You do not have to talk to them.  I received the same letter from them using BC/BS letterhead.  If they were really BC/BS they would know the medication you are taking.  Keep in mind that Healthways is a for profit company.  If the partnership between Healthways and BC/BS is ever dissolved Healthways has information on you which they can sell because you voluntarily provided it to them.  Keep you health issues and medication between you and your doctor.

Tell them they're calling your cell and point out to them that auto dialing a cell phone is an automatic $11k fine per call, and that you'll report them to the FTC for multiple calls if they don't IMMEDIATELY remove you from their auto-dialer.

Works for me every time.

Repeated calls, all hours.  I answered today, and they got my name wrong.  I told them no one here by that name and they need to stop calling.  I wish there was specific call number blocking for Verizon Fios landlines.

They called me 9:45 on April 16, 2014 wanting to be able to provide me with a better diet because I take omeprazole.  When I explained to them that I had my gallbladder out and it was the reason that I had taken this drug, she insisted that she would still like to help me have a healthy lifestyle, and didn't I want a healthy lifestyle?  

I told her that I was uncomfortable with sharing info with her; she wanted my primary care physician's name and number so that she could contact him if she couldn't get in touch with me and that is when I had a real problem...why does she need this info...TMI...I told her not to call back!  And yes, she did say that she was with BC/BS.

Also Healthways is a for profit organization. Their main goal is to provide profits to their shareholders. I am not interested in discussing my medical conditions with someone over the phone.

I totally agree.  They claim that their education is free.  If Carefirst is paying them to annoy their participants then it is not free.  We are paying in our premiums for something we don't want.

There is no charge to you, but your insurance company pays Healthways $357 a month which is then deducted from your lifetime benefits. I had successfully voided talking to them via phone for 3 years and then they ambushed me at my doctor's office with his cooperation. VERY deceitful and very disturbing from a privacy point of view.

I have had this number blocked for over a year now because they have been trying to call me at least three times a day!! Apparently, if you work for the Federal Government as I do, and have insurance through the Federal Employee Program, you MUST talk to them!!

See the Postal Mail attachment below:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Federal Employee Program

c/o Healthways
7055 Samuel Morse Drive, Suite 200
Columbia, MD 21046

Annoyed-in-VA
7XXX Cixxxxxx Dr.
Spxxxxxxxx, VA  2XXXX-4XXX

                                                                                                                 January 23, 2014
Dear Annoyed-in-VA:

Over the past few weeks, our nurses and dietitians have been unable to reach you by phone. We would like to speak to you about our program designed to help you manage your medical condition.

We want to help you stay as healthy as possible.

Our nurses and dietitians wish to speak to you but have not been able to reach you at (703) 7XX-6XXX. Do we have a wrong phone number? Please call us toll-free at 1-800-783-4582 as soon as possible so that we can discuss the program with you.

If you have a hearing impairment and use TDD equipment, please contact your local telecommunications relay service (TRS) and have them call us toll-free at 1-800-783-4582

Remember that we are offering this useful program at no cost to you. We simply need you to call us at our toll-free number.

Thank you for your attention to our request. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,

Your Care Team

MED0416

I received a call from 443-430-7201. The women I spoke with said she was a nurse calling from BC/BS. She asked me my full name, address, and wanted other personal information. At that point I said what is this about? These people are not from BC/BS. They are not nurses making these calls. It is a company called Healthways trying to sell other services. In this age of Identity Theft,  I am greatly alarmed about this call. I told the caller I did not want their service and to stop calling me; however, the calls keep coming. I made a complaint with BC/BS who said when I called that they knew nothing about this call. I realize clerks answer the calls at BC/BS and perhaps do not know about any partnership Healthways has established with BC/BS. Never-the-less, I don't want Healthways having my personal health information or any other federal/banking info, including my SSN.

Thanks for the info. There is quite a delay before she starts speaking, but what bothered me about the call was that after explaining what she was offereing, she wanted me to provide my child's DOB and medical diagnoses.  When I asked  "shouldn't you already have that info if you are my healthcare company?"  She said she couldn't state them because of HIPPA laws.  I told her I wasn't comfortable giving that info out out.  She said she understood and politely said goodbye.

I completely AGREE with you Rose.  Never give your info. to a company who calls out-of-the-blue.

Caller's name appears as "Your Health"  -  & caller claims to be calling from my insurance company - and begins asking all sorts or questions such as DOB, address & specific health info. - total approach is very odd - If caller is from my insurance co. they should have all this info - THEY CALLED ME, NOT the reverse -  DEFINITELY A SCAM of SOME KIND to OPT into IDENTITY - think this is an IDENTITY THEFT  SCAM  (almost certain of that)

Most people who complained about this number probably wont' see this, but Healthways is a legitimate company that  Healthplans, like Care First and others,  contract with  to  help individuals who have chronic conditions mangage them and stay healthy. Yes, healthy people costs less for the insurance company, but also the individual and the healthcare system in general saves money by preventing complications of chronic illness. I did some reserach. Unfortunately, they use an automated dialer, which can be messed up- big time! I recieve calls about my son's asthma and the reason they ask for his DOB is so that they can verify that they are talking to the right person (his parent).  They will never ask for your social security number or bank account info, etc. - they already have your date of birth, address and your medical claims- they got that from your insurance company.  They are covered under HIPAA as part of the Healthplan. They provide excellent   tips and education and even a booklet for my son. If you don't want to participate,  you just need to tell the NURSE you don't want to participate.The up -front people are just administrative people, the others are RNs who don't care what kind of insurance you have- their job is to help people stay healthy and reduce the costs of health care  for everyone.

