I am a 2009 retiree of a large local company. I signed up for medical coverage and dental coverage for myself and my spouse in January. They took his premium from my pension as recently as Aug. 1.
This company cancelled my husband's medical and dental coverage on July 31, without notifying us. We only learned he had been cancelled when we attempted to fill a prescription for him on Aug. 12. We have received no written communication from the company.
I called the benefits office and they tell me they hired an independent company to verify eligibility for benefits. I received two letters that sounded like they were asking if my husband had other insurance. They were not from my employer and they did not come return receipt as important documents normally arrive. I replied to both letters that my husband only has Medicare coverage. Now they tell me when they get around to sending me the forms, I can apply for COBRA to cover him until next January, but I must re-enroll him on Oct. 1.
I provided my husband's birth certificate and our marriage certificate to this company back in 1996 when we were married in order to cover his insurance and make him my beneficiary. Can some independent company invalidate those documents? We certainly need Universal Healthcare when the private sector can treat their employees like this. Retirees beware: Your company "credo" may not apply to you.
