Company cancelled my medical insurance, legal advice?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by JSanborn103, Oct 18, 2021.

  1. JSanborn103

    JSanborn103 Medium Load Member

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    I’m not sure where to post this so the mods can move it if they’d like.

    A year ago I was working for a company and broke several bones. (Not on the job) I was insured through them and informed my manager that I would not be able to come to work the next day because of my injury.

    The company somehow retroactively cancelled my insurance, leaving me with a $6,000 emergency room bill. I managed to get on state healthcare to cover follow up visits but I just received the 6,000 dollar bill in the mail and the state won’t cover it because it happened before I went through them.

    Was this legal for them to cancel my insurance while I was still working full time? I don’t know what to do because I can’t afford a 6,000$ bill right now.
     
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  3. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    I'm no expert but know different states have different laws/rules. Many have a 30 day grace period after insurance is terminated and some have a COBRA option.
    Definitely contact an attorney.
     
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  4. Wasted Thyme

    Wasted Thyme Road Train Member

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    Not enough information. Did you loose your job or quit? Were the premiums paid and deducted? In insurance. Cancellation can either be beginning of the month or date of termination. You're going to need to know that.

    But basically. If you left the company AND it's beginning of the month cancellation. Then yes. It's legal. Most self insurance is beginning of the month.
     
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  5. Wasted Thyme

    Wasted Thyme Road Train Member

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    Yes. Cobra has to be offered. That is the best option for that bill.
     
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  6. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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    Paying cash for Cobra for 6 months you'd be dollars ahead just paying the 6 large.
     
  7. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    When I went out with my hip in 2014, my company said I was covered under the FMLA -Family Medical Leave Act. I had the option of continuing my medical insurance for 12 weeks but had to keep up with my share of the costs.
    Also they are required to offer the Cobra coverage. You would have to pay 102% of the total costs of your insurance, the part you normally pay and the company's part too. They get the 2% for the administrative crap.
     
  8. Lennythedriver

    Lennythedriver Road Train Member

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    I worked for a company years ago that would deduct from your paycheck a month in advance before your insurance took affect. To me this meant that I would have insurance for 30 days or a month after I quit. Seems like common sense. On the Day I quit I tore my entire shoulder out. Couldn’t move my arm and had it in a sling. Just my luck. I went to the emergency room where they informed me that despite having left my job just six hours earlier my insurance somehow had already been canceled.
    If you quit, you’re likely screwed.
     
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  9. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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    I got insurance about a year ago. It's like $370 month.

    Doesn't cover a lot of the dumb ####. It does however cover the #### that might six figures and up.

    $6K is a sneeze. $200K ..........now they are probably just going to let you die and harvest your organs.
     
  10. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    I think it’s too late for Cobra. It sucks anyway. Too expensive. You should have been covered if employed and covered at the time of injury. Must have been some bad vibes or ? You don’t say if You quit, we’re fired, or Laid off. They may be required to offer Cobra information. Still hard to prove they didn’t. No telling, unless You have a case for wrongful discharge, or something a Lawyer can make money from, it will cost you to hire them. Maybe a Paralegal from the State University can lend some advice for free. Otherwise, you can set up a pymt plan. You can refuse to pay it. You can wait to pay, until it goes to collections, then make a deal to pay all of it in 1-3 pymts at a reduced rate. I just did that with 2 bills I was paying on. Stupid Hospital sent them to collections with no notice to me. Anyway, made a deal, got about a 20% discount. While paying the first one in 2 pymts, I get a second one. Go figure. Went ahead and paid it in full, at a discount. No damage to my credit. That’s really the only concern. A $6000 bill is normal nowadays. My deductible is $7k each, for my wife and I.
     
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  11. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    Wow! Nothing surprises Me.
     
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