Client's HR Won't Drop Them From Employer Plan

[MedicareWAA]

This industry/job's rules and regs never fail to surprise me.

Seemingly run into new ones almost every month

I don't write a ton of MSUPs … maybe 30 a year, almost always very straightforward circumstances … but I'm almost positive my answer is correct. I'm sure others will chime in if I'm wrong.

 

[sman]

Shouldn't she also suspend Part B? Then, when she re-enrolls in Part B in the future that should create an OE for her to get the Med Supp without going through underwriting.

Plus, she's wasting money by remaining on Part B while still on the group plan.

 

[newbie2001]

This industry/job's rules and regs never fail to surprise me.

Seemingly run into new ones almost every month

Correction! She is also T65 in February.

I don't feel so bad now! Because I told her in our enrollment meeting to get with Human Resources ASAP to get disenrolled from her group plan.

And she didn't…

 

[Jim Wright]

Jim, what percentage of large group plans would you expect to be difficult on this issue?

I've only seen it a few times (slightly more often with dropping the group dental). Client T65 in February. Decides to start Part B in August. They rarely report any problems with dropping the group plan upon Part B award, and they continue working.

So have I been extraordinarily lucky? Is this far more common than I appreciate?

That's hard to say because it depends on what they are running. If they are self funded @LeeV would have a better answer than I would. Level funded and Fully Insured are usually a little more flexible but that also depends on the carrier.

And typically, if a group CAN take someone off and put them on Medicare, they will. Better outcomes for pretty much everyone.

 

[Millwood]

This industry/job's rules and regs never fail to surprise me.

Seemingly run into new ones almost every month

And that's exactly why they need an agent.

 

[LeeV]

That's hard to say because it depends on what they are running. If they are self funded @LeeV would have a better answer than I would. Level funded and Fully Insured are usually a little more flexible but that also depends on the carrier.

And typically, if a group CAN take someone off and put them on Medicare, they will. Better outcomes for pretty much everyone.

The issue is not the group health plan, you can drop medical coverage anytime. If HR is telling an employee/dependent that they cannot drop coverage they may be referring to the Section 125 rules...is this person covered by a Section 125 plan?

As strange as this sounds, an insured who has a Section 125 plan can indeed drop their medical coverage, but their contributions must continue.
Also, if they keep both, there will be coordination of benefits.

 

[newbie2001]

The issue is not the group health plan, you can drop medical coverage anytime. If HR is telling an employee/dependent that they cannot drop coverage they may be referring to the Section 125 rules...is this person covered by a Section 125 plan?

As strange as this sounds, an insured who has a Section 125 plan can indeed drop their medical coverage, but their contributions must continue.
Also, if they keep both, there will be coordination of benefits.

She works for a national publicly traded company. So my assumption would be yes.

 

[LeeV]

She works for a national publicly traded company. So my assumption would be yes.

Well then, you have your answer, it is the Section 125 rules. And by the way, employees never read any of the materials sent to them other than the costs.

 

[annon123]

And by the way, employees never read any of the materials sent to them other than the costs.

That is certainly the truth.

There was a very clever study done across 13 first world nations and they found that the Germans and Japanese read all the instructions (manual) before they even took the product out of the box. On the other hand, coming in last of the 13 on instruction reading, Americans only read the instructions as a last resort after they couldn't get the product to work properly, if they could even find them. I just presume people haven't read anything unless they prove otherwise and then I change my approach.

 

[Special Agent]

That is certainly the truth.

There was a very clever study done across 13 first world nations and they found that the Germans and Japanese read all the instructions (manual) before they even took the product out of the box. On the other hand, coming in last of the 13 on instruction reading, Americans only read the instructions as a last resort after they couldn't get the product to work properly, if they could even find them. I just presume people haven't read anything unless they prove otherwise and then I change my approach.

funny i have some extra widgets and washers laying on the ground from an E-Bike i recently had to assemble because of my RTFM deficiency.