[Kiya]

Due to communications error, my COBRA ins has been canceled. now i have 2 months of t ($1000+) to come up with along with 2 other drs to pay. why keep even trying? I'm going to have to cancel all future appnts. i have little mula as it is and still don't get paid for 24 days. i'm just so #%@*&^% screwed.

Ugh, that STINKS, to put it mildly.

Can you call T to see if you can work something out financially?? Sliding scale, reduced rate, etc.??

[Kiya]

i'm gonna have to cancel everything and any future apnts. i have nothing. no pay until the 24th, only so far 3 days' work on that pay period - they are taking out 62 bucks for the background check. even my dam check bounced to pay the fingerprints. is there a cosmic sign that says KICK ME ? i'm gonna have to cancel both MD and T.

(((((((KIYA))))))))
Well, Let's see, you are having emotional difficulties, you are wisely using your T and MD, okay, so let's make it sure that you have no money to pay for it. I HATE insurance companies!!!!!! They suck and could care less!!!! What is wrong with this country? You are busting your @$$ to help yourself and to get better and they screw you in every direction. Uggghhhhh. It is SO frustrating, all of this is. Best of luck to you, fighting COBRA for however long it takes. Take care.

[Perna]

Oh, that's horrible; I guess it's disability COBRA? Any way you can get back to work sooner and get more hours/money or enough so your company can cover you in the normal insurance? Did you read your info the company gave you with a fine-toothed comb; usually cancellation requires you do something in writing or don't make payments, etc. If your company screwed that up I'd think they'd have to fix that.

[sunrise]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Kiya said:
Due to communications error, my COBRA ins has been canceled.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">If it is an error, can it be corrected?

[(JD)]

Such things do happen, I'm sorry you are in one of them.

Don't cancel all your appts. If it's a communication error it can be corrected, and though it might cost you money that you don't have currently, you still need to continue with your health care. It's possible your benefits can be retroactive through this error.

(I've been through similar and KNOW how devastating it feels.)

[MissCharlotte]

((Kiya))

How can we help? Can we help answer questions about insurance or something? (not that I'm an expert but if we all pitch in we can offer our collective intelligence...)

You need care. So let's figure out how to get it for you. Talk to us.

Peace

[Kiya]

(((((((((((((all))))))))))))))))))

*sigh*... sooooooooo I did AmeriCorps for 2 years... which means i'm broke... and there is no such thing as "unemployment" for AmeriCorps because even though we get a stipend *and have to pay tax*, we're technically "volunteers" for an entire year...2 in my case. sooooo no work, only temp stuff, no benies but my COBRA from AmeriCorps.... I had no work so i couldn't pay. So i called to see about options and was told the policy would not be canceled if i did not pay. that when i paid, my denied claims would go through. I kept asking "Are you SURE??!" yes. .... naturally, i got canceled. And there's no recourse. No way to change it.... "it's my fault" so they tell me. I am just sick about it.

so 2 months of t and some other drs appnts that i thought would be resubmitted, now won't be. and still i have hardly enough work to pay even my phone bill. haven't paid rent in 3 months (to my family), haven't paid my car..... dunno what i'm gonna do.

omg kiya

i am so sorry love.. no wonder you have been upset.

i wish i knew what to say but i know nothing of US insurance stuff... i understand broke though.

think things through and write out what solutions come to mind, no matter how silly they seem... you just never know, right? You have it in you to get through this sweetheart.. i know you can do this.

sending much love

[ECHOES]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
What process must individuals follow to elect COBRA continuation coverage?
Employers must notify plan administrators of a qualifying event within 30 days after an employee's death, termination, reduced hours of employment or entitlement to Medicare.

A qualified beneficiary must notify the plan administrator of a qualifying event within 60 days after divorce or legal separation or a child's ceasing to be covered as a dependent under plan rules.

Plan participants and beneficiaries generally must be sent an election notice not later than 14 days after the plan administrator receives notice that a qualifying event has occurred. 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.


