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Lena Has No Health Insurance Until February!
01-02-2020, 10:25 AM
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#1
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
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Lena Has No Health Insurance Until February!
Because of some snafu at Anthem Blue Cross, Lena's health insurance was cancelled. It may have happened because we got new credit card numbers, but there was no notification. It doesn't seem reasonable that her coverage would go away without them telling us (she's actually had not coverage since Nov 30).
So, my question is: what should we do until Feb 1? Should Lena stay home so that she can't get in a car accident? Is there anyway to get temporary health insurance?
Thanks!
__________________
Al
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01-02-2020, 10:27 AM
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#2
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,605
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Yes, but it's pricy. Google California Short Term Health Insurance. Or replace California with your state.
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Only got A dimple, would have preferred 2!
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01-02-2020, 10:36 AM
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#3
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 929
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Price some "trip insurance" through allianz for a couple mos. Then price for a year. Offers some amount of medical. May have to drive x distance from home before you seek care. In case of illness or injury, road trip?
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01-02-2020, 10:44 AM
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#4
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8,971
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrsHaloFIRE
Price some "trip insurance" through allianz for a couple mos. Then price for a year. Offers some amount of medical. May have to drive x distance from home before you seek care. In case of illness or injury, road trip?
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You sure about this? We’ve had to provide proof of trip booking.
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01-02-2020, 10:45 AM
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#5
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
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I just talked with someone from HealthForCalifornia.com. We could get a one-month plan for $545 that would cover up to $500K for hospital, etc. $5K deductible.
Advice?
It doesn't seem reasonable Anthem shouldn't take responsibility.
__________________
Al
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01-02-2020, 11:07 AM
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#6
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
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Okay, I signed up for the one-month plan. Nice to be rich.
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Al
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01-02-2020, 11:08 AM
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#7
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 929
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Quote:
Originally Posted by COcheesehead
You sure about this? We’ve had to provide proof of trip booking.
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I bought an annual plan to cover 2018 and they only asked our ages
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01-02-2020, 11:16 AM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,204
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I had a temporary healthcare policy with UHC last Feb thru Apr between the time DW retired and I became eligible for Medicare. It was much less expensive than $545/mo though? But I wouldn't worry about it for one month, now Lena can drive a car and ride a bike this month!
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Retired Jun 2011 at age 57
Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
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01-02-2020, 11:19 AM
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#9
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Champaign
Posts: 4,689
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My DMI was an independent real estate broker. She went without health insurance for 10 years, I am not even kidding. When she turned 65 and went on medicare, we realized she had pretty severe symptoms of ovarian cancer and didn't tell anyone. After turning 65, she was diagnosed with 4th stage ovarian cancer and then got treatment. Lived to 72 after multiple chemo treatments. Like skydiving without a parachute.
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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
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01-02-2020, 11:51 AM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,223
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TromboneAl
Because of some snafu at Anthem Blue Cross, Lena's health insurance was cancelled. It may have happened because we got new credit card numbers, but there was no notification. It doesn't seem reasonable that her coverage would go away without them telling us (she's actually had not coverage since Nov 30).
So, my question is: what should we do until Feb 1? Should Lena stay home so that she can't get in a car accident? Is there anyway to get temporary health insurance?
Thanks!
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So what was the reason they gave
for no notification when you talked to Anthem on the phone ?. California has a weak department of insurrance, but illegal practice of cancelation without notice is one of those things they do actually enforce.
__________________
" A person is smart, but People are dumb, dangerous, panicky animals, and you know it " Agent "K", Men in Black
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01-02-2020, 11:57 AM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TromboneAl
Okay, I signed up for the one-month plan. Nice to be rich.
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It's a safe thing to do before you take her out for a spin in that new Tesla to see how fast it can accelerate.
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"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
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01-02-2020, 11:58 AM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lakewood90712
So what was the reason they gave
for no notification when you talked to Anthem on the phone ?. California has a weak department of insurrance, but illegal practice of cancelation without notice is one of those things they do actually enforce.
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Lena spent an hour on the phone with them, and I'm not sure of the details. Could we fight it? Probably, but I don't want one day to go by without insurance.
There's just no way we got a notification by email or snail mail and didn't notice it.
We'll file a complaint, but I don't want to sue for them to reimburse the $545.
__________________
Al
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01-02-2020, 11:59 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
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Right. Good thing we didn't know that she wasn't covered when we drove to pick it up.
__________________
Al
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01-02-2020, 12:12 PM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,821
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TromboneAl
Lena spent an hour on the phone with them, and I'm not sure of the details. Could we fight it? Probably, but I don't want one day to go by without insurance.
There's just no way we got a notification by email or snail mail and didn't notice it.
We'll file a complaint, but I don't want to sue for them to reimburse the $545.
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I agree that if there is any question about being able to reconcile the snafu, you did the right thing to get some coverage somehow. Then fight it.
It sure seems like cancelling someone should be hard. I'd research it, your state should help, and now that you have coverage, you can call and be calm about it.
Maybe they didn't get through your call blocker? Maybe you need to set that up to go to voice mail if they don't press "1" to get through to the ringer. Once every couple days you could check and clear it. A little bit of a pain, but should go pretty fast.
-ERD50
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01-02-2020, 12:36 PM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 8,968
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All I have to do is be late a week and the written notice comes. Then another before they shut you down. So 2 written notices at least for Kaiser.
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01-02-2020, 01:14 PM
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#16
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,266
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TromboneAl
I just talked with someone from HealthForCalifornia.com. We could get a one-month plan for $545 that would cover up to $500K for hospital, etc. $5K deductible.
Advice?
It doesn't seem reasonable Anthem shouldn't take responsibility.
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Are talking about an ACA policy or a Medigap policy? Either way, you could call the insurance commissioner's office, explain what happened and ask that the policy be reinstated effective December 1 and see what they say. You would have to pay the premiums for December 2019 and January 2020.
If it can be reinstated, then you can cancel the short-term policy.
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If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
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01-02-2020, 02:09 PM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,953
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How did you actually find out her insurance was cancelled?
In your first post you say maybe it was because your CC numbers changed. Did you give them the new numbers? For someone reading here wondering how on earth this happens it would be good to know the story....
FWIW HI premiums are the one bill we have the insurer pull directly from our checking account. Puts the onus on them, in our minds we eliminate the CC company from the process. A better question is why they didn't give you notice of the failed payment or loss of HI, you can't be the only ones this happens to.
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01-02-2020, 02:16 PM
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#18
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,172
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Have you talked to boomer benefits about this?
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01-02-2020, 02:21 PM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,880
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ivinsfan
How did you actually find out her insurance was cancelled?
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Went to RiteAid to get our second Shingrix.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivinsfan
In your first post you say maybe it was because your CC numbers changed. Did you give them the new numbers? For someone reading here wondering how on earth this happens it would be good to know the story....
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Lena called and gave them the new numbers. I'll be researching it more later.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivinsfan
FWIW HI premiums are the one bill we have the insurer pull directly from our checking account. Puts the onus on them, in our minds we eliminate the CC company from the process. A better question is why they didn't give you notice of the failed payment or loss of HI, you can't be the only ones this happens to.
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They did tell us of the failed payment, and Lena gave them the new numbers.
I agree about using bank instead of credit card. I think I've done that for almost anything. Lena set the HI payments up.
__________________
Al
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01-02-2020, 02:38 PM
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#20
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,953
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Ugh, Al sounds like the perfect storm of things going wrong. I'd be doing some complaining.
How did you get them to reenroll her, were you still inside the window for open enrollment, that's the scary part.
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