ashlandtrader
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posted on August 23, 2001 03:59:50 PM new
I am so frustrated!
My husband was getting Blue Cross/Shield through work and we were paying almost $500 a month to cover the four of us. A lot of money, but with two small kids we knew we had to have something as we make too much for the Oregon Health Plan. Plus he has had back problems and a family history of heart problems, so we have been struggling along all of these months while his employer has been taking the money out of his checks.
About two weeks ago we got a letter from Blue Cross informing us that we were no longer covered. It turns out that while the boss had been taking out the money, he hadn't been paying blue cross, so they cancelled the policy. Since then his boss has been trying to find another policy to no avail. He took another $200+ out of this last check for this "insurance" that we don't even have and can't even get. He owes us for 2-3 months of non-coverage.
So now we are trying to get it back from him.
You would think that he would have had a check waiting for us as soon as we caught on to what he did. If we called a lawyer or went to the police this man could be charged with fraud, but he is taking his time paying us back. When I think about how we needed that money and lived without it because we also knew we needed to be covered if anything happens to one of us, it just makes me sick.
(Wait I can't get sick. I can't afford to see a doctor.)
Sigh!
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gravid
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posted on August 23, 2001 04:17:52 PM new
Is the job worth that much that you will let him continue to steal from you?
I would hang his butt on a nail for SURE after he is found out and still deducts for what he is not buying.
Got a lawyer?
Could you also tell us what kind of business this is that would do this? I mean did he have other people in payroll, etc conspiring to do this fraud? Or is it a single owner business and he does his own books?
You better be sure he is paying his taxs also!
[ edited by gravid on Aug 23, 2001 04:38 PM ]
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kraftdinner
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posted on August 23, 2001 04:27:20 PM new
OMG!......$500.00 a MONTH?!??! Pack your bags and come to Canada - you can stay with us!! 
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Microbes
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posted on August 23, 2001 04:27:41 PM new
I'd have steam coming out of my ears. I don't know that a lawyer would help much, they would wind up with at least half the money. I'd go to the states attorney, and have charges filed on his sorry butt.
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REAMOND
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posted on August 23, 2001 06:18:14 PM new
I am both disgusted and without the words to express the outrage over this situation.
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JMHO2
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posted on August 23, 2001 07:22:43 PM new
His boss is nothing more than a common thief and if he continues to work for him, he's condoning his actions by his own inaction.
File charges with your state's attorney. If you have paystubs that can prove the money was taken out each pay period, all the better. If you don't, you're SOL as the employer can say you never paid.
If BC/BS said your coverage was terminated as of two weeks ago, why does he owe you 2-3 months of coverage? Your letter had to give you a date and a reason for termination. What exactly did your husband do two weeks ago? Did he take the letter to his employer and demand a reason? Why is his employer looking for another provider if he stole his money. Something isn't right.
The state's attorney will be asking you all this, so you need to have your ducks in a row. He's going to want proof, dates and times of conversations with the employer, etc.
This happened to me several years ago, except the bookkeeper was doing the stealing of our money and we didn't know. She said she was paying the insurance company, but once she was caught stealing, she admitted she owed them thousands of dollars and kept putting them off for premiums.
We went to the s.a. and those were the questions he asked. He then put her away. We never did get our insurance or our money back.
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gravid
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posted on August 23, 2001 08:30:32 PM new
The next predictable stage will be when they announce they are out of business and can't pay your last check. Thank you and goodbye.
I saw that happen here and they actually had the nerve to miss one payday and promise everyone they would catch up the next payday and then close the door in their faces after suckering two more weeks work out of most of them.
The CEO also got forced off the road that night and his Lincoln riddled with 9mm holes.
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kcpick4u
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posted on August 23, 2001 08:44:28 PM new
gravid I thought you might be responsible for the 9mm holes, however, I know your a big bore dude. Elmer Keith recommends shooting the largest caliber in which you can safely handle the recoil.
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ashlandtrader
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posted on August 24, 2001 09:45:01 AM new
It is an internet marketing company. We have gone back and forth over whether or not he should keep working there. He has been watching for another job in the same field, but we live in a small college town and competition is fierce. Most of the jobs that do open up will not pay anywhere close to what he is making. Plus he genuinely likes working there and before this happened he was happy.
He left this morning saying that he was going to let the boss know that he needs a check from him TODAY and that will be that. If he stalls or anything we will go forward with calling the state. We do know that the business just got a large amount of money in, so he cannot make an excuse why he can't pay us back today. If he does he will be going up against me. That would be too foolish for words! I will have his house if he jerks us around! Vengence is ugly, but it is August (August is an awful month for us) and I have enough anger to fuel me quite a great distance if need be.
By the way it is a tiny company. Boss, bosses wife, my husband and two other employees (the other 2 did not sign up for insurance when it was offered). So it is just us and the bosses family. I'm not sure who does the bookkeeping, but my guess is the wife. She knew what was happening too-- they both had to know.
