COBRA Carrier change Help!

[Guest EJCII]

I got a request for help from the former COO of a former client.

(The company was merged into another)

Are there any regs. to point to to fix this problem.

The Company switched carriers for Medical and Dental, which were both with the same carrier. The COBRA participant (who had both medical and dental) was never given the choice on the new Dental plan only on the Medical. He is getting no where with the benefit office of the employer to get him into the new dental plan any suggestions, short of an attorney

Thank You EJCII

[mroberts]

What is the employer's stance in not allowing the COBRA particpant into the dental plan? Is there something you're leaving out?

[Guest EJCII]

I wish I was leaving something out, but no. The only thing I could add is the "open enrollment" for the COBRA participants for the medical was done after the change of carriers. If that gives you an idea of the employers attention to detail. It came with a whopping premium increase as well (with the change the ER went self insured which is a scary thought)

[mroberts]

It appears that you already know the answer to your predicament. If the COBRA participant can't get anywhere with the HR office, maybe he or she should go over their head. If that's not an option, I would go to the DOI for whatever state this is or consult an attorney.