I found myself without health insurance, and requested information via email. I got many calls from pushy type salesmen/women when I went on the Internet requesting information. Dealing with sales persons from the health insurance companies today is as bad as dealing with a pushy car salesmen or old life insurance (door to door) person of days past. They all promised more than a politician and were vague.

I told the person from CHBA several times not to call me but she continued to call and ask information of me. I am sure that with time she was beating me down, and it was difficult to get direct answers to my questions. I asked on several occasions for her to send me something in the mail in order for me to look the information over. She told me that I would have to listen to her sales pitch over the phone and it would be taped and answer all of her questions to get the information that I was requesting. She told me what to say when the conversation was being taped. She had to tell me several times to say that it was not an insurance policy. I did not understand it as that is what I was looking for and researched on the Internet. The next thing I knew, I was being billed for the amount of 239.85 and more to come I am sure. I have not been able to reach anyone to ask that they not do this for whatever their reason. This is a company that is licensed in Illinois and they seem to be working out of South Florida. That was not something that was told to me in her many phone calls to me. I have my credit card company working with me. One cannot be too careful.

DO NOT PAY IN CASH with any of the companies you cannot see and touch. I hope this helps someone else.

I was enrolled in this program last December after receiving a unsolicited phone call. The program appealed to me as I didn't have health insurance . I don't mind paying for services as I go but figured if something serious happened at least I would have the same discount as patients enrolled in ppo networks.
As soon as the check cleared, I had read reviews/complaints of CHBA from numerous people who had also enrolled. I immediately called the salesperson and he assured me that the complaints were unjustified and he sounded really honest. he said try it for a month and see what you think . he talked me into keeping with it. They didn't honor refunds so I had no choice but to try it.
The very first time I tried to use it, I realized why there were so many disgruntled customers. The list of providers on their website, on their grid, is a joke! I called the first four pages of orthopaedic doctors within a 15 mile radius of my home and none of them, without exception, had ever heard of the program and weren't affiliated. I was told by CHBA that I would receive a 30% discount from their list of doctors. However, the Doctors, on their list, told me that I would have to pay in full and get my discount back from CHBA..
You can imagine that after hearing from a doctor, who is on their list, that they have no knowledge of the program, what I was thinking and that I would get any kind of reimbursement from this organization.

This is a scam. I am here to warn you about this program and try to prevent as many people from being taken for a ride from these perpetrators. CHBA is like a sinkhole. Stay clear of it's rim .

Its a scam...Please, do yourself a favor and get your paperwork and read it carefully before you PAY THEM ANYTHING!

I am about 3 months pregnant and still havent been to a doctor yet because i dont have a health insurance and money is really tight. I am really stressed out about how we are gonna be able to pay for all the prenatal care and the actual delivery and hospitalization.
Couple days ago, i woke up and noticed some blood. i was spotting.I was really scared.I was scared for my baby. I went online and came across CHBA who said that they will still cover me even i have an already pre-existing condition which is pregancy. I inquired and left them my number and they left me a message the next morning. Me and my bf sat and talked to an agent named FERN. He explain to us as how they can help us lower our payments, He told us they will help us 80% of the doctors visit and the actual delivery. He said that the normal check up to an OB/GYN costs about 170-200 dollars, he assured us that after the discount, we will only have to pay $20-40 dollars. We were amazed. He also said that the actual delivery might cost about $20, 000. And agian he said they will help us with the 80% which will leave us about $4, 000.But it didnt end there.They told us about a group called KIRAS.He said that the KIRAS will assign a social worker on us who will help us negotiate with the hospital with the remaining 20% of the bill. He told us that they have one girl that only had to pay the hospital $600 dollars out of her pocket.
Me and my bf were really convinced and relieved. We have been wanting for me to get a affordable prenatal care and it looked like we just found one.

The agent told me that i really should get a prenatal asap so he told me that if i enrolled the same day i will be in their system by midnight and i can use it the next day. As needy as i am for a prenatal, i rushed to my bank and deposit some money. The agent called me back withn 2 hours to assist me with my enrollment. HE transferred me to another agent who will take my payment.As we were in the middle of it, he told me that our conversation will be recorded and i should repeat the things hes going to say. One of which is saying that the payment is non-refundable. he made me repeat twice that i am aware that it is not a insurance policy.and ithink one more time saying that the fund is non-refundable. I am in need of health care. After being stressed about the bills for almost 3 months, and after having "Spotting". No other emotion was in my heart at that moment but happiness, and security knowing that i will be able to get the help i need for my baby.All thatwas in my mind at that time is my child. I do not feel ashamed anymore, because i know after my enrollment with CHBA, i can be a real mother. A responsible mother who can give all the health care the baby needs. While i am repeating what the agent was saying, i have no my whole trust with them. Not having a single doubt about this company.
But everything changed the next morning when i log in using my new member id number in their website. Everything that was in thatwebsite is entirely different from what my agent have told me yesterday. The website says:

1. Guaranteed minimum 30% discount for all the doctors visit. (my agent didnt mention about the minimum 30%. He told us 80%. and that we only have to oay 20 to 40 dollars per visit.

