Plan retroactively cancelled
I was working as a nurse at a critical access hospital from February to July as full-time staff. They later offered me healthcare insurance that I took with payment also deducted from paycheck. I did not like how the administration treated their employees (including myself) so I decided to leave as full-time staff nurse to become a flight nurse. I remained as a per diem employee though. I went to go through flight nurse orientation with this new company but was told I would not be eligible for benefits with that company until 10/01/2023. I tried contacting HR because Blue Cross Blue Shield showed active coverage; however, I did not hear back (they never showed up for work and answer the phone). I attempted to register for insurance with Covered California but I could not since HR kept taking payment out of paychecks and needed a qualifying event (loss of insurance). I had also not received a COBRA notice of any kind. Then on August 7th I fell off my roof and went to the ER and broke my back. The bills were all processed with the BCBS insurance and didn’t seem to be an issue until October. It looked like my insurance was being back-cancelled to end of July and all of my bills would be defaulted on. I attempted to contact HR team multiple times and did not hear back. Then in November they asked me to come down and work a night shift and so I stayed after my shift to speak to HR. HR did not show up and I ended up contacting the other administrators. They assured me she would follow-up with me. When they did, they denied canceling insurance. Until recently again, I received notices that I was in collections because my insurance was cancelled. All of my bills were defaulted on. BCBS stated I had coverage from 6/1/2023-7/31/2023 and from 10/1/2023-1/31/2024. Why I would have coverage from 10/1-1/31 with this hospital is beyond me since I did not need coverage as I was working with another company and used their coverage.
I don’t know what to do. I’ve hired an attorney and it’s EXPENSIVE. They’ve filed a demand letter but it’s EXPENSIVE. I have all the evidence that the hospital told me I have coverage and they took it out of my paycheck but now I’m worried they are so messy and do such a bad job that they are going to not help me, fight everything in court and are probably going bankrupt. It’s not their money if the hospital fails. The CEO was arrested for driving drunk and crashing into a propane tank and I don’t think even has a brain. I’m scared I’ll have to go to court and how expensive this all will be. Ive already paid $30,000 in medical bills so far cash.
Does anyone have anything helpful? My 1095 shows I had employer coverage for 2/2023 to 12/2023.
