It's time! Our ACA horror story!

[Atman]

Not as nightmarish as Will's, at least as long as neither my wife nor I get sick in the next week or so.

As I'd previously posted, we switched from my wife's employer's Anthem health plan because it was ridiculous. Her partner, owner of the practice, is quite wealthy so the sky-high deductibles didn't bother her. Sofa change. But for us it was no longer workable so we shopped the exchange. We found a virtually identical Gold policy but it had a deductible that was less than HALF of what we were paying before, and what we'd have to pay if we'd stuck with the employer plan.

She filled out all the forms, gave our enrollment date as April 1st and printed out the confirmation...which showed MAY 1st as the enrollment date. She immediately called and was assured it was an error, and that they showed April 1st as the enrollment date. Well, guess what? Got the first premium notice today -- it's MAY 1st! We have NO INSURANCE NOW. Literally two hours on the phone to Anthem, the plan managers, conference calls, yielded nothing but "were working on it." Despite the fact that everyone acknowledges the start date is indeed listed as April 1st, we're not actually insured until May 1st, but "they're working on it."

The last conversation ended with that hopefully, maybe we'll be up and running in four or five days. I sure as shit hope nothing happens to me this week. I think I'll just curl up and watch tv...I'm afraid to leave the house!

[Hoyt]

1. I'm sure you are, but keep a record of everything. I would probably mail them a check for

April's premium. It might not be accepted, but at least you might be able to use it as evidence of your intent. Of course, I'm one of those fools who would use the poor person's copyright for a song or book, by mailing myself a copy in the "hopes" I could use the postmark as some proof if needed (knowing it is not ironclad proof, just better than nothing).

[Atman]

2. We're doing just what you suggest.

Oh, and btw...mailing yourself a copy is STILL a very good way to prove a trademark (not so much a copyright). The USPS mark is pretty solid evidence. Just don't open your own envelope when it arrives -- kind of defeats the purpose! I think the last time I read trademark law it specifically suggested mailing copies of everything to yourself and then storing them just in case.

But I'm too afraid to go to the mailbox now. What if I get hit by a truck?

[Hoyt]

7. Good luck. If you do get hit by a truck, hopefully its owner has assets and it's a glancing blow.

[monmouth3]

3. Many people have been years without insurance. Horror story? Please...n/t

[Atman]

5. You apparently took my sub line quite literally.

I haven't needed to go to the doctor in well over a year. I'm sure I'll last a week or two. I hope. But being 55, I could also have a stroke tomorrow. Who knows? I guess you missed the point.

[Lex]

4. When I signed up in March, everything showed May 1st

as the beginning date for coverage.

[kelliekat44]

6. This has happened a lot BEFORE the ACA. Sorry it happened to you. It has happened a lot

during every Open Season...it is a horror story but should not be blamed on the ACA.

[stopbush]

8. You have up to 45 days to elect COBRA coverage under your old employer-based Anthem plan.

That's the law even before Obamacare.

You may actually have the best of all possible worlds. You need not do anything and your new insurance will be active on May 1.

If you get sick in the next 45 days - which goes well into May - you can possibly apply retroactively for COBRA coverage that will take effect as of the day you went off your Anthem plan.

You may be covered. It's just a matter of whether you have to pay for the month of April or not. Stay healthy, don't pay. Get sick, take the COBRA for a month retroactively, then drop it on May 1 when your new plan kicks in.

Check to see if your employer plan is COBRA-eligible.