A top ten list to avoid

The state Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection is out with its “Top 10 Consumer Complaints” list of 2009 and (Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!) health care complaints topped the list. Other categories near the top: lending, telemarketing, and credit scams.

Here’s what the list had to say about health care

1. Health Care: In 2009, a total of 4,371 people filed complaints about health insurance, medical providers, and health products and services. Common complaints include getting charged money for supposedly free trials of weight loss products. Consumers often have problems with medical billing or collection practices, and also complain about overcharging for medical services. For help with health insurance issues such as grievances, appeals, and external reviews, call our Managed Care Patient Assistance Program at (919) 733-MCPA or (866) 867-MCPA (toll-free in North Carolina) or email MCPA@ncdoj.gov.