4434307201

I just received a call and dead air. I called them back and they said they were Oxford.  They claimed they were in Healthways' building but were not associated with them.  I want these calls to stop.

Just received a call from this number, I answered but they never responded. Call disconnected a few seconds later. Adding it to list of blocked numbers...

Getting these calls everyday.  If I am home I usually pick up & hang up right away.  That way I don't get an answering machine full of hang ups.  So annoying.

this number called
6/23 at 2:06
6/27 at 7:59
6/30 at 12:46
7/7 at 12:16
7/11 at 9:23

they never leave a message or speak when the phone is picked up...so what is the purpose of calling other than to annoy me?

I received several calls from this number in the past couple of days. The first time they called, I answered and no one was there or they didn't answer/respond. I continue to receive the calls but never do I answer them. My thing is, if it is that important, they will leave a detailed message of the nature of the call. Even at that, I would still investigate prior to calling them back. Best not to answer.

Have called several times. No response when answered. I got a postcard from BCBS stating they wanted to provide me some additional services but were unable to reach me. DUH!

As for finding out diagnoses, BCBS already has that, it is sent in with claim forms from the docs, pharmacies and specialists. If they are trying to get information as Healthways, I say that is not legitimate and may be a violation of HIPAA.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS182087+23-Jan-2008+BW20080123

Its a program that Carefirst offers, if you have been recently discover a disorder you have, its a program that is free that offers additional services to help you on behalf of carefirst.

same as above -- getting calls from this number
would someone please get this thread to the FCC?

I received a call from an aggressive female at this number identifying herself as a a rep of BC/BS.  She said it was a wellness call and asked for confirmation of my name, address, DOB, etc.  I answered those question and she then became more aggtressive asking health related questionss.  I asked "why are you asking these questions," and she repeated that this was a wellness call.  I said I'm not interested in these questions and, before I could ask her name, supervisor and phone number, she hung up on me.

Carefirst provides this service free of charge check your booklet under wellness. I use the dietian to help avouid diabetes

Number appears on caller ID.  Caller (person/machine?) hangs up when I pick up.  Has occurred three times in one week.

"they" call very frequently.  When I answer--dead air.

Healthways is a health education company that insurance companies hire to provide health education benefits to their members.  They are not selling anything.  They get your info from your insurance company. this is not a scam!

it WAS care first for me....

Most people seem to be agitated by the company's use of an autodailer and/or not having any previous relationship with the particular service company calling.  The calling company, service and substance, however, appear alright and polite.

I let the first call go like I do all calls the number of which I don't recognize. Actually received a voicemail message explaining that they were providing an education service for BC/BS.  So when they called again, I answered.

Had a nice civil conversation.  The woman knew a lot about my medical history, i.d. info so I felt comfortable chatting.  Said she was with BC/BS (didn't make clear she was with a separate company, but, heck, that's o.k., she apparently is working at the behest of BC/BS).  They provide education on health conditions indicated by submissions to BC/BS.  Fine, I said, always interested in learning more.

Gave me a BC/BS (?) number for a health risk appraisal over the phone (hra's are something everyone should do - didn't take BC/BS's so don't know if it's good - have taken another good one online)(check out thehealthierpeoplenetwork (dot) org for a link).  Was told a nurse would call me with more info on my condition and I would be receiving info via mail (at my address BC/BS has).  Fine.  Seems solid and legit service.

The main gripe here seems to be with the calls being unwanted and the use of an unanswered autodailer.  Final note, I am cautious here because I don't trust BC/BS not to use any info I give over the phone as a reason to jack up my insurance premium.

I finally called these people back after they called me every, single, solitary day for the last 12 days- sorry, with the exception of Christmas (how generous they are) without having left a single voicemail. I don't answer calls from unknown numbers especially when they don't leave voicemails. I have tried to get to the phone a couple of times but always end up missing it. I've called back, but when I get a recording that says, "thank you for calling your healthcare provider," rather than actually stating it is BCBS, I'm skeptical. The woman answered and told me the same thing that some of you say, some educational program blah blah blah. When she asked if I had a minute, I told her that I actually didn't and that I would like for her to take me off the caller's list. She stated she couldn't do this until I spoke with a nurse. I said I don't have time to speak with a nurse, please take me off the calling list. She said, "I understand that you would like to opt out however in order to do so you must speak with one of our nurses." I finally got nasty with this lady and told her that it didn't make any sense, I do not want to talk to anyone else, I want off the list and that's that. She, rudely, responded, "oh yes ma'am!"

