Medical Gift Cards: Read the Fine Print on your Health
source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34572680/ns/health-health_care/
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- JonRaymond
- added this
The credit and banking industry is out there with a new product to help rake in a few more bucks. This time it's on people's health.
Doug Bartel, a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida spokesman, acknowledged that the cards do not cover everything and do not replace comprehensive health plans provided by an employer or purchased individually.
In 2007, Pennsylvania health insurer Highmark launched its Healthcare Visa Gift Card, which helped cover out-of-pocket medical and health expenses. Consumer Reports criticized the cards because of their numerous fees and because they could purchase anything sold at a pharmacy, including candy and cigarettes.
Highmark says it dropped the card after a year because of consumer confusion.
"A card is an inanimate object. Health care is a complicated product. It's very difficult to understand. And even the card itself, it had those restrictions and confusion around which products could be bought and which ones couldn't," spokeswoman Kristin Ash said.
Doug Bartel, a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida spokesman, acknowledged that the cards do not cover everything and do not replace comprehensive health plans provided by an employer or purchased individually.
In 2007, Pennsylvania health insurer Highmark launched its Healthcare Visa Gift Card, which helped cover out-of-pocket medical and health expenses. Consumer Reports criticized the cards because of their numerous fees and because they could purchase anything sold at a pharmacy, including candy and cigarettes.
Highmark says it dropped the card after a year because of consumer confusion.
"A card is an inanimate object. Health care is a complicated product. It's very difficult to understand. And even the card itself, it had those restrictions and confusion around which products could be bought and which ones couldn't," spokeswoman Kristin Ash said.
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- groups:
- Community, Healthcare
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- tags:
- Finance, Health Care, Credit Cards, Credit
