Although I am past 65 and eligible for (US) Medicare - I lost my coverage. I was unemployed for two months in Dec 2022 and Jan 2023 and paid my premium late. I just assumed everything was ok. I was going through a medical workup and I just kept going for tests and appointments until one day in April I found out my claims were not being paid.
Every time I call this agency I am put on hold anywhere between a half hour and ninety minutes. When I finally get through to someone I have to start at the beginning and tell them everything. I've been told to upload two different forms, by two different people. I finally got a verification of which was the correct form, filled it out and uploaded it on April 17. I also sent them $1000 in addition to the money I've already sent in this year. They processed my check and never sent an acknowledgment. The form is a petition for the insurance coverage to be re-instated and includes space for an explanation of why your payment is late. There is space on the form for two sentences. I said I was laid off from my job and couldn't make my payment on time. I seems like that should be clear enough.,
Its been nearly 4 months. Nobody from Medicare has ever called or emailed me. There are no messages for me on the website. Today I called and had to go through it all again. The guy said well you're going to have to fill out documentation for a "case worker". A CASE WORKER? My payment was late ONCE so you cancel my insurance. You treat me like I'm a "case"? This isn't complicated, but they are making a federal case out of it.
I burst into tears on the phone and told him about all the doctors appointments and tests I've had to cancel in the last 5 months. My pharmacy insurance was also cancelled, so now I have to pay out of pocket at the pharmacy and I'm spending 3 times as much. I'm depressed, I have headaches, I have breathing problems, and my rotator cuff in my right shoulder is torn- which gives me pain every single day.
This afternoon I went to the pharmacy and burst into tears at the counter. I feel like I am being brutally punished for a late payment. Its costing me my mental and physical health. There's not a damn thing I can do about it - I keep calling, and I keep running into walls.
People over 65 are entitled to Medicare insurance, but if you have a late payment they will keep you from getting the care you need. They don't care if you get sicker or more depressed.
I just want to cry and cry and cry. This is so unfair.
Alice
Every time I call this agency I am put on hold anywhere between a half hour and ninety minutes. When I finally get through to someone I have to start at the beginning and tell them everything. I've been told to upload two different forms, by two different people. I finally got a verification of which was the correct form, filled it out and uploaded it on April 17. I also sent them $1000 in addition to the money I've already sent in this year. They processed my check and never sent an acknowledgment. The form is a petition for the insurance coverage to be re-instated and includes space for an explanation of why your payment is late. There is space on the form for two sentences. I said I was laid off from my job and couldn't make my payment on time. I seems like that should be clear enough.,
Its been nearly 4 months. Nobody from Medicare has ever called or emailed me. There are no messages for me on the website. Today I called and had to go through it all again. The guy said well you're going to have to fill out documentation for a "case worker". A CASE WORKER? My payment was late ONCE so you cancel my insurance. You treat me like I'm a "case"? This isn't complicated, but they are making a federal case out of it.
I burst into tears on the phone and told him about all the doctors appointments and tests I've had to cancel in the last 5 months. My pharmacy insurance was also cancelled, so now I have to pay out of pocket at the pharmacy and I'm spending 3 times as much. I'm depressed, I have headaches, I have breathing problems, and my rotator cuff in my right shoulder is torn- which gives me pain every single day.
This afternoon I went to the pharmacy and burst into tears at the counter. I feel like I am being brutally punished for a late payment. Its costing me my mental and physical health. There's not a damn thing I can do about it - I keep calling, and I keep running into walls.
People over 65 are entitled to Medicare insurance, but if you have a late payment they will keep you from getting the care you need. They don't care if you get sicker or more depressed.
I just want to cry and cry and cry. This is so unfair.
Alice
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