Change is good...sometimes. I have blogged on a few occasions about my former employer, The Faceless, Soulless, and Heartless Corporation. More specifically, the ass-monkeys who ran it into the ground. As some of you may not know, I was laid off last July. After several month's of severance, I joined the millions on the government dole. The one benefit TFS&HC granted their severed emps was to carry their insurance through to the the end of 2015. Thank you, ass-monkeys.
As December loomed before me, I had made a decision I was not going to pay $700 plus for COBRA to an insurance company which I did not like. (It rhymes with Metna.) I searched through the Obamacare plans. Thank you President Obama. I can only imagine what people who are unemployed, underemployed and just plain too poor to afford decent insurance dealt with in the past without having the opportunities we have now to be insured with affordable, good insurance. (Screw you, you Republican ass-clowns.)
After a thorough search, I made my decision. I chose IBC, To boot, due to my lack of income, I qualified for financial assistance. My monthly insurance premiums were knocked down to a little above $200. Twice what I was paying for Metna through my employer, but my doctor co-pays were $5 and $15 for main provider and specialists, respectively. Not too shabby. This plan included pharmacy at discounted rates. I use Walmart's pharmacy. They're much cheaper on most meds than CVS, Rite-Aid and Walgreens. And besides, there's always the free entertainment by the dregs of society that wander around and shop there.
So. I'm sure you're wondering what this is all leading up to. You guessed correctly, mon ami. The poop hit the air handler. I gave notice in mid-December to the company that administered the post-employment benefits. (After you're gone, TFS&HC wants nothing to do with you. BASTARDS!!!) As of December 31, 2015, I was done with Metna and now a soon-to-be card carrying participant of IBC. (I had a member ID number, just not the card yet.) January 1st rolled around and soberly I went to Walmart to fill a Rx. I gave them the new insurance number. I told them specifically don't process anything against the old insurance. I paid for my Rx and went merrily on my underemployed way.
So. This is where it gets entertaining. Two months to the day, I get an invoice from Metna. I owe them $89 and change. Wait...whaaaat??? I get on the horn to Metna's customer service. The pleasant young lady with the high school education explained what "Must" have had happened. As one who has a high I.Q. (like Sheldon Cooper) and is not crazy (I too have been tested), I knew what happened. One of the lowly paid Walmart Pharmacy associates processed the goddamn transaction against the wrong goddamn insurance. However, in defense to their ineptitude, goddamn Metna was informed (or at least should have been, it was out of my hands) and should have cancelled the membership and thus rejecting the claim. Nope. Instead, the ass-hats processed and paid Walmart. Me, being none the wiser, was blindsided by the snail mail notification. Well, frack me.
While leaving me on hold for nearly twenty minutes, Metna called the Walmart pharmacy. Walmart informed them (and she, me) that Walmart could not do anything because it was beyond the two week period where they could make adjustments. Nice. However, I had the option to contact Walmart's home office (1-800-WALMART). Convenient to know this. Any problem with anything Walmart, that's the number to use. I was told that they could lift the veil of rejection, refund Metna and charge IBC. I called them. A pleasant woman took my information and told me someone would contact me within the next few days. Within hours, I received a call back from the Walmart Pharmacy stipulating that the change went through. Now that's ferking customer service. And people put down Walmart. Haters!!! The one grand thing that came out of this hour long process was that Walmart had a $6 refund waiting for me the next time I was in to pick up a Rx. No. I did not make $6 for my troubles. (I paid $10 when it should have been $4.) It was money given to Walmart in January that was being returned to me in March. Sort of like what we do with the IRS and Uncle Sam. We give them our taxes all year and then have to ask (beg) back the overage by April 15th without any accumulated interest added. What a scam!
Change is only good if good things happen for you. Otherwise, it's a great big pain in the ass and time spent frivolously that you will never get back. Speaking of time you won't get back until November, don't forget to "spring forward" this weekend. Another thing I loathe and wish they would cease doing. It really fouls up my body's clock. And as I age, messing with my body's clock is not a good thing. So this Monday, beware, I may be a bit grumpy. Until next time...stay sane.
