Are you one of the hundreds of thousands of seniors that will be billed for up to five months of unpaid Medicare premiums? Did you lose Medicare coverage unexpectedly? The Social Security Administration has reported a “processing error” that has resulted in a major setback for at least a quarter of a million Medicare beneficiaries in the United States.
The administration was not deducting premiums from some seniors’ Social Security check and furthermore, did not pay the insurance plans.
The Department of Health and Human Services stated that people who enrolled in either a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan beginning Jan. 1 could be affected by this. This error can total more than $300 each month.
“If you are affected and haven’t already received a bill in the mail, you will soon,” the agency wrote in notices to affected seniors. “The first bill will likely be for a larger amount than usual to make up for the unpaid premiums.”
Amid this confusion, HHS said the issue has been resolved and members should expect proper deductions this or next month. In addition, insurers are required to give those affected by the huge glitch a time frame of two months from the billing date to pay as well as offer them payment plans.
As a result, 250,000 senior Americans have been directly affected by this. Some of whom have lost coverage unexpectedly.