I am furious!!!!

[Piglet]

The company my DH works ACCIDENTELY cancelled their health insurance they offer to their employees and never told anyone. So on Thursday, I go to get a prescription filled at the pharmacy for myself and my 6 yo DD (who has numerous health problems and takes many meds) and they tell us our coverage has been cancelled. My DH (has been laid off since the week of Christmas) calls the benefits office and they tell him that someone there accidently cancelled their insurance as of 1/1/03. They don't know who they will get for insurance!!!! I am so mad, we now have no insurance. They better get it taken care of soon. And in the meantime, I hope no one gets sick or worse!!!!!

Thanks for letting me vent!!!!


Melinda

 

[pumba]

but in Maine they have a special insurance for families without insurance and primarily for children.......call and see if they do......

 

[Serena]

I'd be furious too, piglet, but it seems wierd, can't they get that corrected???

 

[nativetxn]

I would be furious and worried. Sorry this has happened to you, I hope you get health coverage soon.

{{{HUGS}}} sweetie.

Katholyn

 

[Dan Murphy]

That is awful, and scary, Melinda. I would very quickly look at getting at least a temporary plan. It will not cover pre-existing, but any future illness/accident would be. At least to carry over till new plan. Something like this. http://www.temporaryinsuranceplan.com/

My best wishes for you all and for a quick return to work for your hubby.

 

[Lorix2]

Piglet - sorry to hear that. I do know how you feel. Years ago, my DH's employer was struggling, they kept accepting my money for our health insurance monthly, but what they didn't tell the employees is that the insurance had cancelled for nonpayment from the employer and the employer was helping to make the payroll with the money the employees gave them every month. Long story short - I only found out b/c my DH was hospitalized and I receive the $2300.00 bill which I turned around threatened to sue the employer for the money - they paid it immediately.

Also - since my DH is laid off now too, we lost our insurance. Here in NH, there is a "Healthy Kids" program, I think they are in other states also. Depending on your income size, is how they base your monthly payment if you are in certain category. Free care is also available if you are under a certain amount for a certain family size. You should definitely look into that, especially if your DD needs monthly meds/dr visits. It's a wonderful program.

Best wishes to you and your family.

 

[ByTheSea]

Read your plan documents! Not sure of the laws in your state, or the size of your employer.

Talk to your employer, maybe they will voluntarily cover your expenses?

Most Employer provided Heath Plans are covered by ERISA

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/participantrights.htm

Employees participating in retirement and health benefit plans are granted several important rights by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Among them are the right to: disclosure of important plan information, a timely and fair process for benefit claims, elect to temporarily continue group health coverage after losing coverage, a certificate evidencing health coverage under a plan, and recover benefits due under the plan.

It is important for employees and their families to know their benefit rights to make their benefits work for them.

You need to get familiar with your rights in this situation.... It's just NOT right!

 

[PamOKW]

I agree that this is something you can't just let slide. I'm not sure what recourse you have but I would get some type of insurance ASAP. Maybe you could try contacting the insurance carrier directly and asking them what happened and see whether they would offer coverage. You might also try contacting someone in your state government to see what options you have for COBRA coverage (you pay the full premium). I'm not sure how that would work if the company itself now has no insurance. I sure hope this is a very small company.

 

[Pooh93]

Accidentally???? That makes no sense and is scary that something like that could be done without notifying the employees. Hope you can get it straightened out! I would be furious too!

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Yea, I don't think I would be overly shocked to learn the employer was lying...accidently.. please!

 

[Snow White]

Wow, that's awful, I hope you can get some temporary insurance, I know pharamacy bills can be staggering!

 

[C.Ann]

I think it automatically has to switch over to COBRA - at the very least.. Do a search for COBRA on your computer and see if it applies to your situation..

I'd also submit any receipts for meds or health care to your husbands employer and DEMAND reimbursement! "Accidentally" my foot!!

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd also call the Labor Board and the Insurance Commission in your state. Something about this scenario sounds very fishy to me, and I think these two organizations might be very interested to hear about this little "accident"!!!!!!

 

[DebbieB]

I don't believe it was an "accident" either. I'm sure the insurance company would question why the policy was cancelled to be sure that was what they wanted. If it was an "accident" they should be able to get a quick reinstatement, but it sounds like they are looking for a new company. Doesn't make sense....

 

[snoopy]

Is your husband contributing to COBRA? If so, you should still have insurance, or if someone did accidentally cancel it, they need to reinstate it. I'd save every receipt I had for meds, and turn it into the insurance company for reimbursement.

 

[Piglet]

What was going on is......The company my DH works for was planning on changing to another insurance company the beginning of the year, I guess they didn't have everything worked out with the new company to begin on 1/1 like they were planning and someone "accidentely" gave the old company the 1/1 cancellation date. So his company did say to save the receipts and they would reimburse us. Told my DH that the new co. was supposed to Fed Ex temporary cards and should have them this week.

The company is a construction company and my DH is only laid off because of bad weather and shutting down for Christmas and New Years, so we don't qualify for COBRA because hopefully he won't be off that long. They will still carry him for a few weeks, even though they aren't working at the time.

The problem now is they called all the bosses in on Monday for a meeting and said not to have their employees report to work, so we are thinking they must be going to keep everyone off for a while longer because of all the snow and rain we have had around here. We might be doing the COBRA thing after all.

Melinda