A Glitch

This morning I sent an email to AETNA, asking if there was a determination for a cochlear implant for my right ear. Here is what I got this afternoon:

"Thank you for using the Aetna Navigator website to contact Aetna Member Services. Our records indicate your coverage through Science Applications International Corporation ended on August 11, 2006. Please contact the employer's benefits office if you feel this information is incorrect. They can contact our Employer Services department to make any needed changes."

Needless to say, I was not happy about this turn of events at all. The one thing that I was afraid of happening has happened. A glitch in insurance coverage while waiting for determination for a CI. There was a chance that this would have happened while waiting for determination for my CI last year but it didn't. Steve has been trying for over a year to convert to a different status at work but we should still be able to have insurance coverage through COBRA benefits. His company finally decided to do it this month! So, I quickly sent Steve several text messages and copied him on the email and asked him what was going on. He took action right away and made a few phone calls and found out that the paperwork was sent out on Tuesday (the 22nd). I had a dentist appointment yesterday and have A/V therapy tomorrow and we need to be covered insurance-wise. I replied to AETNA's email letting them know that the information they had was incorrect and that we should still have insurance coverage. There was another reply in my mailbox tonight:

"At this time, we have notified been notified by Science Applications International that the COBRA coverage is in effect."

It's funny how quickly things get moving when WE check on things. Steve sent an email letting me know that we should have our paperwork for COBRA in the mail by this weekend. I am trying so hard to be patient and want to have faith and trust that everyone is doing their job like they should. But that isn't always the case. Insurance companies are difficult enough to deal with without extra problems. We have to submit our own paperwork now. I don't mind doing that. I just want to know what is going on in a timely manner. I'll be busy tomorrow getting our "Insurance Project File" set up and organized.

In other news, our Marine son, Sargeant Christopher Lee Pullins, will be FINISHED with his career in the U.S. Marine Corps on Saturday! He is looking forward to starting a new life but has mixed feelings about leaving his friends at Camp Pendleton in California. He saw several of his buddies leave for Iraq this morning at 2 a.m. He hopes to head back home to Tennessee around September 5th. I plan to set up a bedroom for him and clear out some space for his "stuff" these next two weekends. It's hard to believe four years have gone by already. It wasn't that long ago that I was in tears (and constant prayer) when he left for Iraq and again when he came back to the states. We are proud of our Marine. It will be nice to have him "home" safely again. Keep him in your prayers, too.