Thanks,   Me too!

You seem to be the one with the hot temper and nothing to say but insults.  Perhaps you need to look into getting that life.

You're missing the point - they are misrepresenting themselves. They are affiliated with insurers - they are NOT a healthcare company - they are harassing and don't take no or "leave me alone" for an answer. I started getting these calls after being diagnosed with a chronic illness. I told them I appreciated the call but did not need their intervention as I had access to my doctor and other resources. Despite that they have called WEEKLY for over three years now. Don't put altruistic motives on their actions; they are PAID for everyone they sign up for their program. Their motive is corporate profits.

i've been getting several calls and messages a day from this number.  i finally was home today when the called, and having read this thread previously i was curious, so i answered it.  a lady (poorly) read a paragraph about how this was a service in reference to a medical condition of mine.  very vague and generic.  she then asked me for my date of birth and address to confirm who i was.  when i declined to give this info, she immediately said she'd take me out of the program and hung up.  sounds sketchy to me, regardless of what company it is that's actually calling.  NEVER give your personal info to someone that calls you out of the blue!  just my two cents.

The caller identified herself, "care first," addresses me by name, then asks for date of birth ... The DOB is enough of a clue to hang up...!

Complaining to the company won't do any good. If you think your medical privacy was violated, the thing to do is file a HIPPA complaint. It isn't hard--google the law to find out how.

They are a company that provides a "benefit" for Care First/BCBS for prevention.  I go to my Doctor's office if I want preventative medical advice, and I certainly don't want to share my personal health information with someone I don't know over the phone when I didn't ask for extra help.

While I appreciate my health insurance company for offering benefits, they could just inform me of the option and let me make the choice if and when I would like to participate in this kind of program.

For at least the past 30+ days, I have received so many calls from an autodialer that it is disrupting my phone service to/from my other callers.  I suspect that there is an association with Healthways.com/Blue Cross/BlueShield.  I tried without success to opt-out of any communications with Healthways.com but there is no way to find that on their site and I do not want  to register.  I have now officially complained to Blue Cross  to stop this harassment as there is no one at the other end when I answer the phone.

If these people represent my health plan, you would think they could leave a message! If I answer it, they hang up. Day in and day out! Well they can call, and call, and CALL! I have blocked them thru my VOIP provider's web interface. They will just get a nice recording telling them that "calls are not being taken at this time".

(443) 430-7201    04/01/2013 02:42 PM
(443) 430-7201    04/03/2013 05:11 PM
(443) 430-7201    04/03/2013 07:21 PM
(443) 430-7201    04/04/2013 02:56 PM
(443) 430-7201    04/05/2013 04:13 PM
(443) 430-7201    04/09/2013 02:55 PM
(443) 430-7201    04/10/2013 03:56 PM
(443) 430-7201    04/11/2013 05:17 PM
(443) 430-7201    04/16/2013 02:35 PM
(443) 430-7201    04/17/2013 03:30 PM

Same here. I also do not have BC/BS, and my phone number is on the federal do not call list!

They sure are persistent.  It IS Healthways on behalf of BC/BS, but they're extremely annoying - they call literally every 3 days.  (Whoever said that they charge you for unanswered calls is misinformed, however - they've been calling me since October and I have never picked up even once.  I have no extra charges that I shouldn't.)

Probably a useful service, but just based on the fact that they won't leave me alone when requested, I won't ever use it.

Thanks for this info - good to know! I appreciate the details.

Then why is it i get calls from them and I don't have BC/BS. If they are looking out for people's health, how come they don't speak when you pickup their calls? Just a thought.

I have recieved many calls from "information center", don't know if it's the same people but now I have a letter from Healthways, envelope of BC/BS. It states "while you participate in our program...we'll keep your doctor informed of your health status". Insane!  Worse, it says" participation is voluntary", but "if you do not wish to participate", apparently, you have to call them! What does that mean?  I'm enrolled if I don't call? Also says I am to call if I "have been identified in error" How am I identified? What aspect of BC/BS is responsible for supplying names, Argus pharmacy?

i get calls all the time..they wot pay for my minutes..hate this people

super annoying

FINALLY a live person came on the phone.  She said they were a nurse service associated with a healthcare agency.  She asked if I was familiar and I said I wasnt but that I was familiar with the number because they call incessantly.  She then said they bill $1 for every call they cant get in touch with someone and until they speak with someone they cant take the number off the list- The friggin nerve of this woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She goes on to try to explain her "service" again and I told her I was NOT interested.  

These people better not call me again!