BC.BS = Discriminators?

Approximately two weeks ago I received in the mail a flyer from my insurance company (blue.cross blue.shield). The flyer advertised a program titled "Future Moms". Some of the perks of this program included prenatal counseling, on-call prenatal nurses, a handy write-on wipe-off board for babysitters, and an immunization record. When I received the flyer, I called the number and explained I did not need the prenatal counseling, nor would I be utilizing the on-call prenatal nurses. I indicated that I just adopted a baby, and I would very much like the write-on wipe-off board and the immunization record. The very nice lady said she understood and took my information down and indicated she would pass it along to the appropriate person to see if they would send the items.

I never heard back.

And then about a week ago I received a call from blue.cross. The nice woman on the phone was calling to tell me about their great program titled "Future Moms". I cut her off and explained - nicely (and not sarcastically like normal) - that I had already spoken with someone, and I had requested a couple of the items. I explained why I would not need the more "expensive" items they were offering. She said she'd talk to the appropriate person and get back with me. She called me back about 30 minutes later.

I was denied.

I was denied a write-on wipe-off board and immunization record because I could not get pregnant, and this program is designed for pregnant women. I told the woman - not so nicely this time - that I never wanted another phone call from them about this again. And then I hung up on her.

That evening I began composing (in my head) the letter that would be written to blue.cross. And how I would copy it to the insurance commissioner for my state, every adoption media contact I could find, and the human resource manager for my very large employer. The letter - as I was writing it in my head - addressed how I was being discriminated against. It also talked about how much money I would save them because I could NOT get pregnant. And that if they just looked at my record, they would in fact see, rather quickly, that I have been diagnosed INFERTILE, and they should be more careful in their mass mailings. (They sure has hell immediately saw the infertily diagnosis when my RE put it in my billing record - so it's not like they did not know.) The writing of this letter kept me up all night.

The next day I tried to find the information regarding this program online. Could not find a darned thing. Zip. I was not sure I even had the correct name for the program. How would I address the program and its problems if I could not even correctly name it? So, this glitch put the letter writing on hold for a few days.

Guess what arrived in the mail yesterday, in an unmarked envelope, and no accompanying letter?

A write-on wipe-off board and immunization record.