JMH--
The coverage was terminated as of two months ago (June 1). Blue Cross did not bother sending US a letter until 2 weeks ago. At the time the boss was away on a trip, so we held off reacting until he got home. Now he is home and we are dealing with it.
I better have a large check in my hands by the end of the day!
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JMHO2
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posted on August 24, 2001 10:39:36 AM new
If insurance was terminated June 1 and you just received notice of this 2 weeks ago, perhaps you'd better call your insurance commissioner, as it shouldn't take them 2 months to notify you. Maybe all your employers checks to them bounced!
Face it, you won't have a check in your hands by the end of the day. Your husband probably won't have a job either.
You can cajole, threaten and say "don't mess with me" but the strength is in those pay stubs and the deductions as well as confirmation from the insurance company that premiums were not paid for June, July or August.
You been had and I'm sorry for you. But you'd better gear up for your husband finding another job. With the money he's lost, a lower paycheck probably doesn't look too shabby right now.
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Borillar
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posted on August 24, 2001 10:49:37 AM new
Ashlander, what you need to do immediatly is contact Oregon's Wage & Hour divison. This is the department that handles those sorts of problems with employers. They love nothing more than to go use the force of the state to go squash theifing employers. It won't cost you anything, but the telephone call. The info is at Oregon Wage & Hour Division.
I know all about this department and what they do because my mother just retired from the unit. You file your complaint with them and they'll send out auditors and other investigators and they work in conjunction with prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies.
Good luck!
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ashlandtrader
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posted on August 24, 2001 01:02:51 PM new
Thanks Borillar,
I appreciate the info and will do just that.
Will update when there is something to update about too.
Thanks everybody. It helps to have an outlet. :0)
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doxdogy
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posted on August 24, 2001 04:50:22 PM new
I don't know if this will apply since it is the fault of the employer. But I would check to see if you qualify for C.O.B.R.A. Don't remember exactly what the letters stand for, it deals with insurance when you leave an employer. Supposedly you can buy it direct from the insurance company. So talk to Blue Cross and see what they say.
Theresa
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gravid
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posted on August 24, 2001 05:25:04 PM new
ashlandtrader - Yes please let us know how this works out as we are really upset for you and want to see it work out. Looks like you have the needed info there to go to work in your state.
kcpick4u - You are correct - I had nothing to do with that but I am 99.9% sure who did and I would never cross him. I prefer a 12 ga. Remington pump loaded with brazing rod cut in 1/2 inch lenths so the ends are chisel shaped, and 7/8 oz. rifled slugs in a sabot with a penatrator point.
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ashlandtrader
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posted on August 31, 2001 11:59:53 AM new
A quick one handed typing update as my daughter is sound asleep on me but wakes every time I move her....
The good news is that we got a little bit of our money back ($200) and he says he will have more (if not all) of it either later today or early next week. I held off filing anything on him as we really just wanted the $ back first and foremost and if we can get it back by ourselves, that would be the best thing for us. Will keep you updated and let you know if we get it all back. If not I will pursue what O need to.
Thanks again everyone. The moral support was really appreciated!
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gravid
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posted on August 31, 2001 12:07:39 PM new
That's a start.
I would keep a real close eye on him that he does not skip town on a long weekend leaving everyone holding the bag. An occasional drive by the house and business is smart.
Some of these people can load up and be gone in a few hours.
[ edited by gravid on Aug 31, 2001 12:11 PM ]
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ashlandtrader
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posted on August 31, 2001 07:38:45 PM new
Another $300 this afternoon, so that is good.
Gravid- I hear you. After my husband had talked to him and didn't seem to be getting anywhere I paid him a visit myself. I don't trust him at all. I will be keeping a close eye on him until all of the money is paid back.
Thanks again. Here's to a good labor day weekend!
Vanessa
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mybiddness
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posted on August 31, 2001 08:19:39 PM new
I'm glad to see you're getting some of your money back. That's a good sign that he knows he's under the gun.
Since your husband's employer continued to deduct premiums he is 100% liable by law for any medical care that wasn't covered during the time that you believed you were covered, btw. If you don't get satisfaction I would agree that you should contact the Wage and Hour Board - right up their alley.
Also, COBRA won't apply here because there is no active group in force. I wouldn't wait for the employer to come up with a new insurance plan. If there are health issues that might make it hard to get your husband insured I would recommend contacting the department of insurance in your state to find out if there is an uninsurable pool available. I know this is available in most states. By law, the uninsurable pool has to accept "uninsurable's" and has to cover all pre-existing conditions. The rates are a little higher than standard but they apply only to the "uninsurable" person rather than to the whole group. This should make it easier for you to get a separate policy that you can better afford for the healthier members of the family.
Good luck
edited sp.
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
[ edited by mybiddness on Aug 31, 2001 08:20 PM ]
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Linda_K
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posted on September 1, 2001 11:10:15 AM new
ashlandtrader - Looks like you're getting some excellent suggestions here. And I'm glad to read that you're starting to get some of what you've paid out returned.
Thank heaven nothing happened during that time frame.
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