Changes in benefits question

[im2sexy38]

What is the name of your state? California

I work for a Lowes Home Improvement store. In October we were given our benefits package to choose our new plans and we chose them. The submitted the wrong info to the new insurance company the first week of dec. and we received our new cards the first week of Jan. My wife took our daughter, who is disabled, to her doctors appt. and was turned away because we were no longer covered. I called the insurance company who explained that my job had made a mistake and I would have to have them correct it. I have now been on the phone with them about this at least 10 times and today was told they had decided not to offer the plan I had originally chosen and the forms I had filled out were out of date. These forms were provided by Lowes and Pacificare. My question is, can they change the plans offered without letting anyone know they have changed them, and how can we get this resolved? My daughter has seen this specialist almost her whole life, and he is not offered under the companies new plan.

Thank you

 

[cbg]

Yes, they can change the plan, but I doubt they can do so without notifying you. What notification requirements California has, I don't know, but you can check with your state insurance commission.

BTW, they have absolutely no legal obligation to continue offering a plan that has the doctor your daughter has been using as in-network. She can either continue seeing him and receive non-network benefits, if any, or she can find another doctor, but the employer is not legally obligated to make their plan choices based on what doctors their employees are using.