Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, Buffalo NY

This has to be the worst health insurance company in existence. Was with BCBS for 15 years and never had an issue. Now they are denying medications that have been prescribed for 20 years without issue, stating we must try and fail at others first to be approved. They want pre-auth for everything now that was never needed before. It seems they will take any opportunity they can to deny a claim knowing that most people will eventually give up. I can't recommend enough that you choose a different company and would give zero stars if I could. There should be a congressional inquiry into this company's denial of claims by non medical personnel without ever opening a claimants file.

Ever since highmark took over- everything gets denied! I pay to have health insurance and then have to pay for everything my dr. Orders because you don't feel its necessary! Who died and left you to be the boss of my care? Can't wait for annual enrollment. BCBS was once the best insurance company. Highmark are criminals.

New to Highmark. Had BCBS for many years with no issues. Retired and chose Highmark. First month they denied a mediation I have been on. How does the same company do that! Will be changing next month during open enrollment.

Horrible insurance! I had emergency surgery (appendicitis). They denied my claim! No prior authorization. I wasn't even in the hospital 3 hours when they rushed me to surgery. There wasn't time to get a prior auth.

I just spent over an hour on the phone trying to figure out how much i am going to paid for upcoming procedures, The info is helpful but i wish they had a better way to estímate cost and figure out what is cover and what is not.

The LADY on the phone was super nice, that doesn't stop me from HATING health insurance companies and trying to neglect, deny, or find a gray obscure answer on what can be or not pay for!

Attempted for over 4 hours to get help having getting a waiver letter provided for my daughters college. Spoke with many reps along with a supervisor from Highmark, to no avail. The customer service is awful. Do not understand how a company of this size can have such a “do not care” attitude.

Abysmal. Service systems are inscrutable. Benefits continue to get worse. Absolute contempt for members.

This insurance is ridiculous so is this state my niece has been in the hospital for a month and a half at children's in Buffalo waiting for a risky surgery that can only be done in Denver Colorado this insurance guarantees no payment at all no payment my niece is disabled has had complications all her life we were told she wouldn't live past 6 months and she turned 24 she needs the surgery so she can come back home and continue being with with her family but this insurance is refusing to pay this state doesn't care about their people it's a shame

If I found out that everyone employed at this company was just a bunch of rats stacked atop each other in a large trench coat, I would not be shocked in the slightest.

Have you ever wanted to get information from one person, only to get information from the next person telling you that the first person gave you all the wrong information? PERFECT. For an extra treat, you can have a third person tell you that the second person was also 100% wrong. So if you aren't feeling very confused today, give highmark a call and ruin your whole week.

Trying to get a denial of services resolved, same test I have received for past 6 years, have called customer service 5 times and no answers or call backs. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was hung up on. Maybe these customer service rep’s should be properly trained. Very frustrating, can’t wait for open enrollment to change.

One of the worst companies to exist. Zero communication within. Half a million 800 numbers that all lead to the operator confused as to why you called this extension. They operate with 1 goal in mind “screw over the insured”
It MADE me choose 1 star - they aren’t even worth 1 star

They keep denying me to get my health checked out because I need a brain scan. I need to get my Dental fixed. I do not recommend this insurance to anyone. They keep saying that mine needs to get my s*** checked out isn't Medical necessary. I'm getting fed up with this insurance company so I'm trying to find a new one.

Worst health insurance ever! Since Highmark took over Blue Cross and Blue Shield, they will deny everything. They don’t care about their patients. They just want to keep all of your premium money.

If I could give ZERO stars I would! Horrible company, I renewed bcbs because it was always fantastic, not since Highmark stepped in! Absolutely awful in every way possible, service, denying scripts that were always approved etc etc! Get Independent Health or Univera like I should have and will now!

I waited 3 months to receive my benefit card and no luck after a rep told me that they are going to reissue me a new one. Very poor customer service with the employees servicing call. I have been with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of WNY and it has become a very big disappointment since Highmark took it over. The wellness card used to have a variety of different vendors that you could use the card with. Now it's only good for gym memberships. I am disabled and can no longer utilize a gym. Very discrimatiry with members that are disabled and can not use a gym. When my plan expires so does Highmark

Got a bill for a blood test I had done. According to my policy, ALL bloodwork is supposed to be covered. They only paid for the venipuncture. The denial code U5006 said, “The patient’s coverage does not provide for diagnostic services for routine conditions, or for screening services for non-routine conditions. ” When I called them, their customer service rep clearly had no training and didn’t know her a** from her elbow. She literally read the U5006 code information back to me when I questioned the bill. Useless insurance. There are several lawsuits against Highmark in process from providers who are not getting paid for their services, and also, for individuals who are not getting claims paid. The NYS Attorney General’s Office is also involved. If you have a problem, report it to the AG’s Office. This company needs to be kicked out of NY!

Customer Service is very disappointing. Wait time for phone calls has been close to 35 minutes anytime I tried to speak with a rep; chatting on line was a joke; when they didn’t know the answer, they would keep repeating the same question. Was told they would call me back, but never did.

Under the new "Highmark management" this BCBS Health Insurance Company of Western New York has become incompetent and completely unresponsive. Also, the "Highmark" web portal is very buggy and make no effort to fix it. I've spent hours trying to get issues resolved with no end in sight.

STAY AWAY if value your sanity, and for your own good.

I joined January 1st 2023 through the New York State of Health Marketplace. Thought I was stuck with them for a year and found out can still switch to another health insurance under the marketplace. I will do that and leave this nightmare behind. March 2nd 2023