UHC has a pretty nice racket going collecting one extra month's premium from every new member who specifies (during initial enrollment) payment by deduction from Social Security check. Note these facts: First, Social Security checks for January arrive in late February. This in spite of the fact that the check paid in January includes the COLA amount. Benefits earned by being alive during December include the COLA for the next year and are paid in late January. For example, I received a letter from SSA which includes the phrase "... The check you will receive for February on or about March 27." Second, the December check could not possibly contain a deduction for the January part D premium because enrollment is open until Dec 7. Third, any deducted premium is paid to UHC early in the next month. Thus, the premium for January is deducted from the check containing the benefits earned by being alive in January. That check is paid late February. The premium is forwarded in early March. Fourth, Social Security sends a letter which states unequivocally that the first deduction covers all premium payments due. My letter states "This represents all Medicare prescription drug plan costs due to date." UHC wants payment in advance, but they also want to accept SSA deductions. They can't have both. But they seem to be getting both, by billing all of their new clients for an extra month. After I switch to a different plan next year, I will be calling UHC in early March asking them to give me my overpayment back. I expect they will do so because they will have just received the premium for December and will see that I have made 13 payments but I don't owe for January because I will have quit doing business with such a dishonest company. Also I don't see any other way of convincing them.
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