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| Artist rendition of former corporate ass-monkey |
As December loomed before me, I had made a decision I was not going to pay $700 plus for COBRA to an insurance company which I did not like. (It rhymes with Metna.) I searched through the Obamacare plans. Thank you President Obama. I can only imagine what people who are unemployed, underemployed and just plain too poor to afford decent insurance dealt with in the past without having the opportunities we have now to be insured with affordable, good insurance. (Screw you, you Republican ass-clowns.)
After a thorough search, I made my decision. I chose IBC, To boot, due to my lack of income, I qualified for financial assistance. My monthly insurance premiums were knocked down to a little above $200. Twice what I was paying for Metna through my employer, but my doctor co-pays were $5 and $15 for main provider and specialists, respectively. Not too shabby. This plan included pharmacy at discounted rates. I use Walmart's pharmacy. They're much cheaper on most meds than CVS, Rite-Aid and Walgreens. And besides, there's always the free entertainment by the dregs of society that wander around and shop there.
So. I'm sure you're wondering what this is all leading up to. You guessed correctly, mon ami. The poop hit the air handler. I gave notice in mid-December to the company that administered the post-employment benefits. (After you're gone, TFS&HC wants nothing to do with you. BASTARDS!!!) As of December 31, 2015, I was done with Metna and now a soon-to-be card carrying participant of IBC. (I had a member ID number, just not the card yet.) January 1st rolled around and soberly I went to Walmart to fill a Rx. I gave them the new insurance number. I told them specifically don't process anything against the old insurance. I paid for my Rx and went merrily on my underemployed way.
So. This is where it gets entertaining. Two months to the day, I get an invoice from Metna. I owe them $89 and change. Wait...whaaaat??? I get on the horn to Metna's customer service. The pleasant young lady with the high school education explained what "Must" have had happened. As one who has a high I.Q. (like Sheldon Cooper) and is not crazy (I too have been tested), I knew what happened. One of the lowly paid Walmart Pharmacy associates processed the goddamn transaction against the wrong goddamn insurance. However, in defense to their ineptitude, goddamn Metna was informed (or at least should have been, it was out of my hands) and should have cancelled the membership and thus rejecting the claim. Nope. Instead, the ass-hats processed and paid Walmart. Me, being none the wiser, was blindsided by the snail mail notification. Well, frack me.
While leaving me on hold for nearly twenty minutes, Metna called the Walmart pharmacy. Walmart informed them (and she, me) that Walmart could not do anything because it was beyond the two week period where they could make adjustments. Nice. However, I had the option to contact Walmart's home office (1-800-WALMART). Convenient to know this. Any problem with anything Walmart, that's the number to use. I was told that they could lift the veil of rejection, refund Metna and charge IBC. I called them. A pleasant woman took my information and told me someone would contact me within the next few days. Within hours, I received a call back from the Walmart Pharmacy stipulating that the change went through. Now that's ferking customer service. And people put down Walmart. Haters!!! The one grand thing that came out of this hour long process was that Walmart had a $6 refund waiting for me the next time I was in to pick up a Rx. No. I did not make $6 for my troubles. (I paid $10 when it should have been $4.) It was money given to Walmart in January that was being returned to me in March. Sort of like what we do with the IRS and Uncle Sam. We give them our taxes all year and then have to ask (beg) back the overage by April 15th without any accumulated interest added. What a scam!
Change is only good if good things happen for you. Otherwise, it's a great big pain in the ass and time spent frivolously that you will never get back. Speaking of time you won't get back until November, don't forget to "spring forward" this weekend. Another thing I loathe and wish they would cease doing. It really fouls up my body's clock. And as I age, messing with my body's clock is not a good thing. So this Monday, beware, I may be a bit grumpy. Until next time...stay sane.
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