u/actuallyimashe52

While I am an Oregonian, I'm not an Oregon state employee, so this might get removed but I found this sub by searching Collective Health. I have been having the most maddening experience with them and am at the point where I have escalated to my employer and will file a complaint with ESBA if needed. I wanted to share information I found:

Collective Health serves as plan administrators for self funded healthcare plans. If you are having trouble with Collective Health, read your plan summary. The first step in an escalation process is to file a grievance. Interestingly, Collective Health does not have a grievance process against them. They only have an appeal process for them to pass through to your insurance company. I have found that Collective Health positions itself as an "advocate" when it suites them but then just kind of passes along information from the insurance rather than actually advocating for you, or at least that is my experience. So the first step is to file a grievance. I recommend using chat or another AI (I know I know) to help. It helped me list my demands, including things I hadn't thought of, like demanding that Collective Health preserve all communication.

If you are at the point where you file a grievance, reach out to your employer, Collective Health's customer. Because your plan is self funded, they are actually the ones ultimately responsible for administering it fairly. They have trusted Collective Health to do so, and if they aren't doing that, they will want to know because ultimately they will be held responsible.

Another issue that was raised here, that is also worth pointing out is Collective Health requiring you to relinquish class action rights just to access their system. In my case, I was not aware that I had to do that until after I had already elected my benefits with my employer. This is extremely sus.

Ultimately, the ESBA is the governing body who will hold Collective Health responsible. They are not a regular insurance company, they are governed differently, so insurance regulators are not the folks to complain to. I am not at this step yet, but I am very close.

After years of pain, I have finally been diagnosed and cleared for surgery by an endo specialist that heavily markets herself online. I am paying this cash-only provider a lot of money out of pocket. While our face-to-face interactions seem good, her billing practices are quit aggressive, always expecting full cash payment at the time of booking, and her administrative staff has been disrespectful and dismissive of the other concerns that go along with having surgery, particularly needing to submit superbills to my insurance and needing to fill out the FMLA paperwork.

First of all, she required FULL payment of $6k up front (plus another estimated $7500 to the hospital) to schedule surgery. Not even just a deposit to hold my surgery date, the full amount. I've messaged a few times about a few different things and always get condescending replies back from her admin, "As it states on our website..." well, sure that statement is on the website, but it's not clear that was the answer to my question, otherwise I wouldn't have reached out to you.

First was when I asked via message that Dr. Winner fill out a temporary disabled parking pass for leading up to my surgery and recovery (3 months), as something we discussed at length was pain in my legs. I was so relieved that I finally had a diagnosis and could experience some relief. I was given a curt reply that I need to ask my general doctor for that. I was surprised and replied back asking for confirmation that Dr. Winner had personally reviewed my request, and only then was it magically granted.

Her biller has been nothing short of extremely disrespectful and condescending in every single message. Several times he doesn't answer my question, instead he will give paragraphs of information. I am wondering if at this point, I would be ignoring my gut to go forward with the surgery with this provider. Her paperwork says if I pull out of the surgery now, I will forfeit 25% of my bill. The final straw was when I went to do my pre-surgery intake at the hospital and was told they have no record of my surgery whatsoever. I of course messaged the doctor's office and wasn't given any explanation, just "fixed now". This is fine except it begs the question, if I am giving so much money and told that my surgery is scheduled for a certain date, they are not even scheduling it with the hospital?

Her office offers pelvic floor pt, as well as other treatments after and I can't imagine paying cash for every appointment and dealing with this dude on a regular basis.

I have worked places where the owner of the small business is contemptuous and disrespectful to customers, which emboldens all staff to treat their customers like this. I don't know if I'm reading too far into this. I am a cash paying endo patient and I work full time. Is this just a case of don't expect to have it all? Is having a good surgeon the most I should try to get out of this? Would sincerely appreciate other opinions.

I have endometriosis and am looking for pelvic floor physical therapists in Seattle. I'm looking for any recommendations, especially if anyone also has endo, bonus points if she takes blue cross insurance. I'm looking specifically for endo recs because often this PT is geared toward post-pregnancy, which is is a completely different issue. it's such a personal topic and hard to find a good provider. I'd appreciate any and all recommendations. Thanks

I've read all the wikis and this sub for a while now. My partner and I are planning to move to Oahu in summer 2027. We work remote and have two cats we will be bringing. we have two sedans, plan is to sell one and bring the other to either keep or sell later and then buy a second car once in Hawaii. We are going to do another short trip this winter to narrow down locations we'd like.

We want to find a short (3-9ish month) lease on 2 bedroom apartment around $3000-3500 rent. How much should we budget for utilities? Is this realistic to do from the mainland or would you suggest something else? Is a short term lease so we can look for something long term once in Hawaii a good plan? Is it realistic to find a short term lease like this in Hawaii, specifically while on the mainland?

Will the cats be a problem? They are indoor only and I won't let them hurt the local wildlife. I've read about the requirements for bringing pets over and will make sure they have the vaccines within the required timeframes.

Where can I look for short-ish term leases that will allow cats?

After the short term lease we will either buy something or rent more long term. The biggest thing is we recognize the learning curve it will take to maintain a home and life in Hawaii and don't want to get in over our heads.

We're moving from the PNW and I understand we'll go from heat and humidifiers to AC and dehumidifiers. If you're from the PNW is there anything you'd suggest I be prepared for to change as far as the living space or life on Oahu in general?

Edit: could someone share why i'm getting downvoted? This is the moving to hawaii sub. not sure what I'm doing wrong here...

Edit 2: I have added my specific questions