As soon as George Torres started reading the HealthcareOne benefits booklet he received in the mail, he knew he'd made a mistake.
"I didn't know this was a supplemental. If I had I never would have bought it."
The HealthcareOne plan George had just bought for $750 bucks a year was a discount plan, not an insurance plan.
He was wanting to replace his current insurance company.
"Their rates were just a bit high and we were trying to find something that I could afford."
And when he talked to the HealthcareOne salesperson on the phone, George says he was under the impression it was a regular insurance plan.
But the benefits card he received clearly says it is not insurance.
Luckily, George thought, he had 30 days to cancel and get a refund.
"The problem was getting the money back from them."
George says he canceled on the phone, and by writing HealthcareOne a letter.
But after several weeks and several more calls, George still didn't have his refund.
And he says he desperately needed the 750 bucks to make his current insurance premium payment.
"It was terrible, it was agonizing."
So George called the 2News Problem Solvers, and we got in touch with HealthcareOne.
A representative told me their records showed that George had officially cancelled, and they would get the money back into his account within 48 hours. And that's exactly what happened.
"Oh Lord, it was great, it was the greatest thing, it was like a prayer had been answered."
Just in time, to keep his current insurance coverage, in effect.
Experts say it's important to read all the fine print before signing up for any kind of health insurance or discount plan, to know what is and what isn't covered.
And in most cases, never sign up over the phone.
HealthcareOne says they checked a recording of George's conversation with the sales rep, and say George was never told it was an insurance plan.
