Both my wife (80) and I (87) have had MediCare Supplement Plan J, since the day that we were each eligible. Up until last month, the monthly premiums for both of us were combined and I paid with one check (Credit Union Online Bill Pay).

As of May 1 this year, UHC changed their billing method and we each get a separate bill. OK, that should not be a problem, except that UHC has royally fucked it up.

They want separate payments, so I sent two separate ACH (Online Bill Pay) transactions, specifying the correct amount and the correct account number (my account ends in -11 and my wife's account ends in -12) for each payment.

It ALMOST worked. My wife's premium payment was applied to her account, correctly. PART of my premium payment was applied to my account, and the other part was applied to my wife's account, for no apparent reason.

There is an email address published on UHC's website for problem resolution. Multiple emails that I have sent over a three week period have been ignored. No response whatsoever.

We each received a letter / billing statement in today's mail. Wife's statement shows two payments for May; one for the correct amount, and another for part of the payment that I made for my account.

My statement shows a partial payment applied to my account, with a PAST DUE notice for the missing part -- the same amount that they applied to my wife's account, along with a threat to cancel my policy if the alleged past due amount is not paid promptly.

Since UHC has steadfastly refused to reply to my emails, I contacted MediCare to file a complaint. The helpful representative explained that they do not deal with the Medicare Supplement carriers, but she told me that each state has an organization to deal with these problems and she gave me the URL for filing a complaint here in Florida; I completed and submitted the form, waiting for a response.

I am angry as hell with UHC but I believe that changing to another provider will cost more for the same plan, so I have to get it straightened out with UHC. Hoping that the state organization that I contacted today will be able to do it.

Plan B: I get the occasional mail piece from my Congressman, telling me that his office is always there to help constituents. That will probably be my next step if the form that I submitted today does not result in a solution to the problem.

Congressman letter.They were hacked some time back and that maybe part of the problem. I would not switch.

We also get Medicare supplement through UHC, but have it set up so they pull the monthly payment(s) out of our checking account via their autopay. Haven’t noticed a problem yet since they started individual billings, but I’m watching it for a while just in case!

Just a couple of tips here. First you want to take pictures of Everything involved in this mess. Use the camera on your phone and then email each image to yourself. If your phone offers 4 different resolutions for these images select the size one step smaller than the largest file sizes. As for why you want to keep these image files it's because you can attach JPG files to any email you send anywhere. Such as the State Insurance Commission, who does have control over any insurer operating in your state and your State Representative. BTW. for that particular email you will want to send it to the State Insurance Commission and carbon copy it to your State Representative. That way both party's will be aware of each other and any reply to that email will go back to both parties. One thing that will motivate Bureaucrats is the knowledge that people with the hands on the wheel so to speak are looking over their shoulder.

quote:

Originally posted by tsmccull:
We also get Medicare supplement through UHC, but have it set up so they pull the monthly payment(s) out of our checking account via their autopay. Haven’t noticed a problem yet since they started individual billings, but I’m watching it for a while just in case!

If they screwed up a simple ACH (Online Bill Pay) transaction, I definitely do NOT trust them with autopay. Autopay would give them unlimited access to our checking accounts. Absolutely not. Nope. No way. Ain't gonna happen.

I can do the equivalent of autopay by setting my Online Bill Pay to send the payment each month, but doing it this way, UHC will not have access to anything that is not initiated from my end. Not going to do that though, at least not until they establish a track record of handling payments correctly.

I been using the online apps to pay for a few years now and you set it up once and there’s no mail or checks. In fact I pay with my rewards card so I get a small benefit.

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:

I been using the online apps to pay for a few years now and you set it up once and there’s no mail or checks.

I have been paying United HealthCare for more than twenty years, using online bill pay. Never had a problem. Until I did.

They instituted a new billing system last month, and that's when the fun began. I paid my wife's premium, no problem. I paid my premium, they totally fucked it up. I paid it in full, buy United posted PART of my payment to my account, and they're dunning me for the other part, threatening to cancel the policy if I don't pay promptly, but I have bank records confirming that I did pay the whole thing, and I can not get them to respond to me. Bastages.

If they applied part of payment to her account and that's carried forward as a credit why not just pay the net due one month, pay whatever is outstanding on yours and move on? I don't see where anything you paid is missing, just misapplied.

