Late Enrollment Penalty Appeal
I am looking unsuccessfully for proof of Part D coverage in 2009, my first year on medicare. My husband was on disability, unemployment, and cobra with UHC health insurance when he passed away in August, 2008. I stayed with that for Part D in 2009 but can’t find my Part D number for proof. Any suggestions? I have only a month left to prove my appeal after 15 years of late penalties
Terry Says
OMG — you’ve paid the late enrollment penalty for 15 years! The obvious question is why you didn’t appeal sooner. The only possible way to add to your appeal is to go back to the UHC HR department and see if you can get a description of that old 2008-2009 plan, and the drug benefits it provided.
Also, check on the penalty you are paying. It is CUMULATIVE — so you should only be penalized for one year’s lack of coverage. That penalty is 1% of the average premium (for that year) for every month that you went without coverage.
I looked it up and the average monthly premium for Part D in 2009 was $28. So the one-month penalty was 28 cents, if my high school math is correct. And if they penalized you for one year, which would be $0.28 x 12, your current monthly penalty should be only $3.36!!!
So if you are paying a larger penalty, please write back and let me know. Sounds like it would be a great column — even if you can’t prove that you shouldn’t be penalized.
