCS members were unable to get coverage with different insurers because of their age. There is still some sourness over this and group policies in general in this little town. Today though, there are now a lot more younger people and families living here. I was quite impressed with WEA because they insure overseas teachers, missionaries, students, etc. I would be wary of any group targeting simply senior expats.

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Portimom:  

With my MetLife policy I have world wide international health coverage for emergencies, 100,000.00 U.S. coverage with a 100.00 dollar deductible.  It is a rider on my health policy for 24 bucks a year.  Pretty cheap premium for 100,000.00 U.S.

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20 minutes ago, sm1mex said:

With my MetLife policy I have world wide international health coverage for emergencies, 100,000.00 U.S. coverage with a 100.00 dollar deductible.  It is a rider on my health policy for 24 bucks a year.  Pretty cheap premium for 100,000.00 U.S.

sm1mx, don't keep us guessing. What is your annual premium and your age?

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it is expensive, but that is my choice.  I have had very serious illnesses and operations in the past 5 years and I have the lowest deductible per diagnosis, which is 9,000 pesos.  My last year premium was about 77,000 pesos, which is 4,140 dollars.  I can raise my deductible, but if I do, I can never go back down, so with my history I am keeping the lowest deductible offered.  MetLife has already spent 200,000 U.S. on me.

A policy for a well person with a higher deductible would not nearly be as much.

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I forgot to mention my age is 69.  There are 3 plans of MetLife you can choose from.  The lowest coverage, basic coverage and mas coverage.  I have the basic which includes all of the hospital in Guad, except 4.  I can go to them but I would have a pay a 10% co-pay up to 2500 dollars max out of pocket,.  The mas plan covers all of the hospitals, is more expensive, and the lower plan is less expensive but coverage is not as complete as the basic or mas plans.

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If those who have GNP wth Bellon could please offer their experience, I would appreciate that.

Any other pros and cons appreciated.  If you would care to share your premium/deductible/age here or via PM 

that would be very helpful.

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The following comments are from another thread started by tbh on Oct 29, 2015

I have noted the member making each statement:  (Thread subject title was: Best Doctors and WEA Health Insurance) .  I think it is wonderful that we share this information with one another, rather than isolate and rely on what an agent may say.  That, incidentally is how I became aware of Bellon’s excellent record, and thus my appointment tomorrow with them.  

A good agency wants us to seek out info from other expats.  They know they will come up A+.  Those agents that don’t want us to compare notes… something is not right!

I think many of the points are interesting, in the quotes below. Some of the facts made such as WEA saying their increase will be under 6 to 8% turned out not to be so.  So good effort to share information below and I think the following has value for those who are shopping and interested in Bellon doing a WEA.  It notes why he will not do that below.  If WEA pulled out in even in ten years, Bellon has not done his customers a favor in carrying something that is not for the long run (see below). You have to respect that Bellon seems to have our back.  

 

Good work to the following people who took the time to share the info they found or their opinion:

 

CHILLING: 

Important correction GNP cutoff age is before 64 - no exceptions. They raised the premium by 16%, no explanations, no apologies. At that rate your annual premium will be double in about 5 more years. Focus Group/Best Doctors raised their annual premium and deductable by 25%. at that rate everything will be double in 3 more years. WEA is saying their increase will typically be under 6 to 8 %, but this is precisely what GNP and Focus Group said. In the meantime, Social Security in the U.S.A. is saying there will be no increase in payment amount because there was 0 percent inflation.

Lakeside7 : 

It is a no brainier to expect a group policy premium, fully of old and hi risk customers, to start with a low premium and then to rise accordingly with the significant frequency of payout's.

In order for any premiums to stay "reasonable" there has to be more younger folks enrolled, period.

tbh : 

It seems that WEA has a worldwide presence insuring university students in the Caribbean, and volunteers, business people and retirees in 45 countries. That is how they explained the pool and how WEA manages to keep increases to a minimum.

I continue to try to get more information about the company and I found a website of an intermediary that uses WEA as one of their insurers. It has two video interviews with WEA reps. It's a PR/marketing website, so keep that in mind, but it does provide some information and a little more perspective regarding the worldwide presence of the company. Again, it's marketing.

Kyle : 

Just spoke to my agent, Andrea, about WEA. His concern is the company has only been in Mexico for 5 years and if they see they are not making money they can just pull out and leave you hanging. If they were a registered Mexican ins. Company, which they are not, Mexico would require another insurance company to continue your insurance. So with WEA you are taking a risk. At my age I no longer take risks with my health insurance so I will continue with GNP

They don’t need to be a Mexican company just best that they are registered with Meico so if they pull out Mexico can protect their clients

RVGRINGO :

It would not be the first time that an insurance carrier with a group at Lakeside bailed out and dropped them all.

 

 

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Today is my appointment with Bellon:  I think the below information from Kyle, and comment by RVGRINGO is important enough to repeat, for many reading this thread may pass over it.  We are all growing older and as most of us understand, getting insurance is not a given. Should we find ourselves in a position of having to start over (eg our insurance company dumping a group), being accepted at an older age is not a given.   So here it goes, and I will speak with Bellon again today about this as well and update others here.  

