Premera email: In review of your account, I do show that check 1234 in the amount of $150.00 was issued on 07/22/2023. The payment was sent as a paper check to your address on file and will be included in the same envelope as the claim Explanation of Benefits (EOB). If you do not receive your check within 15 business days of being issued, please let us know and we will be happy to request a replacement. At this time Premera does not have the option to reimburse members via direct deposit. I do apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused. (my bold)
We are in 2023 and they still issue checks !
Premera website: As the largest health plan in the Pacific Northwest, Premera serves more than 2 million people
IRS website: Direct deposit also saves you money. It costs the nation’s taxpayers more than $1 for every paper refund check issued, but only a dime for each direct deposit made.
ChatGPT: According to data available up to 2019, the National Health Expenditure Accounts (NHEA) by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported that in the United States, the average number of health insurance claims per person was around 3.4 to 3.8 claims per year.
Let's say if Premera handles 3 claims per person per year, they prefer to spend $6 mil. instead of $600k !
Premera website: Premera Blue Cross is a not-for-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield licensed healthcare company that offers health plans in Washington state and Alaska.
Yes, not for profit but that money could be better spent :).
