Have two health insurance policies because my HR rep gave me in correct info.

Hi all, trying to figure out a situation that has transpired with my health insurance coverage.

In July 2024 I left my FT position at a university to attend grad school in a new state. That being said, I was hired in a new PT, remote position at the same university which began Aug 2024. In part of my exit from my FT position, I met with my departments HR rep and he told me I would lose my health insurance coverage July 31 with the end of my FT position. He was also aware I had a new PT position. I was direct in getting this info from him as I have a chronic illness and needed to know exactly when I’d lose coverage.

I moved away for grad school and signed up for this university’s student healthcare plan. Because of my illness, once I had the insurance I made a dr appt to establish care. This was about two weeks ago.

I receive my latest paycheck from my PT position and notice the university is still paying into my benefits (which are fully covered by them). I call my old HR rep and then my current departments HR rep and long story short, I never lost coverage and have it until 08/31/25.

Met with my grad school university’s HR rep today and was told I cannot cancel the student plan as I’ve already been to the doctor. This is obviously upsetting since I had to pay for it when it wasn’t needed and it’s not as good of a plan. I’ve called the university I’m employed by and asked if I had any options for recourse/requested to file a formal complaint since I received incorrect information, but i highly doubt anything will come of it. A manager is supposed to call me back.

My questions are:

1 – tomorrow I’m calling the dr office I saw to have them bill to my primary insurance through my employer. I was told since the student health insurance has been billed I can’t cancel the policy. Will billing my primary insurance change anything? Also, is there anything I need to know with billing two insurance policies? I’m so confused.

2 – I was told by a friend who works in health insurance claims that my primary insurance will be billed, and then my secondary insurance will be billed anything remaining (which would in most cases by just the co-pay of about $30-50). Is this true?

3 – lastly, does anyone have any advice for me in this situation or been in a similar situation? I understand I probably don’t have any options but it’s worth asking. It is absolutely maddening that this has happened. As a grad student, my budget is very small and having had to spend unnecessary $$ is so upsetting.

Thank y’all so much in advance for any advice.

Editing to add the required info: I am located in Arkansas, I was previously living in Texas. My new income is $18,000, my previous salary was $53,000. I’m 31.