Deductible Out Of Pocket
May 21st, 2010
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Question: Can employers force you to take their free insurance?
Three years ago, when I was first hired, I was given the option and I opted out (even signed the paperwork). My husband’s benefits were much better and I do go to the doctor on a regular basis. Friday, I received an insurance card from them and was told that it was free and that they had to have 100% participation in order for the company to get their benefits. They can’t opt me out until 2007 and now I have a higher co-pay and a out-of-pocket deductible to meet. How can they do that? I haven’t signed anything and they used my social security number without my knowledge. As far as I’m concerned, that’s identity theft! I have two doctor appt’s that I can’t miss. I have been so upset. Any thoughts?
Answer: There is a new federal law, but it relates to “janitor insurance” — life insurance for which the employer was the main beneficiary.
As for health insurance: you can usually declare one policy “secondary” to another. But you have to take the initiative. I have done that with household cover because I have both homeowners and renters and the renters policy is better. I forced the agent to get a letter from the household company acknowledging that the policy was secondary.
No reduction in premium, but it avoide the problem of co-insurance, deductibles, absence of new-for-old and other stuff that the forced insurance didn’t offer but the renters policy did.
On health, I have FEHBP (government employee/retiree insurance) so I have to watch out for the same sort of issue, but I haven’t had to demand acknowledgment of secondary cover yet. My “other” cover is national health service (UK), and that doesn’t count.
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