First Complaint

Ok, so here is where I release a little steam. So what is it today? Medical Coverage....

So I left one company this month and I asked about Medical coverage for my family. I was assured it was taken care of through the rest of the month, which is what I needed.

Today I found out that was not so. :(

So I called the health care provider up to talk about it. Here is how the conversation went:
(I'll leave out names and companies to avoid slander)

--Only a short hold time, a good sign--
AC: "Hi, I hope you can help me. I recently left the company and I was told that my medical coverage would continue for the rest of this month because I already paid for it, however I was just told that my coverage ended, can you help me."
--Provide My personal Information--
Respondent: "Yes, Your coverage was cancled."

AC: "So I have no coverage at all for my family?"
Respondent: "No, that is a COBRA. You don't have that. Your coverage was cancled."

AC: "Well I was told this would be taken care of."
Respondent: "Did you sign up for COBRA?"

AC: "I did not receive paperwork on that. When do I get that?"
Respondent: "It can take up to two weeks depending on your company."

AC: "Well in two weeks I won't need it. Can we work something out?"
Respondent: "No, you need COBRA."

AC: "Ok, can I sign up for that over the phone and how much does it cost?"
Respondent: "You will have to call your former company for that."

AC: "You know, this is very odd as I have already paid for this coverage."
Respondent: "Technically your company paid us, not you. So we have no obligation to you."

AC: "Fine, I want my money back."
Respondent: "I'm sorry sir but we can not do that."

AC: "Let me talk to your manager."
Respondent: "Ok, a member of my management can call you next week."

AC: "You can't put someone on the phone now?"
Respondent: "That is our policy sir."

AC: "That is ridicluous, isn't there a supervisor there now?"
Respondent: "None available, I do appologize."

AC: "In a week I won't need coverage from you guys."
Respondent: "I do appologize."

AC: "So can you help me at all?"
Respondent: "You will have to call your former company's HR department."

AC: "Do you have that number?"
Respondent: "I do not work there so how could I have that?"

--Hang Up--


So I'm pissed off. It takes me a while to figure it out, and I call my former company's HR. Got no one, so I had to leave a Voice Mail Message.

Hours later no one called me back. So I called again, got a person.... Another conversation ensues:

--I explain the situation--
Respondent: "Yes you need COBRA."

AC: "Ok, what are the parameters and how much does it cost?"
Respondent: "I don't have that information."

AC: "Don't you know how I set up COBRA?"
Respondent: "You have to call another company."

She at least provided a number and was nice about it all... but I still didn't get my money back.

So when I call the COBRA company they want almost $1k for a month.

I was so mad I almost threw my blackberry against the wall.

Today is not my day.