HELP

It is not my desire for expat.cl to be a medium for criticism for criticism’s sake, but there is one company that has provoked so much frustration among my fellow expats that I feel obligated to warn newcomers to the country about it.

HELP is a company that provides medical services such as ambulance and doctor visits to your residence for a monthly fee, and for some services with an additional per-event fee.  Subscriptions are per person.  Expats often sign up for HELP because Chile lacks a universal, reliable public ambulance service.

Some complaints I hear about HELP have to do with the service itself, such as incorrect diagnoses, failure to acknowledge the need for a doctor visit or ambulance, and long waits for an ambulance.  Just as often I hear complaints about administrative issues.  It can be extremely difficult to terminate or modify a HELP contract.

If you do decide to sign up for service with HELP, make sure that you know the answers to the following questions.  If not, pose them your salesperson.

• Puedo poner término al contrato en cualquier momento?  Si no, cuándo?  Cuál es el procedimiento para terminar el contrato?
• El costo mensual va a seguir igual hasta el final del contrato?  Si no, por qué motivos podría subir?  Cómo me van a avisar del aumento, y con cuánto tiempo de anticipación?  Podré optar por poner término al contrato en vez de aceptar el aumento?
• Puedo cambiar la forma de pago en cualquier momento?  Si no, cuándo?

Links

• El Mercurio 15-APR-2009
• El Mercurio 17-JUL-2005
• El Mercurio 22-JUL-2005