eHealthInsurance.com

Pros: Easy to compare rates
Cons: Customer service is awful. Any problems and you are doomed.

After leaving my company of 19 years, I had to find health insurance for my husband and me. The eHealthInsurance site was very robust regarding the different plans. however, once we sent in our applications, it was as if they didn't care about us anymore ...

Pros: Easy to use site. Helpful online chat assistance.
Cons: Too simplified, doesn't clearly state the facts. Inadequate communication.

We chose this site because it seemed so easy to use and we only needed coverage for 30 days. After applying, and waiting a week (response time for short option plans is 2-4 days) to hear anything I chatted online with one for their reps who informed me that I filled out a long term application instead of a short option plan. The ONLY place on the site that differentiates between the two is the VERY first page where you choose what type of plan you are looking for - after that there is no mention of the short vs long options. We canceled the first and submitted a second app. 2 weeks later our ID cards from the provider. We had been charged the amount for 60 days even though our app specifically stated we only wanted 30 days coverage. A week after we rec'd the insurance cards ehealthinsurance.com sent an email saying we had been approved. All in all, ehealthinsurance.com didn't do a good job of keeping us informed or making clear what you are applying for. We are disappointed and won't use them again.

Pros: Based on our experience, none.
Cons: Deceptive, unhelpful, incompetent.

Incredibly poor and deceptive telephone representatives. Despite multiple phone calls to clarify confusing terminology with regard to their short-term health insurance policies, we still ended up being deceived (either purposely or out out of shear incompetency on their part) in the end. They refused to refund the $20 application fee despite the fact that it was their misrepresentation that resulted in the policy not being what we had desired. Several hours on the phone with "supervisors" yielded no results. Avoid these charlatans at all costs.

Pros: easy to apply
Cons: will bill you right away before even approved

Watch out when ordering insurance through eHealthInsurance. I thought I was just getting a firmer quote and applying, and was told I would receive a contract in the mail etc., but then Blue Cross Horizon, one of their carriers, billed my credit card for a full month of coverage before my application was even processed. It has been impossible to get a refund, even after faxing several letters. Don't give them your credit card number!

Pros: Pretty simple signup, and some of the cheapest insurance around.
Cons: They respond your e-mails by posting a response ehealthinsurance. Long wait for customer service.

I purchased short term health insurance through ehealthinsurance.com and when I wanted to cancel it, I did exactly what the customer service told me to do, which was to send an e-mail with my account details saying I wanted to cancel it. I didn't receive any response but I saw that my short-term insurance was taken off of my ehealthinsurance account, so I assumed it was canceled. But looking at my bank statement four months later I realized that it had not been canceled and I was still being charged. I had apparently not included my birthdate in the e-mail. Instead of alerting me to this by responding to my e-mail, they posted a message on my ehealthinsurance account. Why wouldn't they just respond to the original e-mail address? When I tried to contact ehealth insurance, I waited on the phone for over 45 minutes before giving up. Luckily, the actual company that sold me the insurance refunded me the money.

Pros: None Seemed easy but ended up being a nightmare.
Cons: Too much to list No communication is probably the biggest thing.

I filled out an application for Coverage while I was waiting for the new policy to kick in in 90 days. Well I though I had it handled They quoted me $298/ Month . Much better than Cobra was $600 + . Well a few days later after I already paid them I get a letter in the mail to say they wouldn't cover my son's pre-existing . Well I had previous coverage so that was confusing. Then I get another letter two days later saying they couldn't cover my son, me, nor my wife. So my daughter was the only one being covered. WTF. Why can't they just tell you upfront if you can't be covered neither me nor my wife have any health issues that are serious (I have high cholesteral She's Pregnant). Our son has Cerebral Palsy I understand that. Our daughter is healthy. No explanantion of why we wouldn't be covered was given. I guess they only cover those who most likely will not see the doctor during the coverage term.

Pros: you can compare many insurance companies
Cons: Customer service stinks. They do not get paperwork done in a timely manner.

Obtaining health insurance when everything goes smoothly would probably be fast and easy with this company, but when there are small problems, it turns into a nightmare. I requested prescription drug coverage because of my husband, but he was declined coverage and I requested the RX to be taken off. I sent 1 fax, made 6 phone calls, and only one person who said they would call back actually did (RX was never resolved). Then I received a fax of an important paper that I had to sign and fax back immediately or I would not be issued coverage. The paper was dated the 9th; it stated that it must be signed and returned by the 23rd. I received the fax on the 24th! I was not issued coverage. I was then told my application would be reopened. But after more phone calls and no response, I gave up!

Pros: Not overshadowed by the cons
Cons: Impersonal, and dangerously anonomous

I agree with the comment that other than acting as a list of the possible insurance policies, ehealthinsurance is a terrible deal. I sent their customer service an email and for three months after received email after email reminding me to buy a product. Never did they answer any of my questions, or respond to my concerns.

