This makes us sick
Glad they came up with a remedy
Dear John: On Aug. 25 my husband, who is a cancer patient at Montefiore Hospital in The Bronx, was informed that it will become an out-of-network hospital for Aetna.
Aetna has broken its contract with the hospital.
The TWU Local 100 [union] has yet to inform us retired people what we are supposed to do with coverage with Montefiore.
I don’t want to be told to find another hospital. This is my area, as I don’t drive and I can walk to this hospital.
The union is the one who picked Aetna in the first place and now this.
Retired people are not being represented well by their socalled unions. In fact, they stink.
As you read this you can tell I’m very angry, as I never thought I would be in this position. Thank you. J.L.
Dear J.L. Well, I have good news that should make you happy. And I didn’t have to do a thing.
Aetna and Montefiore have come to an agreement.
On Sept 7, there was this announcement: “We are pleased to jointly announce that Montefiore Health System and Aetna have reached an agreement on a multi-year arrangement that will continue to provide Aetna mem- bers with in-network access to Montefiore Health System hospitals.”
Hooray! I hope this helps you and your husband cope with his cancer.
Dear John: While I was a patient at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC, a nurse told me to put all my valuables in a plastic bag, including billfold, watch, money clip and three envelopes containing cash and $1,000 in American Express Travelers checks.
I put my name and medical records number on this bag in no less than nine or ten places so that it would be returned to me when I was discharged.
I was assured it would be in safekeeping in the ER’s security department.
I was discharged on Sept. 3 and was told the bag could not be located. As I mentioned, it held cash plus unused American Express checks. I have original receipts from pur-
chasing those checks at a bank branch in Troy, NY. If you need anything else, please let me know. H.D.
Dear H.D. You provided me with copies of the American Express receipts and a police report on the theft.
I contacted both American Express and George Washington University Hospital on your behalf.
Shortly afterwards, American Express contacted you and said it would repay you for the stolen travelers checks. But I’m wondering why I had to intercede on something as simple as this.
That’s the reason people buy these from Amex.
George Washington University Hospital never got back to me.
So the next best thing I can do is kick the hospital in the head by putting this in the paper and warning others about not getting themselves in this type of situation.
In the future, as long as you are taken into the emergency room conscious, don’t leave anything of value with the hospital staff — any hospital staff. The temptations are too great.
Send all your stuff, including anything with your ID, home with a trusted friend or relative.
And, in your case, you should use a credit reporting agency to make sure nobody is setting up accounts and loans with your identity.
But I suspect that once this is in the paper I will be hearing from the hospital.