Show Associations' Associations policies under scrutiny Debora Los Angeles Times Like millions of Americas America's self-employed self workers Doug Christensen found himself on his own when it came to health insurance Christensen who lost his corporate corporate corporate cor cor- benefits when he started his own business making boat parts thought his search was over when a representative of the nonprofit National Association for the Self- Self Employed offered a policy to cover him and his wife Dana a acourt acourt acourt court reporter The association referred them to Mega Life Health Insurance Co which for about a month would even include a special chemotherapy rider to help in case of a recurrence recurrence recurrence recur recur- rence of the bone cancer Doug had battled nearly seven years before But just months after buying the policy Doug's cancer did return re turn And when he died nearly two years later at 47 Dana was left owing most of the the two rivo spent on medical treat treat- ment Mega had paid less than 18 percent of the charges As the bills piled up Doug begged me to divorce him so 1 wouldn't be responsible for his debt said Dana Christensen 47 who lives on a boat in Marina del Rey Calif on the west side of Los Angeles I refused Instead she sued accusing the association and insurance company company company com com- pany of luring unsuspecting consumers into the purchase of a asham asham asham sham policy of health insurance insurance insurance ance according to the lawsuit In January she settled her case for 1 17 7 million Experts and insurance regulators regula regula- tors say such experiences are all too common as healthcare costs rise and more families turn rum to associations including obscure trade groups unions and chambers chambers chambers cham cham- bers of commerce for health insurance Although no firm figures are available experts estimate that as many as 10 million people are covered by such policies Offered with the promise of discounted discounted discounted dis dis- dis- dis counted group rates they can be especially enticing to a small- small business owner or self-employed self worker Many associations offer legitimate legitimate legitimate mate policies and legislation in inthe inthe inthe the House of Representatives would expand their reach nation- nation m iU I I I I. I t Jf L l j Ir i F Fw w r 4 7 5 Jt J A FJ d Li 1 t E 1 C j c cr r II II rt t f y I J 0 w J Dana Christensen of Marina del Rey Calif found that an insurance policy fell far short of covering her husbands husband's medical costs before he died leaving her to pay most of the in bills She sued an association and the insurer and settled the case for 17 million wide But regulators worry that in some cases there are hidden ties between associations and insurers Insurers Policyholders can also face unforeseen rate increases and policies with hidden clauses that leave consumers with big and unexpected bills Its a very real problem throughout the nation said California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi who two years ago launched an investigation into the association health insurance market which is continuing And with rising health insurance costs we know its it's going to get worse Christensen wishes she and her husband had never heard of the insurer or the association She plans to meet with state consumer consumer consumer con con- sumer activists to warn others about the risks of association- association sponsored health coverage They will sit at your dining room table and tell you one thing Christensen said but then sell you something else 1 t y aYl fir f a 1 t 4 I It t i Iq 1 I e G i f B Bo o- o 1 f.- f. a ae A I fI f v y rf k i k r A-r f x 0 J 1 J a- a i e v I A irl r r 1 y a t J j ft 1 a. a C F 0 Cc E II fa 3 4 1 D' D Dj j E I y z 2 n c 1 5 K t Mata Math Am q JT f s h known as Amma Amm pulls in Rebecca Roberts left and Cynthia Way and their X daughter for a hug at Crystal Cit jl Va hotel Known as the hugging saint Amma travels the world to offer her embrace to those in need rM 1 t rt |