Neighbor lost insurance coverage!

[RSKY]

My disabled neighbor who lives across the street from me called today as I was eating lunch. Said he needed to run into town. I have a sinus infection and feel like crap and told him so. He said it was important, maybe an emergency, and he needed to go to the Social Security office right now. So I shucked my pajamas, told you I was feeling bad, put on my jeans and drove him the 3-1/2 miles to town. When I asked what the problem was he said he had made a big mistake that he had to straighten out. Don't know if he called them or if they called him but he took out a medicare supplement insurance policy that has been advertised on TV. Of course that caused the cancellation of his paid for disability health insurance from his employer. That was explained and emphasized by our employer when the plant closed (we worked same place) sixteen years ago. The new policy would not cover pre-existing conditions of which he has many.

Makes me very angry. This guy worked midnight to eight five or six days a week and farmed in his spare time. He did this until he had the tumor at about fifty years of age.

AArrrgggghhhhh.

People, don't sign up for anything until you know all the details. This could cost the guy greatly. His children may have to go to court and have him declared incompetent to handle his own affairs to get the coverage back.

RSKY

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Good advice. If he could be declared incompetent at the time he switched that could save him.

 

[oldnslo]

I certainly hope that can be straightened out. Being declared incompetent after the fact could be a challenge.

You are a good neighbor and friend to answer his call in time of need.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Easy. All his doctor has to say is he's always had a "thing" for Joe Namath and would buy anything he was selling.

 

[Yander]

My wife works as a medical follow up specialist, she calls insurance companies to see why a claim didn't get paid by them to Dr. Offices. She told me that a lot of older people go off their medicare, for those private insurers, and then try to go back on and are not able to. Those third party insurance companies will never tell them that and they don't care about you.

 

[ruffdog]

Good thread....be careful of scammers and the ads on TV.

 

[KennyG]

Just to be clear, I would guess it was an Advantage plan, and not a Supplement Plan. There is a big difference and I don't think a Supplement plan would have caused this.

 

[Doofy]

You must read that teensy-tiny fine print on those TV adds to even know these Plans are not all they pretend to be.

Medicare is my Primary Provider and my Retirement Medical Insurance is Secondary. If I were to get suckered in to buying one of these TV plans, I could lose my Retirement coverage. Sad that these scumbags are allowed to prey on the old and infirm.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Unless they have totally screwed up Obamacare, insurance companies are required to cover pre-existing conditions.

 

[IndyJay]

Unless they have totally screwed up Obamacare, insurance companies are required to cover pre-existing conditions.

Curious what would be considered screwing up the travesty that was presented as "the Affordable Care Act". It was a disaster from the get go.