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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
   
| My dad passed away in March. He had purchased a prescription drug plan from a company and had the premiums automatically deducted from his checking account, (not a LOT of money but still, now it needs to be cancelled). I am the only child and the executor of his estate. I could not find any information on this plan in all of the paperwork - no prescription card, nothing. I found the company online and emailed them. Got several responses from a very nice lady who got me a number to call. When I call the number, it is an automated menu and I HAVE to have a membership number - which I don't have. I am still working with this lady, she's going to see what she can do on her end but as a last resort, what would happen if I just closed the account that the premium is coming out of? Surely they wouldn't send it to collections, would they? And if so, it would probably go against my dad, I am guessing. What can I do?? | |
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Posts: 16575
 
Location: Displaced Iowegian | Griz - 2016-08-09 10:59 AM My dad passed away in March. He had purchased a prescription drug plan from a company and had the premiums automatically deducted from his checking account, (not a LOT of money but still, now it needs to be cancelled). I am the only child and the executor of his estate. I could not find any information on this plan in all of the paperwork - no prescription card, nothing. I found the company online and emailed them. Got several responses from a very nice lady who got me a number to call. When I call the number, it is an automated menu and I HAVE to have a membership number - which I don't have. I am still working with this lady, she's going to see what she can do on her end but as a last resort, what would happen if I just closed the account that the premium is coming out of? Surely they wouldn't send it to collections, would they? And if so, it would probably go against my dad, I am guessing. What can I do??
You might try calling the bank that is paying the premium. They can help you close the automatic payment. I would not worry about them sending it to collections, they will try to contact the "member" before doing that. Also, you could send a written confirmation of death(death certificate) to the company (without his membership number). They should have his account listed by name, address, social security, etc. | |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| NJJ - 2016-08-09 11:05 AM
Griz - 2016-08-09 10:59 AM My dad passed away in March. He had purchased a prescription drug plan from a company and had the premiums automatically deducted from his checking account, (not a LOT of money but still, now it needs to be cancelled). I am the only child and the executor of his estate. I could not find any information on this plan in all of the paperwork - no prescription card, nothing. I found the company online and emailed them. Got several responses from a very nice lady who got me a number to call. When I call the number, it is an automated menu and I HAVE to have a membership number - which I don't have. I am still working with this lady, she's going to see what she can do on her end but as a last resort, what would happen if I just closed the account that the premium is coming out of? Surely they wouldn't send it to collections, would they? And if so, it would probably go against my dad, I am guessing. What can I do??
You might try calling the bank that is paying the premium. They can help you close the automatic payment. I would not worry about them sending it to collections, they will try to contact the "member" before doing that. Also, you could send a written confirmation of death(death certificate) to the company (without his membership number). They should have his account listed by name, address, social security, etc.
I have called the bank - very small hometown bank, who I have dealt with all my life. They suggested a "stop payment" but that is $20 - since the premium is monthly and only $14 - it's cheaper to pay the premium (I know this is a teeny amount but still driving me crazy - yes, it's a short trip, LOL)! That IS a good idea on sending the company a letter with a death cert.! I think I will go that route before I just close the account! - Thank you for that idea!  | |
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Addicted to Baseball
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright, TX | Has his will been probated? If so, you should have letters testamentary to start taking control of that bank account. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399
| The stop payment is only a one time fee it is not $20 a month, and if this deduction is coming out as an ACH debit it should be able to be returned without a problem.
The best bet would be put a stop payment on the auto withdrawal and continue to contact the company. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1446
Location: Wisconsin | What company? I would think a name and DOB would locate the member in the system. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 926
| Griz - 2016-08-09 11:45 AM
NJJ - 2016-08-09 11:05 AM
Griz - 2016-08-09 10:59 AM My dad passed away in March. He had purchased a prescription drug plan from a company and had the premiums automatically deducted from his checking account, (not a LOT of money but still, now it needs to be cancelled). I am the only child and the executor of his estate. I could not find any information on this plan in all of the paperwork - no prescription card, nothing. I found the company online and emailed them. Got several responses from a very nice lady who got me a number to call. When I call the number, it is an automated menu and I HAVE to have a membership number - which I don't have. I am still working with this lady, she's going to see what she can do on her end but as a last resort, what would happen if I just closed the account that the premium is coming out of? Surely they wouldn't send it to collections, would they? And if so, it would probably go against my dad, I am guessing. What can I do??
