When we go to the airport these days, we must present our Driver’s License as valid proof of who we are so we can fly and eat stale peanuts. When we go to the library to borrow some books, we must present our Library Card so that we may remove those books from the premises and return them a few weeks later. When we go to the doctor, hospital, lab, diagnostic lab we must present our Health Insurance I.D. card upon our arrival.

Well, what happens if you don’t have that I.D. card, that little piece of plastic so vital in the application of prompt and proper medical care in New Jersey and the United States. Obviously, the answer is clear. Without that card, DEATH IS INEVITABLE!!

As those of us who are engaged in the health insurance industry know, most doctors, hospitals, labs, diagnostic testing facilities and other related facilities cannot ply their craft without the use of a laminated I.D. received from the patient to prove that payment will be forthcoming from the carrier. Years of training at medical school, nursing school, lab tech school, APEX Tech or The Chubb Institute has not properly trained these medical professionals to examine, operate or hit the “on” button. “Proper I.D. Number Administration 1.1” was never put in the course curriculum! “VE MUST HAVE DA I.D. CARD OR YOU VILL EXPIRE!”

Carriers are running too far behind in getting I.D. cards out to the insured. Could be because of volume, could be a plastic shortage, could be the dreaded “systemic problem”, could be a new guy running the I.D. card producing machine or in MOST cases, it is because the new business submissions or plan changes are coming in way too close to the requested effective date.

Carriers try to institute deadlines for submissions, they go ignored. The client procrastinates about making changes right up until the 11^th hour, brokers can’t make appointments to see their clients in a more timely fashion, General Agencies are inundated with last minute submissions knowing full well that, in 48 hours or so, the first phone call will come in about the client who is being prepped for his “ground-breaking triple bypass, lipo-sucking, nose job followed by some acupuncture, a high colonic and a light therapeutic massage but “HE’S NOT IN THE SYSTEM! HE’S THREATENING TO CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE RIGHT BEFORE THE ANESTHESIOLIST KNOCKS HIM OUT. WHAT ARE WE (notice how it always becomes “WE”) GONNA DO?”

Well, we could call the New York Times Obit. Department and tell them to fill up the inkwells or we could advocate for the following:

• Carriers should notify ALL of their in-network providers that a copy of the employee application is sufficient “temporary” proof of coverage.
• Carriers should strictly enforce reasonable deadlines.
• Carriers should remove in-network providers if they continually violate the terms of their contract.
• Carriers should provide the ability to print temp. I.D. cards off of their website for the small group marketplace.

• Brokers should finalize the sale or change at least 5 to 10 business days before the requested effective date.
• Brokers should provide their clients with a copy of the employee applications.
• Brokers should inquire of their clients if there are any PLANNED major medical procedures or operations scheduled close to the requested effective date.

• The insured should carry their I.D. card with them.
• The Insured should call the provider to see how they will handle a situation where a new I.D. card isn’t available yet. Ask if they will accept a copy of the application.
• The insured should NOT use their old I.D. card even though it is the same carrier.
• The insured should stop threatening to call the Department of Insurance. It is an ineffective method of trying to correct a problem. And try not to do it when you’re lying on a table with a man hovering over you holding a scalpel.

A small plastic piece of I.D. should NEVER be an obstacle to receiving prompt, efficient medical attention from anyone in the medical profession. It should NEVER be something to occupy such a large portion of a broker’s administrative day.

We will have to work in unison to remedy this situation or we will end up with people going to airports and libraries for medical attention!

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