Dear Boston University Alumni Services

Dear Boston University Alumni Services,

Thanks for all your many communications, as in pleas for money. Your persistence in the face of rejection is very valiant.

Thanks too for the letter you sent about your partnership with “Medicare MarketPlace” which offers “Boston University alumni a unique choice-based solution.” Using the deconstruction skills I picked up in literature courses, I think that means that I can choose to buy one of their supplemental insurance policies. I’m just not sure why that is unique.

In any event, I did want to point out one problem. This national marketplace of supplemental health policies for people with Medicare doesn’t actually offer anything for residents of Massachusetts. So your letter cost me about 40 minutes of my time – they ask a lot of questions before they look it up, and it made me question your choice-based partnership with an agency that doesn’t address the market – Massachusetts – in which you sit.

The bright side of this experience is that had I ever given you a dime, I’d be regretting that my money was being wasted on sending BU alumni down dead-end choice-based solutions. As it is, no regrets.

All the best,
Sue

Comments

[Sue Kelman]

Well done, Katz. The merry-go-'round that health insurance companies as well as colleges and universities have jumped on to to help confuse us as we approach Medicare eligibility is shameful.

They waste our time rather than making it easy -- as it certainly could be -- to do some comparative shopping. This is an article you should pitch to Consumer Reports.

Best,
Sue Kelman