logo
Metro teen enrolled, charged for his own health insurance plan without any parent approval

Metro teen enrolled, charged for his own health insurance plan without any parent approval

Yahoo04-04-2025
A teenage boy was mistakenly enrolled in and charged for his own health insurance plan by the state of Georgia without the approval or knowledge of his parents.
The family only learned about the insurance plan months later when he received a past-due bill for more than $700.
'That's my minor child, his Social Security number, his date of birth,' said Roswell resident Kristen Rose.
'We're doing good just to get his own laundry going, much less be able to be responsible financially for a health insurance premium. That's just outrageous,' she said.
It's just the latest bureaucratic nightmare for Rose.
Last month, Channel 2 Action News investigates told you how Rose and her son were tossed off their Affordable Care Act plan because a federal government mix-up has her listed as being enrolled in Medicare.
'I'm not 65. I'm not disabled. I should not be on Medicare,' Rose told Channel 2 consumer investigator Justin Gray last month.
That problem has still not been fixed.
TRENDING STORIES:
Marjory Taylor Greene's ex-husband apologizes for yelling racist slurs at 3 Muslim women
Tourist in custody for trying to access one of world's most isolated tribes, brings Diet Coke
Homeland Security: 1,500 undocumented immigrants arrested in Georgia since January
Rose's ACA plan was canceled on Oct. 31. But starting the next day, Nov. 1, Georgia took over managing its own ACA marketplace called Georgia Access.
In January, we exclusively reported how 20,000 Georgians unknowingly had their current policies cancelled by Georgia Access systems.
They were auto-enrolled by Georgia Access computers in their old policies but also enrolled themselves, creating duplicate polices.
Michelle Fischbach was one of them.
'It was the most panic, the vulnerable feeling,' Fischbach said.
It's likely that a similar computer system autoenrollment led to a teenage boy, without anybody's approval, having his own insurance plan.
'If he's eligible, let me do it. Absolutely. Let me be the financially responsible party. Ask for my permission. Let me choose my plan. Don't just assume and choose for us or on the behalf of him. I didn't give them permission,' Rose said.
Gray reached out on Rose's behalf to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, John King.
An Insurance Commissioner staff member reached out to Rose to work out the mix-up.
Now, Georgia Access staff are working with her to get her son correctly enrolled in a health plan.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Social Security Administrator Responds After Senator's Warning
Social Security Administrator Responds After Senator's Warning

Newsweek

time2 hours ago

  • Newsweek

Social Security Administrator Responds After Senator's Warning

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano has fired back at Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren over her criticism of the agency's changes and customer service in recent months. He defended the changes implemented under the Trump administration, saying the agency is "experiencing a customer service turnaround after four years of long wait times and record backlogs under the Biden administration." Why It Matters The Social Security Administration (SSA) has become the center of a national debate over the future of one of America's most vital safety net programs. Recent leadership and technology changes have prompted warnings from lawmakers, labor unions, advocates and former officials that millions of beneficiaries could soon face delays or interruptions in their monthly payments. At stake is the reliability of Social Security for more than 70 million Americans, especially older adults and people with disabilities, as the agency modernizes and manages its workforce under intense political scrutiny. Critics have focused their warnings on the rollout of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, office closures and staffing cutbacks, with Warren, of Massachusetts, previously raising alarms about access to benefits, transparency and program solvency for current and future retirees. A Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Washington, DC, March 26, 2025. A Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Washington, DC, March 26, 2025. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images What To Know A group of senators including Ron Wyden, Democrat from Oregon; Bernie Sanders, independent from Vermont; Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat; and Warren previously sent a letter to Bisignano, demanding answers on the SSA's recent adoption of AI-driven customer service tools. The senators raised concerns about problems reminiscent of past missteps, including a failed fraud-detection chatbot that reportedly yielded only two potential fraud claims from 111,000 attempts and recent disruptions to benefit access linked to the agency's technology changes. "This lack of communication from your agency undermines its efforts to improve services by sowing chaos and confusion, which breeds distrust in the agency and its leadership," the senators said. The letter also requests details on the AI system implementations and their impact, setting a response deadline of July 18. Bisignano on Monday issued a response shared with Fox Business, defending the agency's reforms and recent track record. "The SSA is experiencing a customer service turnaround after four years of long wait times and record backlogs under the Biden administration," Bisignano said in the letter reviewed by Fox ahead of its release. "While I welcome your recent interest in customer service at SSA and the myriad of correspondences you sent my predecessor and me since President Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025, I'm struck by how little you corresponded with the agency to express concern about deteriorating customer service during the previous administration," Bisignano wrote to Warren. The SSA provided updated performance data last month: The average response time for phone calls dropped to 6 minutes from 30 minutes in the prior fiscal year; field office wait times decreased to 23 minutes; and removal of online service downtimes has benefited an additional 125,000 users in a single week, according to the agency's findings. "Across all of our service indicators, the evidence is clear: better management is improving the customer experience on the phones, in the field offices, and online. Nothing in the data supports the irresponsible allegations of mismanagement and a customer service crisis at SSA," Bisignano said in his letter. But not everyone is certain those numbers reflect actual wait times for Social Security recipients. "A simple search reveals average wait times now exceed one hour, even though the SSA dashboard still shows 18.5 minutes," Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group and host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "Much of that data excludes the volume of callback requests—many people are opting for callbacks instead of waiting on hold, and those are coming 1.5 to 2 hours later, if at all." Changes at the SSA developed under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), formerly led by Elon Musk. DOGE's initiatives, including substantial staff cuts, access to Social Security databases and shifting most services online have sparked bipartisan concern. Former SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley warned that these measures could soon interrupt Social Security payments, a break from tradition in over 80 years of continuous benefit delivery. "Ultimately, you're going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits, within the next 30 to 90 days," O'Malley said in March. Newsweek reached out to Warren's office for comment via email. What People Are Saying Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "With the current dispute on Social Security customer service wait times, it's more of a situation of "he said, she said." The recent news releases from the administration have focused on faster wait times and more cases being resolved. However, Senator Warren points to concerns her office has received over some of that data not being accurate, and Social Security field employees being highly stressed in maintaining the additional workload they've been asked to cover." Thompson also told Newsweek: "Like many of us, Warren wants to see accurate, honest data. We all support modernizing the program, but it's hard to reconcile claims of modernization with staff reductions and quiet efforts to push people into early retirement or resignation." What Happens Next Beneficiaries experiencing issues are urged to contact the SSA directly or reach out to congressional offices for assistance. Further updates are expected as lawmakers receive responses and new technology initiatives reach additional agency offices nationwide. "The suggestion of a meeting between legislators and the SSA could resolve some of these lingering questions over whether the new procedures to customer service are really decreasing wait times to the extent claimed or not," Beene said.

