The letter below provides the details of my story. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks.
August 11, 2009
SHPS
P. O. Box 34640
Louisville, KY 402324640
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is XXXXXX and I previously had COBRA coverage after being laid-off from my job in November of 2008 (Customer No. XXXX). I discontinued making premium payments after my February 2009 payment which covered me through March 2009 as I started a new job with full benefits on March 31, 2009. Around this time, I contacted SHPS to advise I no longer would need COBRA and also inquired about the economic stimulus refund for premiums overpaid for the February/March 2009 timeframe when the stimulus package took effect (this would be about $325/month in overpaid premium). I was advised that I would obtain the paperwork and, upon completing and submitting it, I would receive a refund check. All the while, I obviously was not making payments and did not need coverage and coverage was assumed to have cancelled as any policy would due to non-payment of premium.
I then called SHPS after submitting my refund request paperwork in April of 2009 and was told my refund check would be mailed in July. I had not yet received it and again contacted SHPS on August 11, 2009 and was told my refund has been applied towards the premium for dental coverage??!! This is ludicrous as I never requested to continue dental coverage, have not made any payments during this time, and have full dental coverage with my current employer. I have no idea how SHPS concluded that I wished to discontinue one coverage (medical) but continue another (dental) when no conversation ever took place regarding this. I did receive confusing ongoing billing from SHPS but assumed there was an error in sending me statements/bills since I was no longer using COBRA.
The economic stimulus refund was designed to help the American people during difficult economic times. This is money I am entitled to and it is unacceptable to have SHPS decide to keep it and furthermore applying it towards coverage I did not request or need (evidenced by non-payment of premium) is an unauthorized use of my funds. In addition, I find it interesting that this “error” was based on SHPS deciding to provide ongoing dental coverage vs. medical coverage given the amount of my refund would not cover even a month of medical coverage but is sufficient to cover many months of dental coverage.
I demand full reimbursement within 10 days of the date of this letter of overpaid premium from the time the economic stimulus package took effect to the end of March 2009.
XXXXXXX
cc: Complaint. TV News
Consumer Watchdog.org
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