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August 8, 2009
Answerless Questions and Confusing Relationships
My Medicare Part D provider, a private, for profit, company, sent me a questionnaire called "Medicare Coordination of Benefits and Employment Status Survey." Medicare Part D is drug coverage. While there is much to rant about regarding Medicare Part D, as opposed to Medicare Parts A and B, which work very well, today I have a rather specific complaint about this questionnaire.
Here are most of the questions as they applied or in one case didn't apply to me and the answers I provided. I won't bother you with the last section of the questionnaire that was problem free.
Section A - Employment Status1. Are your retired?
( ) Yes ( ) NoIf Yes please provide your retirement date, and then go to Section B.
I answered yes, entered my retirement date, December 2008, and headed off to Section B.
Section B - More Information About You and Your Benefits5. Do you have other health insurance that includes prescription drug coverage?
( ) Yes ( ) No.If No, please skip to the following questions and go to Question 7.
I checked No and headed for question 7. Here is what I found.
7. Do you plan to retire within the next year?
( ) Yes ( ) No ( ) Don't know.
If Yes, please provide your planned retirement date and then continue with the following question.
I had already told them in my answer to question 1. that I was already retired! None of the three choices were correct or even possible. I wrote in "See Section 1 Question 1" and took a shot at the next question.
8. Are you married or under age 65 and a dependent of a Family Member?
( ) Yes ( ) No.
Here are the facts as they apply to me.
- I am married.
- I am not under age 65
- Despite what Shirley may think on occasion, I am not a dependent of a Family Member.
My first thought was to answer this question "No" and that is how I finally answered it. But the more I looked at it the more I was confused. My answer assumed I should parse the question, "(Are you married ∨ under age 65) ∧ (a dependent of a Family Member.)" That compelles my "No" answer. But should I have read it, "(Are you married) ∨ (under age 65 ∧ a dependent of a Family Member.)?" In that case, the answer is "Yes."
Hmmm. I hope they don't cancel my insurance if I gave the wrong answer. I don't think they can.
Update: fixed my own stupid error!
Posted by Duane Smith at August 8, 2009 9:26 AM | Read more on Odds and Ends |
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Comments
Uh, a retirement date of December 2009 would seem to call for a "No" in A1 and a "Yes" in B7.
Posted by: Dan Milton at August 8, 2009 2:49 PM
Oops. I retired December 2008. I just checked my copy and I put the correct date on the forms. I also fixed the post.
Posted by: Duane at August 8, 2009 3:06 PM
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