You might try calling the bank that is paying the premium. They can help you close the automatic payment. I would not worry about them sending it to collections, they will try to contact the "member" before doing that. Also, you could send a written confirmation of death(death certificate) to the company (without his membership number). They should have his account listed by name, address, social security, etc.
I have called the bank - very small hometown bank, who I have dealt with all my life. They suggested a "stop payment" but that is $20 - since the premium is monthly and only $14 - it's cheaper to pay the premium (I know this is a teeny amount but still driving me crazy - yes, it's a short trip, LOL )! That IS a good idea on sending the company a letter with a death cert.! I think I will go that route before I just close the account! - Thank you for that idea!
First, I'm sorry for your loss.
You could just close the account, if there's no charge. They may send to collections, but they're going to come after your Dad and that's not an issue.
My suggestion, after working for an insurance company for many decades, is to send a letter, kindly worded, asking for their help. Send a copy of the death certificate and ask that they first stop the auto draft (I hate those things), and second refund those amounts taken after the date of death. I'm thinking maybe $14 can come out of the account for a few times without putting you in the negative.
Send this return receipt requested, which with the PO these days is pretty simple, although you'll need to spend maybe $6, then track it and follow up. Yes it's a pain, and probably closing the account is the best way, but at least this is an alternative.
My Mom is in a memory care facility and I recently had to deal with a similar issue. My problem was we had to have the coverage, so I sent an appeal and all worked out but it was a lot of work and time.
Good Luck!
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Tilt The Kilt - 2016-08-09 12:04 PM
Has his will been probated? If so, you should have letters testamentary to start taking control of that bank account.
Yes the will has been probated and all the accounts are now in my control. | |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| chicks2 - 2016-08-09 9:17 PM
Griz - 2016-08-09 11:45 AM
NJJ - 2016-08-09 11:05 AM
Griz - 2016-08-09 10:59 AM My dad passed away in March. He had purchased a prescription drug plan from a company and had the premiums automatically deducted from his checking account, (not a LOT of money but still, now it needs to be cancelled). I am the only child and the executor of his estate. I could not find any information on this plan in all of the paperwork - no prescription card, nothing. I found the company online and emailed them. Got several responses from a very nice lady who got me a number to call. When I call the number, it is an automated menu and I HAVE to have a membership number - which I don't have. I am still working with this lady, she's going to see what she can do on her end but as a last resort, what would happen if I just closed the account that the premium is coming out of? Surely they wouldn't send it to collections, would they? And if so, it would probably go against my dad, I am guessing. What can I do??
You might try calling the bank that is paying the premium. They can help you close the automatic payment. I would not worry about them sending it to collections, they will try to contact the "member" before doing that. Also, you could send a written confirmation of death(death certificate) to the company (without his membership number). They should have his account listed by name, address, social security, etc.
I have called the bank - very small hometown bank, who I have dealt with all my life. They suggested a "stop payment" but that is $20 - since the premium is monthly and only $14 - it's cheaper to pay the premium (I know this is a teeny amount but still driving me crazy - yes, it's a short trip, LOL )! That IS a good idea on sending the company a letter with a death cert.! I think I will go that route before I just close the account! - Thank you for that idea!
First, I'm sorry for your loss.
You could just close the account, if there's no charge. They may send to collections, but they're going to come after your Dad and that's not an issue.
My suggestion, after working for an insurance company for many decades, is to send a letter, kindly worded, asking for their help. Send a copy of the death certificate and ask that they first stop the auto draft (I hate those things ), and second refund those amounts taken after the date of death. I'm thinking maybe $14 can come out of the account for a few times without putting you in the negative.
Send this return receipt requested, which with the PO these days is pretty simple, although you'll need to spend maybe $6, then track it and follow up. Yes it's a pain, and probably closing the account is the best way, but at least this is an alternative.
My Mom is in a memory care facility and I recently had to deal with a similar issue. My problem was we had to have the coverage, so I sent an appeal and all worked out but it was a lot of work and time.
Good Luck!
Thank you for your condolences. I think I will send a death cert asking them to cancel the policy. I know it's not a big deal, I just feel like I should handle it correctly instead of just cutting them off - (I know, kind of dumb on my part - why feel guilty)! | |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| mcorcoran - 2016-08-09 2:15 PM
What company? I would think a name and DOB would locate the member in the system.
