We Appreciate Your Patience, My Ass!

I apologize for the long delay in posting. I had far too many commitments for the month of December, none the least of which was monitoring the status of my application for the higher-deductible health plan, which would lower my monthly premiums.

Alas, after three calls to BCBS where I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to explain my reason for calling to each dimwitted representative after waiting on hold for 43 minutes combined (43 precious, daytime cell-phone minutes!) all the while being subjected to an endless recording of "We appreciate your patience. The next available representative will be with you shortly", I learned that my application for the new plan was approved. It took effect on January 1st with a $13 higher premium than I was quoted approximately seven weeks ago. Yes, ladies and gentleman, inflation is a bitch to the tune of 10% over a seven week period. The most knowledgeable of the three reps I spoke with informed me that the price increase was due to a routine year-end review of all policies. When I asked why they quoted me a different price just six weeks prior to the new year, he didn't have an answer. Of course, on the letter I received, there was the standard disclaimer stating that all prices are subject to change on a moment's notice, yadda, yadda, yadda, and that they (BCBS) aren't obligated to pay anything for any reason under any circumstances, even if it's their own fault, etc. Gotta love the legalese!

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for my "welcome" kit that was supposedly mailed on December 15th. Even with the holidays, I should have received it by now. A duplicate kit was supposedly mailed last week in response to my call, so here I sit twiddling my thumbs, at the mercy of BCBS and the US postal service. They say patience is a virtue. I say it's a major pain in the ass.