RE: Cobra Ins. and beginning MCcoverage

[Guest guest]

What is everyone's take on this situation...

One of our pts. received a kidney txp on 11/11/03 and had COBRA insurance (suppose to end in Feb '04); had never been on dialysis so he got Medicare coverage starting 11/1. His EPOCH ins. group is saying that they need to be refunded all monies paid out after 11/1 because his COBRA ins. terminated when MC became effective. Patient states that he has nothing in writing that this is what would happen.

So, have any of you ever heard of this that COBRA could go ahead and term when MC becomes effective?

Thanks, Kim

Kim Bentley, BBAOffice Manager - Kidney Transplant ProgramBaptist Health Medical Center - Little RockMedical Towers 2, Suite 800Little Rock, Arkansas 72205phone: fax: email: kabentle@...

IMPORTANT NOTICE - The information (both of the message and any attachments) contained in this message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to an intended recipient, or has received this message in error, you are hereby notified that we do not consent to any reading, dissemination, distribution or copying of this message and any such actions are strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy the transmitted information.

[Guest guest]

Yup, they can do that if the employer wishes to. (They could have also chosen to continue offering him the Cobra, but clearly they have their reasons for not wanting to do that-if they're a self-funded plan, that might explain it since the dollars they've paid since 11/1/03 would have come directly out of the company's pocket). There probably was something in the original Cobra enrollment paperwork your pt rec'd about this, but it was likely in the very, very fine print (that no one ever reads). There is some information about this in the Medicare section of the TFCA Resource Guide as well as on the Department of Labor website http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

J. Aguiar

Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston

-----Original Message-----From: Kim Bentley Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 1:36 PMTo: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: RE: Cobra Ins. and beginning MCcoverage

What is everyone's take on this situation...

One of our pts. received a kidney txp on 11/11/03 and had COBRA insurance (suppose to end in Feb '04); had never been on dialysis so he got Medicare coverage starting 11/1. His EPOCH ins. group is saying that they need to be refunded all monies paid out after 11/1 because his COBRA ins. terminated when MC became effective. Patient states that he has nothing in writing that this is what would happen.

So, have any of you ever heard of this that COBRA could go ahead and term when MC becomes effective?

Thanks, Kim

Kim Bentley, BBAOffice Manager - Kidney Transplant ProgramBaptist Health Medical Center - Little RockMedical Towers 2, Suite 800Little Rock, Arkansas 72205phone: fax: email: kabentle@...

[Guest guest]

I would also suggest your patient apply for a Medicare supplement policy. In the state of TX 3 plans are offered for people under 65 who receive Medicare because of a disability. They cannot be turned down for any reason if they apply within 6 mos of obtaining Medicare.

From: LAguiar@... Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 12:49 PMTo: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: RE: Cobra Ins. and beginning MCcoverage

Yup, they can do that if the employer wishes to. (They could have also chosen to continue offering him the Cobra, but clearly they have their reasons for not wanting to do that-if they're a self-funded plan, that might explain it since the dollars they've paid since 11/1/03 would have come directly out of the company's pocket). There probably was something in the original Cobra enrollment paperwork your pt rec'd about this, but it was likely in the very, very fine print (that no one ever reads). There is some information about this in the Medicare section of the TFCA Resource Guide as well as on the Department of Labor website http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

J. Aguiar

Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston

-----Original Message-----From: Kim Bentley Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 1:36 PMTo: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: RE: Cobra Ins. and beginning MCcoverage

What is everyone's take on this situation...

One of our pts. received a kidney txp on 11/11/03 and had COBRA insurance (suppose to end in Feb '04); had never been on dialysis so he got Medicare coverage starting 11/1. His EPOCH ins. group is saying that they need to be refunded all monies paid out after 11/1 because his COBRA ins. terminated when MC became effective. Patient states that he has nothing in writing that this is what would happen.

So, have any of you ever heard of this that COBRA could go ahead and term when MC becomes effective?

Thanks, Kim

Kim Bentley, BBAOffice Manager - Kidney Transplant ProgramBaptist Health Medical Center - Little RockMedical Towers 2, Suite 800Little Rock, Arkansas 72205phone: fax: email: kabentle@...

[Guest guest]

Yes this will happen. It has

happened to some of our patients in the past. I read a court case on this

where the patient won. The only way that you can keep COBRA and have

Medicare at the same time is if you have Medicare prior to initiating COBRA

insurance.

RE:

Cobra Ins. and beginning MCcoverage

What is everyone's take on this

situation...

One of our pts. received a kidney

txp on 11/11/03 and had COBRA insurance (suppose to end in Feb '04); had never

been on dialysis so he got Medicare coverage starting 11/1. His EPOCH

ins. group is saying that they need to be refunded all monies paid out after

11/1 because his COBRA ins. terminated when MC became effective. Patient

states that he has nothing in writing that this is what would happen.

So, have any of you ever heard of

this that COBRA could go ahead and term when MC becomes effective?

Thanks, Kim

Kim Bentley, BBA

Office Manager - Kidney Transplant Program

Baptist Health Medical Center - Little Rock

Medical Towers 2, Suite 800

Little Rock, Arkansas 72205

phone:

fax:

email: kabentle@...

IMPORTANT NOTICE - The information (both of the message and any attachments)

contained in this message is intended only for the use of the individual or

entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged,

confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of

this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for

delivering it to an intended recipient, or has received this message in error,

you are hereby notified that we do not consent to any reading, dissemination,

distribution or copying of this message and any such actions are strictly

prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the

sender immediately and destroy the transmitted information.

[Guest guest]

In the State of VA you can get a supplement but most of our patients can not afford the $500/month for it. Bev Larson>>> MMelton@... 03/17/04 02:22PM >>>

I would also suggest your patient apply for a Medicare supplement policy. In the state of TX 3 plans are offered for people under 65 who receive Medicare because of a disability. They cannot be turned down for any reason if they apply within 6 mos of obtaining Medicare.

From: LAguiar@... Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 12:49 PMTo: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: RE: Cobra Ins. and beginning MCcoverage

Yup, they can do that if the employer wishes to. (They could have also chosen to continue offering him the Cobra, but clearly they have their reasons for not wanting to do that-if they're a self-funded plan, that might explain it since the dollars they've paid since 11/1/03 would have come directly out of the company's pocket). There probably was something in the original Cobra enrollment paperwork your pt rec'd about this, but it was likely in the very, very fine print (that no one ever reads). There is some information about this in the Medicare section of the TFCA Resource Guide as well as on the Department of Labor website http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

J. Aguiar

Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston

-----Original Message-----From: Kim Bentley Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 1:36 PMTo: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: RE: Cobra Ins. and beginning MCcoverage

What is everyone's take on this situation...

One of our pts. received a kidney txp on 11/11/03 and had COBRA insurance (suppose to end in Feb '04); had never been on dialysis so he got Medicare coverage starting 11/1. His EPOCH ins. group is saying that they need to be refunded all monies paid out after 11/1 because his COBRA ins. terminated when MC became effective. Patient states that he has nothing in writing that this is what would happen.

So, have any of you ever heard of this that COBRA could go ahead and term when MC becomes effective?

Thanks, Kim

Kim Bentley, BBAOffice Manager - Kidney Transplant ProgramBaptist Health Medical Center - Little RockMedical Towers 2, Suite 800Little Rock, Arkansas 72205phone: fax: email: kabentle@...