And while I get the paranoia from many about any sort of super-scary autopay, what's the plan for this same group when they become ill unexpectedly? You need someone to be immediately ready to step in and write checks, address envelopes and mail payments for all that crap. Or have access to your accounts and know what all needs to be paid when, which means also access to email probably. That is high-risk for critical things like health coverage, other insurance, etc.

Of course V-tails auto-pay push from his bank should work, but many don't even trust that.

As we get older this is more of a concern, but the resistance seems to be greater. I had this discussion with a BIL recently who is about v-tail's age and he was 100% certain shit would just work out. Somehow? His wife also has no written detailed description and instructions on what/where/when, so she'll just have to figure it out I guess.

Oh - and that backup person can't be our equally old spouse who is also at risk of illness and such, not to mention will be distracted caring for us.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
If they applied part of payment to her account and that's carried forward as a credit why not just pay the net due one month, pay whatever is outstanding on yours and move on? I don't see where anything you paid is missing, just misapplied.

Honestly the best suggestion yet, solves the problem immediately and keeps coverage in force all the while eliminating dealing with government agencies, and CS reps who speak broken english from India.

Then again, VT is retired, 87 and now has a challenge... so there is that...

quote:

And while I get the paranoia from many about any sort of super-scary autopay, ..........As we get older this is more of a concern, but the resistance seems to be greater.

Believe it or not I have a client in this group who doesn't want us to auto deposit money into their account, they want a check... they are out there.... LOL

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:

If they applied part of payment to her account and that's carried forward as a credit why not just pay the net due one month, pay whatever is outstanding on yours and move on? I don't see where anything you paid is missing, just misapplied.

Honestly the best suggestion yet, solves the problem immediately and keeps coverage in force

No gentlemen, that does NOT solve the problem. Effective the first day of last month, they are treating these as two separate accounts. The statements that I received in the mail yesterday are for two separate accounts. My wife's account shows a credit in the amount that is "Past Due" on the statement for my account.

quote:

Exact copy of part of the statement for my account:

IMPORTANT NOTICE

You have a past due balance.

Because payment was not received, your claims stopped being paid on 6/1/24. $xxx.xx (the missing amount) must be received by 7/6/24 or your coverage will be terminated back to 4/30/24 ... A letter of termination will be sent separately.

Logically, y'all are correct. If we were to treat the two accounts as one combined account, everything would balance. Unfortunately, logic does not apply to these assholes. I have tried explaining the situation via several email messages, which they ignore.

I sent an inquiry to my state representative (Republican and USMC veteran). He replied quickly, asking for more details, which I gave him in an email, cc to Florida Insurance Commission. That was last night, waiting for the next development even as we speak.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
No gentlemen, that does NOT solve the problem. Effective the first day of last month, they are treating these as two separate accounts. The statements that I received in the mail yesterday are for two separate accounts. My wife's account shows a credit in the amount that is "Past Due" on the statement for my account.

I don't think you're picking up what we're laying down!

Pay the entire balance due on your account, for any past due and current amounts.

Separately, pay the next amount due on hers, net of the credit she is showing.

How does that not fix this? Not saying they won't screw it up again, but maybe not?

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:

Pay the entire balance due on your account, for any past due and current amounts.

Separately, pay the next amount due on hers, net of the credit she is showing.

That's just crazy enough to work! Unless they apply an entire payment to the wrong account. I would not put that past them, given the track record to date.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:

Pay the entire balance due on your account, for any past due and current amounts.

Separately, pay the next amount due on hers, net of the credit she is showing.

That's just crazy enough to work! Unless they apply an entire payment to the wrong account. I would not put that past them, given the track record to date.

^^^ Definitely the path of least resistance.

I may live in MS, but I was born in AL and we are masters of finding the easy way around most anything. Especially work!

Of course, they could discover the error of their ways, correctly apply the original payment 100% to V-Tail's account as he intended, leaving a overdue balance on Mrs. V-Tail's account the following month. It could happen...And that's not crazy talk either!

I think Georgeair has the right idea.

But you might still move forward with a complaint to the insurance commission. However, you might change the focus - make the focus that UHC needs to make it easier for customers to resolve billing issues. Also indicate that any past due charges should be removed and the UHC should update their internal records to show that the payments were made timely. (Not sure if a history of late payments could play into a decision to terminate your insurance.)

I understand that you must meet medical underwriting standards to switch from one medicare supplement to a another medicare supplement so you sort of get locked into that insurance company. Also, Plan J was discontinued - I've got limited experience with Medicare plans but it seems you would not be able to get the same plan from a different carrier.