Thousands of Californians have overcome long waits and website glitches to sign up for Obamacare insurance, but now enrollment snags may prevent some of them from actually having coverage starting Jan. 1.
Some people who picked a health plan as far back as October through the Covered California exchange say insurers are telling them they still have no record of their enrollment. As a result, bills haven't gone out and consumers can't pay their initial premium to ensure coverage takes effect in less than three weeks.
Thomas Gallo of Glendora signed up his wife and son on the second day of enrollment in October. After hearing nothing for weeks, he said, he was told by the state in late November that his application and some others had been lost.
Gallo reapplied over the phone, but he said he still has no confirmation from Blue Shield of California about his family's Silver plan. Gallo, a retired accountant, has Medicare for himself.
"The back end is so backed up, and no one can give me an answer," said Gallo, a strong supporter of President Obama's healthcare law. "What happens if we don't get coverage by Jan. 1? There are real problems here."
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In California, insurers are working with the state exchange on how to address the potentially thorny problem of patients who applied in time but don't have proof of insurance when they need to visit the emergency room or get a prescription filled in early January.
Insurance companies typically won't cover any medical bills until a customer pays the premium. The deadline for payment was recently extended to Jan. 6.
"There are certainly some people who have enrolled or think they have enrolled and haven't received confirmation," said Paul Markovich, chief executive of Blue Shield of California. "It's our version of Black Friday right now and that is what we are coping with."Read the full story HERE.
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1 comment:
"Some people who picked a health plan as far back as October through the Covered California exchange say insurers are telling them they still have no record of their enrollment. As a result, bills haven't gone out and consumers can't pay their initial premium to ensure coverage takes effect in less than three weeks."
Welcome to ObamaMESS... A Modern day American Tragedy.
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