United Health Care - I have given them his name, SS#, DOB, date of death and address in an email, they gave me a phone number to call - which is totally automated. The first thing you have to give is a member number which I don't have - and there was no reaching a "live" person.
Crazy - I'm SURE the policy wasn't this hard to purchase! | |
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Posts: 1944
| Could you speak to the pharmacy your dad used to get the policy number ? | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1118
Location: The South | caspersabelpip - 2016-08-10 6:56 AM
Could you speak to the pharmacy your dad used to get the policy number ?
That's what I was going to recommend. They will have the member ID and group number used to process prescriptions. They'll also have the phone number for the pharmacy help desk for the company, and if you yell "representative" enough times into the automated thing it should send you to a live person. Good luck! | |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | Griz - 2016-08-10 5:28 AM mcorcoran - 2016-08-09 2:15 PM What company? I would think a name and DOB would locate the member in the system. United Health Care - I have given them his name, SS#, DOB, date of death and address in an email, they gave me a phone number to call - which is totally automated. The first thing you have to give is a member number which I don't have - and there was no reaching a "live" person. Crazy - I'm SURE the policy wasn't this hard to purchase!
Keep pressing 0 until you get an operator. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | Griz - 2016-08-09 10:59 AM My dad passed away in March. He had purchased a prescription drug plan from a company and had the premiums automatically deducted from his checking account, (not a LOT of money but still, now it needs to be cancelled). I am the only child and the executor of his estate. I could not find any information on this plan in all of the paperwork - no prescription card, nothing. I found the company online and emailed them. Got several responses from a very nice lady who got me a number to call. When I call the number, it is an automated menu and I HAVE to have a membership number - which I don't have. I am still working with this lady, she's going to see what she can do on her end but as a last resort, what would happen if I just closed the account that the premium is coming out of? Surely they wouldn't send it to collections, would they? And if so, it would probably go against my dad, I am guessing. What can I do??
It sounds like from your other posts that it was a Part D plan. If so, simply call 1-800-Medicare and inform them that your father passed. They will already know this but tell them he is still being charged for his Part D and you need it stopped and also that you want a refund for the months paid since his passing.
They will get action for you from UHC. If you are not talking about a Medicare Part D then it won't help to call Medicare. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1446
Location: Wisconsin | jd&ez - 2016-08-10 8:43 AM Griz - 2016-08-09 10:59 AM My dad passed away in March. He had purchased a prescription drug plan from a company and had the premiums automatically deducted from his checking account, (not a LOT of money but still, now it needs to be cancelled). I am the only child and the executor of his estate. I could not find any information on this plan in all of the paperwork - no prescription card, nothing. I found the company online and emailed them. Got several responses from a very nice lady who got me a number to call. When I call the number, it is an automated menu and I HAVE to have a membership number - which I don't have. I am still working with this lady, she's going to see what she can do on her end but as a last resort, what would happen if I just closed the account that the premium is coming out of? Surely they wouldn't send it to collections, would they? And if so, it would probably go against my dad, I am guessing. What can I do?? It sounds like from your other posts that it was a Part D plan. If so, simply call 1-800-Medicare and inform them that your father passed. They will already know this but tell them he is still being charged for his Part D and you need it stopped and also that you want a refund for the months paid since his passing.
They will get action for you from UHC. If you are not talking about a Medicare Part D then it won't help to call Medicare.
This is true, companies do not like getting contacted by Medicare. It is a bad bad deal. But when you cant get a resolve trying to contact the company on your own thats what you get. If you call Medicare they should send the issue to the company and it will go to the company as an escalated issue, at most a 72 hour turn aroud time. | |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| linds - 2016-08-10 8:19 AM
Griz - 2016-08-10 5:28 AM mcorcoran - 2016-08-09 2:15 PM What company? I would think a name and DOB would locate the member in the system. United Health Care - I have given them his name, SS#, DOB, date of death and address in an email, they gave me a phone number to call - which is totally automated. The first thing you have to give is a member number which I don't have - and there was no reaching a "live" person. Crazy - I'm SURE the policy wasn't this hard to purchase!
Tried that - no workie! I always try that when I get an automated system. | |
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Way OT - cancelling a prescription drug plan