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To the editor:
Déjà Vu
Many retirees are having difficulties filing claims for the reimbursement of copays pursuant to the recent settlement agreement.
Obtaining receipts of payments for 1/1/22 to 1/30/23 have been challenging. Reasons have included delays in responses from Atticus Administration LLC (claims administrator) to inquiries, additional steps needed regarding claims for deceased spouses and medical offices that changed billing vendors since 2022.
One retiree contacted Emblem requesting his deceased wife’s Explanations of Benefits (EOB’s) and was told that could take up to 30 days to fulfill.
Some retirees have receipts for copays for service dates not matching the Emblem claims data on the form sent to them by Atticus, requiring additional steps.
In addition, many retirees don’t have the ability to use the online claim submission or to access doctor portals, making the process more daunting. Or easy access to a printer.
The claims deadline is Oct. 30. It seems logical that an extension should be made.
There is no reason to think that Judge Lyle Frank, who oversees the case, would disagree. He did so in 2021 when retirees faced a looming deadline to decide on a Medicare Advantage plan in the midst of a flawed enrollment process.
It would be the right thing to do.
Harry Weiner
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