Ravi Coutinho bought a health insurance plan thinking it would deliver on its promise of access to mental health providers. But even after 21 phone calls and multiple hospitalizations, no one could find him a therapist.

Ravi didn’t know it, but he, like millions of Americans, was trapped in a “ghost network.” As some of those people have discovered, the providers listed in an insurer’s network have either retired or died. Many other providers have stopped accepting insurance — often because the companies made it excessively difficult for them to do so. Some just aren’t taking new patients. Insurers are often slow to remove them from directories, if they do so at all. It adds up to a bait and switch by insurance companies that leads customers to believe there are more options for care than actually exist.

Ambetter’s parent company, Centene, has been accused numerous times of presiding over ghost networks. One of the 25 largest corporations in America, Centene brings in more revenue than Disney, FedEx or PepsiCo, but it is less known because its hundreds of subsidiaries use different names. In addition to insuring the largest number of marketplace customers, it’s the biggest player in Medicaid managed care and a giant in Medicare Advantage, insurance for seniors that’s offered by private companies instead of the federal government.

ProPublica reached out to Centene and the subsidiary that oversaw Ravi’s plan more than two dozen times and sent them both a detailed list of questions. None of their media representatives responded.

  • @some_guy
    19•8 days ago

    Ravi didn’t know it, but he, like millions of Americans, was trapped in a “ghost network.” As some of those people have discovered, the providers listed in an insurer’s network have either retired or died. Many other providers have stopped accepting insurance — often because the companies made it excessively difficult for them to do so. Some just aren’t taking new patients. Insurers are often slow to remove them from directories, if they do so at all. It adds up to a bait and switch by insurance companies that leads customers to believe there are more options for care than actually exist.

    I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to pay out-of-pocket for my psychiatric needs. I mean, the costs are very high but I receive great care from two providers (therapist and psychiatrist - one is for talking and the other is for meds). I was absolutely lost without them. I can’t imagine the horror of needing access and being denied. This bullshit system needs to be solved. The richest nation in human history should be able to take care of its people. We’re failing in the worst ways.

    But, you know what? Let’s focus on the genitals of school children instead of fixing anything. That seems like a good idea. I fucking hate the right for blocking us from discussing anything that’s actually meaningful about changing society (I’m not saying trans rights aren’t meaningful; I’m saying they weren’t up for debate until they were a useful distraction from questioning power).