Question on medical insurance

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2003
Question on medical insurance
1
Sat, 04-16-2005 - 9:19am

My divorce has been final for 6 months now. I finally got medical insurance for myself through my job. When I went to the eye doctor two days ago, the receptionist told me that she had already "preapproved me." I thought this was odd because I hadn't yet told her what my new coverage was. Well, it turned out that the X's insurance still has me on the books. And then yesterday when I filled a prescription for DS, I asked the clerk there to check and see if I am still covered under X's medical plan. Yep! At the eye doctor, I had them use MY insurance as primary and X's as secondary which means I didn't have to pay a dime for the visit or new lenses, not even a copay.

My question is, whose repsonsibility is it to inform the insurance company? How does that happen? I figured his company would get the hint that he's now divorced when they received the support order to withdraw from his paycheck. I thought I was supposed to get information for COBRA insurance when the divorce became final, but I figured I didn't out of spite from the X's employer. And another question, can his insurance company "take back" the preapproval?

I posted here on this board a couple of times last year when I began the divorce. I want to say that all has turned out well. It took 6 months and 10 days from the day he was served until the judge signed the order--not bad for California. I have custody of my son, I ended up with the house, the mortgage, all my atty bills, half the marital debt, my car, and two small IRAs. He got all everything else--mostly financial assets. In the meantime, I've paid off the mortgage, paid off the atty, paid off all of my share of the marital debt (we transfered half of the debt off the joint cards onto our own cards so there was no danger of either of us defalting on the other), and I have begun to actually save. The house and upkeep seems like a never ending battle, but I have a home for the rest of my life. My son is doing great now--he's enjoying high school and life itself. He's not hostile anymore and seems to be constantly singing lately--a truly happy kid. Starting the divorce was a scary thing, especially after 26 years of marriage. Last year was definitely the worst year of my life, but I'm glad I got through it and tried to think two squares ahead at all times.

Ree

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Sat, 04-16-2005 - 9:43am
Congratulations and getting through it and on thriving. I believe it's his responsibility to remove your name from the insurance. He must be aware he's paying the premiums. Maybe there is no difference in cost to him. I know at one job I've had, 'family' coverage was the same price and 'me and child' coverage. Does he have to continue to cover his son? If so, maybe he just didn't feel the need to make the change. If you want, you could mention it to him so he knows for sure that you are still on it. I don't think the insurance will reject the pre-approval, since as of that date you were covered. People can have support garnishments while still married, so that wouldn't necessarily trigger the HR or payroll department to know there is a change. However, you would think he would change his official tax status, and that might get someone thinking about the change in insurance.

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