This is so poor of the Insurance company. They were the one who cancelled your insurance in error. One would hope they could just reinstate you without you having to "appeal".
Every time I hear of problems like yours, I breathe a sigh of relief that I'm in Australia with its Medicare scheme for all. We also have private health insurance but that is a choice.
I hope this gets sorted out more quickly than you anticipate. Please keep us updated and good luck..

It's crap like this that makes me HATE dealing with insurance companies! I'm sorry you have to go through this! :(

If you are using the term "sucks" you a far more patient person than I am. I think I would go for "cluster f#%& of epic proportions." If I remember correctly, you have even PAID for this nonexistent insurance. And, after taping the call on 1/10, they can't be bothered to find and read the transcript? Shabby, shabby, shabby.

Depending on how long this may take, you might want to look at taking out at least a catastrophic care plan- the Obamacare bronze level or something similar, just in case.

This is crazy.
They are simply prolonging your coverage.
Now appealing? Heck why didn't they tell you that from day 1?
It's BS that your going with no coverage because they made an error.

I sound like a broken record but I'd contact a local news station that tackles consumer complaints. Heck contact them all.
These companies get a way with way to much & no one holds them accountable.
Sitting here I am so angry on your behalf. Needs to be brought to someone's attention, the public, someone that this kind of thing is allowed to happen.
I remind my uncle all the time to keep a note book with times, dates, names of whom he speaks with because of this type of thing.
It seems lately either someone doesn't do their job or they simply don't care. Get the run around more & more.

I'd get on that appeal ASAP but at the same time I'd try to find out who to file some kind of complaint with.
I'm so sorry you have to go through this & I hope you have coverage sooner then later.
The best of luck, Sammy

Does your state have an insurance commissioner or department of insurance? There is always some kind of government dept that oversees insurance. If you tell me what state you are in, I will try to find out for you. Then you can file a complaint. Sometimes just telling the insuranc ecompany you are going to file a complaint is enough to get them moving.

unless you live in the great state of AL where the ins comm and the ins indust....you know. Lady3jane is correct kiddogal! JMO, a country with our wealth and resources yet people cannot get treatment they need. Now that is something God frowns upon (just my opinion, and not a humble one either).

Excellent suggestion, Lady Jane.

Thanks for all your posts and suggestions. I live in California. Just to clarify, it was not the insurance company that cancelled me. it was the medical benefits department of the company that my husband retired from. They cancelled my insurance. A friend of mine suggested I contact the Better Business Bureau and file a complaint against the company. If I go on Covered California insurance (I think thru Obama Care) I cannot get insured until April 1st. I can go on the plan that is offered thru the company I work for, Kaiser and get coverage on March 1st if I act pretty quickly. However, it would proably take me almost 4-6 weeks to get the appointment with a rheumatologist. I would have to go to a primary doctor within Kaiser, and then get referred and the appointment made with the RA doctor. I don't go thru the company I work for for my medical insurance because I am covered ( or WAS) covered thru the company my husband work for until I reach 65. The cost for me is very low. My RA doctor and I talked today. She is fine with me not getting lab work for another two months. She was OK if I wanted to stop the Enbrel and see how I do. (I am also on a low dose of methotrexte) My endocrinologist is probably fine with me holding off on blood work and seeing him till I am re-instated. I can get my other prescriptions at low cost, accept for Potassium - that would be $90.00 for a month's supply. I guess the only thing I really need to decide is IF I go without insurance for up to 60 days and hope nothing major happens, and if it does, then the "retroactive back to February 1st" when I am re-instated is a true statement. Additionally, with employers and insurance companies now playing hardball anymore on medical insurance, I don't feel there is any "guarantee" that if and when they do re-instate me it will be retroactive.

I will get the appeal in as soon as I can. But of course, they have to mail me the form from New York (and who knows what day they will mail it!) and then I have to mail it back to them, so I figure two weeks from today until they actually have the form in their hands.

I did get pretty pissed yesterday on the phone with the company and so did my husband. To no avail it seems.......

I am going to discuss all this with the hubby tonight and see if we want to play "Russian Roulette" by holding off on getting another insurance plan in the meantime. Will keep you all posted, and again, thank you for all the input!

this is complete bullsh*t to be honest. you have not gotten any satisfactory anything from this company. contact the state dept of insurance, 1-800-927-HELP (4357). open until 5pm PST today. find out what info they need and what action can be done.

can they email or fax you the forms? it's 2014, i appreciate the USPS as much as the next person but this is complete crap. i'm livid on your behalf. contact the state first, find out what your rights are, and exercise them.

i'm glad your doctors seem to support you and know what kind of stupid situation you're in.

Thanks Stephgas for the phone number. I will contact them first thing in the morning. I (and my husband) have decided the smartest thing we can do is move forward and get me on Kaiser Insurance for added security during this time. Better safe than sorry. I have also decided to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

You asked if they could fax or email the forms? Hell no, that would be too logical. They said they had to MAIL them.

I would make a personal appointment to see the HR director of the company - or the President if it's small. WITH your husband!
With notes and a printed/typed journal of all your calls to address it!

oh bcatz, I wish it was that easy!! We are talking Morgan Stanley, thousands of employees, and they are headquartered in New York. And my husband is disabled which makes going there out of the question even more!! :)

Kiddo,

I've been thinking about your post all day and have been worried about you and the situation you find yourself in that is caused by your husband's ex-employer's error.

Is it possible that you can call the benefits department and tell them you are going to lodge an immediate complaint with The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) at (202) 471-3990 in Washington, DC, The California Insurance Commissioner, Dave Jones, who is in charge of the California Department of Insurance at his Consumer Hotline: 1-800-927-4537 or (213) 897-8921, the local Better Business Bureau in your hometown, the California Senior National Senator's office, Diane Feinstein at: (415) 393-0707 in her San Francisco office or (202) 224-3841 at her Washington, DC office and the California Junior National Senator, Barbara Boxer's, office at: (202) 224-3553 at her Washington, DC office?

Barbara Boxer also has six or seven offices in California. You can look up and see if one of her offices is within driving distance or you can simply call to lodge a complaint and ask for her office's assistance.

Also, I would look up the House of Representatives members who serve my hometown, look up their phone numbers, and include this information when I called the ex-employer.

FYI, both of your Senators are Democrats so, with health insurance such a national subject, they may be willing to help.

I would call the ex-employer's Benefits Department and let them know that you are about to contact the California Senators, name them, and give them the phone numbers so they know you have done your homework and are super serious. Include the House of Reps individuals with their phone numbers, the State and National Insurance Commissioners. Again, name them and provide phone numbers.

Let them know that due to the Benefits Department error, you will be without health insurance. I do believe that all logical people will see this as a grave and serious mistake that should be rectified immediately.

Please let the Senators offices, BBB, and Insurance Commissioners know that this is an extremely stressful problem for you caused by an error that you had no control over.

I hope you find this helpful and I sure wish that I could fix this problem for you.

Sincerely,
TheWino

Most States have a Governors Office of Consumer Affairs as well. Go after them with everything you've got!

They are mishandling an employee benefit. big deal. They are mis-managing their benefit plan responsibilities and violating ERISA. Is the retirement benefit COBRA or part of the standard retirement package?

Keep all their emails and write down a transcript of every phone call. And let them know you are contacting a lawyer if they protract this. I know the last thing you need to do is pay a retainer but maybe a local atty. who is versed in ERISA would write a letter for you and fax it.

thinking of you

Ros