Medicare mess up with private insurance

[treehstn]

My mom turned 65 on Oct 12, 2007.  On Sep 24, 2007 she signed up for Medicare in one of the local offices.  They told her that since she was turning 65 in October her coverage would not start until Nov 1.  They said if she had private insurance (which she does) then she would have to pay her premium for the private insurance and use their benefits for the month of October.  She paid them ($700!!!!) for the month of October and found out today that the person at the Medicare office gave her the wrong information.  She was covered under Medicare as of October 1 and should not have paid the private insurance company the $700 payment!  She was told by a Medicare worker on the phone to go back to the Medicare office and let them know what happened.  I don't see much use in that except to get the person who informed her incorrectly retrained.  Medicare can't do anything about getting her premium back from the private insurance can they?  I don't think that private insurance company would have any reason to refund her premium.  Is there anything she can do to get the money back from the private insurance company?  Thank you for any insight you might have!

[Amir Mostafaie]

Dear treehstn,

If your mother has not had any claims with her private insurance for the month of October, she needs to contact her private insurance (or insurance agent) & show proof that she was covered by Medicare for the month of October & explain why she did not submit her request for cancellation earlier & ask to be cancelled retroactively & ask for her October premium to be refunded. I have seen situations when members demonstrated good faith and pleaded their case & were sometimes able to get retroactively cancelled & their premium back.      

Sincerely,

Amir Mostafaie

[tristansmom]

No- She has individual coverage( meaning she purchases it through an insur co)? Medicare can not /and probably won't ( in my opinion) even try to help get the premium back. The issue is.. you can have more than one insurance. Once your mother turned 65 - if she isnt actively working. medicare will be her primary insurance. She can also purchase individual insurance at any time( which is sounds like she has) and that would be her secondary insurance. So it sounds to me that as of 10/01 your mom is medicare primary and whatever insurnace co she has is secondary. I think you are right by saying that the insurance company has no reason to refund the money.. however if you want to try.. call that insurance company ( with your mother- their are stricts hipaa laws and have her give you permission to speak on her behalf) and ask them if there is anything that you can do about it... If anyone ccan do anything its the insurance company that she paid the premium to. not medicare. I'm not an expert however i did work for an inusr co. hope this is at least alittle helpful