A retired Council Bluffs couple jumped at an offer for a health care card to reduce their monthly medical costs. But did they buy false hope instead of real coverage?

“We're both cancer survivors.” But surviving the medical and pharmacy bills has been difficult for George and Peggy DeSantiago. "Four hundred dollars a month for prescriptions."

So when a caller from Easy Life offered cheaper health care for $100 a month the couple paid the $200 up front fee. “So when we tried to use the cards they laughed at us, they said what is this, a joke?" says George.

"It turned out to be a discount coupon, that's what it is," says Peggy.

Easy Life has a list of numerous providers. Six On Your Side randomly picked Kohll's, but the metro pharmarcy said it knows nothing about Easy Life.

The Better Business Bureau does. The Arizona company has an unsatisfactory rating. "They're ignoring complaints that have been brought to their attention by the BBB," says the bureau's Jim Hegarty.

Chad Thompson with Easy Life says, "We don't have problems refunding money." That's good news for George and Peggy. Easy Life tells Six On Your Side a refund will be coming their way early next week, but the company claims no record of the couple feeling misled and wanting their money back.

"They caught me at the most vulnerable time in my life and that's sad,” says Peggy.

Easy Life also says its callers are trained not to mislead or be fired if caught. The company spokesman says they don't lie about this program, it sells itself and customers are warned it's not health insurance.

But Peggy says the caller implied a connection to Blue Cross Blue Shield. "I thought in my heart it was health care because she explained the hospital, the doctors, the surgeries, everything.”

Fortunately the couple didn't cancel their existing medical coverage without giving the cheaper offer a closer examination. “This is not a health care insurance, this is just a way to get your money," says George.

Nebraska Blue Cross Blue Shield has no affiliation with Easy Life Health cards.

If you receive a call offering a medical plan, be sure to ask if it's real coverage or just discounts and who will honor the cards. Then check with those doctors or pharmacies before signing up.