</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

from COBRA info

I hope this might help!

[serafim_etal]

Talk with your T about this. Several years ago I had COBRA coverage and my old employer changed insurance plans and did not notify me...the old insurance didn't notify me either...for three months. Just kept taking my money...then sent a refund for the premium. Too late to sign on with new coverage. I kept my T informed and made small payments as often as I could...which was sometimes only $10 a month. One day I got a statement from T, and the balance was gone. She wrote it off without telling me. You never know what arrangements can be made until you ask...although I wouldn't ask for a write-off!

[Kiya]

Echoes - that link may just be the key I needed!! According to that 23 page booklet online, COBRA was supposed to provide me with written details of everything and how to keep my COBRA rights - well they didn't send me a durn thing. There are also numbers to call in there, so come Monday I will be calling and see if all this can be straigtened out. By the looks of it, this group really broke a lot of the rules. I may just win this yet - I'm feeling a LOT more hopeful than i have in days.

((((((((((((ECHOES!!!)))))))))))))

[Kiya]

Thanks serafimetal ((((((((((((hugs)))))))))

[Kiya]

Thanks Fluff - it's been totally crazy making and leaving me feeling like I have no control over anything and the wolrd being turned on its ear... it was like "why bother?!" why try anymore. but with that stuff from echoes... i printed out a handful of pages, highlighting all the stuff they didn't send me and why i feel i have a case to make an appeal.

WIsh me luck!!! I'm gonna need it!! kiya

[bipolar_bear]

I am so happy that you may have some recourse. What a terrible thing to go through.

BB

[Fuzzybear]

kiya

Wow, I'm so glad Echoes sent you that link! I hope it's the key to figuring out this big mess. Hang in there!

[Perna]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Kiya said:
According to that 23 page booklet online, COBRA was supposed to provide me with written details of everything and how to keep my COBRA rights

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">
COBRA doesn't have anything to do with the individual; just the company and its insurance people; you are insured or not through your company still. Your company's insurance person sent or had you sign the paper that qualified you for COBRA and gave you a copy of that; that's the information. COBRA has certain qualifying rules for the company; not everyone is covered, it's not an automatic thing, depends on what your company does/doesn't do. I would talk to your company person and find out what is going on, I think they're the only ones that can help you.

My husband's and mine just expired after the 18 months through my husband's company (I opted out of my company's, had to sign a paper for them) and we switched over to State insurance.

((((((((((Kiya))))))))))))))))
Wishing you the best of luck Keep us posted.

[MissCharlotte]

(((Kiya)))

You keep fighting for this okay? And we will keep holding you up!!!

Great info Echoes. I may use it myself. My son was taken off my insurance last year when he aged out and left school. We could only afford the cobra for a month or two. Unfortunately, now, his Medicaid doesn't pay for his therapy bills and we have bene paying out of pocket. OUCH! I'm wondering if we could appeal his dismissal of the insurance based on his dx which officially came after he was cut off but in fact existed long before.

Peace all.

[Kiya]

thanks all

perna - i wasn't given squat from anyone. this is AmeriCorps cobra and is totally different from "a company". i may still not have a leg to stand on, but when i called the ins to see what i could do about payment, i was told *TOLD* i wouldn't be canceled. that is the advice i took (sucky). they canceled me. And now I'm at 64 days (meaning i cannot get other ins and have the things coverend that i've been) and i had no idea this was even happening. That is why i think the appeal may work. and i don't think my company can help me.... i can try, but i really doubt they can do anything.

[chaotic13]

((Kiya))
I have no helpful comments, just wanted to say I hope you are able to correct this issue without disrupting your care.

[ECHOES]

call the ins back, ask for a supervisor or even better, a manager. tell them about the call (have the date and who you talked to handy).

i wish you success!

[Kiya]

I have... i have.... monday I'll be calling the Dept of Labor