This might be long, but i want to get all the facts out.
Please tell me what you would do, or point me to where I should go, etc.
My mom has Cerebellar Ataxia, she has worked for the same organization for 20 years, in the accounting department. This is a non-profit mental health organization that is funded primarily from the state government.
On April 4th, she began using her accumulated sick/vacation time, and was officially released on long term disability the last Friday in August.
On April 5th she continued to work at said company 2-3 days a week- for 5-8 hours to assist the department in completing the work she use to do. She was paid cash under the table for this. This continued until Thursday October 27th....
1st Week of September, she completed her COBRA paperwork and sent it in. She called October 3rd to inquire about a bill, as she had not received one yet. COBRA woman told her they received her paperwork the 2nd week of September, but she had not sent in payment so she was not covered, and not going to be covered, nothing that she could do to change this.
October 27th and 7pm she fell, and broke her pelvic bone in 2 place, and hit her read, requiring 2 staples. She is still in the hospital. She is being released to HOME on Friday- due to lack of insurance. Medicaid will not cover her, as she has not been out of work long enough, is not on SSI Disability yet- due to the 6 month wait.
She was under the impression that she had to send her paperwork in within 60 days, and they would bill her the premium amount- back to the date of work ending...
I checked on the www.dol.gov website, and this is exactly what it says
Now, I believe she did this correctly....and when she called to inquire about the bill- she was STILL within her 45 days......she could have paid with a credit card at that time, had she been given an option.
What i'm planning on doing- is as follows....I am going to see the CEO of the company tomorrow- she is actually the person who has been taking the petty cash to pay my mom under the table every week....she is aware of what is going on with the cash... I will explain to her what I know, the facts etc. and who her the pages from www.dol.gov that I have printed out and highlighted the important parts of. I will ask her to have the COBRA coverage either reinstated, or do whatever she has to do to get her insurance back in place. If she feels as though this is not something she can do- i will bring up the fact that since April she has paid my mother under the table to work for a state/federally funded company, and I have no problems contacting the proper agency to let them know this.
My mother is okay with me doing all of this.....she is just disgusted by the whole mess...
What would you do?
Brandy
Please tell me what you would do, or point me to where I should go, etc.
My mom has Cerebellar Ataxia, she has worked for the same organization for 20 years, in the accounting department. This is a non-profit mental health organization that is funded primarily from the state government.
On April 4th, she began using her accumulated sick/vacation time, and was officially released on long term disability the last Friday in August.
On April 5th she continued to work at said company 2-3 days a week- for 5-8 hours to assist the department in completing the work she use to do. She was paid cash under the table for this. This continued until Thursday October 27th....
1st Week of September, she completed her COBRA paperwork and sent it in. She called October 3rd to inquire about a bill, as she had not received one yet. COBRA woman told her they received her paperwork the 2nd week of September, but she had not sent in payment so she was not covered, and not going to be covered, nothing that she could do to change this.
October 27th and 7pm she fell, and broke her pelvic bone in 2 place, and hit her read, requiring 2 staples. She is still in the hospital. She is being released to HOME on Friday- due to lack of insurance. Medicaid will not cover her, as she has not been out of work long enough, is not on SSI Disability yet- due to the 6 month wait.
She was under the impression that she had to send her paperwork in within 60 days, and they would bill her the premium amount- back to the date of work ending...
I checked on the www.dol.gov website, and this is exactly what it says
What process must individuals follow to elect COBRA continuation coverage"
....plan participants and beneficiaries must be sent an election ontice no lter than 14 days after the plan administrator receives notice that a qualifiyng event has occured.....THE INDIVIDUAL THEN HAS 60 DAYS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ELECT COBRA CONTINUATION COVERAGE. THE PERSON HAS 45 DAYS AFTER ELECTING COVERAGE TO PAY THE INITIAL PREMIUM"
Now, I believe she did this correctly....and when she called to inquire about the bill- she was STILL within her 45 days......she could have paid with a credit card at that time, had she been given an option.
What i'm planning on doing- is as follows....I am going to see the CEO of the company tomorrow- she is actually the person who has been taking the petty cash to pay my mom under the table every week....she is aware of what is going on with the cash... I will explain to her what I know, the facts etc. and who her the pages from www.dol.gov that I have printed out and highlighted the important parts of. I will ask her to have the COBRA coverage either reinstated, or do whatever she has to do to get her insurance back in place. If she feels as though this is not something she can do- i will bring up the fact that since April she has paid my mother under the table to work for a state/federally funded company, and I have no problems contacting the proper agency to let them know this.
My mother is okay with me doing all of this.....she is just disgusted by the whole mess...
What would you do?
Brandy
