Open Enrollment for health insurance sold on Healthcare.gov ENDS TONIGHT at 11:59:59PM Local time.
This means if you need insurance after that deadline, you need a qualifying life event. If you don’t like what you were automatically re-enrolled in during December, you will need a qualifying life event.
If you need insurance or need to change your choice, do so in the next twelve hours and twenty one minutes!
Two rabbits
Do you know what the insurance is called for someone (age 72) trying to get Medicare for the first time?
He was covered by his wife’s work plan until she died in May 2021. He went to a Social Security (?) office in November 22, they said he had to wait until this month to sign up.
Spoke to him a few days ago, he was having trouble signing up now. I don’t know the specific details. Thanks
Elizabelle
David: thank you thank you thank you for highlighting the ACA deadline. Signed a young neighbor up for a very affordable HMO Bronze plan. (The glories of being a healthy 26 year old.)
He’d scoffed, but had a major traffic accident the day previously (Friday); he’s just bruised and shaken; his girlfriend’s very nice sedan was totalled. Front end: gone. Utterly demolished. The airbags and seatbelt saved him. The photographs are scary.
He’d declined an ambulance and going to the ER after the accident; afraid of medical costs. Took him to Patient First yesterday, and we filled out half the application on my laptop in the waiting room.
Again, thank you.
Miss Bianca
David, this may sound like a stupid question, but are the state exchanges (like Colorado’s Connect for Health, for example) a separate beast, or can you change a state-based exchange plan on Healthcare.gov?
Another Scott
@Two rabbits: I’m not David, but in case he is away…
It’s my understanding that one should always sign up for Medicare before one turns 65, with some isolated exceptions, even if one has other insurance.
Medicare.gov has more information.
It sounds like he needs to talk to an expert. Maybe start here to find a “navigator”?
HTH a little. Good luck!
Cheers,
Scott.
BigJimSlade
Hey David, do you know much about the billing practices/issues with doctors and big insurance companies?
My doctor (you know, for regular physicals, etc.), well, his billing person, says that they haven’t been paid by Anthem Blue Cross (California), but I log into the Blue Cross account and I don’t see any claims that they say haven’t been paid. The last 2 physicals don’t show up at all. Well, Quest Diagnostics has claims in for the blood work. So is my doctor’s billing person wrong, or can Blue Cross sort of not register a claim and pretend it doesn’t exist?
I care because she collected pre-payment when I got the shingles vax because she was saying that they’re not getting paid and the both Blue Shield and Blue Cross are so bad about paying, like bad, bad, bad. BC paid the shingles vax claims within 2 weeks, but I haven’t gotten my pre-payment back because she says they are waiting for all the other things they haven’t been paid for. Every claim I see in BC’s interface has been paid within 2 weeks, so it’s all very weird.
ETA: I should also say that I was inclined to believe the billing person in my doctor’s office because I read some article, like 15 years ago, about how insurance companies are total hemmorhoids to small practices, totally on purpose in efforts to avoid, or at least delay, paying and it was driving doctor’s out of private practice.
Another Scott
@BigJimSlade: I’ve got BCBS. It seems to be a common issue for doctors offices to send the bill to the wrong office in the wrong state. It takes a while for it to work its way through the various systems and for me to get a notice that “not paid because you have other insurance” (when my insurance hasn’t changed in 30-mumble years). :-/
You probably need to get someone on the phone at your doctors office and BCBS if you really want to know what’s going on.
HTH a little.
Good luck!
Cheers,
Scott.
Two rabbits
Thanks Scott. Sadly, 65 was about 7 years back.
I try to keep out of his business. I think he is sorta high wealth and has a devil-may- care attitude about possible future health costs. But he has two kids and a new grandson, I’d hate to see a few million go to medical costs rather than them.
Unh, he’s snowbirding in Detroit from Up North MI. Can he talk to navigators in either area? I see most of them are agent/brokers, I’m leery of hooking someone up with them. If I filter for assisters, then seniors only a few are left.
I spent a fair amount of time on Medicare.gov before signing up. Generally I’m just more confused than before. 🙂
BigJimSlade
@Another Scott: Thanks – I appreciate anybody’s 2 cents right now!
I think I had BCBS at some point, then BS, then BC… And, of course, other company names get plopped in front like Providence and Anthem – I don’t get all the variations. I’ve spoken on the phone with the doctor’s billing person, she keeps saying she’ll have to look, or she’ll have to go into their (BC’s) portal, or get someone to give her an EOB. She takes down my number and doesn’t call back. I mean, I’m sure she’s busy, but it’s lame.
I like my doctor and everyone else in the office, so I would rather not switch over this. And I’m on my wife’s insurance – she’s never had an issue.
Also, not sure how wrong it can go – she says they file electronically. Seems like it would be relatively straight forward.
David Anderson
@Miss Bianca: seperate beasts performing the same role as healthcare.gov
Miss Bianca
@David Anderson: Got it, thanks!