My thread is not a b & gripe session, but a way to uncover information and possibly help others.  So even though I have no intention of staying with WEA, I think it is important that others who may think the only threat is high increase and impersonal service (thus cough it up instead of shopping) should be further informed of other risks regarding their insurance with WEA.  See bolded red below.

Kyle : 

Just spoke to my agent, Andrea, about WEA. His concern is the company has only been in Mexico for 5 years and if they see they are not making money they can just pull out and leave you hanging. If they were a registered Mexican ins. Company, which they are not, Mexico would require another insurance company to continue your insurance. So with WEA you are taking a risk. At my age I no longer take risks with my health insurance so I will continue with GNP

They don’t need to be a Mexican company just best that they are registered with Meico so if they pull out Mexico can protect their clients

RVGRINGO :

It would not be the first time that an insurance carrier with a group at Lakeside bailed out and dropped them all.

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I think we are all at risk at the moment, no matter who we are insured with.  From recent conversations with agents and medical professionals, it is clear that no company is making any money in the health insurance field here.  The outcome of that cannot be positive for us.

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Focus/ Best Doctors increased limits of some coverages this year and added one or two new coverages with no significant increase in premium at 1459 USD, no increase in deductible (3900 USD), and with worldwide coverage including US.  Third year with them for me. Had a 10,000 USD covered hospitalization procedure last year. I paid deductible. They paid the rest. Zero problems.

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6 minutes ago, bournemouth said:

I think we are all at risk at the moment, no matter who we are insured with.  From recent conversations with agents and medical professionals, it is clear that no company is making any money in the health insurance field here.  The outcome of that cannot be positive for us.

 bournemouth, that is quite a statement.  

Which agents did you speak to that are your reference?

What statements were made?

Do elaborate please.

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I have elaborated to you in a p.m. but truly there is nothing amazing in my statement that companies in the health insurance field here are not making money.  I can see the day coming when we will not have private insurance available to us on the grounds of cost. 

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13 minutes ago, bournemouth said:

I have elaborated to you in a p.m. but truly there is nothing amazing in my statement that companies in the health insurance field here are not making money.  I can see the day coming when we will not have private insurance available to us on the grounds of cost. 

What you are saying makes perfect sense since all viable insurance plans require a pool of people who are not likely to make claims to balance out the cost for those who will.  This is true of auto, home or health insurance.  Old cars require more repairs.  So do old human bodies.

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If WEA is not registered in Mexico - why do they now collect 16% IVA and where does that money go?

GNP is an excellent choice - it is also the most economical for a premium private policy. We had it for a year, and interestingly Andre told us we were the first ex-pats to ever take out that policy, because everyone he consulted with wanted over 64 years old coverage. All their documents from GNP are now in English, largely at the behest of Andre. Bellon has built a great staff/team.

I decided to invest in a number of minor tests and procedures rather than pay the 18% increase of GNP. Even with the top specialists at Quality Care this is way below their deductible. Ms Chillin is on WEA and is likely to renew - if we ever receive notice from WEA and Blue Angel. Looking after your own health (diet and exercise), and trusting the team at Quality Care has really paid off for me - I have lost over 40 lbs since moving full time to Mexico, blood and urine panels, all within range. Heart and liver intensely explored. I turn 61 very soon, and am edging towards a meatless diet.

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As said prior, this thread is to inform and bring issues to light, thus helping others.

Sometimes members of this board share perspective, but that perspective is not based on hard fact.

Since I created this thread, I feel responsible.

Thus further research regarding what has been implied,

 backed up by inquiry during my meeting today with Bellon, confirmed:

Those who are enrolled with a Mexican registered company, such as GNP, Met Life,

once enrolled cannot be dropped unless they:

Have lied on their registration (info/medical history)

Do not have permanente or temporal status

Otherwise (beyond the obvious of not paying your premiums on time) they have coverage for life.

I hope this helps others who felt that their insurance policy with a Mexican registered Insurance 

company may not be there for the long run.  

From my conversation with Bellon, this registration is important and that is one reason why Bellon

has not offered WEA.  It does not come with that guarantee.  Dependability and service appear to

be cornerstones for Andre Bellon.  I have heard that from others, and felt a strong sense of that in 

our meeting today.  

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Update:  Going with GNP. 

Even if the changes to WEA were acceptable, what I have heard about longterm reliability is not.  

This is a big investment, as we can all see by the premium increases.

I don't like the idea of waking up later at an older age and finding that my insurance group has been 

dropped and I am now in a different category of older and uninsurable after investing in WEA so many years.

After speaking with Bellon, I am convinced the only guarantee is with a Mexican registered Insurance.

I would not have even invested one year of a premium in WEA had I been aware of this.  I hope this helps others.

 

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12 hours ago, barbara habacht said:

GNP is better than Met Life...we were too old to get that company. However...Andre's service is t5he same for all companies that he writes for. Although I consider Buppa an awful co they do cover folks over 70.

Yes, I think the GNP will work,and Met also looked good.  I also received an over 70 quote, and told that person to hang onto his current coverage!  

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