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CAT Tracks for December 5, 2013
TRAIL SEMINARS |
Two were held at John A. Logan Community College on December 4, 2013...
...at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Two more are scheduled TODAY at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg.
I attended the 9:30 session at JALC...
...which was literally standing room only.
The presenters were able to secure an "overflow room" for those relegated to the hallway due to fire code restrictions (so that they would not have to come back for the afternoon session.)
The seminar was extremely well organized...
...with three huge presentation screens so that everyone in the large room could view the slides.
The sound system was great...
...guess they anticipated that their audience would contain an extraordinary number of the hearing impaired.
:-)
The one-hour presentation itself was clear and to the point.
Following the presentation, there was a Q & A session.
(You can watch a video seminar here.)
That said...
If you read the materials that were mailed...
...the session was "confirmation" rather than enlightening...
...not containing any surprises.
If an attendee brought their application form, representatives were available to accept the completed form on site (reviewing it for completeness and correctness.)
From my aforementioned reading of the mailed materials, I had already concluded that there were only two options:
Since I am not the adventurous type (i.e. the lazy type), I filled out my application last week and mailed it (certified, return receipt requested. Long, long ago, my dealings with CSD #1 taught me the value and importance of a paper trail! When losing my state health insurance - and never being allowed back in - is at stake, I was not about to take chances. Incidentally, I have yet to receive the confirmation of delivery card, but I did receive a confirmation e-mail, so all is good. Yes, I printed off the confirmation and filed it away. Just because you're paranoid...)
Bottom line:
You must take action...
...you must mail your completed application postmarked no later than December 13, 2013. (Yes, Friday the 13th in the year 2013...a double whammy if you are the superstitious sort!)
BTW: Inaction (ignoring the whole thing and hoping it will just go away) is action! If you do not send in your completed application by the December 13th deadline, you will lose your state health insurance and never be allowed to re-enter!
In other words...
In the past, TRIP (or CMS) would contact you annually during an "open enrollment period" asking if you wanted to make any changes. If you were happy with what you had, you could pitch the notice and your insurance would continue "as is".
That is NOT the case now!!!
YOU MUST SEND IN THE COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 13th OR YOU WILL BE DROPPED FROM YOUR STATE HEALTH COVERAGE!!!
Do not delay another day!
Have yet to take any action?
Then you'd best get cracking TODAY!
Fill out, mail your application!
