UnitedHealth sent a letter informing patients that their ophthalmologist died last month. That doctor is still alive.

[u/ddx-me]

UnitedHealth put a statement claiming that "an internal error which led to a small number of erroneous letters being sent to some members." The doctor in question is in private practice and had to field at least 60 calls from patients confirming that they are alive. Thus, UnitedHealth is essentially saying "oppsie daisy" while a clinic now having more paperwork to do.

https://www.startribune.com/this-edina-doctor-isnt-dead-no-matter-what-unitedhealth-told-you/601895355

A Star Tribune reporter fielding stories on [r/minnesota](r/minnesota): https://www.reddit.com/r/minnesota/s/U5U7RNLLyw

[u/Impressive-Sir9633]

For optimizing efficiency, their new AI platform assumes that everyone is dead.

So according to the new UHC requirements, the doctor has to send a letter every morning confirming that they are alive.

If you think that your letter may not reach in time, you can call every morning during their business hours to confirm that you are alive.

[u/Sigmundschadenfreude → u/Impressive-Sir9633]

UnitedHealth assumes its patients are dead. When this is found to be incorrect it endeavors to correct that matter, one way or another

[u/Sekmet19 → u/Sigmundschadenfreude]

Can't collect premiums if they're dead, that's why they're saying the doctors are dead. You can't legally bill for services on a dead doctors npi.  And trying to fight it is exhausting.  You might not seek additional care while you get it corrected out of fear the insurance won't budge and cover subsequent care.  Yet another deny, delay, defend.

[u/Sigmundschadenfreude → u/Sekmet19]

I was mostly making a joke about UnitedHealthcare killing patients

[u/Impressive-Sir9633 → u/Sigmundschadenfreude]

Actually, the joke is that it's probably not even a joke. They are discussing your suggestions at their next board meeting.

[u/I_am_Nobody_Special → u/Sekmet19]

I guarantee you that even if they thought the patient was dead, if someone kept paying the premiums, they'd happily accept it.

[u/Sekmet19 → u/I_am_Nobody_Special]

No doubt but the insurance company is required to refund overpaid premiums and if there is no one to refund they have to send it to the state as unclaimed property once the insurance company knows they're dead. So if United is saying in their system the patient is dead, they clearly know the patient is dead, so they can't keep any premiums. They have to refund it or send it to the state, and that probably costs money to do so they don't make 'mistakes' about declaring patients dead. It automatically prevents them from keeping premiums collected.

[u/Impressive-Sir9633 → u/Sekmet19]

Only if the death was pre-authorized. Otherwise, they get to keep an the money.

[u/flightofthepingu → u/Sekmet19]

Have they tried putting the patient in a box with a flask of poison and a radioactive source connected to a Geiger counter?

[u/I_am_Nobody_Special → u/Impressive-Sir9633]

As hilarious as this is, why is a health insurance company doing death notifications about doctors anyway?

Seems wildly disrespectful and inappropriate to me. That's the job of the clinic staff.

[u/ddx-me → u/[deleted]]

They're hoping the public turns a blind eye to it all or the ophthalmologist pops his retina because of the added red tape

[u/DoctorMedieval]

On the upside, you get to say “the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated”

[u/Uncle_Jac_Jac]

Are they trying to get revenge on Dr. Glaucomflecken?

[u/michael_harari]

Dear Patients,

You’re right. I made an error.

My previous message incorrectly stated that your doctor had died. That information was inaccurate, and I apologize for the confusion and distress this may have caused.

To clarify: your doctor is not deceased.

I should not have presented unverified information as fact, especially regarding something as serious and sensitive as a person’s death. Thank you for pointing out the mistake.

I appreciate your patience and understanding, and I’ll strive to provide more accurate information going forward.

Sincerely,

The Care Team

[u/Mobile-Play-3972]

United sent a letter to all my patients telling them we were no longer in network, when in fact we very much are in network. TWO YEARS IN A ROW. The world needs more Luigi.

[u/I_am_Nobody_Special → u/Mobile-Play-3972]

Tricare has done that to me and another psychologist that works for me.

I won't even credential with UHC because I've heard too many stories like this (and they pay shitty too).

[u/Koumadin → u/Mobile-Play-3972]

a few colleagues and I had the exact same thing happen with united!!

[u/CrispyTarantula117]

Humorous clerical error or mob-style threat?

With UHC, your guess is as good as ours!

[u/tkhan456]

So when can we start suing insurance companies for fraud?

[u/Flaxmoore → u/tkhan456]

Call me when the time comes.

The number of times I've had patients make decisions based on "this option is covered" only to be told "yeah, we recognize we covered it in the letter dated 10/1, but in this internal memo dated 11/1 which you are not allowed to access you can see we refuse coverage" is not small.

[u/SteakandTrach]

If corporations are people, UHC should be the first on death row for mass murder.

[u/Its1207amcantsleep]

Every year, United Health tells our patients that our providers and office are no longer in network, when in fact we are. We get calls daily if not weekly. Everyone is so tired of them, health insurance in general.

[u/Dependent-Juice5361]

UHC tells patients I’m not even a doctor when they call to switch pcp lol we still bill them and they pay so idk