I don't know how it's reasonable for BCBS to be affiliated with this group, but they are- there are links on the BCBS website to Healthways- but they're obnoxious and I'm actually quite irritated with BCBS for giving them everyone's information!

>Most people seem to be agitated by the company's use of an autodailer
>and/or not having any previous relationship with the particular service
>company calling.  The calling company, service and substance, however,
>appear alright and polite.

What posts are you reading?  No, most people are agitated by the repeated calls and the continuous denial of being unable to be removed from the list.  (A list given to this company by a hospital or health care provider via bc/bs)

The area is a little "grayed" on the previous relationship part since healthways is masking the "relationship" the patient had (through no fault of their own other than going to the doctor for care) with bc/bs and NOT healthways.  So, no real relationship exists, but your company somehow seems to think one does.

No, the calling company, service and substance have no appearance of being "alright or polite" whatsoever.  No rapport has been established with the potential customer (mark) other than a random, unsolicited phone call which, on the surface is shady in the first place, but is even more called into suspicion when "the company" can't even identify itself as an organization which is not bc/bs.  

>I let the first call go like I do all calls the number of which I don't
>recognize. Actually received a voicemail message explaining that they
>were providing an education service for BC/BS.  So when they called
>again, I answered.

Yeah, right.  You are absolutely convincing me from this paragraph that you don't work for healthways and are just another random "client" who has no connection or vested interest in this organization. If there is even a hint of truth to this, there are plenty of Nigerian scammers who would love to find a person like you!

>Had a nice civil conversation.  The woman knew a lot about my medical
>history, i.d. info so I felt comfortable chatting.

You were not alarmed or appalled about the unauthorized sharing of your medical history with a complete third-party company?  You didn't question how she got you medical history?  You didn't ask for her credentials or qualifications? You just decided that chatting about your medical issues with a complete and utter stranger was perfectly acceptable and ok huh?

>Said she was with
>BC/BS (didn't make clear she was with a separate
>company, but, heck,
>that's o.k., she apparently is working at the >behest of BC/BS).  They
>provide education on health conditions >indicated by submissions to
>BC/BS.  Fine, I said, always interested in
>learning more.

So, first the woman lies to you and says she is with bc/bs then (somehow) you find out that she isn't but then, since she works at the "behest" of an insurance company it becomes perfectly logical to establish a personal and business relationship with her. Then, to make matters even clearer, it is ok to engage in this because she received the information via a submission which may or may not have been granted for dissemination by the patient but since its for "education" on health conditions its perfectly understandable.  Uhhh, OK, fine, lets move on.

>Gave me a BC/BS (?) number for a health risk appraisal over the phone
>(hra's are something everyone should do - didn't take BC/BS's so don't
>know if it's good - have taken another good one online)(check out
>thehealthierpeoplenetwurk  org for a link).  Was told a nurse would
>call me with more info on my condition and I would be receiving info via
>mail (at my address BC/BS has).  Fine.  Seems solid and legit service.


Wow! you are impressing with all the jargon. What happens if someone doesn't want an "hra" over the phone, or doesn't want to discuss their medical condition with some stranger representing a company who's sole purpose is to determine the patients medical liabilities to the companies bottom line and who fronts a third-party to masquerade as a patient advocate only to receive further data which could potentially raise the rate the patient is currently paying or subject him/her to outright cancellation?  What about that?

>The main gripe here seems to be with the calls being unwanted and the
>use of an unanswered autodailer.  Final note, I am cautious here because
>I don't trust BC/BS not to use any info I give over the phone as a
>reason to jack up my insurance premium.
 
This is basically a repeat of the drivel from your first paragraph.  It has nothing to do with an auto-dialer and everything to do with not being harassed by unwanted and unsolicited phone calls from a company with questionable motivations in the first place.

>Healthways is a health education company that insurance companies hire to >provide health education benefits to their members.  They are not selling >anything.  They get your info from your insurance company. this is not a >scam!


Sap, that's a good name for you.  You MUST be a sap if you believe the information being collected is for the benefit of the patient.

This is a HUGE SCAM people.  Don't let these knuckleheads fool you!

They call everyday, and never leave a message. I have called the number to tell them not to call me.  The man who answered asked my date of birth,, and I asked why it was important to know my birthday in order to be taken off a call list.  The man was baffled and completely unhelpful, so once again I am receiving calls.

Healthways (800-783-4582) is a "business partner" of Blue Cross Blue Shield that receives your health information for educational purposes.

Contact Kerry Britt at 410-910-6672 at Healthways (www.healthways.com).  She is a supervisor that is "suppose" to get you out of their healthcare education system.

I hope this helps with the harassing telephone calls.