Professor Retires (3)

Professor Retires (3)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Still without coverage, I go to my bank to open an investigation of the lost first check. One of the associates at my branch of Capital One ventures that the check has been posted to “Unpostable,” a catchall posting for something that doesn’t fit anywhere else. They are going to “research” this for me and try to find my money. Felicia at Crosby has told me that the outcome of their research is that they never saw nor touched this check, as is evident by its opaque destination at an unknown or unrecognizable account, and, to boot, they do not use Bank of America. So they are clean. Do you follow this reasoning? I send a check to Tulane University, c/o Crosby Benefit Systems, addressed to Crosby’s premium-receiving P.O.Box, and the check goes into a black hole. They are clean? Not in my world, buster.

Donna is now helping me at Crosby. Like Jocelyn, she is very sympathetic and helpful. I tell Donna on 0712 of my next-day express mailing of a second check to Crosby at the premium address, marked ATTN JOCELYN BRADY. Donna promises to set up my coverage as soon as the check arrives and is processed. (Ha, ha.)

Wednesday, 14 July. The check has been on July 13 cashed, apparently by Crosby, or so I believe by scrutinizing the reverse of the check, a week after receipt by next-day express mail. The coverage has not yet been initiated; I buy a prescription (usually costing $30 with insurance) for $217.00, but United Health will perhaps reimburse me. Mrs. Hawkins at Rite-Aid tells me that if my coverage is initiated within two weeks of the purchase of this medicine, Rite-Aid can void the extra charge. I am counting the days.

Thursday, 15 July. Donna calls me from Crosby to say that she has good news. She has initiated coverage, notification of which will be sent to United Health on Friday by Crosby with their regular Friday insurance updates. I may expect it up and running Monday or Wednesday. That would mean reimbursement from Rite-Aid for the prescription. I can do the MOHS surgery on the 28th as scheduled! Good news. Good news, that is, if it all works out.

Monday, July 18. I call United Health Cobra to see what has happened. The call is discouraging. United Health has no record of my Cobra coverage; what’s more, they don’t have a Cobra account with Tulane. I am told to call my HR representative and ask her who has the Federal United Health care Cobra coverage.

I wonder: my son was on UH care Cobra. What does this mean?

Geraline Wesley at Tulane tells me the person in UH Cobra was confused. She will call and tell them to start my coverage.

Superstitiously, I promise not to call back. Maybe something good will happen.
Look back at the review by Simon JF. It’s going to take weeks longer, if that.

I’m trying not to think about it,

gmc