2. The website didnt mention about the 80% that they will help us pay with the actual delivery.

3. i called all the doctors in my area but, not single one of them have any idea who CHBA is.


what i did was, i looked for some more doctors in my area. Telling them i want to make an appointment just to know if they recognize CHBA. NO one did.They acutally asked me who they are. I told them, CHBA will help me lower my bills by giving me discounts. Thats the only thing i know for i have been confused by them. She told me to call CHBA again.

HEr and I had an idea that CHBA might be a scam.although she didnt say it, but it sounded that it might be one. So i told her, i am not sure if this is a scam or legit, but if it happened to be a scam, i still need to see a doctor. I asked her how much will it cost me for my visit without an insurance. She said

*the first visit is gonna be 250 dollars and you need a ultrasound for another 250 dollars. She said ALL the prenantal visit will cost me $2700 from my first visit until i give birth and additional $800 for a doctor fee on my delivery if its vaginal, more if its c-section.

i was broken hearted. I have an idea it may cost this much but what i am angry about is that i thought CHBA is a heaven sent. But it looks like they just took my $259 which is really important to me especially now that i badly need prenatal care.


Disappointed and furious, i called my agent. Apparently he was on lunch break. I talked to his manager and he transfered me to their customer service. I asked the customer service about 30% discount in their website, and she said it is just a MINIMUM discount. and she said thatregarding the actual delivery they will help us negotiate with the hospital so we can lower the bill. I started to get mad because what she was saying was not what i enrolled and paid for. I told her about the doctors not knowing who CHBA is and she told me she will help me find a health care provider. She put me on hold at first and after like 30 seconds she told me she will just call me back so i dont have to stay in line too long. She called me back after after about 10 minutes or so saying she found some OB/GYN in my area, she had fax them the information about the company and told me that they will get back to her tomorrow. I told her about the conversation i had with the receptionist in one doctors office. I told her i would have to pay 500 dollars on my first visit. She told me i should go to the doctor, show them my membership ID, and the dear provider letter from CHBA. WHich stated thatthe provided should collect 80% of the bill from me.so lets say the visit cost 500 bucks, then i would have to pay the doctor $400.ibasically its 20% not 30% discount.then she said And then when i get home, i should send CHBA a letter and they will reimburse me the remaining 10% discount.

so i told the chba customer service agent, "so you guys are really only giving me 30% discount? you said its just a minimum? And its impossible that you will give me more than that. I mean, why would you give me more than 30% if its coming out of your pocket?If youre telling the provider to give me only 20 percent why would they give me 50%? and if they only gave me 20% are you going to give me the remaining 60% when your website says minimum of 30% which is not what my agent and i agreed.we agreed on 80%. And she said i would just have to wait for my pocket that they sent me, and it will explain everything.

I am f*cked. i only wanted to give my child the care he/she needs.

If they are legit and they would really help me but only 30%, i dont need them.I would actually have to pay more. I rather have no discount at all.

if i have to pay 500 bucks for my first visit, and theyll take off $150 off of that (30% discount). $150 is not help at all. Why? because that is what i will ahve to pay CHBA montly anyway.

I am upset all day. I just dont know what to do anymore. I just want to get my money back and use it to pay the doctor. But i dont know if they will give it back to me because they did make me repeat in the recording that the payment is non-refundable.

we had to miss this months car payment just so we can enroll at CHBA.

I cant help but cry when i think how much i wanted a healthy baby and it seems like the people who i thought would help me would lie like this and take advantage of people this easy.

They said pregnant women are sensitive. I am extra-extra sensitive. I pity myself and i feel so irresponsible that i couldnt give my first child the care he/she need. It scares me that i will never be a good mom.If i cant give my baby what he need now that im pregnant, how much more when baby's already here?

i have all these fear, and just CHBA added to my problems.

I feel like i am so helpless and had done nothing for the good to my child, only feed him with stress and worry everyday.