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Universal Health Card: Real or Scam?

By Jeanie Powell
WAFF 48 News Reporter

A WAFF 48 News update on an ad in Valley newspapers that caused confusion among consumers and some Valley providers.  

According to the ad, you pay 18 dollars, then get 30 days of medical discounts for free.              WAFF 48 News learned several corporations like Wal-mart and Walgreens accept the card, but last week some of their Valley chains didn't know what we were talking about.

The same is true for many medical suppliers.

The Better Business Bureau says the plan wasn't properly explained to everyone.

Universal Health Card had a 48-hour offer on a medical discount plan that ran in Valley newspapers.     

But consumers called us to say many of the healthcare providers listed said they didn't accept it.     

Several Better Business Bureaus began investigating.     

Bottom line, they say it's confusing for consumers.  

Michele McDaniel with the BBB said, "Even though we've found that national companies are familiar with their card, we're still finding the company's website local providers listed really don't seem to have a connection with this company."     

CEO Michele McDaniel says her staff talked to one business that had to place 6 different phone calls to find if it was affiliated with Universal Health Card.  

"Also we're finding some inaccurate info on the company's website that companies located here in our area and that really concerns us. We don't understand why there'd be companies with numbers disconnected," added McDainel.      

WAFF 48 News also found that last week when we started making calls.     

Some medical offices also said they didn't give discounts.     

Company consultants assured us their plan was legit and providers named in print and on the company's website were participants.     

McDaniel says the card itself is valid, what's unclear is the line of communication from the national office to our local level.      

You can email Jeanie at jpowell@waff.com