can they do this?

[waterdog101]

my friends and I were talking about car insurance, and I told him I had carried insurance with the same company for the past 15 plus years, and I changed companies and saved myself a little over 700.00 ever 6 months, thats when he said they need to cancel one of the health insurance policies, to save paying the two premiums, they both carry the family plans, and each are covered under both plans, a couple weeks later he told me that wal-mart told him that he couldn't cancel, until next November during open enrollment, I can see during open enrollment you choose a plan, that last for a year and then you can change it the next year, for a better plan or one of less coverage, but not being able to cancel it at any time you please, now that stinks..

Originally Posted by sweetwater View Post
Under the rules of the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare) it's possible that your friends desire to change insurance coverage's so they can save money may not be listed as a qualified life event therefore the spouse's insurance company would not be allowed to accept your friend until they have an open enrollment period. If your friend wishes to drop Wal-Mart's coverage while still employed there and without first being accepted into another company coverage then it's likely Wal-Mart would not be allowed to discontinue their coverage. Just another case of a working person getting screwed by the gubment.

I think you are probably correct in the fact this would not be considered a qualified life event and under Obama care he has to have insurance and he probably can't get on spouse insurance until her company has an enrollment period. I am surprised they will save money with what he wants to do. I pay 75% of employees insurance premium but if spouse or family want on my company insurance they have to pay 100% of that insurance and it is expensive I would think wal mart would be paying part of his premium and his spouses company is probably pay part of her premium. I would think they will be hit with huge premium increase if he goes on her insurance.

did you not read my post, he has insurance coverage under his wife's family plan, and she has insurance coverage under his family plan, he just wants to cancel his insurance plan he has through working at wal-mart, to save himself the premium he pays each month, he will still have health insurance coverage under his wife's health care plan.

[roadrunner]

it is obvious I did not read it close enough I didn't catch that they were both family plans I assumed they were both employee only and you know what they say about assumptions. I would have your friend go back to company H R department with proof of insurance through his spouse's plan and ask again for his insurance to be cancelled. I believe they have to let him cancel his plan if that does not work he needs to ask them to drop the family plan. If they refuse I would ask them why and then tell them he needs a copy of the Wal Mart policy that prohibits him cancelling his policy.

[Devils Horse]

So they enrolled in two different family plans. Not sure why they would do that, but he'll need to wait for an open enrollment period or qualifying life event to change that. Most companies' plans have similar rules, you have to make sure you understand them...then make good decisions.

[TrackerMike]

It should not matter about open enrollment if he is already covered under the wife's plan. This should be cut and dry, but we live in some really disturbing times when we are forced to pay for something we neither want or need

[GeoFisher]

my friends and I were talking about car insurance, and I told him I had carried insurance with the same company for the past 15 plus years, and I changed companies and saved myself a little over 700.00 ever 6 months, thats when he said they need to cancel one of the health insurance policies, to save paying the two premiums, they both carry the family plans, and each are covered under both plans, a couple weeks later he told me that wal-mart told him that he couldn't cancel, until next November during open enrollment, I can see during open enrollment you choose a plan, that last for a year and then you can change it the next year, for a better plan or one of less coverage, but not being able to cancel it at any time you please, now that stinks..

Originally Posted by sweetwater View Post
Under the rules of the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare) it's possible that your friends desire to change insurance coverage's so they can save money may not be listed as a qualified life event therefore the spouse's insurance company would not be allowed to accept your friend until they have an open enrollment period. If your friend wishes to drop Wal-Mart's coverage while still employed there and without first being accepted into another company coverage then it's likely Wal-Mart would not be allowed to discontinue their coverage. Just another case of a working person getting screwed by the gubment. did you not read my post, he has insurance coverage under his wife's family plan, and she has insurance coverage under his family plan, he just wants to cancel his insurance plan he has through working at wal-mart, to save himself the premium he pays each month, he will still have health insurance coverage under his wife's health care plan.

Man, I didn't catch that either............

I'd just go to wally world and CANCEL it...he still qualifies and being covered under gubment regulations.