Insurance company drops Vietnam vet over premium being 2 cents short

[eridani]

Dropping people for non-payment is NOT illegal under PPACA.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/26614998/detail.html

Two pennies. That's the difference between a potentially life-saving surgery and a dropped insurance plan.

Those 2 cents could cost Vietnam veteran Ronald Flanagan everything.

"Everybody we talk to is very surprised that 2 cents is enough to do this," said Flanagan.

It was an innocent enough mistake, according to Ronald's wife, Frances Flanagan.

"If I only had just hit the nine instead of the seven," Frances said.

When she was paying their monthly health insurance premium online in November, Frances swapped a 7 for a 9, leaving their $328.69 payment 2 cents short.

"And now we're just pulling teeth and trying to figure out what's the next step," Frances said.

Their insurance benefits administrator, Ceridian Cobra Services, based in St. Petersburg, Fla., promptly dropped the Flanagans for the 2-cent shortage.

The couple found out about losing their coverage at a doctor's appointment on Jan. 13 while they were at the Exempla Rock Creek Medical Center in Broomfield.

As Ron was getting prepped to have a bone biopsy, Frances was on the phone with Ceridian.

"The nurses were just getting ready to do the biopsy when my wife popped into the office and told them, 'Stop. We don't have any insurance,'" said Ron.

[Iris]

1. criminal

[DURHAM D]

2. This decision was reversed today. I heard it on my T V. nt

[Dappleganger]

3. My teevee tells me things too...

it's really quite disturbing. ;)

[eridani]

5. Why does it require a massive public outcry every time they pull this crap?

It should be illegal, period. But it isn't.

[napi21]

4. I read that last night that the ins. co. was reconsidering. Too much bad publicity I'm sure! nt

[Digit]

6. Cobra pulled a fast one on me also

When I first went on Cobra (this was many years ago), they had quoted me a sum of money for the initial payment. I paid in full with no problem.

Months later when I went to get a mammogram, they dropped me after the fact stating that my original payment was $4.00 short even though I had paid the exact (pro-rated) amount they had requested.

Cobra would not accept the $4.00 even though I made many phone calls to the people in charge. I tried to find someone who could advocate for me and I was told that there were no laws covering Cobra and the Insurance Commission could not help, either.

I ended up having to pay for my own mammogram and losing all those monthly premiums I had been paying.

I am glad this fellow had better luck...after all, my situation was not serious like his.
I hope everything turns out well for him.

[eridani]

7. He was high profile with 2 cents and an expensive, possibly war related, condition

That's why this shit needs to be against the law--the public only has so much outrage to spare.