Insurance agents may be pushy, but the personal service is much better than the dot com mentality of ehealthinsurance.

Pros: None
Cons: Limited plan selection, No customer service

They do not return phone calls, it is virtually impossible to get a live person on the phone, and when you do, you get a nasty attitude.
Completely impersonal, they get their insurance broker fees for nothing. Waste of time and money.
Get a full-service broker, they will give you more options and offer plans targeted to your needs.

Pros: N/A
Cons: See above.

Customer service is hideous! I didn't even get to the application process. I called customer service because I had a question, and was treated very rudely for absolutely no reason. This rep talked over me the entire time, so he couldn't possibly have heard/understood my questions and concerns. If they're that rude at a stage where they should be trying to get your business, I can only imagine what they're like once you become a customer. Finding decent health care is hard enough without having to deal with jerks like that.

Pros: Phoenomenal
Cons: None

The representatives at ehealthinsurance have gone above and beyond their call of duty to ensure my satisfaction and well being.  With each application submitted, a representative has called me each and every step of the way, additionally answering any (granted, probably "dumb") questions I have had.

They are independent of carrier companies- the unbiased position (yea, you can argue...but you know what I mean) is comforting.  They will help you decide what is right for you.  Best service offered, bar none.

Pros: website comes up first, thats it everyting else is joke
Cons: carriers,customer service,quality of products provided

I applied for health insurance was quoted $86.00 policy came back at $125.00, I am a non smoker and haven't had any doctor needs in over 5 years.  That is their prerogative on the rates but the kicker is the hoops you have to jump through if you don't want the coverage.  I had a budget of 110.00 I couldn't afford the 125, well they charged my card with out telling me the rate was going to increase 35%, so I wake up one morning and have this charge, I call them to say I am not interested and they say the refund will happen in 30 days and to get it I need to write a letter of cancellation and mail it in within 10 days.  So let me get this straight, I can do an on line signature for them to run my card for any random amount they decide to charge me but when I don't agree with ridiculous up charge I have to do a written cancellation and it takes 30 days for the refund.  What a scam, now I know the value of my local insurance provider.

Pros: None
Cons: - Waste of money - false advertising - not very friendly

After submitting my application I noticed it would take 2 to 3 weeks to process. I needed insurance the next day, so literally a minute after submitting my application I called customer service to get my application w/drawn. The first guy I talked to was not every helpful or very friendly - he told me to send an e-mail in requesting my application be w/drawn. After numerous e-mails I finally contacted another customer service rep and she told me that they have received my e-mails and I should get a full refund ($75).

Two weeks later I got a check in the mail for only $55 - why? Hidden charges - $20 non-refundable application fee. I called and talked to several customer service reps - not one of them was helpful.

The statement "No additional cost for our services " advertised on their website is a lie! Not only do I loose $20 for nothing, I lost money staying on hold waiting to talk to a rep.

Pros: -Easy to compare different policies and companies
-User friendly website
Cons: -Easy to talk with an actual person
-Misleading approval time

  In August I lost coverage as I graduated college and couldn't find a job. The COBRA extension was $898. I went on eHealthIns and found a decent policy for my situation at $161 on Aug 24th.
  On their website, they claim that you can "cancel anytime" and that it's incredibly easy. After a week of waiting to be approved, I cancelled the application. The CSR told me to fax a letter with my social security #, DOB, and short cancellation notice. After another week, my request for cancellation was "approved."
  Then in early September I went through a broker who got me approved (with cards) for the same policy and same price in TWO DAYS. Almost TWO MONTHS later, eHealthIns re-forwarded my cancellation request to Horizon and unnecessarily terminated my existing plan; forcing me to re-enroll with Horizon. Even the broker was like wtf.
  My suggestion is use them for the quotes, and then purchase the policy from a brick-and-mortar place.

Pros: The web site is easy to use. They have good comparison tools.
Cons: Can't receive or send faxes reliably. Completely dropped the ball on my applicaton.

I applied for insurance on line and thought I would reduce the amount of paper work I would have to perform. Not the case with eHealthInsurance. eHealthinsurance forwarded my insurance application without a problem. But when the insurer requested more information, I had to FAX my replies to eHealthInsurance. They say they did not get the first FAX. Three days later I FAXED it again. This time they did receive it. The only problem was they never forwarded it to the insurer. Two weeks later, I get an email saying that they had never faxed the updated application. When I checked the web site, I find out that the application has been canceled by the insurer due to a lack of a response to the request for more information. One month after I applied, I still did not have an answer to my application. Of course, it was the insurer’s fault that the FAX was never received. I contacted the insurer directly and FAXED my updated application to them without any problems.