‘You turn 65, you join the club.' U.S. Rep. Richard Neal celebrates anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid Act
‘You turn 65, you join the club.' U.S. Rep. Richard Neal celebrates anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid Act

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

‘You turn 65, you join the club.' U.S. Rep. Richard Neal celebrates anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid Act

WILBRAHAM – U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, celebrated the coming 60th anniversary of the Medicare and Medicaid Act, contrasting the legislative achievement of President Lyndon B. Johnson with the Big Beautiful Bill Act that Neal expects will be reversed over time. This month's legislation will impose $1.2 trillion in cuts, mostly to Medicaid and food stamps, the Associated Press has said. It will impose work requirements on able-bodied people seeking medical care, including some parents and older Americans, making sign-up eligibility more stringent and changing federal reimbursements to states. Neal spoke Monday at Life Care Center of Wilbraham, showing a video of Johnson signing the legislation on July 30, 1965, at the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. The video is available on the website of the LBJ Presidential Library at With 123 beds, about 60% of the center's residents are on Medicaid, said Dennis P. Lopata, senior executive director. Another 10% are covered by Medicare and the rest are private pay. Neal said the recent bill also puts financial pressure on Medicare, the insurance program for the seniors that's an earned benefit. 'You turn 65, you join the club,' Neal said. 'We don't ask about any qualifications.' The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that as a result of the Trump legislation, 11.8 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034. 'The actual cuts to Medicaid don't take place until after the next election,' said Neal, the ranking Democrat on the House Ways & Means Committee. 'Pretty contrived.' Health care providers and insurers are already under pressure, Neal said. But there is a chance the cuts won't happen. 'My guess is that a lot of them will be – in time – changed. Because they are so unpopular,' said. Electing a Democratic majority in the House would be the way to do it, Neal said. 'Well, if we win next year, which seems likely, I intend to offer legislation to reverse all of those cuts right away across the board. A trillion dollars in cuts to Medicaid over the next 10 years. They can't be sustained.' President Johnson, riding a wave of popularity after the 1964 election, signed the bill in Missouri to honor Truman's work on health care, Neal said. Truman had been a New Deal-era Democratic senator from Missouri before briefing becoming FDR's vice president in 1945, then president. A current Missouri senator, Josh Hawley, has proposed legislation aimed at reversing Medicaid cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill, after voting for that legislation. 'I think a 'no' vote would have been the better vote,' Neal said. Neal also spoke Monday about Social Security. 'We have always repaired Social Security and Medicare, and we always will,' Neal said. 'We intend to propose expanded Social Security benefits, and we will also propose how to pay for it.' Stories by Jim Kinney How much trash does a courthouse produce? Inquiring bidders want to know in Springfield Friendly's parent company sold to NJ franchisee This Springfield eatery, silenced by fire, has a new owner Read the original article on MassLive.

AdaptHealth Corp. to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conference
AdaptHealth Corp. to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conference

Business Wire

time4 hours ago

  • Business Wire

AdaptHealth Corp. to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conference

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AdaptHealth Corp. (NASDAQ: AHCO) ('AdaptHealth' or the 'Company'), a national leader in providing patient-centered, healthcare-at-home solutions including home medical equipment, medical supplies, and related services, announced today that they will participate in the Canaccord Genuity 45th Annual Growth Conference, being held in Boston, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, including a fireside chat at 8:00am ET. The webcast link will be available on the Company's website, under 'Investor Relations.' About AdaptHealth Corp. AdaptHealth is a national leader in providing patient-centered, healthcare-at-home solutions including home medical equipment, medical supplies, and related services. The Company operates under four reportable segments that align with its product categories: (i) Sleep Health, (ii) Respiratory Health, (iii) Diabetes Health, and (iv) Wellness at Home. The Sleep Health segment provides sleep therapy equipment, supplies and related services (including CPAP and BiLevel services) to individuals for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The Respiratory Health segment provides oxygen and home mechanical ventilation equipment and supplies and related chronic therapy services to individuals for the treatment of respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic respiratory failure. The Diabetes Health segment provides medical devices, including continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps, and related services to patients for the treatment of diabetes. The Wellness at Home segment provides home medical equipment and services to patients in their homes including those who have been discharged from acute care and other facilities. The segment tailors a service model to patients who are adjusting to new lifestyles or navigating complex disease states by providing essential medical supplies and durable medical equipment. The Company is proud to partner with an extensive and highly diversified network of referral sources, including acute care hospitals, sleep labs, pulmonologists, skilled nursing facilities, and clinics. AdaptHealth services beneficiaries of Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance payors, reaching approximately 4.2 million patients annually in all 50 states through its network of approximately 660 locations in 47 states.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store