Letter: Health insurance cut when turning 80

July 01, 2009 11:44 pm

— After reading Ms. Riley’s recent letter about health insurance games, I wanted to let her know that life insurance companies also have surprises. My husband bought a life insurance policy years ago. He was billed monthly. When a March statement did not arrive in the mail, I called the company and was told there was no problem, the bill was probably misrouted, and was advised to mail the payment, which I did. When the April notice was not received, he called and was informed that the policy had been terminated when he reached the age of 80. “I turned 80 in May of 2008. Did you bill and collect payments for 10 months after that?” he asked. They said, “It has been terminated” and disconnected the call.
My husband told me if he had known he was donating, he would rather have sent it to The Salvation Army or to a homeless shelter.
We contacted the Attorney General’s office, Consumer Protection Agency, the Better Business Bureau, AARP and the Indiana Insurance Department. No help from any of them. Apparently, you gamble on not surviving to 80 — or tell the funeral director “Tough luck, put me in a cardboard box.”
Check your policy!!!!
Georgia Ellis
Elwood